Hawks add trio of prospects to roster with training camp approaching

We are no longer months or even weeks from the start of a new NBA season. The Atlanta Hawks will open training camp on October 1.

With that, another exciting campaign with plenty at stake even amid lowered expectations. 

The Hawks added to the intrigue with a slew of roster additions on Thursday. First came a pair of announcements from the team themselves with various beat writers sharing the news on social media.

“Hawks just announced that they have signed guard/forward Jordan Bowden and forward Joirdon Nicholas,” NBA.com’s Kevin Chouinard reported on X on September 26.

Bowden is a 6-foot-5 swingman out of Tennessee in 2020. 

He spent time in the Brooklyn Nets organization, playing with their G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets in 2021-22 and 2022-23. Bowden split the 2023-24 G League season between the Maine Celtics and the College Park Skyhawks. 

He also spent part of the 2023-24 basketball calendar overseas with the SLUC Nancy Basket of the French A League.

Nicholas (6-foot-9, Texas Southern 2023) spent the 2023-24 season with the South Bay Lakers.

“The Atlanta Hawks have agreed to a deal with Daeqwon Plowden, agent Drew Kelso of @OneMotiveSports told @hoopshype,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported on X on September 26. “Plowden was on a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors and averaged 14.6 points and shot 39.6% from 3-point range in eight combined Summer League games.”

Plowden was an undrafted free agent out of Bowling Green in 2022 and has also spent time with the New Orleans Pelicans and Orlando Magic.

Hawks have some reshuffling to do with training camp roster

The Hawks now have 22 players on their roster following their slew of moves, meaning at least one player must be cut. Bowden, Nicholas, and Plowden join Kevon Harris as Hawks exhibit-10 players, which gives the team the option to convert it into a two-way deal.

It also protects them from another team poaching them.

Eight Hawks players have non-guaranteed contracts: the four exhibit-10 players, two-way contractees Dominick Barlow, Keaton Wallace, and Seth Lundy, and veteran Garrison Mathews.

There is still plenty to be sorted out about this Hawks squad, and it will all begin in a matter of days. Coming off a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, the Hawks are eager to rebound and get back into the postseason.

The ground work for that is laid in training camp and, then, in the preseason.