Aaron Wiggins has wasted no time giving the Hawks exactly what their starting group needs.
Through Atlanta’s first three preseason games this October, Wiggins has been lights out from deep, hitting 46.2% of his threes while bringing the kind of confidence that can change the geometry of a lineup. That matters because his fit next to Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson is obvious: two aggressive slashers who are not known for stretching the floor, and a new addition who can help make the whole thing work.
Johnson and Daniels create pressure at the rim, but both bring shooting limitations that force the rest of the floor to carry more of the burden. Wiggins looks built for that job. Over those three preseason outings, he has averaged just over 8.5 3PA/36 minutes, showing both the volume and the efficiency to punish defenses that collapse toward Atlanta’s drivers.
The comparison that jumps out is Luke Kennard. Last season, Kennard was often one of the first players Quin Snyder turned to off the bench, and the reason was clear: his shooting gave the Hawks a clean answer when defenses crowded Daniels and Johnson. Kennard’s lack of defense was part of the tradeoff, but Snyder still needed his spacing night after night.
After Kennard was moved at the trade deadline, Jonathan Kuminga took over as the top option off the bench, but he never found the same reliable touch from beyond the arc. Wiggins now appears positioned to take on that role, with the added bonus of offering a significant upgrade defensively.
For a team built around Daniels and Johnson getting downhill, Wiggins’ willingness to keep firing from range may be the piece that keeps Snyder coming back to him all season long.
In Other News...
Jock Landale Sees One Early Hawks Trend That Could Really Matter
Through four preseason games, the Hawks have already started to show one of the quieter benefits of October basketball: time for the younger players to get real run. Atlanta used its recent win over Oklahoma City to lean into that approach, giving those pieces extended minutes while the roster continues sorting out how it wants to play together on both ends of the floor. For a team trying to build habits early, those reps can matter just as much as the final score.
Jock Landale has been watching that process closely, and his message has centered on the same thing Atlanta keeps emphasizing internally, communication and chemistry. He said he is committed to the Hawks and pointed to the work still ahead on offensive and defensive communication, a reminder that preseason is as much about forming connections as it is about results. The trend is encouraging, but the real test will be whether it carries over once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks May Be Fixing The Weakness That Hurt Them Most
One of the clearest signs of progress for the Hawks this preseason has come on the glass. Atlanta has been active on the offensive boards in each exhibition, a welcome development for a team that knows second-chance opportunities can change the shape of an offense. Asa Newell stood out early with five offensive rebounds in the opener against Memphis, and the collective approach has been just as notable as any single performance.
Against Indiana, the Hawks showed how many different players are getting involved in the effort, with multiple contributors crashing the offensive glass and keeping possessions alive. Whether it is a point of emphasis from the coaching staff or simply a sharper edge from the roster, the early returns suggest Atlanta may be addressing one of the issues that has hurt it before, even if the real test still waits when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Preseason Is Already Raising Questions About Two Rotation Battles
The Hawks preseason has given the coaching staff a useful early look at the back end of the rotation, even with key players getting rest in recent games. Atlanta is 3-1, and the focus has shifted to which reserves can turn short audition minutes into a real role once the games start counting.
Jalen Fleming has made a case for steady backup point guard duty, while Joe Kispert has been working through a rough stretch on both offense and defense. Kobe Johnson, Jalen Wilson and RayJ Dennis have each flashed something in limited chances, and Lu Dort has only gotten into one game so far, leaving the final roster picture and the pecking order still very much in flux. [Read more 🡒]