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[Atlanta Hawks]

2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Cedric Coward

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

One of this year’s late risers, Cedric Coward could be a ready made two-way contributor on the wing for Atlanta.

At 6’5”, 213 pounds to go along with a monstrous 7’2” wingspan and the ability to score from all three levels, Cedric Coward has all the tools to be an impactful two-way NBA player sooner rather than later, making the 21 year old an extremely enticing option for the Atlanta Hawks (who hold the 13th and 22nd picks) in the upcoming NBA draft.

Coward, who turns 22 in September, has one of the more unique development paths amongst the prospects in the 2025 draft class. He grew up in Fresno, California, and was not heavily recruited out of high school, beginning his collegiate career at the Division III level playing for Willamette University in Oregon. After an utterly dominant freshman season at Willamette (Coward averaged 19.5 points, 12 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.8 blocks and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 60.8% from the floor and 45.3% from three in 24 games for the Bearcats), he transferred to Eastern Washington ahead of his sophomore year to test his mettle against Division I competition in the Big Sky Conference.

Coward excelled in a low usage role off the bench in his first year at Eastern Washington*, putting him on the radars of NBA scouts for the first time, before truly breaking out during his junior season.

*Coward averaged 7.0 points (shooting 68.3% from the floor and 39.4% from three) and 5.6 rebounds while posting steal/block rates north of 2% as a sophomore

In 32 appearances as a junior, Coward led Eastern Washington in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game on extremely efficient splits, shooting 56.5% from the floor, 39.4% from three (on 4.2 attempts per game), and 89.5% from the free throw line.

He was able to utilize his massive wingspan both on the glass and on the defensive end, snagging 6.7 rebounds per game while posting steal and block rates of 1.8% and 3.5%, respectively. While he still had room to grow as an on-ball creator (totaling 54 assists and 71 turnovers), he was clearly one of the best players in the Big Sky in 2023-24, and was named to the All-Conference First Team at the end of the season.

Coward transferred schools again ahead of senior year in college after his head coach at Eastern Washington (David Riley) took a job at Washington State with Coward deciding to follow him there. In his first six games for Washington State last season, Coward looked phenomenal, averaging 17.7 points (on shooting 55.7% from the floor, 40% from three (12-for-30), and 83.9% from the free throw line), 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists*, 1.7 blocks and 0.8 steals before his season was unfortunately cut short after he suffered a torn labrum in practice on November 22nd.

*and just 2.2 turnovers!

Coward entered the transfer portal and declared for the draft at the end of the 2024-25 season, and he initially committed to Duke before an impressive performance at the combine solidified his draft status. At the combine, Coward posted the largest wingspan, third-quickest three quarter sprint time, and the third highest standing vertical leap amongst guards at the combine. He also posted the third best three-point shooting percentage amongst all prospects in the 3PT Star shooting drill, going 17-for-25.

On the offensive side of the ball, the big draw for Coward is how well his perimeter shooting is expected to translate to the NBA level. He shot 38.8% (76-for-196) in his three seasons in Division I, and nailed 40.7% (55-for-135) of his catch-and-shoot three-point attempts over his last two seasons.

He has a high release point (thanks to that 7’2” wingspan), his mechanics are fluid, and his shooting form is consistent, leaving little doubt about his ability to be a reliable perimeter threat at the next level. For an Atlanta Hawks team that ranked sixth in “wide open” three-point attempts* last season, but just 22nd in accuracy on these looks, Coward’s shooting would fill an immediate need.

*three-point attempts with the closest defender 6+ feet away

Coward is a high-level shooter, but he is also adept as an inside the arc scorer. He shot a ridiculous 76% at the rim (reminder that Coward is only 6’5”) and 58.6% from the mid-range on decent volume in his three Division I seasons and was able to carve out opportunities for himself by attacking closeouts and moving off the ball.

As a creator, though his ball handling could certainly use a bit of polish, he exhibited growth as a passer in his six games for Washington State last season, averaging 3.7 assists against 2.2 turnovers per game after posting a negative assist-to-turnover ratio as a junior. He likely won’t ever be able to shoulder primary ball handler duties at the NBA level, but there is reason to believe that he could develop into a capable secondary ball handler with the right coaching.

On the defensive end, Coward’s 7’2” wingspan and 213-pound frame are real assets. His unique blend of strength, speed and length gives him the ability to guard 2-through-4 and allows him to cover a ton of ground as a help defender. He averaged 1.3 steals, 1.3 blocks, and just 3.1 fouls per 40 minutes across his three seasons in Division I, showcasing his ability to be a disruptive defender without fouling. He also impressed with his ability to navigate screens when defending on the ball. While he does need to work on his footwork and was caught ball watching on a few occasions, he has a high defensive floor and is projected to develop into an average to above-average defender at the NBA level.

Due to Coward’s status as a late-bloomer as well as his lack of experience against high-level D-I competition, he is a bit of a polarizing prospect in draft circles, and I’d project his draft range to be somewhere between 10-to-20. ESPN’s latest mock draft from Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo had the Hawks picking him at 22, though I’d be quite surprised to see a player with his skillset make it past the top 20. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie has him ranked 10th on his big board, and he had the Spurs picking him at 14 in his most recent mock.

Coward’s shooting ability, perimeter defense and high IQ style of play would make him a great fit for any team that is looking to win in the short term (like the Hawks!). While he lacks the star-level upside of some of the other players in his draft range, he has a high floor and possesses all the tools he needs to contribute from day one and could eventually develop into a high-level two way player.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...ng-report-cedric-coward-atlanta-hawks-profile

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Noah Penda

The versatile French forward is an well-rounded NBA prospect but appears to be heading towards a late first-round selection.

The NBA draft edges closer and closer, and while prospects’ seasons from NCAA have been over for months now, in Europe the season is finally beginning to wind down. Successful teams in their respective domestic leagues play as late as June, and this can result in prospects having to miss the NBA Draft Combine, with international prospects attending a combine session in Treviso, Italy.

This event took place last week, with prospects like Noa Essengue, Ben Saraf, and Nolan Traore among prospects attending — as did today’s prospect, Noah Penda, who turned in some impressive measurements at the combine.

Penda, a 20-year-old French forward, measured at 6 foot, 7 inches tall (without shoes), with a 6’11” wingspan, a standing reach of 8 feet and 10.5 inches, and weighed in at 242 pounds, per Sports Illustrated. Penda plied his trade with LeMans, averaging 10.2 points per game on 44.7% shooting on 7.9 attempts, 32.2% from three on 3.1 attempts, 66.7% from the free throw line on 3.3 attempts, 5.5 rebounds, 1.6 offensive rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.6 turnovers in an average of 27 minutes in 37 games played, per RealGM.

All of that is a lot to digest off the bat, but examining all of these numbers tells us quite a bit about Penda before even seeing him in action. First, those physical measurements are strong and check a lot of NBA boxes. Ideal forward size, really good wingspan for being 6 foot, 8 inches tall (which is what he will be in shoes), and a really good NBA body at just 20 years old — you’ll be hard pressed to a ton more NBA-ready bodies than Penda.

In terms of his on-court stats, they suggest a well rounded game: solid scoring production on a solid percentage, just under half of his overall attempts are from three (with a percentage that’s a little less than ideal but certainly not uncommon at this stage of a young career), good free throw shooting numbers in terms of attempts, solid rebounding, playmaking potential with just under three assists a game, and defensive production in blocks and steals.

Penda played a power forward/center style hybrid for LeMans but shows a lot of guard tendencies too. He’s a fascinating hybrid player and is a versatile player with a versatile skillset. Let’s look at the film because I’m looking forward to showing you Penda’s game.

Offense/scoring​

Penda has demonstrated potential as a scorer: he can attack off the dribble, can use hit the three, and likes to operate out of the post at times (though, these possessions seem to set up more in passing opportunities than for Penda’s own offense, but he will back it down in the post). The post play, I would imagine, won’t see as much development in the NBA, and I’d say right now the best aspect of Penda’s offense/scoring right now is his ability to attack the rim, both in halfcourt and fullcourt situations.

On this play, Penda receives the ball and attacks going to his favored right side, his body carving out space for himself as he overpowers his defender before spinning and finishing at the rim:

On this play, Penda fakes the three and finds a way to slither past his man and he gets to the rim and finishes with finesse with the reverse layup to help evade the defense at the rim:

Penda attacks from the corner this time, and his athleticism provides a threat to the defender at the rim on this play — who decides that it’s perhaps better not to contest the onrushing Penda — and Penda finishes with the dunk:

Again, Penda utilizes his strength and is able to help carve out space for himself on the drive and is able to power by on the drive and finishes at the rim:

On this play, Penda is fed an entry pass and as soon as he feels the defender try to reach in and, in turn, put him out of position. Penda immediately drives and again finishes at the rim:

In fullcourt/transition situations, Penda poses a similar threat, as he does so on this transition play where he is able to finish despite the vertical contest:

Again in transition, Penda fills his lane off the ball, shifts gears to catch up to the pass in front of him, and he uses this momentum to attack the rim, takes the ball over his head to avoid the defense and powers home the dunk, plus the foul:

After an opposition turnover, Penda receives the ball at halfcourt and again carries his momentum all the way to the rim, powering through at the rim for the transition finish plus the foul:

Penda can utilize these situations for further opportunities at the free throw line where he averages over three free throws a game.

This possession to end the half initially begins with Penda dribbling the air out of the ball a bit, but after getting the screen he drives inside and draws the foul and free throws:

Here, Penda attacks off the dribble and gets into the paint, drawing contact, the foul, and free throws on the shot attempt:

It’s really easy to forget that this is a 6-foot-8 forward weighing just over 240 pounds — not just in terms of his ability to move the way he does but how he carves space for himself with his physicality and to handle the ball too. We’ll look at this more so when we’re looking at Penda’s playmaking, arguably the most impressive aspect of his game.

Let’s look at Penda’s three-point shooting; it’s solid, and some of the looks Penda works himself into will be of encouragement to the team that drafts him.

Penda’s three-point looks come mostly through either catch-and-shoot threes and a few opportunities off of the dribble.

Penda has some extended range to his threes, hitting some threes a good foot or two behind the three-point line as he does on this possession:

On this three, Penda steps into frame and into an uncontested but deep three:

Penda consistently shows he can hit deep three-pointers, hitting another one on this play:

In the corner this time, the ball is swung to Penda and he hits the contested catch-and-shoot three:

Off the dribble threes aren’t as common for Penda but he showed flashes here as he rises into the three off the dribble:

Penda is also able to use his ability to get on the offensive glass to create offensive opportunities for himself.

Off of a missed free throw, Penda extends to tap in the miss:

Off of a missed three, Penda is on-hand to extend for the one-armed offensive putback for the basket:

In an overtime game, Penda steams in off of a missed shot to steer home the second chance basket:

Off of another miss, Penda is able to grab the offensive rebound and draws a foul and free throws:

Passing/playmaking​

Penda averaged just under three assists a game, and one of the elements that becomes clear watching Penda play is that he displays a high basketball IQ, can read the game, read the court, and is able to act on this vision.

This is one of my favorite clips of Penda, who pushes the ball ahead in transition, gets all the way to the rim (why he doesn’t just power for the dunk, I’m not sure) and kicks the ball out to the perimeter for a three-point attempt:

Penda does well to find teammates off his drives, as he does on this possession as Penda drives past his man and helps draw the defense out just enough from the perimeter shooter, who Penda delivers the ball too for the assist on the three:

This time, Penda brings the ball up the floor — again showcasing his comfort with the ball in his hands — and when he hits traffic in the lane he makes the quick read and direct chest-pass to the corner for a three-point attempt:

On this play, Penda begins his attacking drive from within his own half, gets by his man and when he again meets traffic in the paint he’s able to adjust quickly and makes a bounce-pass to his teammate near the rim who is blocked on this occasion:

On this drive from the perimeter, Penda gets to the baseline and whips the pass out to the perimeter that could have easily set up a three-point attempt (instead, it ends in a turnover on the offensive foul):

This next drive feels as though Penda drives into the paint with the intention of always passing the ball back out to the perimeter, which he does and leads to a three-point shot:

Penda’s more ‘stand-still’ passing I think is quite strong too; we’ve see him execute a couple of differing types of passes and there’s more to show in that regard too. It all highlights Penda’s ability to successfully hit an array of passes.

