Rival evaluators are divided on what AJ Dybantsa’s fit alongside Trae Young could mean for his growth, and that split has already become part of the conversation around the No. 1 overall pick. On one side, the concern is obvious: Young is one of the league’s premier play-makers, but that kind of presence can cut into how often Dybantsa gets to handle the ball and create for himself.
One scout told Josh Robbins of The Athletic that the ideal setup would be simpler than what Dybantsa may face in Atlanta. “Ideally, you put the ball in his hands, and you let him figure it out,” the scout said.
“He’s talented enough that, as you grow your team, he’ll get better. In this situation, there’s aspects of his game that he will have to fit around those guys.
So, that part just kind of remains to be seen. It can certainly kind of hinder some aspects of his development, him being better as a creator.
If he doesn’t have those opportunities, if he’s kind of boxed into spacing the floor and not being like a knockdown shooter, he would benefit from having the ball, posting up smaller guys, driving, getting into the teeth of the defense.”
Not everyone saw that as a problem. Another evaluator told Robbins that the pairing of Young and big man Anthony Davis would be a “massive positive” for Dybantsa. A different scout went even further, saying it’s helpful that the rookie won’t have to “shoulder the burden of creating a ton of offense for himself.”
“He’s got so many guys that are really good basketball players that he should be able to find his spots within the flow of the offense,” that latter scout said. “He’ll get out and transition and finish. He’ll get the ball on the second side of the offense and be able to create.”
Dybantsa won’t get his regular season run underway Wednesday against Milwaukee, though. Head coach Brian Keefe said Tuesday that the rookie has been ruled out for the opener because of an ankle injury, and he’ll be day-to-day after that.
The Southeast also has a few other roster notes worth watching as the season gets going. Magic guard Anthony Black said Tuesday that missing out on a rookie scale extension before Monday’s deadline won’t alter his mindset.
“I’ve still go to do what I need to do,” Black said. “Still trying to help the team win.
It’s more important than just me. So (I’m) looking forward to having a good season and making the most out of this year with my team.”
Black has also been dealing with an ankle injury, and he said he isn’t sure whether he’ll be available for Orlando’s opener against Atlanta on Wednesday.
In Miami, second-round pick Ryan Conwell has put together a preseason stretch that could earn him a real role. Over his last three preseason games, he averaged 17 points and six assists while shooting 48.7% from the floor.
Bam Adebayo praised the rookie guard’s poise, saying, “He’s really under control,” Adebayo said of the rookie guard, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. “He doesn’t get too rattled.
And obviously he keeps the same facial expression while he’s out there. So, he’s not playing like a rookie.”
Elsewhere in Atlanta, new Hawks wing Aaron Wiggins talked to Grant Afseth of RG.org about what he and former Oklahoma City teammate Luguentz Dort can bring to the team, and said it’s been helpful to have a “familiar face” around while he settles into his new NBA home.
The Hawks also announced a notable business move, entering into a streaming agreement with Amazon Prime for 2026/27. According to the team, local fans in the market will be able to stream Hawks games exclusively on Prime Video during the coming season, making Atlanta the first team to strike such a deal with Amazon.
In Other News...
Hawks Win Over Magic Ends With Rivalry Tension Fans Will Notice
The Hawks opened their Southeast Division schedule with a 132-125 win over Orlando, extending their recent edge in the matchup to six straight. It was the kind of game that had enough offense to feel like a statement and enough edge to feel personal, with Paolo Banchero pouring in 35 points for the Magic while Jalen Johnson answered with 20 points and 14 rebounds for Atlanta.
The competitive tone carried into the final seconds, and the finish had a little more bite than a typical regular-season opener. After the final horn, the emotions spilled over between Banchero and Johnson, with teammates and staff stepping in to calm things down and keep the moment from turning into something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Quin Snyder May Already Have A New Hawks Closer
In the Hawks season opener against the Magic, Aaron Wiggins quickly found himself in the kind of role teams usually reserve for players they trust when the game tightens. Quin Snyder leaned on him for meaningful minutes throughout the night, a sign that the newcomer was not just filling space in the rotation but was already being treated like someone who could stay on the floor when it mattered.
Wiggins rewarded that trust with a steady two-way showing, mixing scoring with activity on the glass and in the passing lanes while knocking down shots from deep. For a Hawks team still sorting out its late-game identity this early in the season, the bigger question is how long this level of confidence from Snyder lasts and whether Wiggins can keep turning opportunity into a closing role. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Try To Stay Unbeaten With One Roster Question Looming
After opening the season with a win over Orlando, the Hawks head into their matchup with the Hornets with an early chance to build on that momentum. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels helped set the tone in the opener, and Atlanta has already shown enough to suggest its rotation can withstand a few bumps this early in the schedule.
The injury report, though, gives the Hawks one lingering roster wrinkle to sort through. Mouhamed Gueye and Henri Veesaar are both out, with Gueye still working back from a summer foot injury and Veesaar sidelined for the season, leaving Atlanta to keep juggling depth as it tries to stay unbeaten. [Read more 🡒]