The Atlanta Hawks are looking at having a solid training camp. They have a number of fringe players who are looking to secure the final guaranteed roster spot. They also have some first and second-year players who are trying to prove that they are worth giving minutes to in the preseason.
On top of that, with the exception of Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, the rest of the Hawks squad are proving their fitness. Cam Reddish is looking good, Bogdan Bogdanovic’s knee has not troubled him, and Kevin Huerter is progressing well in his return from an ankle cleanup.
However, the best possible news for the Hawks to come out of training camp is the return of De’Andre Hunter. He was originally not going to take part in both of the two-a-day practices in training camp but has not appeared to have any issues with his knee during the workouts.
Just how far can the Atlanta Hawks go with a healthy De’Andre Hunter
According to Solomon Hill, the Hawks would have been the NBA champions if Hunter had been healthy. Hill rates the skills of Hunter highly on both ends of the floor but he highlighted his defensive capabilities in a recent article by Chris Kirshner of the Athletic.
The good thing for the Hawks is that Hunter is up for any challenge. His response to Hill’s claims was said with confidence, saying that he was just going to have to prove the NBA veteran right. It is this level of banter, and a level of challenge, that is going to lead to some solid chemistry on the court.
The thing is that Hill is most probably right. The final two opponents that the Hawks needed to dispatch were the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns. Hunter would have slowed Khris Middleton down and then he would have taken on the Suns greatest weapon Devin Booker.
However, the past is the past and the Hawks have to prepare for a new season with different challenges. Hopefully, they will have a much better year with a quicker start, meaning they will have a better chance of securing the prize of home-court advantage.