Atlanta Hawks: The latest news on De’Andre Hunter isn’t encouraging

Atlanta Hawks fans came into the preseason with the same goal as the team: make it out healthy. We knew they would be without second-year center Onyeka Okongwu until January at the earliest. But it wasn’t until training camp that we found out to what extent the Hawks were dealing with injuries.

Bogdan Bogdanovic, Clint Capela, Kevin Huerter all had some form of procedure performed during the offseason. They would join Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter (both expected) among those who would be brought along slowly.

Reddish was held out of Summer League but has looked healthy. Hunter was rusty but did alright in his return on Wednesday.

Now, reports say the latter came out of it a little worse for wear.

Hopefully Atlanta Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter’s knee soreness is part of the healing process

The news came via Head Coach Nate McMillan amidst a slew of DNPs for Friday’s practice. Among them, Kevin Huerter, who had 15 points in the loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers and said after the game that his ankle felt good. Trae Young was also sidelined still dealing with his quad injury.

Hunter’s absence was notable because of the added qualifier that he was experiencing knee soreness, per McMillan.

The former fourth-overall pick only appeared in 23 regular-season games and five games in the playoffs, all in the first round. He averaged 15.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists (10.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in the playoffs) last season but had a stretch where he averaged 22.4 points per game before initially going down.

He tried to gut it out but ultimately had surgery that kept him out until just before the playoffs.

Hunter would have a second procedure on his meniscus in less than a year. Diagnosed with what is described as “articular wear and tear”, his soreness now is certainly off-putting with the injury usually taking six months to a year to heal completely.

Initially, it was unclear if Hunter would play at all in the preseason. But after practicing in full and responding well, he was given the green light in the Hawks second preseason outing. He had eight points, three rebounds, two assists, and a block in a shade under 26 minutes.

But two days after the game and he still isn’t practicing.

The obvious hope is that this is just a part of the healing process. So far, we’ve gotten no indication that this is anything but. It is hard to ignore, however, given his recent injury history.

Hunter will also be extension eligible next offseason with a bead on restricted free agency the following year. He’s shown flashes of potential that suggest he could be the second-best player on this team. But his health could ultimately belie that and leave the Hawks turning to alternatives at the position.