When the Atlanta Hawks conducted their due diligence - evaluating all potential long-term point guard solutions in this year's impressive draft class - there was one skill they rightfully valued over many others.
They wanted a floor general who could always be depended on to take care of the ball. No matter the situation, they needed their lead facilitator to be able to be trusted with the rock in their hands late in games.
While summer league is never a hyper-accurate indicator of how games will translate to the next level, it gives fans a glimpse, at least, of what's to come. Kingston Flemings has been taking incredible care of the ball through two summer outings, and those around the team have plenty of reason to be excited about it.
Every team's ceiling gets much higher with a calculated floor general
The biggest thing that restricted the Hawks during their most recent postseason appearance was their lack of shot creation as a collective in the most pivotal moments of games.
While CJ McCollum could be depended on for a contested make from the mid-range in the final seconds, the group often became stagnant in their sets.
Trading away Trae Young is ultimately aging as the correct decision - especially considering just how well McCollum did play in their two postseason victories - but it was clear they lacked a reliable shot-creator for the entire unit.
Flemings has the potential to be that, and more, especially if he can continue to take care of the ball like he has in just two summer league games. In those outings, he has a combined 14 assists with just two turnovers.
The level of production from everyone when he's on and off the floor is night and day, too. The good news is, though, he'll have a much more capable roster once he graduates from summer league and gets to suit up with the main ball club come October.
Adding a careful ball-handler to this group will work wonders
If they got rid of Trae Young - who despite his many strengths, is a high-usage, turnover-prone guard - just to bring in a guy who facilitates in a similar way, it would've brought a lot of questions upon the front office's true direction.
Flemings, as solid as he's been on the ball, can play off of it, too. He can adapt to a variety of roles, making him such a seamless fit into what they're trying to build in the long-term.
As long as he can keep generating quality shots for others, with limited turnovers, he'll quickly become everything Atlanta's been searching for in a permanent answer at lead guard.
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