With rookies Zuby Ejiofor and Henri Veesaar making their presence felt early and often during the Atlanta Hawks' very impressive 2026 summer league play thus far, Mouhamed Gueye may be on the way out sooner rather than later unless he can improve his shooting.
While he hasn't received the most minutes on the hardwood during his tenure with the Hawks, Mouhamed Gueye has made an immediate impact for Atlanta every chance he's been given. Mo has captured both an incredible quantity of stocks (steals and blocks), as well as many hearts of Hawks fans who love to see Atlanta lock down opponents more than anything else - myself included.
Unfortunately for Gueye, the clock is ticking - while his 1-year, $2.4M team option was picked up recently, how much longer does the youngster have to solidify his place with the organization with a longer deal?
Mo Gueye's greatest weakness: the long-range shot
With Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Homer's Odyssey finally gracing the big screen later this week, it only seems right to discuss Mo Gueye's Achilles' heel.
While he carries with him the elite motor, length, and athleticism to merit the title of a scary defender, Gueye's offensive game needs work, to say the least. Combined with his unfortunate proficiency to turn the ball over in fast-break scenarios, Mo's three hasn't been consistent either.
A career 29.1 percent long-range shooter, Gueye has shown flashes of being the connective frontcourt piece that Quin Snyder desires. Tragically, that's all they've been thus far in his career - flashes.
The shooting mechanics look sound, but the results are just begging for a bit more success. Should Gueye manage to improve his shot by 5 percent, a 34 percent 3-ball would be more than serviceable for a player so dominant on the defensive end of the hardwood.
Gueye's defense and physicality would be sorely missed if Atlanta moved on
While it seems abundantly likely that Gueye will at least finish the 2026-2027 season with the Hawks, there's no guarantee whatsoever that Onsi will seek to extend him. Roster spots are a valuable asset, especially for a team so rich in draft capital over the next few seasons.
Gueye brings so much to the table as a defender. Combine his 2nd-best defensive metrics in the 2023 NBA Draft class (behind who else but Victor Wembanyama himself) with his prolific physicality on a nightly basis, and you have a defender that can run with the best.
With Ejiofor and Veesaar proving to Onsi that they deserve playing time out the gate in the 2026-2027 season, Mo Gueye simply must deliver on the offensive end of the floor. If he fails to make this change, chances are we won't be seeing him in the A this time next year.
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