Though the NBA’s offseason is still bubbling over with rumors and news about where players might end up, the Atlanta Hawks have been quite quiet so far in making moves.
So far, the team has only signed its three first-round picks – Trae Young, Kevin Huerter and Omari Spellman – to multi-year deals this offseason, but that doesn’t mean the team won’t make moves as the offseason progresses.
As we wait for those moves to come though, we decided to delve into the Atlanta Hawks depth charts at each position. Next up: Small Forward.
SF Depth Chart:
Taurean Prince
DeAndre’ Bembry
Kevin Huerter/Justin Anderson
There should be no surprises at the top of this list. Taurean Prince played extraordinarily well in the final months of the 2017-18 season, shaking off some early clunkers to become one of the Hawks’ most reliable scorers.
Sometimes, a player’s game is unlocked when he is given a chance with the ball in his hands more, and that was exactly the case with the Prince That Was Promised in the waning games of last season.
Prince was given the opportunity to spread his wings and serve as an offensive creator, primary ballhandler and lead distributor with both Dennis Schröder and Kent Bazemore out with injuries, and he completely dominated in that role.
He erupted for 38-point scoring outbursts twice in the span of 10 days, and he looked terrific doing it. Though he could get a bit trigger-happy at times, for the most part, TP taking tough, deep threes was the best offense the Hawks could muster.
Though his defense was average to below-average, he is a big body and is one of the few players on the Hawks that could capably defend the best players in the league at the three.
Prince earned his stripes last season, and he should be safe in his role as the team’s starting small forward for next season and beyond.
Further down the depth chart, DeAndre’ Bembry will most likely get one more chance as the team’s best defensive option at the three, but he will need to prove two things: That he can stay healthy, and that he can actually clean up some of his more glaring offensive mistakes.
Bembry was somewhat miscast as a backup ballhandler for the Hawks off the bench, a role in which he struggled mightily. He seems much more suited to being a three-and-D wing, spotting up for threes and locking down opposing wings when he gets the chance.
Beyond that, it seems likely that Kevin Huerter will get some spot minutes at the three, though his lack of defensive prowess will probably limit his utility in that role.
Perhaps ahead of him on the depth chart at the three will be Justin Anderson, who was recently acquired in the Hawks/Thunder/76ers deal, and he is also seemingly a player that matches the coaching style of Lloyd Pierce – a dogged defender with size, speed and agility.
Cleveland has looked quite sharp so far in Vegas Summer League and the pairing of himself and Morris at the two guard has stifled opposing ballhandlers at the three and two, respectively.
With Taurean Prince on the roster, the Hawks have a clear #1 option at the three position with plenty of upside still to be explored – something that not many teams in the league can say.
Next: Hawks Projected Starting Lineup for 18-19 Season
Either way, The 2018-19 Atlanta Hawks are definitely going to be more fun to watch than the 2017-18 rendition.