Stand-still from the corner, Penda whips a one-handed pass to his teammate on the weakside for a three-point attempt:

With the ball crowded on one side of the court, Penda receives the pass on the move at the free throw line area and instantly turns to whip the ball to the weakside corner for the assist on the three:

I love that play; it highlights not just an awareness of surrounding but an ability to make a quick read and quick decisions, and then to execute the vision to find his teammate.

On this play from the perimeter, Penda hits the two-handed bounce-pass inside:

Penda can sometimes look to make plays out of the post, as he does on this possession where he finds his teammate inside who draws the foul:

Additionally, Penda’s ability on the offensive glass can both directly and indirectly create chances to assist/make plays for his teammates.

Off of a missed free throw here, Penda patiently waits for his teammate to cut — while also opening space by drifting with the ball to the opposite side of the paint — and delivers the bounce-pass for the assist at the rim:

On this play, Penda helps direct traffic on this possession, grabs the offensive rebound after the miss and finds his teammate for an assist on the three:

An indirect example on this play as Penda’s offensive rebound tap helps set up an opportunity for a basket after an impressive pass following Penda’s rebound:

There’s a lot to be said for the faith LeMans put in Penda to handle the ball as a 6-8 forward and he does so with a lot of maturity — on this play you can see Penda directing traffic and how the play should look before setting up an end-of-half three:

Penda was a little too late in delivering the pass but the play itself was a solidly worked one to end the half.

Defense​

Penda’s size and length are beneficial to his defensive abilities, and Penda can be a fun watch on defense for the reason he can produce highlight worthy blocks and steals; this is as good of a place as any to start.

As the help/backline defender on this possession, Penda rotates to block the shot and is able to take the rebound and begin the attack — blending his defensive abilities with his ball-handling — and completes the play by finding his teammate at the rim for the assist:

On this fastbreak play, Penda does a brilliant job to extend and block this shot at the rim and it helps fuel his team’s own fastbreak opportunity, which is eventually scored upon:

Following a fastbreak, Penda is able to use his size and length to block a shot underneath the rim:

Penda is good at these blocks underneath the rim in amongst traffic, displaying good timing instincts to block and not get caught up on fakes, and times this block under the rim well:

Penda may not always end up with the block, his vertical contests can often get the job done in deterring opponents at/near the rim.

Penda’s verticality on this possession forces the offensive player into an uncomfortable situation with nowhere to go, resulting in a turnover:

On this play, Penda rotates from the back-line to step up to the offensive player and gets his hands up and effectively makes use of his size and length to make life more difficult at the rim:

Again, Penda gets his arms straight up and makes life more challenging for the offensive player, whose shot is deterred by Penda’s length and misses:

Penda is also able to utilize his length to collect steals/disrupt plays.

With Penda switched onto a guard on this possession, the ball is attempted to be worked back to the guard to exploit the mismatch, but Penda extends to knock the ball out of bounds, disrupting the play:

At a critical point in an overtime game, Penda (at the top of frame) extends for the dig, knocking the ball loose for the crucial, essentially game-winning, steal:

On this possession, Penda’s pressure at half-court pays off, and his length helps him conjure a steal, though his attempts to finish at the rim off of this opportunity come to naught it was nevertheless an impressive defensive play out of essentially nothing:

On the intended entry pass on this play, Penda vaults skyward to knock the entry pass offline, and is credited for the steal:

Again, Penda shows potential to disrupt on defense as he knocks the low entry pass loose and the offensive player is unable to regain control of the basketball and the ball falls out of bounds:

While all of this is fantastic to watch, there are some issues/errors that can creep in.

Arguably the most glaring weakness defensively is that Penda didn’t seem to thrive when presented with guard switches, who would beat him seemingly with ease as is the case on these possessions which lead to shot opportunities/baskets:

Penda’s tendency to try get a hand in for a steal can lead him to vulnerable situations defensively, falling behind on the play here after a failed steal and he commits the foul from behind:

While Penda’s timing defensively at the rim is typically strong, misjudgements such as this one at the rim can occur, in this case Penda misaligns himself and the basket at the rim is scored with Penda looking a little silly:

LeMans played zone quite a bit with Penda helping to anchor the backline, so I would like to see Penda in more situations defending man-to-man against more mobile forwards who look to slash to the rim. Against big, post-offense oriented players Penda’s size, strength, and length serve him well, but I’d like to see more against slashing forward. I’d be perhaps a little concerned in this area given that guards seem to be able to drive by with relative ease, though some of this can be recovered with Penda’s ability to block shots.

In summary​

Noah Penda is a really interesting prospect because he is, I believe, one of the more well-rounded prospects heading into the draft. His potential versatility in terms of his skillset on both ends of the floor could prove to be very valuable.

Offensively, Penda is able to score in a variety of ways. He’s good at attacking off the dribble and getting to the rim, and he has the athletic ability to do so once he gets there. His consistency finishing at the rim could use improvement, but what is encouraging is that Penda finishes at the rim sometimes with reverse layups or by other means to evade shot-blocking defenses, highlighting a finesse that you don’t always see in prospects finishing at the rim. Additionally, Penda is able to draw contact, fouls, and free throws on these drives, and while the percentage at the line could be better, the fact that Penda gets there as often as he does is a good sign.

In terms of shooting the ball, Penda’s percentage is OK, but what is perhaps more encouraging is that he takes a lot of deep, NBA threes. While 32% from three may not be ideal, I think it’s more indicative of an NBA percentage from three rather than 32% from the shorter European three-point line because he takes a lot of these deeper threes. Penda can make these catch-and-shoot threes with defenses contesting him, closing out to him and wide-open threes. Penda has taken a few threes off the dribble too, and this is an encouraging development in his game too.

Penda can also mix it up on the offensive glass to create second chance points, not just for himself but at times for his teammates too. In a similar manner, Penda looks sometimes to operate in the post (both for himself and for his teammates), and while I always like this type of variety in a player’s offensive arsenal, it’s not one that is as important in the NBA as before. Putting that to the side — which I think teams in the NBA will likely ask of Penda’s post game — Penda does what many NBA teams look for: he gets to the rim and shoots threes, and that’s where the majority of his scoring stems from.

In terms of passing/playmaking, I think you’ll be hard pressed to find a forward who has a higher basketball IQ than Penda in this draft. Penda is aware of his surroundings on the court; he spots where his teammates are and has the ability to find those teammates in those spots. Penda already displays the ability to make a number of different types of passes: bounce-pass, fire-aheads, weakside swings, passes out of drives — it’s really encouraging that Penda can hit all manner of passes with pretty strong success at this early stage of his career. Penda can do this in open court, he can do it in the halfcourt from a standstill, and he can do it on the move as he uses his ability to drive into the paint to break down the defense and find his teammates for opportunities.

Defensively, Penda can certainly produce some highlight plays. His ability to block shots both at a standstill and on the move in fastbreak situations is impressive. His length and athleticism enabling him to produce some great defensive plays, not just with blocks but steals too. Penda uses his verticality to positive effect and is an effective rim protector in France.

In the NBA where there are more forwards who can put the ball on the floor, I’d be perhaps a little concerned about Penda’s abilities here defending off the dribble as he struggled with this against guard switches. A few mistakes/lapses here and there are expected, but I think there’s still a lot to work with when it comes to Penda’s defense.

Everything I’ve described in terms of Penda’s scoring and playmaking, these are traits and strengths you typically associate with guards, but Penda does all of this at 6-foot-8 and 242 pounds. This type of athleticism perhaps can be expected at this height, but the mobility in how he moves and drives to the rim and the passing/vision at 6-foot-8 are not that common at all at this stage.

At 20 years old, obviously Penda is a little older than some prospects heading into the draft, but very few players are as well developed and rounded at this stage of their careers as Penda. You can question as to what his ceiling may be (these are fair questions), but that may also depend on the context where you select him.

We’ll discover in a moment I’m sure, but having looked at mock drafts for other prospects and noting Penda’s name towards the bottom of the first round, Penda doesn’t appear to be heading towards lottery projections, and I think he’s going to be a valueable draft pick for a playoff team and can be a steady, winning contributor for a winning team — he just does a lot of things well, and his versatility in the frontcourt along with his attributes of scoring and passing make him a fascinating prospect. If he ends up in the right situation, I think Penda will be a pick many will describe as value.

What other draft outlets report​

Sam Vecenie of The Athletic mocks Penda in his most recent draft at 31st overall, however, Vecenie lists Penda 15th among his top-100 rankings, highlighting an interesting difference potentially between Vecenie’s assessment versus NBA intel. In his previous mock, Vecenie had Penda mocked 24th overall, and since no excerpt on Penda was included in his most recent mock draft, we’ll look at what Vecenie reported of Penda in his May mock draft:

The Thunder have a pretty significant roster crunch to the point that it will be difficult to bring two rookies onto the team next season. I would expect them to look to either stash or trade one of these players; otherwise, they will need to make significant movements near the end of their roster to dump a few of their recent draft picks. Given that I’m not projecting trades here, I’ve gone with Penda, who I’m not convinced would even agree to be a stash.

Penda ticks a lot of the developmental dribble, pass, shoot and defend boxes that the Thunder has tended to value at 6-8, 245 pounds. He’s averaging nearly 10 points per game to go with five rebounds and three assists. I think his defense is slightly overrated by his counting stats, as he can gamble from time to time, but he’s physical and projects to be switchable on that end long-term as long as his footspeed stays at a solid level as he ages. He also rotates around the court well and knows where he’s supposed to be.

Off the bat, I think Vecenie is correct in thinking that Penda wouldn’t agree to a stash selection — that’s not based on any intel but just more from the fact that I think he’s good enough to play minutes on an NBA team as a rookie. I just think he ticks a lot of boxes teams are looking for. Vecenie highlights Penda’s defensive IQ ‘knowing where’s supposed to be’ and I think that’s an accurate assessment — as is the gambling observation.

Jonathan Givony of ESPN mocked Penda 28th overall to the Boston Celtics, with this to add of Penda:

The Celtics have some big needs to address in the wake of Jayson Tatum’s season-ending Achilles injury, but they can’t have any real expectation to address them in the draft, certainly not this late in the first round.

Finding a combo forward such as Penda, who’s capable of soaking up minutes, hopefully gaining some experience and perhaps emerging as capable of adding value in a year from now, would be a major win. Penda’s versatility and strong feel for the game played an important role in carving out a strong role in the French first division. He is an intelligent passer who slides all over the court on defense and plays a mature style of basketball for a 20-year-old.

As mentioned earlier, it seems as though Penda’s draft stock is late first round and that’s already seemingly confirmed with the two mocks we’ve seen so far. As high-caliber playoff teams tend to select in this spot, there’s real value to be had here with Penda who, as Givony notes, could definitely soak up a few minutes and contribute to a winning basketball team, even if only in a minor capacity right now.

Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports! mocks Penda 33rd overall, praising his ability to hit passes but noting concerns about Penda’s shooting:

STRENGTHS

Playmaking: He is a glorious passer who seemingly has vision of every player on the floor and the ability to make any pass. He’ll laser the ball across the floor and hit the bullseye for a corner 3-point shooter, or thread the needle into the paint. He can pass with either hand, and has a feel for looking off defenders too. While not a primary creator, Le Mans ran some offense through him despite his youth, using him at the post and elbows, and he ran an occasional pick-and-roll.

Role-player skills: He’ll set a screen. He looks for cutting chances. He’ll crash the boards if he needs to. He hustles hard up the floor. There isn’t much Penda won’t do that impacts winning, whether it’s the little things on offense or bringing constant effort on defense.

Defense: Penda has great defensive versatility with a long wingspan and lateral quickness for switching screens. At 225 pounds, he can also bang in the post or hold up as a help defender rotating into the paint. With such a high motor and a high IQ, he already plays beyond his years as a help defender while racking up steals, blocks, and deflections.

