Hawks planning corresponding roster move after cutting veteran: Report

The Atlanta Hawks (26-32) went 52 games with Trent Forrest on the active roster. 

Unfortunately, Forrest was only eligible to be active for 50 games since he was on a two-way contract.

Despite Forrest averaging over 12 minutes per game in his last 12 appearances since the calendar turned, the Hawks waited another six games after he was no longer eligible to play for them before making a roster move, which they did.

It is costing them Patty Mills.

The Atlanta Hawks are waiving guard Patty Mills, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The 15-year veteran is shooting 38.2 percent from 3-point range in a limited role this season,” The Athletic’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on February 29.

“Hawks plan to use open roster spot to convert two-way guard Trent Forrest on a standard NBA contract, per league sources. Forrest has played 20 games this season, his second in Atlanta after being in Utah from 2020-22.”

Forrest, 26, is averaging 2.0 points, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 rebounds this season, 

Mills, 35, is averaging 2.7 points and 1.1 rebounds this season, though he is shooting markedly better than the bigger Forrest from beyond the arc (38.2% to 28.6%).

He is coming off a strong performance in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. And although it hasn’t translated into a big role with the Hawks, Mills does have a pair of double-digit scoring performances to his credit this season, which is two more than Forrest.

Kobe Bufkin could be poised for bigger role following Patty Mills’ release

While Forrest is the clear and direct benefactor of Mills being waived, he is not the only one who stands to see an increased role with the 2014 NBA champion out of the picture.

2023 No. 15 overall pick Kobe Bufkin showed well in his second game with rotation minutes in Trae Young (pinky), finishing with seven points, five assists, two rebounds, and two steals in a win over the Utah Jazz on February 27.

It stands to reason that the Hawks want to get him on the floor as much as possible now.

That is especially true with Young sideline and how Bufkin performed in the G League earlier this season.

The Hawks set out on a three-game road trip, starting with back-to-back matchups against the Brooklyn Nets, followed by a visit to the New York Knicks. They then return home for two of their following three contests before embarking on a five-game road trip.