Atlanta Hawks Rumors | Hoops Rumors

NBA Announces New Dates For Nine Games

January 15th, 2025 at 11:25am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA, which recently had to postpone four games as a result of wildfires in Los Angeles and severe weather in Atlanta, has rescheduled three of those contests and announced date changes for six others, the league announced in a press release (Twitter link).

The Hornets/Lakers game that was supposed to be played last Thursday will take place at Crypto.com Arena on February 19, while the Hornets/Clippers game that had been scheduled for last Saturday has been moved to March 16.

Additionally, last Saturday’s Rockets/Hawks that was postponed due to the weather in Atlanta will now be played on January 28 at State Farm Arena.

There’s still no new date for last Saturday’s Spurs/Lakers game, with the NBA indicating that a make-up date for that contest will be announced at a later time.

In order to accommodate the rescheduled games, the NBA has also announced the following tweaks to the schedule:

The Bulls/Clippers game scheduled for January 21 in L.A. has been moved up to Jan. 20.
The Wizards/Jazz game scheduled for Jan. 23 in Utah has been moved back to March 19.
The Jazz/Lakers game scheduled for Feb. 11 in L.A. has been moved up to Feb. 10.
The Wizards/Clippers game scheduled for March 16 in L.A. has been moved up to Jan. 23.
The Wizards/Trail Blazers game scheduled for March 18 in Portland has been moved up to March 17.
The Clippers/Jazz game scheduled for March 19 in Utah has been moved up to Feb. 13.

Despite not being involved in any of last week’s postponed matchups, the Jazz and Wizards will each have three games moved around in order to help minimize back-to-backs and reduce travel.

It’s perhaps not a coincidence that Utah and Washington are among the NBA’s cellar dwellers — the league likely wanted to avoid making schedule changes that would significantly impact teams involved in playoff races.

Zaccharie Risacher Adjusting To A New Culture, Along With The NBA

January 13th, 2025 at 10:00am CST by Arthur Hill

Along with learning how to play in the NBA, Zaccharie Risacher had to adjust to a new culture when the Hawks selected him with the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, notes Lauren Williams of the Journal-Constitution. This season is the first extended time Risacher has spent outside of his native France. “I feel like I’m learning every day, and my English has started to get better,” he said. “Just being able to speak with everybody around here, it can be at the facility, within the organization, but also in real life with like people outside in my building, when I go to restaurants or whatever, I speak English all the time. So it really helped me to get better.”

Community Shootaround: First Half’s Pleasant Surprises, Disappointments

January 11th, 2025 at 3:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The fact that Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball has been able to play in 19 games so far this season is an achievement in itself, given that he missed the previous two-and-a-half years while dealing with ongoing knee problems. As Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps write for ESPN.com (Insider link), what’s even more impressive is how impactful Ball has been during his time on the court.

Although his numbers, including 5.8 points per game on .359/.318/.750, don’t look especially strong, Ball is once again making the sorts of winning plays that don’t show up in the box score. Chicago has a +6.9 net rating when he’s on the court, compared to a -5.0 mark when he’s not.

“Someone is going to get him next year and look smart,” one executive said to ESPN of Ball, who is on an expiring contract.

Ball is among several players identified by Windhorst and Bontemps as the pleasant surprises of the first half of the 2024/25 NBA season. Here are a few more of the names on that list:

Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks: “He’s been everything the Knicks were hoping for and more, and his absence has left a larger hole than the Wolves would’ve ever thought,” a scout told ESPN.
Cade Cunningham, Pistons: “When the Pistons gave him the max, there were quite a few people who thought it was a risk, and he’s been very strong,” a general manager said.
Victor Wembanyama, Spurs: “What he’s doing is just ridiculous,” an executive said. “Say whatever you want about him meeting expectations; if he gets that roster to the playoffs, he should get MVP votes. And he might.”
Norman Powell, Clippers: “He’s gotten more minutes and shots, but no one would’ve believed he’d take this leap at this stage of his career,” an exec said to ESPN.