CONCERNS

Shooting: Penda made less than one-third of his 3s this past season, and didn’t display much of an ability for hitting pull-ups or floaters from midrange. As a below-average shooter from the line, he has a long way to go to prove himself as a floor spacer.

Shot creation: He has a loose handle and is prone to getting stripped on post-ups and drives. He’s more of a straight-line driver.

Athleticism: He’s mostly a below-the-rim finisher, and because of his lack of creation skills, a lot of his layups end up tough and heavily contested.

The lack of pull-up shooting doesn’t really concern me personally — he’s not going to be asked to bring the ball up the court and drain a three. Just hit the catch-and-shoot threes right now and that’s enough for what his role is likely going to be. The pull-up may come in time — the free throw shooting definitely needs to be improved upon though.

The outlet I’ve seen mock Penda highest was Danny Chau of The Ringer, who mocked Penda 18th overall:

In a French league populated with former NBA talents and grizzled basketball lifers, it’s the 20-year-old Penda who leads the league in combined steals and blocks per game—his “stock” rates edging out even those of Andre Roberson, the former NBA ace defender. But Penda hasn’t reached those heights just by having young legs; more often than not, he wins on defense with advanced pattern recognition and hand-eye coordination. That’s not to say he isn’t athletic—his functional strength and movement skills serve as the chassis for his processor. He is comfortable diagnosing plays on the spot, communicating assignments, and seamlessly rotating and recovering to fill gaps on defense. There is immense value in simply knowing where to be and how to get there as urgently as possible.

Penda’s spatial awareness is one of his greatest gifts on offense, too. He makes quick decisions both with the ball in his hands as a driver and on the catch as a cutter, passing into open windows for easy buckets. He’ll never be confused for a full-time point forward, but Penda has the vision and instincts to keep the wheels greased on offense as a connective arm.

The defining question in his evaluation: How will he score at the next level? Penda has yet to prove that he can consistently shoot from 3 at respectable levels (although, to his credit, he’s improved his accuracy this season and isn’t shy with his attempts). He has a confident handle and the power to work his way into the lane, but there’s a degree of inflexibility in his forays, a lack of the decelerative capacity that usually serves as the basis for most power-based drivers. Having some reliable form of offense will be essential if he’s to have a place in a lineup. Penda has all the ancillary skills; as is so often the case, how he develops his jumper will determine just how much of an impact he can make.

Shooting, again, appears to be a concern for outlets reporting on Penda. I would push back on a notion that Penda can’t be impactful if he can’t shoot. It obviously helps, but his playmaking and defensive tendencies/abilities would still be strengths on the court especially in the regular season on a playoff team.

Fit with the Hawks​

Based on what notable draft outlets are reporting, it seems as though Penda is heading for a late first/early second round selection. That is mad to me. Every playoff team would love to have a player with the skillset Penda could blossom into; if he’s able to do in the NBA what he did in France — everything we looked at: passing, defending, a high-motor, a high basketball IQ, offensive potential (with better shooting numbers from three and the free throw line) — we’re talking about a steal in the late first round. I think it makes sense for a team to jump the queue for Penda.

The Hawks have the 22nd overall selection, and I think they could absolutely benefit selecting Noah Penda. He could slot in at forward or in at backup/small ball center in some spots, and that position will be interesting ahead of the speculation that is bound to surround Clint Capela this summer and his future with the Hawks now that Onyeka Okongwu has stepped into the starting lineup.

Penda could be slotted in a good development system in Atlanta which has seen the likes of Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu take big strides developing their games as forwards/centers, both in shooting the ball and working with the ball off the dribble in the case of Johnson.

One of the reasons why Jalen Johnson is so highly rated is that he’s like a Swiss army knife for the Hawks: he can score, he can pass, and he can defend. The fact he does so many things for the Hawks at a high level makes him invaluable to any aspirations the Hawks have on their season. Part of the reason why Johnson’s loss last season was so detrimental to the Hawks was that you’d be looking at needing three players to essentially try and replace what one Jalen Johnson could do. Penda, I believe, could become a player who may exhibit a similar versatility in his game (with less scoring than Johnson): the passing, the defending, and hopefully the offense/shooting.

I’m not saying Penda is going to be an All Star or going to do what Jalen Johnson does, but he can have a significant impact for a player seemingly set to be selected late in the first round. Tt’s tough to find value here typically, but not impossible — I believe Penda may represent a possibility of such value. At 22nd overall, perhaps that’s a bit too soon for the Hawks’ liking at that spot to select Penda.

Noah Penda’s potential NBA career and development, to me, is one of the more fascinating dynamics among international prospects this year, whether the Atlanta Hawks are in on that action or not. In the right organization, I think there’s a player to be had here in Penda. Come draft night, we shall see which NBA teams, if any, agree with that sentiment.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...uting-report-noah-penda-atlanta-hawks-profile

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Jase Richardson

David Banks-Imagn Images

Could the Hawks take the dynamic guard?

Jase Richardson had the blessing to be taught by his father who was a NBA player, but funny enough, the two don’t possess the same kind of skillsets. His father could jump out the gym and had some height on him, but that doesn’t mean that Richardson doesn’t have the skills to make it in the league. In fact, the Michigan State freshman has a mature feel to his game, and you’d think he’d been in the NBA for some time.

At 6’1, many people would instantly talk about how Richardson’s height could be his weakness, and that could be true. But he plays bigger than he looks, and when it comes to creating contact and finishing at the rim, Richardson knows how to get the job done. His footwork allows him to manipulate the defense, and it’s hard to know what he’ll do once he gets in the paint.

Another strong point for Richardson is his shooting, whether that’s from the three-point line or in the midrange. He was solid catch-and-shoot player, but he also knew how to get open in the pick-and-roll. Richardson shot 41% from the 3-point line, and that’s a good percentage that should definitely translate to the league. Once he steps in the perimeter, he’s either going to get to his midrange, or find a floater or hook shot to go to.

Richardson can play on and off the ball, which makes easy to put on the court in situations where the teams needs to get a bucket, because he’s either going to do it himself or make the play for somebody else. His playmaking is a plus, and at his size, he’s shown that he can fit the ball into tight spaces, or even make a jump pass if he needs to. One of the best things about Richardson is that he knows when to make the right play, and his 0.8 turnovers per game during the season shows that.

For his size, his defense isn’t bad, and he shows effort to try to stay in front of his man. Off the ball, Richardson does his best to be a disruptor off the ball, working in the passing lanes and trying to close out on jump shooters. Some things just won’t change, and he’ll most likely be the main target on defense when he’s in the paint and the opposing team has an advantage.

The Hawks could use a player like Richardson who could come off the bench and be the backup guard behind Trae Young. That’s been one of the things that the team has needed for some time, and drafting someone with his skillset could work out. Though he can play on and off the ball, it’s hard to see the Hawks putting both he and Young on the floor at the same time because of how small the backcourt would be. Nonetheless, if the Hawks don’t look to sign a guard in free agency, drafting one may be in the cards.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...-report-jase-richardson-atlanta-hawks-profile

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Rasheer Fleming

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Could this long, multi-tooled player be a take?

As the 2025 NBA Draft approaches, few prospects have sparked the level of intrigue quite like Rasheer Fleming. Standing at 6-foot-9 with a reported 7-foot-5 wingspan, Fleming’s imposing physical profile is hard to ignore, especially in an era where defensive versatility and floor spacing are coveted commodities. After a strong season at Saint Joseph’s, the rangy forward has drawn interest from multiple franchises seeking glue guys who can thrive in a modern, switch-heavy scheme.

Defensive Disruption: Fleming’s Calling Card

Fleming’s greatest impact lies on the defensive end, where his length, anticipation, and motor combine to form a disruptive force. His instincts as a help-side rim protector are well beyond his age, and he consistently demonstrates an advanced understanding of when to rotate, challenge, or recover. He averaged 1.5 blocks and 1.4 steals per game at Saint Joseph’s, not just stat-padding numbers but the result of calculated timing and length utilization.

What sets him apart isn’t just his ability to contest shots but his capacity to switch onto wings and even certain guards. While he’s not yet a lockdown perimeter defender, his combination of lateral mobility and wingspan allows him to credibly cover multiple positions, including 2s through 5s.

A Reliable Spot-Up Option with Room to Grow

Offensively, Fleming operates mostly within the role of a connective piece rather than a creator. He shot a highly respectable 39% from beyond the arc on over four attempts per game, a testament to how much work he’s put into his perimeter shot since high school. While his mechanics aren’t pristine, his results are reliable, especially from the corners and above the break in catch-and-shoot situations.

Beyond his shooting, Fleming is extremely efficient as a finisher. He converted nearly 68% of his attempts at the rim, thriving off cuts, putbacks, and as a roll man in pick-and-roll action. He posted elite efficiency metrics in those areas, routinely finishing plays off movement or collapsing defenders with his verticality and length.

Still, there’s plenty of growth left in his offensive package. Fleming’s handle is rudimentary, and his comfort level creating his own shot or passing off the bounce is limited. In isolation or when forced to improvise, he can look robotic or indecisive. He doesn’t yet possess the shiftiness or pace to manipulate defenders as a primary or secondary ball-handler. For now, he projects firmly as a low-usage player who scores within the flow of the offense.

Elite Motor, Character, and Development Trajectory

What scouts and coaches rave about even more than his tools is Fleming’s attitude. Described as coachable, humble, and intensely driven, he retooled his body and mindset over the past 18 months, shifting from a raw, occasionally passive player into a fierce competitor. His transformation has been tangible, from how he approaches conditioning, to his attention to detail during film sessions.

This maturity and growth trajectory suggests he’s far from a finished product. Fleming has become the type of player who doesn’t just accept coaching, he internalizes it. That quality can’t be measured in wingspan or vertical leap, but it may be the most bankable aspect of his NBA projection.

Fit with the Atlanta Hawks: Defensive DNA and Low-Maintenance Offense

The Hawks enter this draft needing to bolster their frontcourt with size, defensive versatility, and off-ball scoring. With the 13th and 22nd picks, they’re well-positioned to target players who may not have All-Star ceilings but could thrive in specialized roles. Fleming’s profile aligns perfectly with that model.

As the Hawks seek to continue improving their perimeter and point of attack defense, Fleming offers immediate help in a number of ways. Whether he’s guarding oversized wings or protecting the rim in small ball lineups, his ability to plug gaps makes him an ideal rotational defender.

Offensively, his floor spacing, especially if he can increase volume, relieves pressure on ball handlers. In the Hawks’ current construction, there’s room for a player who can grab rebounds, defend multiple positions, and knock down open shots without demanding touches.

Areas for Growth: Handling, Consistency, and Functional Athleticism

Despite his strengths, Fleming’s NBA success will hinge on addressing a few critical areas. His handle needs refining, not necessarily to become a creator, but to survive NBA-level closeouts and pressure defenses. If he can make one or two dribbles into a mid-range pull-up or a driving kick-out, he opens new layers in his game.

His shot consistency is another focal point. While 39% from three is a strong number, scouts want to see if it holds up at the NBA line, at a higher pace, and with more contested looks. His free throw percentage—a traditional proxy for shooting touch—is still below where you’d like it for a true stretch forward.

Fleming is fluid but not outlier explosive. His shuttle times and vertical leap scores at the combine were middling, which may cap his defensive switch range against lightning quick guards. He’ll need to rely more on angles, anticipation, and effort than raw foot speed, much like veteran wings who survive on IQ and positioning. However, his effort and motor must be considered true plus qualities in this area also.

Draft Stock and Outlook

Fleming is currently projected to land anywhere from the late lottery to the mid-20s in most mock drafts. That variability reflects both the optimism about his tools and the questions about his ceiling. For a team like Atlanta, sitting at pick 13, he could be a value swing on a player who fills immediate gaps while offering growth upside.

Teams prioritizing defense, versatility, and mental makeup will find much to like in Fleming. Those needing an instant scorer or offensive focal point may look elsewhere. But in a class filled with uncertainty, Fleming offers a rare combination of physical gifts and character traits that reduce the risk associated with a mid-first-round pick.

