Soaring Down South
Fansided

Newest Atlanta Hawks addition sounds off on 2-way contract

By Joshua Buckhalter

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 02: Trent Forrest #3 of the Utah Jazz in action during the first half of a game against the Denver Nuggets at Vivint Smart Home Arena on February 02, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 02: Trent Forrest #3 of the Utah Jazz in action during the first half of a game against the Denver Nuggets at Vivint Smart Home Arena on February 02, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /
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The Atlanta Hawks announced on Monday that they had come to terms with free agent point guard Tren Forrest on a two-way contract. They had a two-way slot available after waiving 2021 second-round pick, Sharife Cooper, following a poor showing in summer league. For one thing, Forrest does bring more experience to the position.

He is heading into his third NBA season whereas Cooper was only set to begin his second after a rookie season spent mostly in the G-League.

During the Hawks’ time in Las Vegas, assistant coach Nick Van Exel said Cooper wasn’t ready.

The Hawks waived Cooper, a Georgia native, shortly after he accepted their qualifying offer which was merely procedural, per reports. Now, they will look to develop the former 24-year-old Forrest.

Atlanta Hawks G Trent Forrest sounds off on new contract

Forrest is listed at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds. He went undrafted out of Florida State but did show improvement year-over-year for all four seasons. After back-to-back two-way deals with the Utah Jazz in 2020 and 2021, he had his deal converted into a standard contract this past season.

The guard comes with 90 games of experience over the past two years including six starts for Utah last year.

Those experiences let him know this is meant to be and he shared that on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/TForrest_11/status/1556700375767519233

Forrest missed chunks of time last season dealing with a foot sprain and a facial injury after taking an elbow from then-teammate Rudy Gobert.

The Hawks have two point guards that are going to play a ton of minutes in Dejounte Murray and Trae Young. But both have dealt with injuries in the past – as the Hawks have as a whole – and their only other point guard is Aaron Holiday who is more of a scorer than a facilitator.

Forrest is not some scoring dynamo. He averaged just 3.1 points on 47.8% shooting from the floor and 18.9% from downtown in his young career.

But his size and demeanor should play well for the Hawks should they ever need him.

What is telling is Forrest is not a good shooter. That could suggest that the 6-foot-1 Cooper’s issuers weren’t simply because of his shot not falling. He also dealt with turnovers and is not a good defender at his size.

Not because the Hawks necessarily need more shooters. They still roster Bogdan Bogdanovic and AJ Griffin – they just need both to be healthy, the former most importantly. They don’t need more defenders, either, Dejounte Murray and De’Andre Hunter headline while Justin Holiday and Mo Harkless are capable defenders.

dark. Next. Dejounte Murray made Paolo Banchero look silly in viral pro-am play

Forrest joins

as the Hawks’ two two-way contracts. Both players will see plenty of action with the College Park Skyhawks next season.

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