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Atlanta Hawks: Three Players to Watch After All-Star Break

By Dallin Duffy

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 22: Brandon Goodwin #0 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts following a basket during the fourth quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at State Farm Arena on January 22, 2020 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. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 22: Brandon Goodwin #0 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts following a basket during the fourth quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at State Farm Arena on January 22, 2020 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. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 12: DeAndre’ Bembry #95 of the Atlanta Hawks in action against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 12, 2020 in New York City. Brooklyn Nets defeated the Atlanta Hawks 108-86. 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. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

DeAndre’ Bembry

Coming off a career year a season ago, DeAndre’ Bembry has struggled to improve in his fourth year. He’s also been dealing with injuries after playing in all 82 games in 2018-2019. Bembry hasn’t played since January 20th with an injured right hand.

Even while healthy, Bembry’s play was trending down, with decreased efficiency on defense and making just 23% of his threes. He has not lived up to the sixth man status he was expected to have coming into the season, and has been out-played by rookie wings Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter.

Bembry is set to be a restricted free agent at season’s end. Playing in his first contact year, the former first-rounder has only hurt his potential earnings so far. Bembry is not only auditioning for a contract, but he’s auditioning for his future on the Hawks. As mentioned earlier, Bembry is losing his role as the defense-minded forward on the team, and the Hawks may not want to cash out to keep the 25-year-old around.

A good second half could turn all of that around however.

Bembry is healthy and set to return along with the Hawks on the 20th, and while he may average a bit under the 21.3 minutes per game he’s averaging to this point, should have enough court time to show his worth.

What to watch for:

  • Improved shooting from three
  • Continued health
  • getting back to being the elite perimeter defender he showed flashes of being last year.
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