Conclusion

Rasheer Fleming may not be a household name just yet, but his game checks the right boxes for teams building sustainable winning cultures. For Atlanta, he could serve as a defensive foundation, a low ego offensive piece, and a long term contributor in the mold of today’s most valuable role players. While his skill set remains unfinished, the willingness to improve, and the proof that he’s already doing, makes him one of the more intriguing, safe upside bets in the 2025 draft pool.

As the Hawks continue to emphasize culture fit, they would do well to consider the quiet effectiveness, positional adaptability, and developmental promise that Fleming brings to the table. He might not be the loudest pick, but he could prove to be one of the smartest.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...-report-rasheer-fleming-atlanta-hawks-profile

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Hawks Reacts Survey Results: what’s the biggest position of need?

David Banks-Imagn Images

This one was no surprise.

These are the results to the Hawks Reacts survey posted earlier this week.

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The upcoming draft gives the Hawks a chance to add a pair of intriguing pieces to an already young core. With the 13th and 22nd overall picks at their disposal, the Hawks will look to fill gaps in their roster given the right talent available at each slot.

Earlier this week, I turned to you to answer the question: what is the Hawks’ biggest area of need in the 2025 NBA Draft? And not so surprisingly, a clear runaway favorite choice emerged.

With 85% of the votes, the fanbase opted for something they clearly have been clamoring for for multiple seasons at this point: size.

SBNation
SBNation Reacts Survey Results

Brought to you by FanDuel.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...ults-nba-draft-khaman-maluach-profile-atlanta

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Carter Bryant

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

An intriguing wing prospect.

In the modern NBA landscape, where wings are increasingly expected to guard multiple positions, space the floor, and buy into a team-first identity, Carter Bryant enters the 2025 NBA Draft as a prospect tailor-made for a rotational role in today’s game. Standing at 6-foot-8 with a near 7-foot wingspan and weighing around 215 pounds, Bryant boasts a prototypical physical profile for a two-way forward. His frame is NBA-ready, his movements fluid, and his athleticism notable — particularly his vertical explosiveness and body control in space.

A product of the University of Arizona, Bryant’s lone college season did not produce eye-popping box score numbers, but his value becomes more evident when watching how he impacts the game without needing high usage. He averaged around 6.5 points and four rebounds per game in limited minutes, but he did so while shooting over 37 percent from three and defending across multiple positions with poise and energy. Bryant is not the kind of player who dominates the ball or fills highlight reels nightly, but his steadiness, versatility, and self-awareness mark him as the type of connector piece that NBA teams covet to balance star-heavy rotations.

Defensive Profile: Versatile, Unselfish, and Reliable

Bryant’s clearest NBA skill lies on the defensive end, where he leverages his length, athleticism, and effort to make life difficult for scorers of various archetypes. He is a strong on-ball defender against wings and forwards, using quick lateral movement and well-timed contests to stay attached and disrupt rhythm. His footwork is balanced and reactive, allowing him to defend without overcommitting, and he rarely gambles in ways that put his team in compromising positions. In off-ball scenarios, Bryant rotates with intelligence and shows an advanced understanding of team defense for a player his age. He’s capable of bumping cutters, closing out under control, and digging into help when necessary.

Though his defensive versatility is a calling card, Bryant is not yet a finished product. There are moments when he hesitates in rotations or arrives a beat late on closeouts, which are common for first year players learning to deal with the speed and complexity of high-level offensive schemes. However, these minor lapses are coachable and not rooted in poor effort or awareness — more so in experience. With NBA-level coaching and structured schemes, Bryant projects to be an above average team defender who can stay on the floor late in games, particularly when surrounded by elite perimeter creators.

Offensive Outlook: Complementary, Clean, and Evolving

Offensively, Bryant thrives in the kind of role that doesn’t demand self-creation but still provides spacing, decision-making, and movement. He is a capable spot-up shooter, particularly from the corners, and his mechanics are repeatable and quick. His shot selection is disciplined, and he rarely forces contested looks. Though his overall shot volume at Arizona was modest, the efficiency and poise with which he took those attempts suggests room to scale up without sacrificing consistency. He moves well off the ball, cutting into gaps when defenders lose track of him, and he finishes strong at the rim when given daylight. His ability to remain active and engaged without the ball in his hands is a valuable skill, especially for teams built around ball dominant stars.

Where Bryant’s offensive game remains limited is in his ability to generate offense for himself or others off the dribble. He doesn’t yet possess a tight handle, nor does he have the shake or burst to regularly beat defenders in isolation or pick-and-roll situations. He projects more as a connective piece than a creator — someone who keeps the ball moving, punishes lapses in defensive attention, and contributes with timely shooting and smart decision-making. His passing is functional, but not advanced, and his turnovers tend to occur when he’s asked to do too much off the bounce.

To reach a higher offensive ceiling, Bryant will need to develop at least one counter off the dribble — a reliable one-dribble pull-up or a drive-and-kick mechanism that punishes hard closeouts. He’ll also need to improve as a finisher through contact. While athletic, he sometimes avoids physicality around the rim, relying on finesse rather than power. Strengthening his base and adding craft to his finishes will be critical in adapting to NBA-level rim protection.

Mentality, Work Ethic, and Cultural Fit

Perhaps the most encouraging part of Bryant’s profile is what comes through in the way he plays — not just his skills, but his mentality. Coaches describe him as coachable, focused, and selfless. He doesn’t hunt shots, doesn’t drift when off the ball, and doesn’t bristle at being asked to do the little things. Whether it’s boxing out, rotating early, or setting a solid screen, Bryant accepts the task at hand. This kind of demeanor is invaluable in an NBA locker room, particularly for a young team trying to cultivate identity and cohesion.

For a team like the Atlanta Hawks, Bryant’s mindset could be an aligned addition. The Hawks need role players who embrace assignments, who can plug into different lineups without ego, and who understand how to complement stars like Trae Young and Jalen Johnson. Bryant fits that mold. He wouldn’t arrive demanding touches or a featured role; instead, he’d contribute on the margins — taking demanding defensive assignments, keeping the floor spaced, and making smart, low maintenance plays.

First Two Seasons: Projecting the Role

In his rookie year, Bryant projects as a low usage, high effort wing capable of logging 15 to 20 minutes per night in a reserve role. He’ll likely be deployed to defend on the perimeter, help control the defensive glass, and knock down open shots in transition or in halfcourt spot-ups. His contributions might not leap off the stat sheet, but his presence will be felt in how well his team defends with him on the floor, how little he turns the ball over, and how comfortably he fits into different units.

By his second season, with proper development and increased confidence, he could become a trusted part of the rotation — especially if he adds a consistent mid-range shot or shows growth in attacking closeouts. If he commits to the weight room and improves his ability to absorb contact, he could play both forward spots, offering coaches more lineup flexibility.

Development Areas for Long-Term Growth

For Bryant to reach a reasonably high end outcome — perhaps as a starting caliber two way wing, he must expand his offensive skill set beyond catch-and-shoot duties. Developing a reliable mid-range pull-up, improving his handle to beat hard closeouts, and becoming a secondary playmaker who can find cutters or swing passes would round out his profile. On defense, improving his understanding of more complex schemes and gaining the strength to defend bigger wings or small ball fours will help him stay on the court longer and in higher leverage situations.

Equally important is his physical development. NBA strength and conditioning programs should help him add functional strength without compromising his mobility. The more confident he becomes in his frame, the more assertive he’ll be both offensively and defensively.

Long Term Outlook

Bryant brings to mind role players who settle in as long, athletic defenders who space the floor and guard the other team’s stronger creators. While he may never become a star or offensive focal point, Bryant has the potential to become a critical supporting piece on a playoff-caliber roster. He represents the kind of modern NBA player who elevates stars by doing the dirty work: defending, spacing the floor, and staying ready. He fits with any ball dominant guard, any motion offense, and any switch-heavy scheme that values size, length, and character.

Conclusion

Carter Bryant enters the league not as a finished product, but as a player with the foundation, mentality, and skill base to contribute early and grow steadily. His value may not come from volume scoring or flashy playmaking, but from the things that win games — positional defense, team-oriented play, efficient shooting, and coachability. For the Atlanta Hawks or any team seeking low ego, high IQ players who can thrive in a defined role, Bryant checks every box.

With the right developmental path and a clear plan for gradual offensive expansion, Carter Bryant could very well become one of the more reliable, unheralded success stories of this draft class.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...ng-report-carter-bryant-atlanta-hawks-profile

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Dream upbeat despite Commissioner’s Cup disappointment

Allisha Gray during the Atlanta Dream’s game against the New York Liberty

Despite the loss to the 2024 WNBA champion New York Liberty, there are reasons for optimism as Atlanta enters a three-game stretch against teams in the bottom five of the WNBA standings.

The Atlanta Dream needed to upset the New York Liberty on the road Tuesday night in order to qualify for the Commissioner’s Cup championship game. Although they led by 17 points and possessed an eight-point lead entering the fourth quarter, the Dream eventually fell short in an 86-81 loss. Despite the loss to the 2024 WNBA champions, there are reasons for optimism as Atlanta enters a three-game stretch against teams in the bottom five of the WNBA standings.

Sticking with the 2024 champs through three quarters​

Through three quarters, the Dream looked like the team to beat in New York. Atlanta shot 12-for-28 from three-point range (43%) overall and was a perfect 11-of-11 in free throw shooting. Scoring was distributed down the roster as seven different Dream players successfully made three-point attempts and six different players scored at least nine points. The team’s high scorer was rookie Te-Hina Paopao who had sixteen points in the first half, tying her career high.

Notably, Paopao took just a single shot attempt in the second half despite her hot start. Starter Jordin Canada took the majority of minutes at the point guard position after halftime. Paopao played less than three minutes in the third quarter, missing a driving layup. When Paopao entered the game midway through the fourth quarter, she received two fouls in less than two minutes (her third and fourth of the game) and was promptly replaced by Canada once again. Paopao would only return for the final thirteen seconds of the game when Atlanta was down by three points and unable to convert a long-range shot to send the game to overtime.

By the time the buzzer sounded, the Liberty had doubled Atlanta’s scoring output in the fourth quarter as the Dream only managed to score 13 total points in the final frame. Sabrina Ionescu ended the game with a season-high of 34 points while Breanna Stewart finished with 23 points. Due to New York’s loss to Indiana last weekend, the Fever will represent the Eastern Conference in the Commissioner’s Cup against the Western Conference’s Minnesota Lynx on July 1st.

Record-setting weekend for Dream players​

The loss to the Liberty put a stop to Atlanta’s three-game winning streak in the midst of an impressive 7-1 eight-game stretch. Allisha Gray has earned multiple “Player of the Week” awards during that time, including a career-high 32 points in an 89-56 victory over the Washington Mystics. Against the Chicago Sky, Rhyne Howard tied the WNBA record for made three-pointers in a single game with nine. In her post-game press availability, Howard joked about breaking the Atlanta franchise record set by current team vice-president and co-owner Renee Montgomery.

Prior to the game against the Chicago Sky, the Atlanta Dream also hosted a ceremony with USA Basketball to recognize Brittney Griner. Griner was honored for her time with the 2024 Olympics squad that won a gold medal in Paris last summer. Griner received a gold ring from team officials and was able to celebrate alongside her wife and son. She then went on to make WNBA history during the game when she passed Lisa Leslie for second place on the all-time blocks leaderboard with 823.

In Coach Smesko’s own words​

In his last several press conferences, Smesko has consistently mentioned how proud he is of the team’s development and progress so far this season. Smesko spent time after the Chicago Sky game praising the team’s chemistry, stating “everyone gets along really well […] our team really enjoys being around each other.” Smesko did acknowledge the difficulty in implementing a new system despite the camaraderie, describing the push and pull of prioritizing offense and defense:

“At the beginning of the year, we had really good ball movement and spacing. And then all of a sudden, we started to emphasize defense a little more because we weren’t that good at defense, and the defense got better, but then our spacing got worse.”

