The Atlanta Hawks have several developmental stories to brag about this season.
From their own draft-and-developed players (including those acquired during or right after the draft) like Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, De’Andre Hunter, and Onyeka Okongwu to those they acquired after the fact like Dyson Daniels.
The Hawks hope to add rookie No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher to that list in the years and seasons to come.
But another one of their recent draft picks has seen his career take a turn.
“The Atlanta Hawks are waiving two-way guard Seth Lundy, sources told @hoopshype. Lundy is hurt with an ankle injury. He played in 9 games for Atlanta last season and averaged 20.4 points on 40% from 3-point range on 9 attempts per game, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in the G League,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported on X on December 17.
“Seth Lundy, who had surgery in May to remove a bone spur, re-aggravated his ankle while working out before an Atlanta Hawks preseason game. The former 46th overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft will be re-evaluated in January, league sources told @hoopshype.”
Lundy, the No. 46 overall pick by the Hawks in the 2023 NBA Draft, had developed a budding reputation as a clutch shotmaker in his NBA limited exposure last season as a rookie.
Trae Young called Lundy “THAT GUY” after he hit a game-winner during the preseason.
Seth Lundy has always had the clutch gene 🧬 pic.twitter.com/oZw5T3UC0l
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) October 9, 2024
Lundy spent the bulk of his rookie season with the College Park Skyhawks in the G League.
The 6-foot-6 swingman averaged 17.9 points and shot 38.3% while also snagging 6.1 rebounds per game across his 13 appearances with CPS. He was eager to contribute this season.
“I’ve talked to the coaches, they know what I’m capable of doing and I know what I’m capable of doing as well,” Lundy told Soaring Down South’s Ben Grunert in October. “They already said that if I stay healthy, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be in the rotation. These are conversations that I’ve had with some of the coaches and even the front office.”
Seth Lundy following ominously familiar path
This is not exactly a “sound the alarms” decision. Far as much promise as a shooter as Lundy had shown, he was seldom-utilized for a reason. For one, he was 3-for-14 from downtown during his time with the Hawks.
It is not surprising that a second-round pick did not immediately hit the ground running at this level. Likewise, it is not totally surprising to see the Hawks go in a different direction.
If they do not find anyone to their liking, perhaps they revisit Lundy in January or sooner.
Lundy is also the latest Hawks draft pick shown the door, following fellow recent draftee AJ Griffin, the No. 16 overall pick in 2022 who fell out of the rotation and was traded to the Houston Rockets during the 20204 offseason only to step away from basketball to pursue ministry.
There have been others. Kobe Bufkin is trending in the wrong direction. Cam Reddish failed to launch in Atlanta. John Collins and Kevin Huerter did but soon fell victim to roster-building decisions.
Lundy’s path is different in key ways so far. Perhaps it ends differently too, with a return to the Hawks.