The Atlanta Hawks are building chemistry. A new season brings another opportunity and the new-look Hawks offer that for several players on the roster, in particular. Getting it all to come together by the time the regular season rolls around is no easy task.
Hawks All-Star Trae Young is putting the work in early ahead of training camp.
The latest showing was a group venture to the Atlanta Falcons’ Week 3 matchup versus the Philadelphia Eagles.
Hawks have group outing to Falcons game
Young was joined by (left to right) Larry Nance Jr., Nikola Djurisic, Zaccharie Risacher, Vit Krejci, Dyson Daniels, Keaton Wallace, Seth Lundy, Kobe Bufkin, Garrison Mathews, and Onyeka Okongwu.
BIRDS OF A FEATHER 🔥#RiseUp x #TrueToAtlanta pic.twitter.com/NB2YKv6lL3
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) September 23, 2024
Daniels and Risacher attended Young’s “From The Point Weekend.”
Mathews joined Young and Jalen Johnson at an offseason open run alongside other NBA players.
This was the largest of the publicized outings so far. And while it might seem insignificant, especially since they are not on the court, the Hawks are building relationships that should help them with communication and camaraderie through inevitable rough patches.
The outing was special for Risacher in particular.
Hawks, Falcons rookies meet up
Young took Risacher to his first college football game a few days earlier, and in the rookie’s first trip to an NFL tilt, he met up with his counterpart.
Risacher and Falcons first-round pick Micheal Penix Jr. met briefly before the game.
First-Round picks 🤝 pic.twitter.com/EuncczxDPL
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) September 22, 2024
Interestingly enough, both players could see their rookie years play out in a similar fashion. Penix is behind four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins and figures to remain there as long as Cousins is healthy save for mop-up duty.
Barring injury, Risacher will contribute to the Hawks’ rotation this coming season. Anything else would be disastrous.
But he too could find himself behind a high-priced veteran in De’Andre Hunter.
Unlike Cousins, who signed a four-year, $100 million contract with the Falcons in free agency over the offseason, Hunter – in Year 2 of a four-year, $90 million deal – has been mired in trade speculation.
Risacher could also start over Hunter outright. The rookie’s contract makes keeping Hunter in a reserve role financially feasible.
Hunter showed well in that role in 2023-24 too.
Former Hawks find new homes
In a bit of housekeeping from over the weekend, a couple of former Hawks prospects found their way to new organizations and, hopefully for them, situations.
“The Brooklyn Nets have agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with Tyrese Martin, league sources told @hoopshype,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported on X on September 20. “Martin appeared in 16 games for the Atlanta Hawks during the 2022-23 season and spent last season with the Iowa Wolves in the G League, averaging 17.9 points and 8.0 rebounds.”
An Exhibit 10 deal can be converted into a two-way contract, which would allow Martin to appear in up to 50 games with the Nets. Martin is joined in the news cycle by now-former College Park Skyhawks center Robert Baker.
Baker was also with the Hawks during 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas.
With the Hawks’ frontcourt logjam, perhaps he will be able to find a clearer path to a call-up with his new team.
“The Orlando Magic have agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with Robert Baker II, agent Darrell Comer of @_tandemse told @hoopshype,” Scotto reported on X on September 20. Baker averaged 14.7 points and 6.3 rebounds for the College Park Skyhawks in the G League last season.”