The Atlanta Hawks have found themselves in a tough spot when it comes to finishing at the rim, particularly since trading away Trae Young in early January. Their struggles in this area have been glaring, and the current lineup hasn't shown signs of improvement. However, the recent trade bringing Jonathan Kuminga into the fold could be the spark they need to turn things around.
This season, the Hawks have had a hard time converting at the rim, a situation that has only worsened since the New Year. Before the Young trade, they were middle-of-the-pack in rim finishing, sitting at 15th. The number of attempts hasn't drastically changed, with only a slight 1.3% drop per game.
Some might point to the integration of CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert into the lineup as a factor, but both have been solid finishers at the rim. The exits of Young and Kristaps Porzingis, who only played a combined 27 games, haven't significantly impacted this aspect either. Young was underperforming, and Porzingis lacked the agility to drive into the paint effectively.
Another angle to consider is the departure of Luke Kennard and Vit Krejci, which may have affected the team's spacing. Yet, this theory doesn't hold up well against the stats. Between the debut of McCollum and Kispert and the trade deadline, the Hawks ranked third worst in rim efficiency, indicating the issue began earlier.
Enter Jonathan Kuminga. While his past performance has been inconsistent, and off-court issues have raised eyebrows, his ability to attack the rim is undeniable. Kuminga is a dynamic athlete, known for his speed, strength, and leaping ability, making him a nightmare for defenders.
Excluding this season, where his conflict with Steve Kerr and the Warriors might have skewed his numbers, Kuminga has consistently ranked in the top 20% of small forwards for rim attempts per 100 possessions. His conversion rate on these attempts places him in the top quarter of small forwards in three out of his first four seasons.
Kuminga's arrival in Atlanta could either be a masterstroke or a puzzling misstep. However, his potential to enhance the Hawks' rim finishing is undeniable, and it's exactly what they need to address their current woes.