James Harden (Clippers), Dyson Daniels (Hawks), and Cameron Johnson (Nets) are among the others mentioned by ESPN’s duo.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, Heat teammates Terry Rozier and Jaime Jaquez, and Sixers center Joel Embiid are among the season’s biggest disappointments, as identified by Windhorst, Bontemps, and the sources they spoke to. Here are a few more of the players in that group:

Paul George, Sixers: “Philly probably knew there was a chance they’d have a rough PG year on this contract but they probably thought it would be year four — not year one,” an executive said.
Kyle Kuzma, Wizards: “I know he’s dealt with an injury,” one scout told ESPN, “but I think this has been the most disappointing season of his career.”
Scoot Henderson, Trail Blazers: “I thought it was a guarantee he’d play much better this year than last and show some things,” an exec said. “I’ve been wrong. His numbers are down, and the eye (test) confirms it.”

We want to know what you think.

Which NBA players have you been most pleasantly surprised or disappointed by so far this season? Are there any names on ESPN’s lists – or scouts’ and executives’ comments – that you strongly agree or disagree with?

Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts!

NBA Postpones Saturday’s Rockets-Hawks Game

January 11th, 2025 at 9:17am CST by Tristan Tucker

The NBA is postponing Saturday afternoon’s game between the Rockets and the Hawks, the league announced in a press release (Twitter link).

According to the release, the decision was made in consultation with local officials amid severe weather and hazardous icy conditions in the Atlanta area. The new game date will be decided at a later time.

This marks the league’s third postponement announcement in as many days, though the other affected games are due to the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

The Rockets are next scheduled to return home to play the Grizzlies on Monday while the Hawks don’t play again until Tuesday in Atlanta.

The Hawks have announced (via Twitter) that original parking and tickets would remain valid for entry for the new date, whenever that ends up being.

Southeast Notes: Suggs, Johnson, Wallace, Ball, Miller

January 5th, 2025 at 5:35pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Magic starting guard Jalen Suggs missed Sunday’s game against Utah due to a lower back strain. He seems certain to sit out their road game against the Knicks on Monday as well, according to coach Jamahl Mosley. “Backs can be tricky. So, it’s like on and off a little bit. He’s just going to continue to be evaluated over these next few days,” he told Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link). Suggs is averaging 16.4 points and 3.7 assists per game.

We have more from the Southeast Division:

Jalen Johnson has become Trae Young‘s co-star in the Hawks‘ offensive attack. They are increasingly relying on Johnson in their quick-passing, fast-breaking offense, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic. Hollinger notes how Johnson ranks among the top five in the league in passes made per game and that he also ranks the top 10 in frontcourt touches for non-centers. Johnson is averaging a career-best 5.3 assists per game.
Two-way Hawks player Keaton Wallace has spent the majority of his time with the College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s G League affiliate, but he also saw action in four late December games with the NBA club. Wallace, a 25-year-old rookie, doesn’t mind going back and forth between the two teams, he told Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “I’ve been feeling all right,” he said. “This is part of the process of being converted to a two-way (contract). I’m just accepting everything that comes with it.”
LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller were back in the Hornets lineup against Cleveland on Sunday. They hadn’t appeared in a game since Dec. 26. Ball was battling left ankle soreness and right wrist soreness, while Miller had a left ankle injury.

Hawks’ Larry Nance Jr. Undergoes Hand Surgery

January 3rd, 2025 at 4:06pm CST by Rory Maher

JANUARY 3: Nance underwent surgery on Thursday to repair the fourth metacarpal bone in his right hand, the Hawks announced today in a press release. According to the team, the plan is to reevaluate Nance in two weeks and provide an updated recovery timeline at that time.

DECEMBER 30: Hawks big man Larry Nance Jr., who sustained a right hand injury in Saturday’s win over Miami, has been diagnosed with a fractured fourth metacarpal bone, the team announced in a press release (Twitter link).

