Atlanta Hawks: Delon Wright adds even more versatility to the roster
The Atlanta Hawks got involved in a three-team trade that saw them start by seemingly filling one need only to pivot to another. They sent Kris Dunn, Bruno Fernando, and a second-round pick to the Boston Celtics who, in turn, sent Tristan Thompson to the Sacramento Kings.
That netted the Hawks eight-year veteran guard, Delon Wright.
Wright has spent time with the Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Detroit Pistons, and Toronto Raptors who drafted him 20th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft.
He averaged 10.2 points and 4.4 assists in 63 games. The 29-year-old, 6-foot-5 guard out of Utah also snagged 4.3 rebounds. He is fairly average in terms of efficiency, shooting 46.3 percent from the floor and 37.2 percent from beyond the arc last season.
New Atlanta Hawks backup point guard Delon Wright brings everything you could ask for
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Sticking with his offense, Wright can play both point guard and shooting guard, pretty standard for someone with his size. But he’s also had spot-duty at small forward.
It’s not likely to be needed from him. Atlanta was already incredibly deep on the wings and got even deeper in the 2021 NBA Draft, taking Duke’s Jalen Johnson with the 20th-overall selection.
Still, it is nice to know he can fill in in a pinch, especially after the injuries they had to withstand last season.
Per 100 possessions, our favorite (albeit imperfect) rate stat when evaluating reserves, Wright ranks fourth with 2.8 steals per. Kevin Huerter was the previous highest-ranking Hawks player.
He checked in at 52nd with 1.9 steals per 100 possessions.
Wright can function as the primary backup to Young. But he can also slide next to Young (or Sharife Cooper if and when he sees the floor), providing an outlet and secondary playmaker.
He has NBA bloodlines, too.
His brother Dorell played 11 seasons in the NBA, having a similar journeyman career to the newest Hawk. The older brother had the higher peak as a scorer, while the younger one has been more consistent.
Wright will cost about $1.7 million more than Dunn and Fernando combined but is also better than both. The real question now is what, if anything, the Hawks will do at backup center. Onyeka Okongwu is out until January recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and the only other center, Nathan Knight, is a free agent.
dark. Next. Atlanta Hawks: The potential impact of Sharife Cooper making the roster
Nonetheless, it’s been a banner two days for the Hawks after the draft they had. And now, this move fills one of the few holes on this roster.