3 Most underpaid players on Atlanta Hawks roster this season
By Ben Grunert
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3) Saddiq Bey
Saddiq Bey has only played 25 games with the Hawks. After he came to Atlanta at the trade deadline last season, he slotted into the second unit and gave the Hawks a shooting spark with his long-range efficiency.
In 25.2 minutes per game, Bey averaged 11.6 points on a deadly 40% clip from three. In seven games as a starter, he put up 13.9 points per game on 50.7% shooting from the field while maintaining his 40% accuracy from deep.
Still playing on his rookie deal, Bey will make $4.6 million this season. For a player who has averaged double-digit points since he entered the league, $4.6 million is quite a bargain. Like Okongwu, Bey is now eligible for an extension that ATL plans on giving him.
Bey started at small forward in Atlanta’s first preseason contest, but Deandre Hunter was not active. Hunter figures to start this season and keep Bey on the bench, but the 24-year-old sharpshooter should retain an impactful complementary role for the Hawks.
With Detroit, Bey made the All-Rookie First Team and even averaged 16.1 points during his sophomore season. However, he never shot above 40.4% from the field for a single season in the Motor City. Bey’s efficiency skyrocketed upon his arrival to a more talented Hawks team, and the former Villanova Wildcat seems very pleased to have ended up in Atlanta.
On Media Day, Bey talked to the press about his fit in head coach Quin Snyder’s three-heavy offense.
"“I think it goes hand in hand … Just the spacing, how he wants to play. The schemes and sets that we’ve been running during the summer … I’ve just been working on my game within the offense, so it’s been good to get comfortable.”"
Bey fits right into Atlanta’s perimeter-oriented system.
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Armed with a phenomenal contract and an even better shooting stroke, he brings a lot to the table for the Hawks.