If Atlanta needs another source of offense Monday against Indiana, Dyson Daniels looks like the cleanest place to turn.
That possibility has opened up because Kingston Flemings is set to miss one game after being suspended. Jalen Johnson is also questionable for the same game, and if he ends up out too, the Hawks may have to dig deeper than usual to find a spark.
Daniels stands out as the most logical player to absorb some of that responsibility. He has already been quietly effective with more offensive duties early in his career, and his all-around game gives Atlanta a path to lean on him without changing who he is.
The fit makes sense because Daniels and Flemings share some of the same value points. Flemings has been a useful second-unit piece, and the rookie’s defense has been a big part of that.
Even at 19, he has already shown he can hold up on that end, which is not something you see often from a guard so early in his career. When his shot has gone cold, he has been able to stay useful by trusting his defensive instincts.
Daniels’ defense is also the strongest part of his game, but the bigger question is what happens if Atlanta asks him to carry more on offense. That concern is real, especially if Flemings and Johnson both sit against Indiana. Still, Daniels has already shown enough on the other end to suggest he can handle a larger role without disappearing defensively.
Atlanta has seen before how players can lose some of their defensive edge once their offensive workload grows. Daniels, though, already does enough on offense to suggest he’s ready for a bigger assignment. His off-ball movement, screening and finishing have helped the Hawks over the last few seasons, even if the team has plenty of other ball-handlers and he doesn’t always get a ton of halfcourt creation opportunities.
Given the situation, there’s no obvious reason Atlanta couldn’t ask for more from him. If that expanded role doesn’t click quickly, RayJ Dennis is there as another option.
But the Hawks shouldn’t need to go that route. Daniels has been steady enough to handle the job.
In Other News...
Hawks Have A Real Chance To Test Two Intriguing Rotation Options
The Hawks head into their matchup with the Pacers in a spot that could open the door for a little lineup experimentation. Indiana is set to be without several key players, including its projected starting five, which changes the feel of the game before it even tips off. Atlanta, meanwhile, is expected to have enough available bodies to keep its regular structure intact, but the circumstances also create a chance for Quin Snyder to look a little deeper into the rotation.
One of the more interesting possibilities is how the Hawks handle the minutes behind their usual core. With the game setting up as a chance to see what some lesser-used pieces can do, rookie Ejiofor could be in line for a look in the frontcourt after Jock Landales early exit against New Orleans. There is also a path for RayJ Dennis to get a turn running the offense with Kingston Flemings suspended, giving Atlanta a live game setting to evaluate two roles it may need to answer sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Lose A Bench Bright Spot At The Worst Possible Time
Atlantas bench has been getting a lift from Kingson Flemings in his rookie season, which is part of why the timing of his latest setback stings. The Hawks guard had become a notable contributor for a second unit that has needed reliable energy, and now that momentum gets interrupted after a late-game incident in New Orleans.
Flemings was ejected late in the fourth quarter against the Pelicans after elbowing Bryce McGowens in the head, and the NBA followed with a one-game suspension. For Atlanta, the immediate concern is the absence of a player who had started to carve out a real role, leaving the Hawks to patch together their backcourt rotation for the next matchup against the Indiana Pacers. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Forced Into Another Lineup Shakeup With Frontcourt Suddenly Thin
The Hawks are headed into tonights matchup with Indiana having to adjust on the fly again, this time with Jalen Johnson ruled out and the frontcourt depth taking another hit. Atlanta already had a short list of unavailable players, and the absence of Johnson adds more pressure to a rotation that has been forced to absorb a steady stream of lineup changes.
Atlanta did release its starting lineup, and the reshuffle is already showing up there as the Hawks try to piece together answers against a Pacers team dealing with its own injury issues. With both sides missing key contributors, this one has turned into a test of depth and flexibility before the opening tip, and Atlantas latest look will be worth watching to see how it holds up. [Read more 🡒]