After Keaton Wallace was elevated from a two-way to a standard NBA contract, Caleb Houstan was signed to a two-way contract to fill the opening created by Wallace.
Houstan is a former five-star high school prospect who was drafted to the Orlando Magic 32nd overall in the 2022 draft after one season at Michigan. Houstan had an underwhelming season in college, averaging 10.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists on 38.4% from the field and 35.5% from deep. He was signed to an Exhibit 10 contract by the Atlanta Hawks this offseason, granting the team the right to convert Houstan to a two-way deal.
Houstan filled a quietly important role in Orlando as one of the only above-average three point shooters on the team. He averaged 4.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 13.6 minutes of action a night on a scorching 40.0% from three last season.
Houstan will be an elite end of rotation option to fill for injuried wings
Houstan is the definition of a three point specialist, with over 85% of his career shot attempts coming from beyond the arc. While he had a slow start as a shooter, shooting just 33.8% as a rookie, he has improved his percentage each year.
Houstan is also the tallest active player in the league to have never dunked a ball in an NBA game. This strange stat highlights two aspects of Houstan’s game: his reliance on the three point shot and his lack of explosion. Houstan has no interest in bringing the ball inside the paint on most possessions, and when he does, he is a below-the-rim athlete who uses his strength and positioning to capitalize on inside looks.
While there is no obvious path to the rotation for Houstan as things stand, he is an excellent end of rotation piece to plug into a larger role when injury strikes. Houstan is a limited defender who brings little to the offense outside of spot up shooting, but his floor-spacing ability is a critical skill for a player at the end of the rotation. Coach Quin Snyder will use Houstan sporadically throughout games and the season to keep the offense running smoothly.
This move seems to mark the end of a busy offseason in Atlanta. The team addressed its major weaknesses - the center position, wing depth, and shooting - without sacrificing draft assets or young players. The offseason was a resounding success overall, with the Hawks soaring up the preseason rankings and becoming America's favorite dark horse contender.