After the Liberty game, Smesko repeatedly mentioned the momentum shift that may have resulted from the New York home crowd and Atlanta slowing their pace down with a double-digit lead. Ironically, the team’s collapse came just a week after a reporter asked Smesko in the postgame press conference after the team’s win over the Washington Mystics about his philosophy for managing late game leads. Smesko answered “I don’t know that I have any type of philosophy” while describing how “big leads slip away as soon as you relax for a minute.” This comment may have unintentionally foreshadowed Tuesday’s game slipping away from Atlanta and the chance to play in the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup disappearing with it.

Looking ahead as favorites in the next three games​

Atlanta will face the Washington Mystics for the third time in their next game, at home, on Friday, June 20. They then host the Chicago Sky once again on Sunday, June 22, before traveling to Dallas to face Paige Bueckers and the Wings on Tuesday, June 24. These three opponents are all currently under .500 and Atlanta will look to regain its momentum in these matchups before a difficult three-game stretch against the Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, and Seattle Storm.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...mmissioners-cup-allisha-gray-opinion-analysis

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Nolan Traore

Presse Sports via Imagn Images

The French guard has an impressive turn of pace about him.

NBA Draft day edges ever closer and closer, and as it does and as more workouts, prospect interviews, and intel emerge, there is a jostle for draft stock positioning as we get late into the game. Some prospects climb late, while others fall late — one particular memory was that of 2016 NBA Draft, when green room invitee and projected lottery selection Deyonta Davis slid all the way out of the first round completely to 31st overall.

International prospects can see swings in their draft stock, especially in the second round where a lack of intel can lead to prospects being undrafted. Conversely, if a team is enamored by an international prospect they may select a prospect higher than expected in fear of their player being selected by another — we’ve all heard the Giannis Antetokuonmpo 2013 draft story before.

Thiss prospect might be an example of the former. Ttoday we’re looking at another prospect from the French league: 19 year old guard Nolan Traore. Traore turned 19 at the end of May and enters this draft with age on his side. Standing at 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-8 wingspan, Traore averaged 12.2 points per game on 41% shooting on 10.5 attempts, 31.4% from three on four attempts, 71% from the free throw line on 3.4 attempts, 1.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.5 turnovers, and 0.7 steals in 22.7 minutes per game in 44 games played, per RealGM.

Productive stats for Traore at 18 years old for a pro side in France’s top division, so let’s look at the film and see what’s what with Nolan Traore.

Offense/scoring​

Traore’s greatest offensive trait is arguably his pace; he’s very quick with the ball in his hands and he’s able to use this to turbo into the paint and he is able to score in the paint/at the rim, both in halfcourt and open court situations.

To start, Traore uses the screen to get a bit of separation and he drives inside, absorbs the contact and finishes at the rim, plus the foul:

This time, Traore beats his man off the dribble, takes the bump, and gets to the rim to finish the basket and draws the foul and free throw:

On a switch, Traore attacks, gets ahead of his man and finishes at the rim:

Again, Traore beats his man out front, evades the defense behind, and finishes at the rim:

Traore likes to get downhill not just to finish at the rim, but he also likes to get into his runner/floater to score on back-pedalling defenses.

Traore gets into the lane on this possession off the screen and hits the runner around the free throw line:

Traore can be strong in this types of situations where he comes off the screen and the defense is waiting for him to go to the rim, but instead Traore again gets to his runner and scores:

Traore prefers to use his stronger right hand and rarely seems inclined to use his left hand to finish, demonstrating a lack of confidence in his weak-hand right; on this drive Traore drives inside and instead of going using his left hand he hits the right-handed runner:

In traffic on this play, Traore gets inside the lane, hangs, and hits the runner off glass:

Traore is able to cover a lot of ground quickly as he does on this possession, using the screen before turning on the jets to get to the rim and scoring, showcasing his impressive foot speed in the process:

Traore can also achieve this in transition, and he does so on this possession as he uses his speed to evade the defense and finish at the rim:

Again, when he receives the ball Traore is off to the races and he gets all the way to the rim again in the full-court and his shot is called for a goal-tend:

Traore combines this threat of getting to the rim with potential from behind the arc. Traore combines his three-point shooting both from catch-and-shoot and off-the-dribble.

On this play, Traore is located off the ball in the weakside corner and when the ball is swung to him Traore rises to connect on the three:

In the corner again, Traore makes a good move off the ball to free up more space for himself for when he receives the ball and he hits the three:

On this play, the ball is swung to Traore, who waits for the defense to fly-by before rising into the three:

Traore occasionally flashed potential hitting a deeper three-pointer, hitting the deep three on the wing on this play:

Traore also showed potential in hitting threes off the dribble, pulling up in transition for three on this possession:

Again heading up the floor, Traore takes advantage of a defense not fully set to pull up above the break and hit the three:

After the screen, Traore sizes up the defender on the perimeter and showcases the confidence in his shot and drains the three over the defender:

Traore’s offense is mostly based on layups/runners and threes, and while he shows potential in these areas, Traore is quite a raw prospect offensively at times. He lacks refinement and consistency in both his finishing and his shooting,; both of which can suffer from poor shot selection at times.

On this play, Traore is unable to get inside on the drive and instead settles for a contested three which misses:

Inside the arc this time, Traore again is unable to shake his man and settles for the jumpshot, which ends in an airball:

When the path to the rim is cut off by two defenders, Traore again settles on the perimeter and misses badly on this jumpshot:

On a late contest on a three, Traore misses wildly on his three, hanging his head after the attempt:

On the drive this time, Traore finds himself in traffic but still takes the shot inside at the rim and misses:

Traore can also make some sloppy errors on the offensive end which can lead to turnovers with his inexperience playing its part.

On the drive inside, Traore dribbles the ball off himself and stumbles out of bounds attempting to recover:

On the drive in the open court, Traore gets to the rim and loses his balance, allowing the defense to pounce on him:

Passing/playmaking​

Traore averaged 4.7 assists per game, varying from pick-and-roll, transition, and breaking the defense down off of drives.

Let’s look at pick-and-roll playmaking first, where the majority of Traore’s playmaking took place.

On this pick-and-roll, Traore fires an impressive one-handed pass behind the defense for the assist at the rim:

Here, Traore engages in the pick-and-roll and delivers a bounce-pass which leads to an assist on the floater:

Again, Traore executes a solid bounce-pass out of the pick-and-roll for another assist:

This time Traore rejects the screen but loops a pass over the top to find his rolling teammate for the assist at the rim:

Again, Traore finds his teammate after the pick-and-roll with a pass over the defense for the assist:

Traore also possesses an awareness of the court around him and can use pick-and-roll to find his teammates away from the screen.

Here for instance, Traore operates the pick-and-roll and fires a crosscourt pass to the weakside for an assist on the three in the corner:

Again off of the pick-and-roll, Traore finds his teammate on the weakside for an opportunity for a three:

Traore uses his ability to get to the rim — both in transition and in the halfcourt — to set up his teammates.

In transition, Traore evades the defense and draws the defense to him before finding his on-rushing teammate for the assist:

Off of a miss, Traore pushes in transition and finds his teammate for the alley-oop assist:

In the halfcourt, Traore drives inside and kicks the ball back to his teammate for the assist on the three:

Again Traore drives into the paint and kicks the ball out behind him for another assist on the three:

However, while Traore has the right idea/intention at times passing the ball, his execution needs refinement.

In transition, Traore charges ahead, but his pass out of the lane to his teammate on the wing is kind of just chucked out without any legs and it sadly bounces at his teammates feet, forcing a pass which, although leads to a shot and a three, could have ended the opportunity on a different occasion:

In transition, Traore again charges ahead and his pass out from the baseline out to the perimeter is misplaced, and the chance for the transition three is killed off:

When Traore drives, his passes out of drives can result in turnovers.

In the pick-and-roll, Traore drives inside but his pass to his left is deflected:

On a good drive to the rim, Traore gets caught with a difficult situation in traffic and his attempted pass out results in a turnover:

On another drive, Traore gets into the lane but his pass hits off the foot of the defender (which was heading right to the feet of his teammate anyways) and results in another turnover:

Defense​

Defensively, I didn’t really like a lot of what I saw from Traore, who was hidden off ball as much as possible, but if I had something positive to say it would be that his length certainly helps him contest some shots and grab an occasional steal.

Traore’s length here helps effectively contests the three on the wing:

On this play, Traore shifts about to contest this three in the corner, resulting in a miss:

Here, Traore doesn’t know a whole lot about this steal but his outstretched arms will get credit for it as they deflect the attempted pass:

Traore knows a lot more about this steal, however, as his length gets all the way down to deflect the pass and Traore leads the fastbreak, scoring at the rim in transition off of his steal:

Traore can tend to commit fouls and can be beaten on drives such as this play:

On the drive, Traore commits the foul as the defender goes by him:

Traore does well on this possession to initially stick with the drive but lacks the discipline to finish the play as he’s called for the foul:

There are good plays such as this one, where Traore sticks with the drive and produces the block in the lane:

But plays like this I wouldn’t say are common. Traore, while possessing good length/a strong wingspan and good foot speed, is a bit undisciplined and was hidden where possible in France. In the NBA, I fear he’d be eaten alive defensively.

In summary​

Nolan Traore is a shifty, quick guard who has potential in getting to the rim. He’s a wiry guard who has bundles of pace with the ball and can put pressure on back-pedaling defenses. He can finish at the rim and he can get to his runner/floater to mix it up in the paint. Traore can also draw fouls in these situations, leading to free throws.

Traore can also hit the three-pointer, both off the ball in catch-and-shoot situations and occasionally handling the ball in pull-up situations. While he can score at a decent level, his finishing at the rim and his three-point shooting can be quite inconsistent. Traore is reluctant to use his off hand and can put himself in awkward situations at times driving to his left to angle himself to finish with his right hand. Traore can get sucked into shooting bad shots, and this selection of shots needs to improve.

Despite his inconsistencies on offense, Traore was productive in a meaningful role for a professional side in a competitive league all at the age of 18. The team who selects Traore will need be to be patient to iron out some of the kinks in his game.

From a playmaking perspective, Traore can find a pass out of the pick-and-roll, and while these passes are typically on target. but I wouldn’t call his passing elite right now. He’s still very much developing a finishing touch to his passing, which can sometimes be left wanting at the crucial moments in transition where a teammate has to adjust from a bad pass, taking away the opportunity to potentially spring into a shot. Traore’s strengths include being able to drive inside and break down his man, but when he wants to pass out of these opportunities, he can get caught and these passes often result in turnovers.

Defensively, there’s good physical tools to work with Traore — great wingspan, strong foot speed — but his consistency, discipline, and overall tendencies need a lot of work before he can be deemed any plus on defense. I’d worry about Traore’s ability to be a plus, maybe even average defender at the NBA level.

What other draft outlets report​

Sam Vecenie of The Athletic dropped a mock draft in May where he mocked Traore 13th overall to the Hawks, but in his June mock Traore has plummeted to 26th overall with this to add:

Traoré rebounded well from a tough start to his pro season in France. From Jan. 15 to April 6, Traoré averaged 13 points and four assists while shooting 50 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3 and 79 percent from the line. His overall numbers on the year aren’t that strong, but it’s worth remembering that he’s a teenager playing professional basketball for a full season for the first time.

I think it’s very possible he’ll be on the board for the Nets when they pick at No. 19. Here, they get lucky and get him all the way down at No. 26 as a real value pick with potential to be very valuable down the road.

The stats from January onwards certainly help spin a more positive picture of Traore, however all the clips you’ve seen take place from February onwards, highlighting the issues still found within Traore’s game. The experience side of things is of course going to be Traore’s big strength — the idea of ‘look at his production for how young he is,’ which is of course valid.

Jonathan Givony of ESPN mocked Traore 18th overall to the Washington Wizards:

The Wizards don’t have a surefire, starting-caliber point guard they can point to on the roster currently and can afford to take a swing on talent with Traore, who just turned 19 and is arguably the best passer in this draft.

