Which 10 day contracted players should the Atlanta Hawks pursue?

The Atlanta Hawks have done everything asked of them by the NBA during this time where they have suffered so many player losses due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols. They have signed nine players to 10-day hardship deals and bought their G League assignees up to the varsity squad.

As a result, the only game that they have missed was the Cleveland Cavaliers game, where the Cavs did not have enough players to take the court.  Despite the fact that the Hawks have had up to 13 players out, including every starter, they have managed to play every other game, collecting a 1-4 record. They have every right to feel they have had the rough end of the stick from the NBA.

However,  there is a little bit of a silver lining amidst the carnage caused by the current COVID-19 crisis which is gripping the league. The Atlanta Hawks have been able to assess how these players may fit into their system when the rest of the squad comes back. This means that they may be able to strengthen the roster for the second half of the season.

Have any of the 10-day contract players done enough to earn a roster spot with the Atlanta Hawks?

While this is a tricky one to answer due to these players not being able to form any chemistry with the main squad as most of them are out, there are a number of factors to be looked at. Some of these are what has each player bought to the team statistically, and how much energy each player has bought to the court.

There are players such as Malik Ellison, Chris Clemons, and Justin Tillman who are yet to play a game from the franchise so we can’t comment on them. Wes Iwundu has spent more time in the health and safety protocols than on the court as well.

Lance Stephenson has not done enough to warrant a roster spot and Cat Barber has not been used to any great extent. Cameron Oliver has also only played in one game. This really only leaves Chaundee Brown and Malcolm Hill.

Brown has come straight into the starting lineup and is averaging 10.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 steals in 31.0 minutes per game. His efficiency has not been there, shooting the ball at 31.6 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from behind the long line, and 83.3 percent from the line. He might be a good piece but has not shown more than Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.

Hill has been by far the most impressive of the 10-day contract players and he could be worth pursuing. If you take out his first game, which was two minutes of junk time, Hill has averaged 8.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 0.5 assists in 22.0 minutes per game.

He has also been extremely efficient, going at 62.5 percent from the floor, 60.0 percent from behind the long line, and has hit all of his four free throws. He was so good from the corner that if he can keep it up he should replace Luwawu-Cabarrot as he will space the floor so much more effectively.