It feels like much of the Hawks' offseason was spent weighing the pros and cons of letting go certain players in order to cut down the roster to 15 guys.
Unfortunately, there is such thing as an NBA team having too much talent. Only so many are able to suit up nightly, and of course, a limited number of players are even allowed to be on a roster.
Atlanta was at 17 guys, needing to get rid of two before the season could begin. Devin Carter - the 24-year-old guard who spent the first two seasons of his career with the Sacramento Kings - was the first roster crunch casualty for the Hawks.
One man's trash, however, could be another's treasure.
It's inevitable that Carter lands on another roster before the year begins
That's not always the case with players who are released from a roster just a month before a season.
In fact, it's usually not. Teams are often focused on cutting down their roster, rather than adding to it. It's certainly no favorable position to be in.
However, it's not often that a player hitting the waivers is a young, promising, defensive-standout guard entering his third NBA season. Someone like that is hardly ever on the waivers this late into an offseason.
Well, Carter's available, and should be picked up pretty soon.
While there are less teams likely willing to add someone this late into the summer, there's no doubt that Carter will soon find a new home. He's too talented not to.
Shortly after his release was made official, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line - the NBA insider who first reported the news that the Hawks were requesting waivers on Carter - specifically mentioned the Boston Celtics as a potential landing spot for the 24-year-old.
If any team knows how to utilize defensive-minded guards, it's the Celtics.
Hawks must hope they made the correct choice between cut candidates
It's only the first of two impossible decisions they need to make, anyway.
Carter wasn't the only player rumored to be cut or traded from the Hawks. Buddy Hield, Corey Kispert, Mo Gueye and Ryan Nembhard have all been rumored to depart from the franchise in varying capacities.
One of them is still likely to go following Carter's departure, as again, they need to get rid of one more player before the season can begin.
Hopefully, their first choice was the right one, and Boston, or whoever picks him up, doesn't develop him into a positive contributor towards contention.
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