Nance will undergo hand surgery on Thursday to repair the fracture. A return timeline will be provided post-surgery, per the Hawks.

A 10-year veteran, Nance was traded to Atlanta in the offseason. The 31-year-old’s role has been fairly modest in his first season with the Hawks, as he’s largely been the third-string center behind Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu. He has been quite productive when called upon, averaging 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals on .585/.520/.875 shooting in 15 games (19.4 minutes per contest).

Nance had received regular playing time over his past five games — including Saturday’s victory — with Okongwu out due to left knee inflammation. Over that span, he averaged 11.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.4 SPG and 1.6 BPG on .525/.476/1.000 shooting in 25.2 MPG.

It’s unfortunate news for Nance, who has dealt with a number of injuries throughout his career. Lauded for his locker room presence, the veteran forward/center has seen his name pop up in at least one trade rumor in 2024/25.

Nance is playing on an expiring $11.2MM contract, meaning he’ll be a free agent in 2025 unless he signs a veteran extension, which he’s eligible for through June 30.

On a more positive note for the Hawks, Okongwu was able to return to action in Sunday’s blowout victory in Toronto, posting 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, four rebounds, two steals and one block in 18 minutes. The 24-year-old will almost certainly continue to split minutes with Capela, but Nance’s absence leaves Atlanta a little thin in the frontcourt, particularly if another injury were to occur.

The Hawks started out the season with a 7-11 record, but have gone 11-4 since. They’re riding a four-game winning streak and are currently 18-15, the No. 5 seed in the East.

Johnson On All-Star Buzz; Plowden's Deal Covers Two Years

January 1st, 2025 at 9:24am CST by Rory Maher

In a post-game interview on NBA TV (Twitter video link), former NBA head coach Sam Mitchell noted that Hawks forward Jalen Johnson has started to receive some All-Star buzz. Asked if he’s been thinking about that possibility, Johnson said it’s a secondary priority. “I’ve got All-Star on my mind, but there’s more important things at task right now and that’s winning,” he said.
Last Friday, the Hawks signed guard/forward Daeqwon Plowden to a two-way contract. The deal covers two years, tweets Keith Smith of Spotrac, which means Plowden will be eligible for restricted free agency in 2026. All two-way deals are non-guaranteed, however, so it’s certainly not a lock that Plowden will still be on Atlanta’s roster by that point.

Hawks Shuffle Lineup In Win Over Miami; Nance Injured Hand

December 28th, 2024 at 11:03pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Hawks were also short-handed in Saturday’s win over Miami, per Lauren Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Dyson Daniels was unavailable due to illness, and Bogdan Bogdanovic was sidelined with a left lower leg contusion. Vit Krejci replaced Daniels in the starting lineup, and two-way player Keaton Wallace logged more than 13 minutes after being called up from the G League. “A lot of guys found themselves in some different situations,” coach Quin Snyder said.
Hawks big man Larry Nance Jr. suffered a hand injury during the game, the team announced (via Twitter). Additional details and a timeline for his return will be shared later.

Southeast Notes: Daniels, Hawks Trade, Banchero, Smith

December 28th, 2024 at 8:31am CST by Tristan Tucker

The Hawks acquired one of the best defenders in the NBA when they obtained Dyson Daniels in this past summer’s Dejounte Murray trade, Jared Weiss of The Athletic writes. Daniels’ 6.5 deflections per game so far this season represent the highest average since the NBA started tracking the stat.

“Dyson is a menace and I’m excited he gets to show that more this year,” said teammate Larry Nance Jr. “Deep wing and guards situation in New Orleans, then he comes here and gets put in a situation where he can grow and expand and make mistakes without having another player breathing down your neck for minutes.”

Weiss explores Daniels’ defensive prowess and how he became such an effective weapon on that end of the court. He’s averaging a league-high 3.1 steals along with 13.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 0.9 blocks per contest.

