The Atlanta Hawks received more bad De’Andre Hunter news in that he is likely to miss approximately the next seven weeks. According to Sarah K Spencer of AJC, Hunter has had an MRI on his right wrist and will undergo surgery.
Hunter was just starting to get back into the swing of things before the injury, playing some good offense to go along with his stellar defense. Unfortunately, the injury does not come at a good time for the win-now Hawks so the team are looking for other players on the roster to step up in his absence.
Fortunately, the team is used to covering for the loss of their best wings given that they played less than a third of the season with their first choices in 2020-21. Hunter missed the majority of the season with a knee injury and Cam Reddish missed with an Achilles injury. Let’s see who the Hawks will need to step up this season to continue their success.
Atlanta Hawks player to step up No. 3) Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot
While Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot is unlikely to see a great deal of court time, he is going to be crucial to come on in situations as he did against the Boston Celtics. He played 18 seconds for the entire game but that is crucial for the team. He only played six seconds against the Charlotte Hornets and got 1:27 of junk time against the OKC Thunder.
This is how Luwawu-Cabbarot is going to get more game time. He needs to stay ready and do a job every time that he hits the floor. He will come on for the end of periods if there is a defensive possession and the Hawks coaching staff do not want to risk another foul on Kevin Huerter or Cam Reddish.
Atlanta Hawks player to step up No. 2) Cam Reddish
The Hawks were without Reddish for the majority of last season and he is trying to make up for that at the start of this one. He was named the biggest surprise for the Hawks this season and it is easy to see why.
Reddish started the season with a level of aggression that benefitted the Hawks’ offense. He was shooting the 3-ball well and had several games where he scored at or near 20 points. His offense then fell away during the Hawks extended losing streak. It has since come back in a big way including the game-winning dagger against the Charlotte Hornets.
While Reddish is an important offensive piece, it is his work on the defensive end that will be most crucial for the Hawks during Hunter’s absence. He is now the best individual wing defender on the active roster meaning that it is his job to shut down the opposition’s best player when Reddish is on the floor.
Reddish is more than up for this challenge. He needs to show the Hawks that he is worth an extension next summer when he becomes eligible. His first two seasons were interrupted, one by COVID-19 and the other by injury. Now it is time for Reddish to shine.
Atlanta Hawks player to step up No. 3) Kevin Huerter
Last season when Hunter and Reddish were injured, Huerterwas used as a starter and then as the second unit floor general. The Hawks played so much better when Bogdan Bogdanovic started and Huerter was on the bench.
This season, despite having some struggles on offense, Huerter is back and firing. If his game against the Boston Celtics is anything to go by, Huerter is back with a vengeance. He is truly taking advantage of being open due to teams trapping Trae Young.
Huerter surprised many NBA pundits last season with how far he improved on defense. He led the Hawks for the season in steals per game and then when he needed to change the way he defended in the playoffs, he was up there in blocks per game for the team.
Huerter is not always going to score the most points, create the most assists, or get the most rebounds. He is going to give you whatever you need on a nightly basis, such is the broad range of his talent.