The Hawks are staring at two big decisions before they ever tip off against the Orlando Magic on Oct. 21.
Training camp is almost here, with players set to report for Media Day on Sept. 28, but Atlanta still has some unfinished business on the roster side and in the backcourt. One question is purely practical: how does this team get from 16 players to 15? The other is more about identity, because the backup point guard job looks like a real preseason battle.
Atlanta has spent most of the summer carrying 17 players for 15 spots, and the numbers only came down a bit when the team waived Devin Carter on Sept. 11. That still leaves Onsi Saleh and the front office needing at least one more move before opening night, whether that comes through another cut or a consolidation trade.
There are a few obvious names in the mix. Buddy Hield’s $9.7 million deal was fully guaranteed in June, which makes his contract a possible trade chip if Atlanta wants to package him with another fringe rotation piece and bring back an impact player to address the small forward spot. The alternative is much simpler, if not prettier: the Hawks could waive Hield outright, though that would not look great after already guaranteeing the money.
Mouhamed Gueye is another player who could end up on the wrong side of the numbers. His injury and $2.4 million non-guaranteed contract make him a difficult hold, even with the defensive forward depth he brings. Corey Kipsert is probably on the outside of the rotation picture as well, but his near $14.0 million contract makes him tough to move or cut cleanly.
If Atlanta feels good about Kingston Flemings after preseason, Ryan Nembhard could also be the odd man out. That would clear a path, but it would leave the point guard room thin in a hurry if either he or Dyson Daniels gets hurt.
That leads straight into the other major question: who backs up the lead guard spots?
For years, the Hawks have lived with uneven play behind the starter. That could change this season if Flemings and Nembhard both make a strong case in camp. The two guards have a similar feel for the game - smart pick-and-roll passing, enough burst to get past defenders, and a tendency to keep turnovers in check.
Atlanta used the No. 8 pick on Flemings in this year’s draft, and he showed off his passing during Summer League. At 19, he has a higher ceiling than the 23-year-old Nembhard, especially when you factor in his defensive upside and age. The usual rookie growing pains are real, but ball security is already one of Flemings’ strengths.
Nembhard, meanwhile, has already shown he can run an offense. He played 60 games and made 27 starts for the Dallas Mavericks as a rookie, averaging 5.3 assists against 1.4 turnovers.
He even handed out 23 assists in last season’s finale. At 5-foot-11, he still proved he can handle the job as a lead ball handler.
So the Hawks are left with a choice that goes beyond one preseason stat line. Do they prioritize Flemings’ development and let the rookie grow into the role, or do they stick with the steadier option in Nembhard? Quin Snyder is expected to give both guards a real shot at earning regular-season minutes before the final call is made.
In Other News...
Mo Gueye Might Be A Bigger Hawks Story Than Fans Realize
Mouhamed Gueye has quietly become one of the more interesting developmental stories on Atlantas roster since the Hawks drafted him in 2023. His role has grown step by step as his defense and three-point shooting have taken noticeable strides, and that growth has put him in position to matter more than the casual fan might expect when the season starts.
The Hawks are counting on Gueye to be part of the bench group that gives them some flexibility, especially with the way his skill set can stretch a second unit. For a player who arrived as a long-term project, the next stretch of his career now carries a little more urgency, and Atlanta will get a clearer read on just how much he can become before the calendar turns again. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Still Have One Roster Problem That Could Define This Season
The center spot has been a sore point for Atlanta for a while, and it showed up again when Onyeka Okongwu was outmatched by Karl-Anthony Towns in the playoff series against the Knicks. The Hawks have already cycled through different answers, bringing in Jock Landale and Tony Bradley and adding young bigs such as Zuby Ejiofor and Henri Veesaar, but none has yet looked like the kind of interior anchor that changes the shape of the roster.
What comes next could end up defining the season as much as anything else the Hawks do. They can keep searching for help on the market or hope their younger centers grow into the job, while Okongwus place in the picture remains important after years of being viewed as part of the solution rather than the whole answer. An extension decision also looms, which only adds to the pressure on Atlanta to get this one right. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks' Newest Camp Addition Could Force An Unexpected Roster Debate
The Hawks have added another big man to the mix with the signing of center Will Baker to a training camp deal, a move that gives the organization another developmental body to evaluate before opening night. Baker arrives with G League experience already on his resume, having spent time with the Iowa Wolves and Osceola Magic, and he figures to get a closer look as Atlanta sorts out its frontcourt depth in camp.
For now, the path to a longer stay is not exactly straightforward. Atlantas two-way contract spots are already filled, which makes any further roster maneuvering more complicated, but those kinds of openings can change quickly once camp gets rolling and performances start to matter. Baker gives the Hawks a familiar type of option to monitor, and his presence adds another layer to a roster discussion that could become more interesting than it looked at first glance. [Read more 🡒]