After starting the season projected as a top-10 pick, Traore’s draft stock dropped because of inconsistent play, but there’s still plenty to like with his size, ballhandling, playmaking creativity and upside, making him a worthy gamble for a team in Washington’s situation and at this point in the draft.

Givony rightly highlights the inconsistency of Traore’s play but notes the upside associated with Traore. For a team like Washington, Traore makes a lot more sense; the Wizards a team who has time on their side to allow players to develop.

Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports! mocked Traore 20th overall to the Miami Heat, with a specific team focus on the team itself:

Pat Riley said he has no plans to retire and that “80 is the new 60,” so it’s hard to imagine the Heat going with a raw project in the draft. But would a talent like Traoré be too much to pass up on? The Frenchman oozes upside with his size, blazing speed, and shiftiness off the bounce. Inefficient scoring and erratic decision-making are the big concerns with him, but he’s played his best basketball in recent months by shooting nearly 40% from 3 and 80% from the line. Riley may want to win now, but maybe he should think about the long-term future of the franchise too.

‘Upside but erratic’ is probably the most fitting manner in which Traore can be described at this time, and I do not think it’s worth selecting Traore in a ‘win now’ situation like the Heat perpetually find themselves wanting.

Danny Chau of The Ringer makes a much more compelling case as to why the Heat would select Traore 20th overall:

Traore’s stock seemingly has been in free fall from the moment he lit up the Nike Hoop Summit in April 2024. He was projected as a drink-stirring lead guard who could use his speed and wiggliness to create advantages with the ball in his hands, but aside from a recent surge for Saint-Quentin, there hasn’t been enough reliably efficient scoring. Miami has a history of taking disappointing performers with major pedigree and instilling confidence in them. Is there a huge difference between Traore and someone like Jeremiah Fears, who’s projected to go much higher? Several NBA decision makers don’t think so. Maybe Miami is among that group, too.

Chau added much more of Traore as an overall prospect, beginning with the context of how highly rated prior to the draft cycle Traore was:

Just a year ago, Traore was commonly thought of as one of the five best NBA prospects in the world. He had dominated the international youth circuit and made a strong impression in his promotion to the French big leagues as a 17-year-old. He was deemed a savior of sorts, the true heir apparent to Tony Parker, after a string of French guard prospects fizzled out of the NBA for one reason or another. But the road to the draft is hardly ever linear. Traore’s 2024-25 season has been turbulent. There were a handful of games before the turn of the New Year in which he shot no better than 25 percent from the field and, in most cases, way worse. But his scoring efficiency has course corrected in 2025. And that resilience is an encouraging sign.

Speed has always been Traore’s gift, though it’s rendered a bit differently than, say, Russell Westbrook’s or John Wall’s. Traore’s first step is less a concentrated bolt of lightning and more like the kick of an endurance runner being propelled by gale-force winds. Less power but more grace. There might not be a player in the draft better equipped to turn the corner on a screen, bending his way around the defense. Traore has a strong understanding of the dynamic between his quickness and the attention of the defense, too. There is a thrill in seeing him diagnose the floor, recognize that he has three sets of eyes on him during his initial bolt toward the rim, and punish the over-indexed defense with a crosscourt skip pass, a lofting lob delivered upon a dead stop, a perfect pocket pass on a live dribble. It’s high-level basketball intuition from a player so young.

I’d chime in here briefly just to agree with the assessment of Traore’s pace — he’s flipping quick and turns a corner so quickly. He’s less athletic of course than Westbrook and Wall, but still very effective and devastating at times — it’s remarkable how quickly he can cover the ground and it’s too late for the defense to react.

When it works, Traore’s self-generated offense honors past icons. He has good touch on his floaters and runners, as one would expect of a Parker acolyte; his contortionist body control and use of the glass on driving layups conjure grainy footage of Rod Strickland in the ’90s. But he is largely a below-the-rim player, and he’s had significant struggles finishing around the rim at the French league level; it’ll only get more difficult against longer, more athletic NBA competition. He has smooth pull-up mechanics—again, working off the threat of his first step—and there have been flashes of legitimate shotmaking ability, but the overall accuracy from 3 simply has not been there throughout his young career. It’s a crucial piece of the puzzle. The lack of development in that regard could wind up being a deciding factor between becoming a lottery selection and wading in the morass that is the back half of the first round.

Given his age, build, and lack of strength training to this point, Traore’s largely been an absentee on defense in his first full season as a top-tier French professional, but he has the tools and court sense to become an on-ball hound in time. Ultimately, the bet on Traore is a bet on youth and his particular avenue of advantage creation on offense. How his dismal start to the season will weigh against his distinct traits looms large.

Most outlets appear to agree that Traore is more so a projection pick than one that can make an immediate splash.

Fit with the Hawks​

The play — and availability — of Kobe Bufkin as backup point guard has obviously given cause for concern for the Hawks going forward. Unless there’s a strong step in 2025-26, the Hawks I’d speculate will have to begin to look elsewhere for dependable backup for Young. Drafting Nolan Traore would not be an immediate fix for this, but potentially one for the future, and that’s how you’d have to justify the pick.

Young and Traore have similarities in their game you can talk yourself into: decent turn of pace, can get into the paint, can get to the floater, penetration inside leading to opportunities for teammates, pick-and-roll playmaking, and streaky shooting. Not to say that Traore is close to Young in any of these categories other than speed, but if the Hawks wanted to mold Traore in the shape of Young/a point guard their second unit, they have some similarities.

All of this is a bit of a reach — it’s just to justify why the Hawks might like the fit and why they may want to select Traore at 13th/22nd overall, though the latter seems a lot more likely as a landing spot than the 13th spot once was.

When Sam Vecenie mocked Traore 13th overall back in May, he had this to say about the fit with the Hawks:

The Hawks just moved Bogdan Bogdanović this past trade deadline. They do have Caris LeVert, but he’s entering free agency. They could use another player in the backcourt who could both play with Trae Young or could back up Young as the lead ballhandler in bench units. That’s what they were hoping for with Kobe Bufkin, who has been unable to stay healthy.

22nd overall appears to be a potential play for the Hawks and given the questions at point guard with Bufkin, Traore will have to be considered as a legitimate option for the Hawks in this spot. There’s a few reasons not to like the selection, but the more you ponder the Hawks’ predicament the more it might just make sense...

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...ing-report-nolan-traore-atlanta-hawks-profile

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Liam McNeeley

Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Could this UConn product slot into the Hawks rotation immediately?

Liam McNeeley enters the 2025 NBA Draft as one of the most technically sound and mentally prepared prospects in the class. A 6’7” forward out of the University of Connecticut by way of Montverde Academy, McNeeley stands out less for freakish athletic traits and more for his high-level skillset, polished offensive game, and a professional approach to preparation. He’s the kind of player scouts label as ‘plug and play’ — someone who may not have All-Star upside but can contribute early because of his basketball IQ, spacing, and decision-making. For teams like the Atlanta Hawks looking to reshape their offensive identity around movement, spacing, and unselfish play, McNeeley presents a compelling case.

Offensive Strengths and Weaknesses

McNeeley’s greatest strength is his perimeter shooting. He projects as one of the more reliable floor spacers in the class thanks to a compact, repeatable shooting form, deep range, and the ability to shoot off the catch, off movement, and in pick-and-pop situations. Even though his shooting didn’t fully translate at the collegiate level. evaluators consistently express confidence in his future as a perimeter shooter.

Whether stationed in the corner or operating off flare screens and dribble-handoffs (DHOs), McNeeley’s gravity forces defenders to stay attached which creates space for slashers and pick-and-roll creators. This particular trait aligns extremely well with the Atlanta Hawks’ motion-based offense, which depends on players making quick decisions, relocating, and spacing the floor around primary creators like Trae Young.

He’s also a natural fit in a ‘0.5 seconds’ offensive philosophy. McNeeley thrives when the ball is moving, when decisions must be made quickly, and when off-ball players are empowered to read and react. He’s excellent at attacking closeouts, leveraging his shot threat to create driving lanes, and making the simple next pass to keep the defense rotating. Though not an advanced shot creator, McNeeley has enough handle to take two to three purposeful dribbles into space, pull up in the midrange, or drive and kick. His offensive game is fluid and intelligent — designed more for rhythm and connection than isolation.

That said, McNeeley does have some offensive limitations. He’s not a high-level athlete by NBA standards — his first step is average, and he’s unlikely to break defenders down off the dribble against length or pressure. In the halfcourt, he depends on the system to create his advantages, and he won’t be someone you give the ball to late in the clock and expect a bucket. Additionally, his rim finishing remains a work in progress. Without elite burst or verticality, he struggles to convert through contact in the paint and may find his efficiency dip when forced to drive into NBA length and rim protection.

Another area where growth is needed is as a creator for others. McNeeley sees the floor well and rarely forces bad shots, but he’s not yet a dynamic playmaker. He can make the extra pass and read rotations, but he doesn’t bend the defense consistently or create high-value assists. Developing as a connective passer who can operate from the wing or short roll would raise his ceiling significantly in a motion-heavy offensive scheme.

Defensive Strengths and Weaknesses

Defensively, McNeeley’s projection is a bit more nuanced. On one hand, he is consistently in the right place — he communicates, tags cutters, rotates early, and understands positional defense. His effort is reliable, and he takes pride in defending within a system. His size at 6’7” allows him to contest shots on the wing, and his general awareness means he rarely gets caught out of position in help coverage. Against teams that value discipline and high IQ team defense, he offers a low risk, high-floor presence.

However, he’s not a naturally disruptive defender. His lateral quickness is average, meaning quicker guards can beat him off the bounce. He also lacks the vertical explosiveness to be a consistent shot-altering presence at the rim. In switch-heavy schemes, McNeeley may struggle to hold his ground against stronger wings or keep up with fast-twitch guards. He’s best suited to guarding secondary scorers or playing as a low man in zone or hybrid schemes where anticipation and positioning outweigh raw athleticism.

From an Atlanta Hawks standpoint, this could create both synergy and tension. On the positive side, McNeeley fits the Hawks’ need for rotational defenders who play hard, stay connected, and understand assignments. But for a team actively trying to upgrade its defensive versatility and toughness on the perimeter, McNeeley’s lack of physical disruption could be viewed as a limitation. Atlanta has struggled at times to keep wings in front and force turnovers, and McNeeley likely won’t move the needle in that area in the short term.

That said, he is a willing rebounder. He boxes out, pursues the ball, and understands his responsibilities as a team rebounder. While not elite, his willingness to contribute in that area helps make up for some of his athletic shortcomings. For Atlanta — a team that often depends on its wings to help finish possessions — this rebounding effort is meaningful and valuable.

Reputation, Work Ethic, and Projection

McNeeley’s reputation as a worker is well established. Coaches and teammates from Montverde to UConn consistently praise his maturity, practice habits, and mental approach. He prepares like a pro, rarely needs to be told something twice, and takes criticism constructively. These intangible qualities, combined with his shooting, make him one of the safest floor prospects in the class.

His projected role in the NBA — particularly over his first two seasons — will likely be that of a second unit wing who spaces the floor, plays mistake-free offense, and holds up defensively through scheme discipline and effort. He’s not expected to be a primary scorer or lead initiator but can contribute right away as a floor-spacer and secondary ball mover. If the jumper translates at volume and he proves to be a consistent decision-maker, McNeeley could see early minutes, especially for teams trying to modernize their second unit offense.

Long term, his ceiling is contingent on three developmental areas: (1) becoming a league-average defender against wings, (2) adding functional strength to hold up physically, and (3) expanding his playmaking as a connector.

Fit with the Atlanta Hawks

McNeeley’s fit with the Atlanta Hawks is a particularly strong one offensively. The Hawks are shifting toward a system that rewards players who move the ball quickly, make decisions on the catch, and provide consistent floor spacing around their ball-dominant guard(s). McNeeley checks all of those boxes. He thrives in motion concepts, understands how to read the second defender, and is willing to keep the offense humming without hijacking possessions.

