Hawks make notable pair of omissions on latest injury update

The light at the end of the tunnel is near, Atlanta Hawks fans.

After going most of this season – literally all but one game – without their full starting lineup, the Hawks will get not one but two starters back against the Washington Wizards for the second NBA Cup game.

First, Trae Young’s one-game absence due to an Achilles issue appears to be just that.

That puts the three-time All-Star on track to resume his hot start. Young is averaging career-highs with 11.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds to go with 23.9 points per game this season. 

And it gets even better for the Hawks. De’Andre Hunter was also a welcomed omission from the lates injury report. Hunter played in the first two games of the season but has been sidelined ever since, first by a knee issue and then due to the birth of his child.

The Hawks starting lineup has been one of the best in basketball in their limited time together.

Hunter, Young, Clint Capela, Dyson Daniels, and Jalen Johnson boast a plus-27.5 net rating together, per Cleaning The Glass.

That ranks in the 100th percentile, though it comes in just 52 possessions this season. Injuries have prevented Hawks head coach Quin Snyder from getting the most out of this group which must be more than the sum of its parts to outperform expectations.

The Hawks have a minus-10.7 net rating with Hunter and Young off the floor.

The good news essentially stops there for the Hawks, who are still without veteran swingman Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Hawks still banged up ahead of daunting stretch

Bogdanovic played in the first game of the season but has not suited up since, leaving the Hawks without one of their most reliable sources of offense. It also leaves them without one of their playmakers as the team platoons backup point guard duties amid Kobe Bufkin’s injury.

That too remains an issue for the Hawks.

They have gotten contributions from Keaton Wallace amid Bufkin’s – and point forward Vit Krejci’s – injury. But they miss what those players bring more.

Getting as healthy as possible in the next week is key. The Hawks have a four-game road trip coming up after the Wizards game with a fifth away tilt on the docket after a one-game respite, and the lineup of opponents is no great shakes either.

Atlanta will visit the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, and Chicago Bulls.

They have already lost to the Bulls and Warriors one time each.

The Hawks did not have Hunter – who is averaging an 18.0/6.5/2.0/1.0 line in his two appearances this season – for either of those contests. His two-way impact could go a long way with both of those losses coming by fewer than 10 points each.