Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson has not been included in trade talks so far this offseason. According to Evan Sidery, it seems that Johnson is the only untouchable player on the roster when it comes to making trade deals. That means both stars in the backcourt, Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, are being shopped around, but Johnson's growth and youth are being viewed as more valuable. The 22-year-old broke out in a big way this year as he averaged 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.3 threes per game while he started in 52 of his 56 appearances. He likely would have been a frontrunner for Most Improved Player of the Year if he played the minimum amount of games to qualify.
Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu Likely Done For The Season
The Atlanta Hawks say forward Jalen Johnson (ankle) has a Grade 2 lateral right ankle sprain and will be re-evaluated in three weeks, while center Onyeka Okongwu (toe) has undergone a non-surgical procedure to address ongoing inflammation in his left big toe and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. Unless the Hawks go on an unlikely deep playoff run, the timetables effectively rule out the two players for the remainder of the season. Their absences leave significant voids in Atlanta's frontcourt going forward, with Clint Capela having to dominate minutes down low and Bruno Fernando playing the backup center role in Okongwu's stead. Over 18 games without Johnson this season, De'Andre Hunter is putting up 16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals, and 2.3 three-pointers per contest and has hit double digits in scoring during each outing.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (ankle) has been ruled out for Wednesday's tilt versus the Charlotte Hornets. After spraining his right ankle in Tuesday's loss to the visiting Miami Heat, Johnson was facing a short turnaround to recover in time for the second leg of Atlanta's back-to-back. A 2023-24 Most Improved Player of the Year candidate, Johnson hopes to return for a difficult matchup on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Vit Krejci is a candidate to join the Hawks' starting lineup in Johnson's stead, but he's averaged only 7.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.7 three-pointers through nine games without Johnson this season. The Hornets rank 28th in the NBA in opponent field-goal percentage (49.4%), so the favorable draw gives him some DFS life.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (ankle) was injured in Tuesday's game against the Miami Heat. He will not return. The 22-year-old was having a fantastic game before suffering a sprained right ankle, amassing 13 points, eight boards, three assists, and two steals. However, considering Johnson just returned from a six-game layoff caused by the same issue, he could miss time moving ahead. With Onyeka Okongwu (toe) also sidelined, De'Andre Hunter, Bruno Fernando, and Garrison Mathews may get more action if Johnson goes on the shelf.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (ankle) will return for Monday's game against the Chicago Bulls. Johnson has been out since March 18 after suffering a right ankle sprain against the Los Angeles Lakers, but he was reportedly present for morning shootaround and is good to go following a six-game absence. Although the 22-year-old former first-round pick is no longer eligible for the Most Improved Player of the Year award this season, Johnson is averaging 17.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.7 three-pointers over 10 games since the All-Star break and will offer managers a big boost for the fantasy finals. Make sure to activate him ahead of Monday's action in a matchup with a pedestrian Bulls defense.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (ankle) is listed as questionable ahead of Monday's game against the Chicago Bulls. Johnson has missed each of the last six games due to a right ankle sprain. However, it appears Johnson is making progress and has a chance to suit up on Monday. His return should Vit Krejci to the bench. Fantasy managers should check back on Monday for another update.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (ankle) is questionable for Saturday's game against the Bucks. The 22-year-old has averaged 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds this season, a significant upgrade from the 2022-23 campaign. He's missed the Hawks' previous five games because of a sprained ankle, and while he could still miss the meeting with Milwaukee, he's at least moving in a positive direction. At any rate, until Johnson is back in the lineup, De'Andre Hunter, coming off a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double in Thursday's win over the Celtics, should continue to benefit. Vit Krejci should remain with the first five until Johnson is healthy enough to play, although he's averaged only 6.7 points in 11 starts this season.
The preliminary diagnosis for Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (ankle) is a right ankle sprain, and he will be re-evaluated in one week. It's a tough break for a 30-38 Hawks team looking to stay alive in the East play-in race as well as fantasy managers participating in the playoffs. Based on this timetable, the 22-year-old Most Improved Player of the Year candidate's next chance to return arrives on March 30 against the Milwaukee Bucks, well into fantasy semifinals week. Over 12 games without Johnson, spot-up wing De'Andre Hunter is averaging 15.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.2 three-pointers and will be a strong source of points and treys as the most likely candidate to enter Atlanta's starting lineup. Hunter should be rostered in all leagues ahead of Thursday's tilt against the Phoenix Suns, but they're giving up the sixth-fewest DraftKings points per game to opposing power forwards.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (ankle) will miss Thursday's matchup against Phoenix. He has been ruled out for the contest after Johnson re-injured his right ankle in the previous game versus the Lakers. The 22-year-old recently missed three games with a right ankle sprain. Johnson's absence means more playing time off the bench for De'Andre Hunter, who might even move into the starting unit. Hunter struggled against the Lakers but has done well lately, averaging 16.0 points for March. Vit Krejci and Garrison Mathews could get more usage as well in smaller lineups, although their contributions have been underwhelming.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson re-injured his right ankle on Monday versus the Lakers. Playing in his third game since returning from a sprained ankle, Johnson was hurt in the middle of the fourth quarter when he landed on teammate Clint Capela's foot. Following a trip to the locker room, Johnson rejoined the bench area for the final few minutes but didn't re-enter the game. However, the Hawks were down big at that point, and it's possible Johnson would have been thrown back into action if the score had been competitive. His status definitely deserves monitoring ahead of the next game on Thursday versus Phoenix.