The question becomes whether his defensive profile aligns with Atlanta’s effort to become more switchable and disruptive on the wing. In recent drafts and trades, the Hawks have clearly prioritized defenders with size, versatility, and the ability to guard across multiple positions. While McNeeley isn’t a defensive liability, he won’t be the kind of stopper that transforms a team’s perimeter defense. The Hawks will need to weigh his offensive floor and system fit against their desire for more dynamic defense.

Still, McNeeley’s shooting, intelligence, and unselfish play style make him a natural chemistry piece — someone who can elevate lineups by doing the little things right. His ability to hit threes, attack closeouts, and make sound decisions will be especially valuable in second-unit lineups where spacing and rhythm are critical. If he continues to develop physically and rounds out his game, he could grow into a steady starter or high-level bench player with real playoff utility.

Conclusion

Liam McNeeley is the kind of player winning teams often covet: reliable, self-aware, skilled, and focused. While his athletic limitations cap his upside somewhat, his fit in modern motion offenses — particularly those like Atlanta’s that value spacing, quick reads, and 0.5 basketball — positions him as an immediate contributor. If he improves his defense and adds strength without sacrificing mobility, he could be a key connector on a playoff team. For the Hawks, he could offer a steady, culture-positive option in a draft class where many other wings bring flash but less certainty.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...ng-report-liam-mcneeley-atlanta-hawks-profile

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Nique Clifford

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

The seasoned college player could be plug and play for the Hawks.

Nique Clifford has all the experience you need from a prospect, as the super senior has played five seasons of collegiate basketball — the first three at Colorado and the last two at Colorado State. Clifford has improved every year, and in his final season with the Rams, he did almost everything for the team.

Let’s just get this out of the way now: Clifford is 23 years old, which means he’s an older prospect with not the kind of upside that many teams may want. Last year, it was Dalton Knecht who struck some people, as he had the shooting that everybody wanted, but he was also an older prospect. Knecht ended up being a nice contributor for the Los Angeles Lakers sporadically throughout the season, and it may be safe to say he shut down the old rumors with his play.

Clifford may not be the shooter that Knecht is, but he does a lot of good things on the court that can help his team. One of those things is that he plays bigger than his size, and at 6’6”, he averaged 9.6 rebounds per game in his last season with the Rams. He doesn’t have a problem crashing the boards, and he’ll get out in transition to make a play for himself or his teammates. He has good floor vision, and that shows with his 4.4 assists per game.

When he’s not making plays for others, he’s driving to the lane and creating contact. He finished 65.9% at the rim, and his strength and athleticism allow him to get to his spot and create. He’s also a good cutter, which is possibly one of the best attributes a player can have.

Clifford’s shooting can be up and down at times, but as a catch-and-shoot player, he was solid. He’s not afraid to take three-pointers, but his efficiency off the dribble has been a little spotty throughout his collegiate career. As a rookie, he might be put in that many situations where he has to create for himself, so being able to catch-and-shoot and spot up are good things to have coming in early in his career. Overall, Clifford shot 38% from the three-point line this season, and his consistency from behind the arc can only get better.

On defense, he uses his length to his advantage, and he’s able to defend guards and wings if he has to. He doesn’t foul much, and he has the mechanics to keep his assignment in front of him. That will be big for teams, as they can trust to put him on the floor during crunch time when they need a stop. When thinking of Clifford, the first word that comes to mind should be ‘connector’ because of the array of skills he has.

For the Hawks, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they looked at Clifford, and he could be a player who can bring energy off the bench on both sides of the ball. He could play on the court alongside Trae Young due to his size, and if the team needed a stop on defense, they could trust him to go out and make a play. Clifford will most likely be available between picks no. 13 and no. 22 which could line up perfectly for the Hawks if they want him.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...g-report-nique-clifford-atlanta-hawks-profile

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

2025 NBA Draft scouting report: Maxime Raynaud

This somewhat divisive prospect brings a level of size, skill and experience the Hawks just may need.

With the space and pace revolution in the modern NBA, more teams are empowering their big men to handle the ball, initiate offense, and shoot from deep. This 2025 draft class is absolutely loading with bigs who have a great variety of those skills, and today’s breakdown brings you one of the most accomplished, seasoned and modern bigs around.

As an international player from Paris, France, Maxime Raynaud (mak-ZEEM ray-NOH) didn’t arrive on a Division I campus in typical fashion. He played in the academy of French sports outfit Nanterre 92 (also called Espoirs Nanterre) at one point sharing the locker room with Victor Wembanyama.

Seeking a basketball career in the states, he earned a scholarship to Stanford beginning a four-year collegiate career from 2021-2025 after graduating from Lycee Henri IV, one of the most prestigious schools in the Paris metro area.

After slowly being integrated into the rotation across his first three seasons, his senior year was one of immense productivity, logging 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game in 33.5 minutes of play per game. These contributions helped earn him a spot on the 2024-25 All-ACC First Team.

At 7-foot-1 and weighing in at 245 pounds, Raynaud presents as a large and imposing figure on the basketball court. But this is also clearly a smart cookie — someone that will undoubtedly be a student of the game and rapidly absorb both coaching and the minutiae of the game through film review.

Offense​

Raynaud was deployed at both the 4 and the 5 at Stanford, but at times when injuries hit the point guard position for the Cardinal, Raynaud filled in as a quasi-point guard — at least in the sense he carried the ball up the floor and initiated sets. He would often direct screens and movements and often utilized dribble-handoffs (DHOs) to get the ball to his wings and forward. The immediate effect of this was to pull the opposing team’s big man out of the paint to open the floor for cuts and drives elsewhere.

He’ll certainly have the ball in his hands less at the next level, but this ball handling proficiency in college will serve him well to see the floor in modern NBA offenses. When defenders close out on him, he can reliably put the ball on the deck and attack 5-on-4:

Raynaud’s immediately apparent main skill is his shooting from deep. He took 193 three-point attempts in his senior year, more than his combined total from his freshman to junior years. He canned 35% of those attempts, with an easy, over-the-top delivery that will be extremely hard for anyone to even contest:

His pick-and-pop game is practical and effective, and it will be something that easily translates to the next level:

And his handle combined with his fluid shot even gives him a workable pull up three-pointer in his arsenal:

His sub-1.0 assist-to-turnover ratio greatly understates his ability to read the floor and find the right pass. Often, you’d see him fling crosscourt passes to open Cardinals as soon as a double team arrive, only for his teammate to turn down a wide open shot or something to ‘ruin’ the potential assist.

Here is one backdoor pass to a cutter that leads to free throws:

And another one where he hits a baseline cutter:

Make no mistake — his passing is a real weapon despite his low assist numbers. He did commit a high rate of turnovers, but he was also shouldering such a high offensive load for his Stanford men’s basketball team. I believe in time and in a smaller role, that figure will come down to something workable or better.

Unsurprisingly, Raynaud has deft touch around the rim, although he wasn’t used as a screen-and-roller or rim runner much at all. You can regularly witness him pushing in floaters with either hand from anywhere within 15 feet of the basket.

Raynaud is largely a complete package on offense, including being a menace on the offensive boards in logging just under three offensive rebounds per 36 minutes in both his junior and senior seasons. Additionally, he’s generally a strong screen setter, although he can have issues being physical and firmly sealing big-bodied defenders. In a similar vein, I also noticed him falling to the ground a ton, as his weak contact balance lets him down at times.

Still, there are very few drawbacks with his offensive game. He’s a guy that will, from day one, boost your teams spacing, ball movement, awareness and IQ on that side of the ball. While nothing quite earthshattering, I think his offensive gifts compare favorably to 2024 lottery pick Donovan Clingan, who I profiled last year in this space.

Defense​

While it’s always an asset to be 7’1” (in shoes, recorded at 7’0 ¼” barefoot at the 2025 NBA Combine), his combine measurements of 7’1 ¼” wingspan and 9’2” standing reach are something of a pink flag on their own. Add to that worries about his speed and agility on the court, and you have a center-sized player who may struggle to defend at the NBA level both horizontally and vertically on defense.

There are some positives, however, so let’s start there. He uses his 245-pound frame well when posted up or to seal box outs for defensive rebounds. He has a strong base and is hard to get pushed off his spot, and there’s hope he can at least hold his own against the many burly centers in the league in tight spaces.

Here’s Raynaud stifling a post up attempt in ACC conference play:

He doesn’t have the quickest feet in the world, but he works hard when switched out on the perimeter and truly takes pride in staying in front of smaller attackers. You can see him often showing his hands to make himself appear bigger in order to dissuade ball handlers from sizing him up and turning the corner.

This is a great show after a transition moment, and he eventually provides a razzle dazzle pass going the other way before cleaning up a miss near the rim:

The negatives, however, quickly mount when watching tape. First of all, is Raynaud a 4 or a 5? He’s a unreliable rim protector, as opponents would often attack him in mismatches and finish over him near the rim. It would be a mistake to make him defend in drop possession after possession.

Stanford frequently went possessions of 1-3-1 zone defense with Raynaud at the nail as a wrinkle to take the defensive burden off him at times. Even in man-to-man coverages, you could see Raynaud being instructed to defend at the level of screens or even higher to use his mobility to cut off the point of attack. But there’s little reason to believe his drop defense will even be anything other than passable in the NBA.

In these two clips below, Raynaud has no real chance against a smaller guy in the lane:

And Raynaud will often be seen trying awkward defensive stances such as trying to take a charge instead of defending with length:

You just don’t see a lot of forwards his size these days as every team tries to play smaller and quicker. To me, he’ll be a 5 full time unless he can show the quickness to stay with smaller 4s in certain matchups.

At 22 years of age, he has less of a runway to address some of his defensive drawbacks even as an extremely coachable, smart, and hardworking player. With NBA-level strength and conditioning, improvements can follow, but it’s just not something you can bank on with a strong degree of certainty.

Possible fit on the Hawks and final thoughts​

His age and late bloomer status pushes him out of the lottery (and out of the picture at 13th overall), but I think he’s a take for the Hawks at 22. Atlanta needs both a backup center and to continue to empower their bigs to playmake and space the floor for the rest of the team, similar to Onyeka Okongwu’s breakout second half of the 2024-25 season.

It’s a cliche, but Raynaud just knows how to play. I think he’s as plug and play as you’ll find among the big men in the late first round range, and despite his athletic limitations, he’ll slot in and contribute with the right lineup pieces around him. He logged a sky-high 32% usage rate his final year at Stanford, so if and when he accepts more of a complementary role in the NBA, in short order he can be a someone who elevates the entire offense on and off the ball.

Certainly, his defense comes with worries. You’ll want a rangy rim protector like Jalen Johnson or Mouhamed Gueye in the frontcourt with him among other lineup considerations. But the floor stretching effects off his many offensive skills can be absolutely massive for a team like Atlanta looking to give their guards more space to get downhill.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...-raynaud-atlanta-hawks-profile-video-analysis

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Report: Hawks nab Porzingis for Mann, Niang, first-round pick in big trade

Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Huge news on the eve of the draft.

With the Hawks looking to add size and shooting to the frontcourt, Atlanta has now swooped in for a 7’2” one-time All-Star and NBA champion. Shams Charania of ESPN has reported that the Hawks are finalizing a trade with the Boston Celtics and the Brooklyn Nets to bring in Kristaps Porziņģis:

BREAKING: Boston, Atlanta and Brooklyn are finalizing a three-team trade that sends Kristaps Porzingis and a second-round pick to the Hawks, Terance Mann and Atlanta's No. 22 pick to the Nets, and Georges Niang and a second-rounder to the Celtics. pic.twitter.com/1fcbIslyVF

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025​

For the Hawks, they flip two of last year’s trade deadline acquisitions into a former number four overall draft pick. Across his last three seasons, Porziņģis has averaged 21.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 57% from the floor and 39% from three. Porziņģis was acquired from the Wizards prior to the 2023-24 season when he helped the Celtics win their first title since 2008.

However, he has struggled with injuries across those two seasons, seeing action in just 99 of 164 possible regular season games, including missing large portions of both postseasons. He struggled with what was called “post-viral syndrome”, something that affected his endurance this spring and summer. Still, it’s possible the 29-year-old nine-year NBA veteran can regain form in his expiring contract season of 2025-26 for the Hawks when he’s set to make around $30.7 million.

