The Hawks have struggled early on in the 2026-2027 season.
With key centers Onyeka Okongwu and Jock Landale failing to find their mark from deep a little too often for Coach Snyder's liking, Hawks fans are missing a third alternative in the frontcourt - one whose play isn't dictated by distance efficiency (but could certainly still benefit from it).
Mo Gueye may be the final piece the Hawks are missing to put a winning season together, but he needs to correct one vital skill he's only shown flashes of in his young career - a threatening three point shot.
Gueye's most painfully inconsistent skill - the 3-point shot
Gueye is a drop-dead gorgeous defender, full stop.
Beyond this obvious eye-test, in his 2023 draft class, Gueye slots in at second overall in defensive impact (ranking higher than the Thompson twins, Cason Wallace, Anthony Black, and all others not named Victor Wembanyama).
That being said, Mo hasn't seemed to put the pieces together on offense. His interior touch can be questionable at times, and his ability to shoot has been even more inconsistent than that.
It's been covered time and again, but if Gueye could just get his 3-ball to league average, he'd be impossible to remove from Quin Snyder's rotation (and even make a strong, strong case to start).
This will be Gueye's 4th year in the NBA, though, and his time with the Hawks could be nearing its twilight, especially with two promising frontcourt rookies being drafted in Henri Veesaar and Zuby Ejiofor. What's changed for Gueye that could possibly allow him to hone in from deep, at last?
Gueye's foot injury could be a blessing in disguise
Ironically, Mo Gueye's fractured foot could be the best thing to happen to him in his young career.
While Gueye's 4th year has no doubt begun in an unusual way thanks to being sidelined until January (per latest injury projections), it could very well end up being precisely what he needed to flourish for many years to come.
Gueye has been afforded a 3-month span of perfect practice time while his teammates attempt to keep the Hawks above water in a bloated Eastern Conference. Additionally, it just so happens that the players starting ahead of him - Onyeka Okongwu and Jock Landale - have been struggling early in the precise area he so desperately needs to show signs of improvement.
Okongwu's 32% conversion rate from deep and Landale's 22% success rate has condemned the Hawks to early struggles. Should Gueye be able to improve upon his career 29% long-range efficiency - even to the tune of below league average, but still more successful than his rival frontcourt partners at 33% - Quin Snyder will have to seriously consider starting Gueye at the 5.
Gueye's shown what he's capable of on certain nights. Now, it's all about putting it all together for a 4-month stretch in early 2027. If Gueye can leave it all on the court for Coach Snyder and lift his 3-point efficiency to a crescendo, don't be shocked if Mo lands a team-friendly extension that both sides so desperately want to arrive at this summer.
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