The Hawks have decided against tendering forward Saddiq Bey a qualifying offer, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). The move will ensure that Bey becomes an unrestricted free agent rather than a restricted FA.
The 19th overall pick in the 2020 draft, Bey spent his first two-and-a-half seasons with the Pistons before being traded to the Hawks at the 2023 deadline. The 25-year-old has shown promise as a three-and-D wing across his four NBA seasons, averaging 14.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 30.2 minutes per game across 292 total outings (223 starts).
However, Bey was inconsistent in 2023/24, making a career-low 31.6% of his three-point attempts in 63 games before suffering a left ACL tear in March. Assuming a normal recovery time, that injury is likely to sideline him for a good chunk of the 2024/25 season, if not all of it.
Prior to that knee injury, Bey met the “starter criteria,” increasing the value of his potential qualifying offer from about $6.5MM to $8.49MM.
Given his ongoing injury recovery and the Hawks’ proximity to the tax line, it makes sense that the team would decide against giving Bey that QO, even if it has some interest in retaining him. In a worst-case scenario for the Hawks, he could’ve accepted his QO, earning nearly $8.5MM while spending the 2024/25 season recovering from his torn ACL, then left Atlanta as an unrestricted free agent next summer once he’s healthy.
I think there are a couple of teams who should consider signing him to a 1+1(team version) and then using him at the 4/3 around shooters when he’s healthy, if they think he can make it back before the end of the season…Dallas, Heat, New Orleans, Phoenix, Denver, Bulls off the top of my head
Not a good shooter but may be worth taking a shot on for several teams
I would hope him a consideration look.
Dallas Mavs written all over”
The Knicks with all their former Villanova players
He played there a season after the current Knick players won their championships at Villanova. They only active NBA player they haven’t got from that squad is Collin Gillespie.
I get not investing on an injured player. Unfortunately it’s just another loss for Hawks. He’ll have to get healthy to get an offer now.
Going to the Knicks, along with Omari Spellman, and a prodigal return for Archy.
Bey is nice but still holding out hope Precious wants to return. I honestly don’t know if he wants too.
Don’t forget Gillespie
As a fair weather Hawks fan can someone explain these moves to me? Trade Murray, John Collins, AJ griffin, let Bey walk after trading for him, not trading Young, etc?!…I was totally bought in the Mike Bibby trade when they took Celtics to game 7, plus the 60 win season with Coach Bud. It’s been a train wreck for several years now smh