With the regular season fully underway, let’s delve into what the 2018-19 season might look like for new Atlanta Hawks center Alex Len.
Later in the summer after the free agent dust had settled and most of the big-name players were off the market, the Atlanta Hawks made a move that flew under the radar for most when they signed former top 5 pick Alex Len.
After Dewayne Dedmon opted into his contract and returned to the team, the starting center position looked to be filled already especially with the versatility of John Collins to play both center and power forward. So when Alex Len signed his two-year contract with the Hawks, it went somewhat unnoticed.
Throughout the summer his name was rarely mentioned, but that all changed when preseason came. Len balled out for the Hawks. He showed the ability to play physically and with authority at the rim and proved that he had the touch and stroke to shoot the ball from the perimeter.
Len never lived up to the expectations that come with being a top 5 pick in the NBA draft in his time with the Phoenix Suns. In five seasons with the Suns he only averaged 7.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. While it is hard to get excited about those numbers, you can get excited about the way Len played for the Hawks this preseason.
Len never really played with a point guard that has the ability to pass as well as Trae Young seems to have, and he played on teams that didn’t move the ball as well as this Hawks team hopefully will. Players sometimes need nothing more than a change of scenery or a new set of coaches that can release or discover untapped potential.
While he may never live up to the hype of being a high draft pick he has a chance to become a solid NBA player on a team that is looking for their big man of the future. If Len can step up to the plate and mesh well with this team that will certainly have fans jumping out of their seats on the offensive end of the floor.
Len has already provided a highlight dunk this preseason to get Atlanta Hawks fans and (his new team) excited about the role he will play for this team, and hopefully there is plenty more to come.
Hawks fans should definitely keep an eye on Alex Len’s production as the season moves forward.
He is on a very reasonable contract and his play could make him much more valuable than the amount of money he is paid. With a new and improved three point stroke Alex Len could be the perfect front court mate to pair with John Collins.