Atlanta Hawks: 1 player to poach from each division rival

Atlanta Hawks stolen rival player No. 2: Thomas Bryant is the archetypical stretch big

It was highly tempting to put Daniel Gafford in this spot. His high-flying act would play well in Atlanta catching lobs from Trae Young, blocking shots with authority, and playing with overall infectious energy. But he’s not Washington’s best-kept secret. That designation goes to fellow big man, Thomas Bryant.

Alright, that might be overstating it for a guy that appeared in just 10 games last season thanks to a knee injury. But Bryant is still a dynamic player that fits perfectly with what the NBA is today.

As for his injury history, he’s dealt with hip, knee, and foot issues over the past three seasons.

When healthy, he’s averaged 13.4 points and 7.0 boards over the last two seasons with the Wizards, slashing .593/.411/.729. He is one of three players to average at least 13 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while shooting at least 40 percent from three in that span.

The other two are Kevin Durant and John Collins; impressive company no matter how you slice it.

Interestingly enough Bryant, like Bamba, will be a free agent next offseason. A team like the Hawks could capitalize on a very talented player looking to prove themselves in a winning situation. They could certainly do much worse than either of the big men but, for our money, Bryant is the better investment.

Their health is about a push. But the 6-foot-11 Bryant’s shooting touch is far more developed at this point in his career while he also provides comparable defensive prowess.