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Atlanta Hawks Unveil Summer League Roster, First Game July 2

ByChris Guest|
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 25: Lloyd Pierce, Omari Spellman #6, Trae Young #11 and Kevin Huerter #1 of the Atlanta Hawks pose for a portrait after an introductory press conference on June 25, 2018 at Emory Healthcare Courts in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 25: Lloyd Pierce, Omari Spellman #6, Trae Young #11 and Kevin Huerter #1 of the Atlanta Hawks pose for a portrait after an introductory press conference on June 25, 2018 at Emory Healthcare Courts in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)

After the Atlanta Hawks nabbed three potential Hall of Famers (hey, you never know!) via the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, the franchise will immediately turn around and participate in Utah’s Summer League starting on Monday, June 2.

This marks the first time the Hawks have been a part of the Utah Jazz’s Summer League festivities, and it couldn’t come at a better time.

The Hawks are on the mind of many basketball fans, as they made a bold move (that we didn’t particularly agree with, mind you) and traded down to select Trae Young at #5 overall – after they had already taken Slovenian phenom Luka Doncic with the 3rd overall pick.

The Utah Summer League will be the first opportunity that Young and his fellow 2018 Draftmate Omari Spellman have to showcase their skills against high-level, organized NBA competition.

Though Kevin Huerter was selected 19th overall by the Hawks, he will not play in either Summer League as he recovers from wrist surgery he had in the offseason.

The full Utah Summer League roster was announced during the week:

https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/1012702552587005955

As you can see, the team is highlighted by a bevy of second-year players from the 2017-18 squad – headlined by Second Team All-Rookie member John Collins. Joining him is fellow 2017 draftmate Tyler Dorsey, as well as Jaylen Morris and Antonius Cleveland, who both made their debuts last season.

Joining those second-year NBA vets are rookies Jaylen Adams, who the Hawks recently signed to a Two-Way Contract, Jock Landale, who had been previously linked to the Hawks after going undrafted on June 21 and second round selection last year Alpha Kaba, a big man who played overseas in 2017-18.

Also included on the roster are Zach LeDay, Junior Robinson, Brandon Sampson and Zach Smith. Smith, Sampson and Robinson all worked out for the Hawks prior to the NBA draft, and they must’ve been intrigued by what those players showed in their pre-draft activity.

All of these players are a little more seasoned in terms of college basketball, as they were more prepared to deny the one-and-done trend in the NCAA. Perhaps the most intriguing of these players is Junior Robinson, who stands only 5-foot-5, but who was named Northeast Conference Player of the year in 2017-18 with Mount St. Mary’s after putting up 22 PPG, 4.8 APG and a 38.8% clip from deep on 6.3 attempts per game.

Next: Warriors of the East? Thoughts on Hawks 2018 NBA Draft

The Hawks first game Utah Summer League game is July 2 against the Memphis Grizzlies at 7 p.m. EST. The games will be telecast on NBA TV.

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