Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been one of the most impressive players this season, being thrust into the largest offensive role of his career while maintaining his signature defensive impact. The Canadian wing originally was set to be the sixth man of this squad, but Trae Young’s injury elevated him to the starting point guard job.
Alexander-Walker has exceeded his expectations in this role beyond what even his biggest fans believed was possible. He’s been a real slashing threat who creates and converts on open looks, the value of which cannot be overstated on a Hawks team starved of reliable on-ball creation.
At this point, it feels impossible to demote NAW to the bench after Young returns. He’s been the second or third best Hawk this year, with Jalen Johnson taking the crown and Onyeka Okongwu sharing the second tier with Alexander-Walker. Trae Young will assume point guard duties, which leaves the two and three available for the former Virginia Tech Hokie.
Hawks must employ a “six-starter” approach
The problem with elevating Alexander-Walker to the starting job is that there is no clear weak link in the full-strength starting lineup. Nickeil, Dyson Daniels, and Zaccharie Risacher are all similar talents in a vacuum, but each has a different skill set that is best suited to unique contexts. To optimize this team's output, Snyder must rotate which two of the three wings start based on the matchup.
Daniels is the simplest player to approach conceptually; he is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, but he cannot shoot the three ball. The Australian G League Ignite product must play when the Hawks face a lethal perimeter threat, such as Cade Cunningham, but can be a drag on the offense relative to Risacher and NAW. When the Hawks play a team like the Raptors, who rely on team basketball over star power (relative to other teams), Daniels’ individual defensive dominance just isn’t as important.
NAW is the middle ground between Daniels and Risacher. He can dribble, pass, shoot, and defend at an above-average rate. Alexander-Walker also has the most experience of these players and brings veteran tricks that allow his impact to exceed the sum of his talents, such as his all-time foul-drawing on defense. His shooting and length don’t compare to Risacher's, and his rebounding and physicality don’t compare to Daniels'. But NAW is the most well-rounded option.
Risacher is the tallest and the best shooter of the three players (he hasn’t shot well to start this season, but don’t expect NAW to finish with a higher 3pt% than Risacher). Risacher is the player whose skill set is most likely to be applicable; there is never a time the Hawks won’t need a 6’10 guy spacing the floor. However, Risacher is the worst skill-wise of these three players as of today as he continues to grow into his NBA role.
These players provide the perfect problem for Quin Snyder. Against a star-dominant, defensive team like the Pistons, Daniels and Risacher should start, with NAW providing offensive juice off the bench. Against a team with multiple perimeter stars like the Lakers, Daniels and NAW can lock down Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in the starting unit. Against a defense-first team like the Magic, NAW and Risacher can hold it down against a weak star core on D while giving Young and Johnson plenty of spacing.
If Snyder has one flaw, however, it’s his unwillingness to adapt. Given his common fault, don’t expect a dynamic starting lineup. I’d wager (metaphorically) that he will keep NAW on the bench, at least until the playoffs approach. This gives Risacher the starting touches to develop and ensures the team doesn't get torched by stars. However, Risacher remains on a strange, unspoken minutes restriction that could pave the way for a small-ball lineup in ATL.