Atlanta Hawks’ ‘weakest link’ could be in line for a big payday

The Atlanta Hawks are already having it tough enough coming to an agreement with third-year forward De’Andre Hunter on a potential extension. At last check, the two sides are in concert on a four-year agreement but remain roughly $20 million apart. Hunter also comes with a unique set of circumstances.

Atlanta has undergone quite the facelift this offseason making the 24-year-old Hunter the third longest-tenured player on the roster. Tenure has not kept teammate John Collins out of trade talks as it has with Hunter.

But that speaks to the complexity of the situation the Hawks find themselves in.

As it stands, Hunter has been tabbed as the Hawks’ “weakest link” among their starting lineup that now also features Dejounte Murray.

De’Andre Hunter puts Atlanta Hawks in interesting situation as “weakest link”

Murray’s arrival is mostly a good omen for Hunter as much as any other Hawks player. On top of no longer being expected to become the Hawks’ second star or defend smaller guards, he also won’t have to play a game that is beyond his skill set. Hunter had taken steps forward as a playmaker in his injury-shortened 2021 season.

But he regressed in many facets this past season including creating offense and on defense.

Defense was supposed to be Hunter’s strength. But that was not the case last year, explains Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes.

“Hunter…produced a minus-2.0 EPM in 2021-22, and he also comes with health concerns after playing just 76 games combined over the last two years. A double-figure scorer in all three seasons of his career…Hunter’s importance to Atlanta’s playoff plans might make him seem like an odd choice as a weak link, but the difficulty of his job and the injury-related infrequency with which he’s been able to perform it make him a clear vulnerability.”

The 6-foot-8 Hunter has now posted a defensive rating in the 36th percentile or worse in two of the past three seasons, per Cleaning the Glass. His 4.5-point improvement in his offensive rating negated a 7.8-point regression in his defensive rating.

Negative advanced production and spotty injury history – Hunter has had two meniscus surgeries in less than two years – are easy ways to earn doubter’s attention.

But guarding the toughest assignment does not often lend itself to nice stats.

“If everything breaks right, Hunter will resume his path toward becoming one of the league’s best three-and-D role players. But it’s not a coincidence that others from his draft class, with the San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson being a particularly good comp, have already gotten their rookie extensions. That Hunter hasn’t earned the same commitment speaks to the question marks surrounding him.”

Those question marks did not stop the Hawks from designating Hunter as “off-limits” in trade talks. Perhaps that was a motivational tactic.

“If calling him a weak link seems too harsh,” writes Hughes, “we can all agree he’s the Hawks starter with the most to prove in the coming season.”

The Hawks just went through trading away one of their home-grown players after paying them in Kevin Huerter largely to avoid the luxury tax. That becomes less of an option as they try to build towards a contender.

Their hope is that Hunter will be a part of that rather than a stepping stone to it. How much is that hope worth to the Hawks?