Atlanta Hawks: Who Will Exceed Expectations In 2016-17?

Malcolm Delaney

Position: Point Guard

2015-16 Statistics (Lokomotiv): 16.3 PPG, 5.5 APG, 3.4 RPG

Slash Line: 42.7/40.2/85.1

Despite being named All-Euroleague First Team last season to go along with a ton of other accolades since playing overseas, Malcolm Delaney isn’t yet a household name in NBA circles. Noticed how yet was included.

Delaney had been targeted by NBA teams for the past couple of summers, but decided to wait for the best possible situation for him and his family. Delaney is familiar with the Atlanta area and will also help bolster the already young point guard position with Jarrett Jack.

There aren’t necessarily significant expectations for Delaney coming into next season for the simple fact that the majority of fans don’t know how the 6’3″ guard out of Baltimore plays.

Delaney will be a great option for head coach Mike Budenholzer to bring off the bench for scoring purposes. He has the distance to space the defense and the quickness to get into the paint and force the rotating defenders to make split decisions.

Delaney isn’t just a scorer, though. He also uses his ability to score at all three levels to create open shots for his teammates, which he did last season with Lokomotiv.

The biggest adjustment for Delaney will likely come at the defensive end. The point guard position in the NBA is arguably the deepest in terms of superstar talent. While he played at the highest level in Europe, there is no guards with the skills of Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, or Chris Paul.

His rookie season will be a learning experience for sure, but Delaney’s scoring ability will make him feel right at home with the Hawks and he will catch many off-guard with how effective he can be.

Next: Holding Down The Paint