Mouhamed Gueye has played some very exciting basketball to start the year for the Atlanta Hawks.
In a season where questionable, inconsistent big man play has been the beating heart of the trade rumors around Atlanta, Gueye's play has been overlooked by many as a possible solution for the future.
Unfortunately for the youngster, he just hasn't earned consistent enough minutes to prove his worth to the team – that is, until the last couple of weeks. While Gueye averaged only 16 minutes per game in October, 18 in November, and a meager 12 in December, this number has skyrocketed to 25 MPG since January 7th.
As it so happens, something extremely significant took place squarely on January 7th for the Hawks.
The Trae trade only accentuates Mo Gueye's importance to Atlanta
The addition of CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to a team essentially bereft of Trae Young until his departure in January is – without question – an immediate talent boost to an already solid roster.
What do McCollum and Kispert have in common? Their elite offensive game is paired with a shaky defensive rapport.
While both McCollum and Kispert significantly raise the floor of the Hawks' offense, their lack of size and strength on defense is no doubt a critical reason they were on the chopping block for the Wizards.
Quin Snyder has been around the NBA long enough to know that chemistry among players is quintessential for determining a 5-man lineup's success. As well-rounded as Onyeka Okongwu is, he simply isn't that elite defensive center that is so coveted around the league.
Mo Gueye is another story entirely.
While Gueye is still developing on the offensive end, he has already proven himself game after game on the defensive end of the hardwood. His intimidating length, paired with his lightning-fast reflexes, allows him to take up space like few others in the league are able to do – something that is critical when two negative defenders join the roster in the form of McCollum and Kispert.
Just as Gueye makes up for the ex-Wizards on defense, McCollum and Kispert are able to steady the offensive waters while Gueye is out on the floor on offense. As he continues to develop, hopefully the offense will come more naturally, but in the meantime, the spacing and free-flowing offense that CJ and Corey provide are vital to maintaining a positive offensive rating while Gueye is on the floor.
While the various lineups of Quin Snyder are shifting every game, one thing is certain – Mo Gueye is finally earning the trust of his coach, and making a bulletproof case that he's the future of Atlanta's frontcourt rotation – perhaps strong enough to prevent Onsi Saleh from making a center-oriented trade in the coming weeks.