With the NBA preseason almost wrapped up and the Atlanta Hawks a week away from opening against the Orlando Magic, there’s at least one roster issue that still looks very much alive: the backup center spot. That’s the kind of problem that can linger quietly in October and turn loud fast once the games start counting.
Atlanta has spent the preseason trying to shape itself into a defense-first team, but the fit hasn’t been perfect across the board. One of the roughest combinations the Hawks have used has been Corey Kispert, Asa Newell, and Jock Landale.
Newell got the first shot at the backup power forward job, but he hasn’t locked it down the way Atlanta likely wanted. Once Mouhamed Gueye returns from injury, it sounds like that spot could be his.
The bigger concern is the third center role. So far, that has belonged to rookie Zuby Ejiofor, whose minutes have bounced around during the preseason. If Onyeka Okongwu or Landale were to miss time, Atlanta could find itself in a spot where Ejiofor is being asked to handle more than he’s ready for.
That’s where a rare pre-opening-night trade idea comes in. In this three-team deal, the Hawks would fill the third-center need while also giving themselves another defensive piece to work with.
The package would send Josh Hart, Corey Kispert, Asa Newell, a 2030 second-round pick from Atlanta via New York, and a 2033 second-round pick via Atlanta to the Clippers.
For Atlanta, the appeal is pretty clear. The Hawks would land a more dependable third center on a low-cost deal, plus an elite defender who could help deepen the backcourt.
The move would let Ejiofor spend this season developing in the G League instead of being rushed into a bigger role. It would also bring in a strong rebounder who would fit the job Atlanta needs filled, even if he is not a floor spacer.
That said, the fit raises a few real questions. Would Dunn work naturally next to Dyson Daniels and Lu Dort, two defense-first players who both have offensive limitations?
Jackson would solve the immediate center depth issue, but he doesn’t stretch the floor, and Atlanta wants more shooting from its bigs. The Hawks would also have to decide how much they really want to give up Kispert, and whether Newell is already movable with Zuby Ejiofor and Gueye still on the roster.
For the Knicks, the deal is about getting out ahead of the contract picture that’s coming. New York has already made clear it will not discuss an extension with Karl-Anthony Towns, and those talks already appear complicated.
The Knicks would probably prefer not to part with Hart, considering how important he was during the championship run and how strong his connection is with Jalen Brunson. Still, the second apron is coming, and that can force hard choices.
New York’s biggest roster issue right now is backup center. Brook Lopez is not the player he once was, but he offers more than Andre Drummond. Jones Jr. would also help cover some of the defensive impact Hart brings.
As for the Clippers, they would be getting a young frontcourt piece in Newell, and they need help up front. Hart would give them a player they could potentially move later for more assets, while Kispert would add shooting.
In Other News...
Hawks Rotation Battle Is Heating Up Right Before The Opener
With one preseason game left before the opener in Orlando, the Hawks are still sorting through a rotation that has not been fully available for evaluation. Key players have sat out at different points, which has left the staff balancing recent strong showings from Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Onyeka Okongwu and CJ McCollum against the bigger question of how the group will actually fit once the games count.
Aaron Wiggins, Lu Dort, Kingston Flemings, Mouhamed Gueye and Jock Landale are shaping up as the top rotation candidates, with Flemings expected to have a meaningful bench role. Beyond that, the picture remains fluid for Corey Kispert, Dorian Finney-Smith, Asa Newell and Zuby Ejiofor, whose minutes could swing depending on health and how they perform in the final tune-up. [Read more 🡒]
Zuby Ejiofor Just Gave Hawks Fans Hope For A Real Weakness
A few encouraging signs emerged for Atlanta in the recent matchup with Oklahoma City, and Zuby Ejiofor was right in the middle of it. Playing 23 minutes off the bench, he finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and three assists while giving Quin Snyder useful minutes behind Jock Landale. The most eye-catching part was on the glass, where Ejiofor kept possessions alive and flashed the kind of energy the Hawks have been looking for.
For a team still sorting out its identity, that kind of bench production matters. Atlanta has been searching for more bite in the rebounding battle, and Ejiofors showing offered a reminder that help can come from unexpected places while the roster continues to develop. It was one game, but it was the sort of performance that can make a weakness feel a little less fixed. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Fans Can Finally Say What Bronny Coverage Exposed
The conversation around Bronny James has taken up plenty of oxygen this season, but Gilbert Arenas recently pointed out something Hawks fans have noticed too: the No. 1 pick in 2024, Zaccharie Risacher, has not drawn nearly the same level of national attention. While Bronny came into the league as a late second-round selection and every move has been dissected, Risacher has mostly flown under the radar despite carrying far bigger draft expectations and a much more direct role in Atlantas long-term plans.
DeMarcus Cousins added another layer to that imbalance by noting that Risacher is rarely mentioned in the usual debates about European and American players, even though his profile should make him part of the conversation. For the Hawks, it is a reminder that scrutiny in the NBA is not always tied to draft position or opportunity, and that a player can be shaping the narrative around him without much of the league realizing it. [Read more 🡒]