Aaron Wiggins wasted no time making his case in Atlanta.
In his preseason debut for the Hawks, the 27-year-old guard was the first player off the bench and quickly showed why the team views him as a serious rotation piece. Wiggins scored seven points in just 11 minutes during Atlanta’s loss to the Grizzlies, getting all of his damage done late in the first quarter and early in his second-quarter run.
That kind of quick burst matters in the preseason, when teams are less concerned with the scoreboard and more focused on sorting out roles, combinations, and depth. For Atlanta, that’s especially relevant after an offseason that didn’t feature major changes but did bring in new pieces meant to strengthen the second unit.
Wiggins, acquired this summer in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, looks like the newcomer most likely to make an immediate impact. If the Hawks’ preseason opener is any sign, he may not need much time to settle in.
There is still some context to keep in mind, though. CJ McCollum and Lu Dort, both expected to play major minutes in the regular-season rotation, were ruled out shortly before tip-off against Memphis.
McCollum is expected to start at point guard, while Dort is expected to be in a similar role to Wiggins. That leaves the question of who gets the first crack as the top reserve once everyone is healthy.
For now, though, Wiggins made his presence felt.
Atlanta’s depth has become one of its biggest strengths, and in a deep rotation the gap between the sixth and seventh man can be small. Either way, both players matter. Wiggins’ debut showed he belongs in that conversation right away.
What happens when Dort returns is the part worth watching. If Wiggins keeps producing like this, Quin Snyder may have a tougher decision on his hands than expected. And while Wiggins is a strong multi-level defender, Dort brings elite defensive value, with All-Defense honors to back it up.
In Other News...
Hawks Rotation Still Feels Unsettled Ahead Of Another Big Preseason Test
The Hawks head into another preseason test against the Spurs with the same basic issue hanging over camp: the rotation still does not look settled. Atlanta will be without Jalen Johnson, Lu Dort and Keshon Gilbert, while San Antonio is also dealing with its own absence, as Tobias Harris will sit. The Spurs are expected to open with De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama, which gives Atlanta another look at a lineup with plenty of size and pace to solve.
CJ McCollum is expected to return to Atlanta's starting group after missing the previous game, giving the Hawks a veteran presence back in the mix as they continue sorting out roles. The bigger subplot remains how the pieces fit together around him, especially with the team still shuffling bodies and trying to build some continuity before the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Bench Battle Just Got More Interesting After Spurs Win
The Hawks preseason bounce-back against the Spurs offered a useful reminder that the second unit is going to be under a microscope all month. After the loss to Memphis, Atlanta got a much cleaner response on the defensive end, forcing 22 turnovers and turning them into 30 points, with the bench supplying much of the energy that changed the games tone.
Kingston Flemings and Asa Newell were central to that push, giving Atlanta the kind of active, disruptive minutes coaches tend to notice in October. Flemings handled the ball, created for others and made plays on defense, while Newell kept popping up in the right spots and gave the Hawks a strong all-around impact. For a roster still sorting out roles, that kind of production only makes the bench conversation more crowded. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Preseason Comeback Put A Few Rotation Battles In Focus
Atlantas preseason win over San Antonio offered more than just a comeback from 23 down. It also gave the Hawks a better look at a few lineup questions as the roster continues to take shape, with the group catching fire from outside and using a huge second quarter to swing the game. The Hawks finished at 39.1% from three-point range and buried 10 shots from deep in that frame alone, a surge that helped turn an uneven start into a 123-116 victory.
Several players made their case in the process, starting with a rookie guard who looked comfortable in a lead role and added 15 points along with three rebounds, five assists and three steals. Dyson Daniels chipped in 13 points and 11 rebounds, while CJ McCollum supplied 14 points and four made threes. For a preseason game, it was the kind of performance that can quietly shape the conversation around rotation spots, especially for the players trying to separate from the pack. [Read more 🡒]