The Hawks’ second Summer League meeting with Oklahoma City followed a familiar script early, then flipped once Atlanta settled in. After another sluggish start, the group that showed up after halftime looked a lot more like the team the Hawks wanted to be, and the game turned into a lively back-and-forth from there.
Atlanta again had trouble getting its offense off the ground in the first half. The Hawks opened by going 1-for-8 from the field and 0-for-12 from three-point range, and that cold stretch helped put them in a hole by as many as 20 points.
Aday Mara was a major reason Atlanta’s attack stalled early. His presence around the paint made the Hawks uncomfortable, and they wound up settling for outside shots instead of getting to cleaner looks inside.
The second half brought a different version of Atlanta. The Hawks found a better rhythm offensively and cleaned things up defensively after the comeback started to take shape. They also adjusted their shot selection, which helped them finish the first half shooting 20% from three and 33% from the field before improving to 33% from three overall by the end.
A big part of that turnaround came when Atlanta forced Mara to defend on the perimeter. Once he had to move away from the basket, the Hawks had more room to attack inside, and Mara struggled to recover quickly or stay comfortable in those situations. That opened the door for a scoring burst and a steady stream of easier points at the rim.
The standout performances belonged to Newell and Ejiofor, who both made their presence felt at both ends. Newell posted 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block in 28 minutes, finishing with a plus-25 plus-minus.
Ejiofor was just as important, turning in a double-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, and one block while shooting 37% from three-point range. Most of his damage came after halftime, when he helped power Atlanta back from the 20-point deficit and knocked down back-to-back threes in the fourth quarter.
In Other News...
Hawks Suddenly Hold Real Leverage In Growing Jonathan Kuminga Trade Talks
The Jonathan Kuminga sweepstakes have started to get more interesting for Atlanta, even if the Hawks are not yet the obvious landing spot. The Lakers are reportedly exploring a sign-and-trade for the Warriors forward, with Dalton Knecht mentioned as part of the conversation, and Atlanta could wind up involved if the deal turns into a broader three-team framework. For a Hawks front office that has been willing to stay active around the margins, that at least creates the possibility of turning a star-chasing negotiation into something that benefits their own roster-building plans.
Nothing is close to being finalized, and the whole situation still sits in the speculative stage, but the Hawks suddenly have a seat near the center of the table. Lakers executive Rob Pelinka has already been in contact with Kumingas agent, and Los Angeles has enough contracts and draft capital to keep working different angles. If Atlanta is going to facilitate anything, it will need to make sense on its own terms, which is where the real leverage comes in. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Offseason Winners And Losers Just Sparked A Bigger Debate
Atlantas offseason has already given Onsi Saleh a pretty clear footprint, with the Hawks keeping CJ McCollum, Jock Landale and Mouhamed Gueye in place while also bringing in Aaron Wiggins and Devin Carter and adding Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor and Henri Veesaar in the draft. It is the kind of roster churn that invites instant grading, especially in a market that is always trying to figure out whether the front office is building for now, for later, or a little of both.
Kris Risacher is still on the roster despite the trade chatter that swirled around him, and the new mix around him could end up mattering more than any single move. The bigger question now is whether Atlanta has actually created the kind of environment that helps him settle in and grow, or whether the Hawks are still one unresolved roster decision away from changing the whole conversation again. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks May Be Watching One Last Impact Move Slip Away
The Hawks have been linked to Trey Murphy III as they continue searching for ways to add another impact piece around their core, but the path to getting him looks increasingly narrow. New Orleans has every reason to value a versatile wing like Murphy, and Atlantas interest has run into the kind of trade market reality that usually slows these conversations before they get serious.
Murphys price tag is part of the problem, and the Pelicans front office is also operating with an eye on future assets and flexibility. If New Orleans keeps leaning in that direction, Atlanta may simply have to move on and look for a more realistic upgrade elsewhere, even if Murphy had been the type of swing worth monitoring. [Read more 🡒]