The Atlanta Hawks may already have all three of their two-way slots filled, but that doesn’t lock them into starting the season that way.
Right now, the roster is crowded. Atlanta has 17 players on the main roster, and after its latest signing, the two-way group is full too. That group includes Jalen Wilson, the University of Kansas product who most recently played for the Brooklyn Nets, along with RayJ Dennis and Keshon Gilbert, both of whom signed their deals last season.
Even so, that setup may not last.
Multi-year two-way contracts don’t always play out like permanent commitments. They’re often more of a safety net, a way for teams to keep a promising player around without fully tying themselves down. And there’s a real chance Atlanta could move on from both of the two-way players it added last season if better options emerge.
That’s where summer league becomes so important. It’s the stage where the lesser-known names fight for a real shot, and the Hawks had several players make a case.
Kobe Johnson is one of the clearest examples. Even setting aside the fact that he’s the brother of the Hawks’ franchise player, he gave Atlanta plenty to think about.
When the team chose to rest several key starters - Kingston Flemings, Asa Newell and Zuby Ejiofor - Johnson didn’t fade into the background. He stayed aggressive, matched the team’s energy, and delivered a 30-point performance in another dominant Hawks win.
That kind of showing makes the decision harder, in a good way. The Hawks have room to be flexible, and there’s a strong argument for using those two-way spots on three new players if the right ones have earned it.
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Hawks Suddenly Hold One Of The Summers Biggest Roster Decisions
LeBron James decision to head to Philadelphia instead of going back to Cleveland has already started to ripple through the Cavaliers offseason, and one of the more interesting dominoes lands in Atlanta. Cleveland is still hunting for ways to add Jonathan Kuminga, and the path to doing it may run through a Hawks front office that suddenly has real say in how this kind of deal gets shaped.
Atlantas position is worth watching because the Hawks are carrying 17 players for 15 regular-season spots, which gives them both pressure and leverage as teams come calling. The Cavaliers have room to work with and are exploring different trade frameworks, but the Hawks are not in a spot where they have to help unless the return makes sense for them, and that makes this one of the summers more intriguing roster decisions to track. [Read more 🡒]
LeBron Just Made The Hawks' Climb In The East Tougher
The Eastern Conference got a lot more crowded this summer, and Atlantas path suddenly looks steeper because of it. Philadelphia has pushed itself into the center of the conversation with major roster upgrades, while the Hawks have also been active, adding Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, Kingston Flemings and more as they try to keep pace in a conference that no longer leaves much room for error.
The problem for Atlanta is that the arms race did not stop in Philadelphia. Miami and Toronto have also made notable moves, and the 76ers now look built to contend right away if the pieces hold together. Even with all the star power in place, the real question is whether Philadelphia can stay healthy enough to make this new lineup matter, and that uncertainty is part of what makes the East so unforgiving for everyone chasing the top tier. [Read more 🡒]