Caleb Houstan is getting another NBA look, this time in Portland.
The former Hawks shooting specialist has landed with the Trail Blazers on what is expected to be an Exhibit-10 contract, a late-summer move that gives him a fresh shot to prove he belongs. That kind of deal usually comes this deep into the offseason, when teams are filling out camp and preseason bodies, and Houstan should have a chance to get into the Blazers’ final preseason action before the roster math gets sorted out.
Even if he does end up on waivers soon after, that would not necessarily close the door on his Portland stay. His rights would almost certainly remain with the organization’s G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix, giving him a path to keep building and pushing toward a bigger role.
Houstan already showed in Atlanta that he can work his way up. He arrived with the Hawks on an Exhibit-10 deal, had it converted to a two-way contract, and before the regular season ended, that became a standard NBA deal for the rest of the year.
What makes him appealing is simple: he can shoot. Houstan has connected on at least 40% of his threes in each of the last two seasons, and he’ll be trying to keep that streak alive in Portland. For a Trail Blazers team that hasn’t always been steady from outside, that kind of spacing help matters.
Portland has taken steps to address its shooting, including bringing back Damian Lillard and trading for former Hawk Vit Krejci, but teams can always use another reliable threat from deep. Houstan has a chance to be exactly that, and maybe more if he turns this opportunity into something lasting.
In Other News...
Hawks Make Another Back-End Roster Move With A Familiar Purpose
The preseason churn around the league is starting to look familiar, and the Hawks are part of it again. Charlotte most recently cycled through forward Wyatt Fricks, guard DaJuan Gordon and then guard Latrell Wrightsell, a sequence that fits the now-common pattern of giving undrafted players a brief NBA look before moving on to the next camp body.
For Atlanta, it is another reminder of how these back-end roster moves work this time of year. Gordon and Wrightsell both bring G League experience, and the likely Exhibit 10 structure gives teams a way to keep tabs on developmental guards without committing a standard roster spot, a tactic the Rockets, Jazz and Nets have also used as they sort through preseason decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Asa Newell Is Giving The Hawks One Early Reason To Worry
Asa Newell has still found ways to stand out in the preseason, especially on the glass, but his jumper has not followed the same path. For Atlanta, that is worth watching because Newells rookie season suggested he could at least be a steady enough perimeter threat to keep defenses honest, and that kind of balance matters for a roster trying to make lineups work.
So far, the shooting numbers have been rough, and the concern is less about one bad stretch than what it could mean for spacing if it lingers. The Hawks already have to account for other players who can make life crowded offensively, so Newells ability to straighten out his three-point touch may end up shaping how usable those combinations are once the games count. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Opening Night Lineup Comes With One Big Offensive Concern
The Hawks are heading into opening night against the Magic with a projected starting five of CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu, a group that looks sturdy on the defensive end and versatile enough to give opponents different looks. On paper, it has the feel of a lineup built to compete possession by possession, with enough size, athleticism and switchability to keep things organized while Atlanta settles into the season.
Still, the bigger question is where the half-court scoring comes from when the game slows down and the Hawks need someone to manufacture a good shot. McCollum brings proven offensive skill, but the balance of the lineup leans heavily toward defense and connective play, which is why the opening-night mix may not be the same one Atlanta leans on later. Depending on how things develop, there could be room for changes down the road, including a different look with Lu Dort in the first unit or Aaron Wiggins in closing lineups. [Read more 🡒]