Atlanta Hawks: When Will Kevin Huerter Return to Action?
By Chris Guest
A quick look at the recent news surrounding Kevin Huerte’s health on the Atlanta Hawks.
The Atlanta Hawks have been without Kevin Huerter for the entirety of the preseason, but might he miss more time?
The 21-year-old second-year player had a tremendous rookie campaign in which he cemented himself as a clear-cut member of the team’s young core alongside Rookie of the Year runner-up Trae Young and third-year big man John Collins.
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Huerter outperformed his #19 overall draft position (much like Collins before him) with flying colors, and the Hawks were far better with Huerter on the court (+6.6 efficiency differential per Cleaning the Glass, second on the team) than without him.
Red Velvet will miss the entirety of the preseason due to right knee pain, and then Huerter “tweaked” his knee in a recent scrimmage, according to Lloyd Pierce in a recent story by Brad Rowland of Peachtree Hoops.
“He tweaked his knee, or just felt a little pinge in it, on Saturday in a scrimmage. So that set him back. We were aiming to get him to play on Monday. So, the setback was from Saturday and he felt better Monday. We just wanted to see him on the court yesterday and today.”
As you can see, the Hawks hope to have Huerter back and 100 percent and practicing by Monday, ahead of the Hawks’ first game of the regular season on Thursday, October 24.
Apparently, Huerter has bulked up this offseason in order to be able to finish better through contact and in traffic, but it’s his three-point shot that will ultimately decide Huerter’s future in the NBA. If Huerter can truly become the knockdown, deadeye shooter that he seems destined to be, then the Atlanta Hawks truly have a gem on their hands.
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Even if his numbers don’t approach Klay Thompson levels of three-point marksmanship, Kev has all the makings of a preeminent glue guy in the NBA, and that’s not a bad career arc to have.