“I think the trade for him was a massive blessing in disguise. Well, not even in disguise,” Daniels’ friend Josh Giddey said. “He’s just had the opportunity to flourish and show his true colors. He’s one of the best defenders in the world. He’s always had that defensive ability and I’m glad it’s on full display for everyone to see. … Maybe I’m biased because we’re very close, but in my opinion, he’s the runaway for Defensive Player of the Year.”

We have more from the Southeast Division:

The Hawks reset their franchise’s trajectory by trading for Daniels, cap expert Yossi Gozlan writes on his subscriber-only Substack. While Atlanta is still in play-in territory, the team replenished its draft capital by acquiring two first-rounders alongside Daniels in the Murray trade, as well as a strong rotation player in Nance.
As we wrote on Friday, Magic star Paolo Banchero remains out but had his injury designation changed to “return to competition reconditioning” as he nears his first game back since October. He spoke on Friday to reporters, including The Orlando Sentinel’s Jason Beede, about the checkpoints that remain before he can play again, explaining that he still hasn’t participated in any five-on-five scrimmaging and hasn’t done full contact, both of which are precursors to returning from an injury. “I’ve been trying to get back since I first went out, really,” Banchero said. “Now, it’s just going to be the fun part of getting back into actually playing. I feel I’ve just been showing up to the arena, just to watch for a long time now, so I’m going to just be excited just to be suiting up to play, warming up and getting back out here with the team.“
Heat guard Dru Smith underwent successful surgery on Friday for his ruptured left Achilles, the team announced (via Twitter). He’s expected to miss the remainder of the 2024/25 season.

Eastern Notes: Finney-Smith, Celtics, Toppin, J. Johnson, Bagley

December 27th, 2024 at 10:30pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith returned to the Nets‘ starting lineup on Friday vs. San Antonio after missing three games due to a left calf contusion, an injury he admitted was related to a left ankle sprain that cost him several games in November and early December, according to Brian Lewis of The New York Post.

“Same ankle, which kind of ran up my calf, changed the way I ran,” Finney-Smith said. “You know your body adjusts to pain, so I started running a little different. So it started causing me to irritate my calf. I’ll be all right. I’ve just got to be smarter, listen to my body sometime.”

Besides being an important part of Brooklyn’s starting lineup, Finney-Smith is considered a prime candidate to be traded before this season’s deadline, so the Nets will want to keep him healthy for both reasons.

Finney-Smith’s three-and-D skill set would be a fit for just about any contending team and he can become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end if he turns down his 2025/26 player option. With that in mind, the rebuilding Nets are expected to try to get what they can for him rather than risk losing him for nothing in the summer.

Here’s more from around the East:

The Celtics were missing a pair of starters on Friday vs. Indiana, with Kristaps Porzingis out due to a left ankle sprain and Jrue Holiday unavailable for a second straight game due to a right shoulder impingement (Twitter link). The defending champions weren’t hampered by the absences though, blowing out Indiana by a score of 142-105, led by Jaylen Brown‘s 44 points.
The Pacers were without forward Obi Toppin for Friday’s blowout loss. Head coach Rick Carlisle – who acknowledged on Thursday that Toppin would “probably miss some time,” per Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star – said before Friday’s game that he doesn’t yet have a sense of a timetable for Toppin, but noted that he has always been a quick healer (Twitter link via Dopirak).
Lauren Williams of The Atlanta Journal Constitution explores the All-Star case that Hawks forward Jalen Johnson is making this season. Besides averaging new career highs in points (19.8), rebounds (10.3), and assists (5.5) per game, Johnson has posted impressive on/off-court numbers — Atlanta has a +0.9 net rating when he’s on the floor and a dismal -10.4 mark when he isn’t.
After injuring his right knee on Monday, Wizards big man Marvin Bagley III has been diagnosed with a sprain, tweets Josh Robbins of The Athletic. Bagley was out Thursday and figures to remain on the shelf for the foreseeable future, but he avoided a worst-case scenario, according to head coach Brian Keefe, who said he doesn’t expect the injury to be a season-ender, per Varun Shankar of The Washington Post (Twitter link).