A potential Dorian Finney-Smith arrival wouldn't just strengthen the Hawks' defensive identity. It could also have an immediate consequence for Mouhamed Gueye, whose place on Atlanta's roster would become increasingly difficult to justify.
Finney-Smith would enter Atlanta as a proven veteran capable of providing perimeter shooting, defensive versatility and positional flexibility. Those are many of the same qualities the Hawks would hope Gueye eventually provides consistently, except Finney-Smith could fill that role immediately for a team looking to win now.
That overlap matters with Atlanta already facing a crowded frontcourt. If Buddy Hield is ultimately moved for Finney-Smith, President of Basketball Operations Onsi Saleh would still have another roster decision to make, and Gueye's circumstances could make him the most logical player to move on from.
The reasoning goes beyond simply needing another roster spot. Finney-Smith would provide many of the qualities Atlanta could hope to receive from Gueye while offering considerably more experience and a clearer pathway toward helping a team trying to win now.
Dorian Finney-Smith could make Gueye's role redundant
Gueye remains an intriguing developmental player because of his length, defensive versatility and ability to stretch the floor. At 23 years old, there is still time for him to develop those tools into a consistent role under head coach Quin Snyder.
Finney-Smith, however, would give Snyder a veteran capable of providing similar qualities immediately. His combination of perimeter shooting, positional versatility and defensive experience would fit naturally with the identity Atlanta has constructed around players such as Dyson Daniels, Lu Dort and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
That would make finding consistent minutes for Gueye even more difficult. Atlanta already has considerable depth throughout its frontcourt, and adding another versatile forward would create an unnecessary logjam for a team that still needs to eliminate a roster spot.
Gueye's fractured left foot adds another complication. Atlanta doesn't necessarily need to abandon a young player because of an injury, but his recovery becomes another factor when comparing him with a veteran who could immediately contribute to a team carrying higher expectations.
Gueye's contract could make Atlanta's decision straightforward
The financial component matters just as much as the basketball fit. Gueye is currently on a non-guaranteed deal worth roughly $2.4 million, giving Atlanta a relatively straightforward avenue to create the necessary roster space without disrupting more established pieces.
That's particularly important if Hield is already being sent to Charlotte in the hypothetical deal. Atlanta would be exchanging one roster player for another, meaning acquiring Finney-Smith wouldn't solve the Hawks' existing need to get down to 15 players.
Moving on from Gueye would accomplish that while allowing Atlanta to replace his developmental role with a proven veteran. For a Hawks team attempting to take another step in the Eastern Conference, Finney-Smith would offer more immediate value without requiring Snyder to find minutes for two players who could occupy similar roles.
None of this means Atlanta should waive Gueye before a trade actually happens. There is still value in his development, and the Hawks shouldn't make a premature roster decision based entirely on trade discussions that may never materialize.
But if Saleh successfully brings Finney-Smith to Atlanta, Gueye's path becomes difficult to defend. Between his non-guaranteed contract, injury recovery and an increasingly crowded frontcourt, the Hawks may already have their easiest answer to the final roster question.
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