Outgoing are Terance Mann (to Brooklyn) and Georges Niang (to Boston), who were both bench players for half a season in Atlanta, as well as the 22nd overall pick in this year’s NBA draft (also to Brooklyn). This leaves the Hawks will just pick no. 13 (plus a future second-round pick picked up in the trade) going forward into tomorrow’s draft.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...ce-mann-george-niang-trade-report-latest-news

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Hawks opt for Asa Newell at 23rd overall

Photo by Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images

After some machinations, the Hawks get their guy.

At the beginning of yesterday, the Hawks had picks no. 13 and 22. They moved pick no. 22 in the trade for Kristaps Porzingis late yesterday, then earlier tonight they executed a trade down from 13 down to 23 to pick up a future first-round pick.

So finally, with this pick the Hawks have gone for local product Asa Newell:

23. @ATLHawks: Asa Newell, C, Georgia#nbadraft2025https://t.co/9mVJ6C4xgS pic.twitter.com/cYyfLZkRcd

— RealGM (@RealGM) June 26, 2025​

The 6-foot-11 forward/big Newell comes from the University of Georgia where he averaged 15.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in his one-and-done season.

The athletic big man is talented but young (19 years of age) and relatively raw, so he may begin his NBA career outside the Hawks’ rotation. But with a solid track record of development, this Hawks organization can afford to be patient as he grows into a professional.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...ba-draft-asa-newell-latest-news-breaking-2025

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Report: Hawks to ink international player to two-way

Photo by Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images

Who is this player?

Following the conclusion of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Hawks have done a bit more work on their roster. Shams Charania of ESPN broke the new of the Hawks’ newest signing:

Real Madrid’s Eli John Ndiaye agreed to a two-way contract with Atlanta Hawks, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2025​

Eli John Ndiaye is a 21-year-old 6’8” Senegalese and Spanish power forward who has played for Real Madrid’s senior basketball team in the Liga ACB over the past three seasons. In Spanish league play, Ndiaye averaged 4.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per game.

At Real Madrid, he teamed up with former Hawks Walter ‘Edy’ Tavares and Bruno Fernando. He’ll likely join the Atlanta Hawks’ Summer League team in Las Vegas next month along with first-round draftee Asa Newell, the only other current two-way player Daeqwon Plowden, and other young players.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...s-two-way-signing-real-madrid-eli-john-ndiaye

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Analyzing the Atlanta Hawks’ newest additions and a free agency lookahead

Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images

A few intriguing numbers on Kristaps Porzingis, Asa Newell. Plus, areas of need for Atlanta in free agency.

What a week for Onsi Saleh and the Atlanta Hawks front office!

The Hawks kicked off NBA Draft week with a bang – agreeing in principle to a deal to acquire flamethrowing big man, Kristaps Porzingis, as well as a 2026 second-rounder from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Georges Niang, Terance Mann, the no. 22 pick in this year’s draft, and a 2031 second-round pick via Cleveland. Mann (and the remaining $47 million owed to him over the next three years) and no. 22 were rerouted to Brooklyn as part of the trade.

Then, during the first round of the draft on Wednesday night, the Hawks agreed to trade the no. 13 pick to New Orleans in exchange for the no. 23 pick, as well as an unprotected 2026 first-rounder (the more favorable of New Orleans’ and Milwaukee’s selections). New Orleans drafted Maryland big man, Derik Queen, at no. 13, while the Hawks selected Asa Newell out of UGA with the no. 23 pick.

Both moves were widely praised around the NBA community. Porzingis, when healthy, provides the Hawks with a unique blend of shooting and rim-protection at the ‘5’. Per stathead, he is one of just five players since 2022-23 to make at least 1.9 threes per game, and post a block percentage of at least 4% over the course of a single season – and is the only player in this group to have achieved this feat multiple times over this span. His presence raises Atlanta’s ceiling on both sides of the ball.

As for the draft night deal, it’s hard to come from that trade feeling anything but thrilled for Atlanta and equally confused with the Pelican’s thought process. Looking at the visual from Todd Whitehead below (a fantastic follow on Twitter if you’re not following him already), there isn’t an overwhelming difference in terms of the ‘most common outcome’ between players picked at no. 13 and no. 23. Yet, New Orleans – who finished 21-61 and ranked 29th in defensive rating last season – felt strongly enough about Queen to sacrifice what is projected to be a top-ten pick in next year’s draft in order to move up ten slots to get him.

Or re-organized to show the most common outcome for players from each draft slot: pic.twitter.com/GAIYJ6TkMR

— Todd Whitehead (@CrumpledJumper) June 26, 2025​

While front offices will typically pay a premium price to get “their guy” in the draft, the general consensus around the league is that New Orleans gave up way too much in this trade, with one Western Conference assistant GM calling it “the worst trade, non-Luka division, that we’ve seen in the last decade,” per Sam Vecinie of The Athletic. This is, of course, music to the ears of Hawk’s fans, who have to be feeling reinvigorated by their new-look, Onsi Saleh-led front office after this week’s events.

Today, let’s highlight a few interesting numbers on Kristaps Porzingis and Asa Newell, before briefly taking a look at some areas of need for Atlanta as the league shifts its focus towards free agency.

---

Kristaps Porzingis​

Age (start of 2025/26 season): 30

Height: 7’2”

Weight: 240

40.1% - C&S 3P% since 2022-23​

As you’ve likely heard by now, Porzingis is one of the best three-point shooting bigs in the NBA, and the number that should excite Hawks fans the most is his stellar 40.1% conversion rate on catch-and-shoot threes over the past three seasons. These looks have made up over 90% of his three-point attempts over this span, and for a Hawks team that’s seen an uptick in ball movement over the past two and a half seasons under Quin Snyder, Porzingis’ ability to stretch defenses with his floor spacing should fit in nicely.

His proficiency off the catch (particularly from above the break), not only gives Trae Young a dynamite pick-and-pop partner to work with, but will also draw opposing bigs out of the paint and create more room for Young, Dyson Daniels, and Jalen Johnson’s to operate on drives/cuts to the hole. Atlanta ranked just 22nd in rim field goal percentage last season which was one of the biggest detriments to their offense as a whole (which ranked 17th last season). Porzingis’ shooting ability should help Atlanta improve their efficiency at the rim as well.

1.22 - PPP on post-ups since 2022-23​

While Porzingis’ shooting has understandably grabbed most of the headlines, another important aspect of his offensive game is his ability to score out of the post. Post ups have made up nearly 20% of his scoring possessions over the past three seasons, and he has routinely ranked near the top of the league in both volume and efficiency on these types of possessions. In fact, per nba.com/stats, Porzingis’ 1.22 points per possession (PPP) on post ups ranks no. 1 in the league amongst players who have averaged at least 2 post-up possessions per game since 2022-23.

Interestingly, the Hawks ranked dead last in post up playtype frequency last season, with these possessions making up just 1.4% of the team’s scoring playtypes in 2024-25. Porzingis ran more post ups by himself in 42 regular season appearances (149), than the Hawks did as a team (137) last season, so I’ll be curious to see how Quin Snyder and his coaching staff plan to incorporate this part of his game into the offense next season.

65 - Games missed over the past two seasons​

It’s difficult to find fault with Porzingis’ on-court fit in Atlanta. He’s an NBA champion and an analytics darling who undoubtedly raises Atlanta’s ceiling next season. The concern when it comes to him is that he has a hard time staying on the court in the first place. Since returning from an ACL tear that kept him out for the entire 2018-19 season, he’s managed to play in more than 57 regular season games just once in the last six seasons.

Over the past two seasons in Boston, he’s dealt with a number of lower body injuries – including two (a right soleus strain and a left posterior tibialis dislocation) that kept him sidelined for much of Boston’s playoff run in 2024, though he was still able to play limited minutes and make an impact in the NBA Finals. Last season, he missed the start of the year recovering from an off-season surgery, then dealt with a strange “upper respiratory, non-COVID illness” during the second-half of the season which significantly hindered his ability to perform in the Playoffs.

While the upside of a healthy Porzingis is certainly worth the gamble, the injury history is a cause for concern and the Hawks would do well to have a rock-solid contingency plan in place in the event that Porzingis misses time.

---

Asa Newell ​

Age (start of 2025/26 season): 20

Height: 6’9”

Weight: 223

127.8 - Georgia’s offensive rating with Newell on the floor​

While Newell is projected to contribute more on defense than on offense at the NBA level, it’s worth noting just how big of an impact he had on Georgia’s offense as a college freshman last season. The Bulldogs ranked 52nd in the country in offensive rating (115.8) in 2024-25, however in their minutes with Newell on the court, they posted an offensive rating of 127.8 – on par with Alabama’s offense which ranked 3rd in the country.

Looking at the chart below (from Bart Torvik), which plots offensive rating against usage rate for Georgia’s players who played at least 20% of the team’s minutes last season, you can see that nobody else on the team even came close to replicating Newell’s on-court offensive impact.

image from Bart Torvik

It’s important to keep in mind that Newell primarily played at the ‘5’ in college, as opposed to the ‘4’ where he’ll likely see the majority of his minutes in the NBA. Nonetheless, his ability to impact the game on the glass (14.0% offensive rebound percentage), in the paint (67.3% rim field goal percentage in the halfcourt), and in transition (Newell shot 21-of-22 (!) at the rim in transition) clearly worked wonders for Georgia’s offense last season.

29.2% & 74.8% - Newell’s college 3P% & FT% ​

After shooting just 29.2% from three (on 2.7 attempts per game) at Georgia, it’s no secret that Newell’s ability to shoot from the outside is one of the most important parts of his game to develop if he is going to carve out a role for himself as an NBA ‘4’.

While his mid-range field goal percentage (37.3%) in college might indicate that his shooting touch needs a bit of work, Hawks’ fans can at least take solace in the fact that he shot an encouraging 74.8% from the free-throw stripe – indicating at the very least, that the shot isn’t broken.

2.78 seconds - shuttle run time at the NBA Combine (5th amongst Combine participants)​

On the defensive end, Newell’s greatest asset is the speed and agility he brings to the table at his size, something that was confirmed by his impressive shuttle run and lane agility times at the NBA Combine. In Chicago, Newell posted the fifth fastest time amongst all players in the shuttle run, and the eighth fastest time amongst forwards and centers in the lane agility drill. Newell’s athletic gifts help him cover a ton of ground in rotation, impact shots at the rim (3.8% block percentage) and comfortably switch 1-through-5 at the college level. His versatility was at the heart of Georgia’s 30th ranked defense last season.

Against NBA competition, Newell will have to add some muscle in order to defend against 5s*, and he will be tested by the quickness of NBA guards, but he has a great foundation to build upon and should develop into an impactful defensive player sooner rather than later.

*For reference, Onyeka Okongwu is 6’9” and weighs 240 pounds, and is still seen as undersized for an NBA ‘5’

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Setting the table for Free Agency​

Before we go, I wanted to share an updated version of Atlanta’s cap sheet and depth chart ahead of free agency.

Cap​

As you can see from the cap-sheet above, assuming Atlanta guarantees the contracts for Vit Krejci and Mouhamed Gueye and declines the team option on Dominick Barlow, they will enter the offseason $33 million below the luxury tax line and $41 million below the first apron with ten players on the roster (out of the maximum of 15) for next season.

The Hawks can exceed the cap to resign their own free agents and will have access to the $14.1 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception (MLE*) — as well as the $5.1 million bi-annual exception to sign players on the free agent market. Additionally, they have a $25.3 million trade exception (which expires on July 7th) that they can use to acquire players from other teams without having to send out matching salaries in a deal.

*provided that they stay below the first apron

Depth​

Looking at the depth chart, you can see that while the Hawks’ have quite a formidable top-six after the Porzingis trade, it’s going to be vital for them to fill out their bench with quality role players to complement the current group.

As things stand, unproven third-year man, Kobe Bufkin – whose injury woes have resulted in him making just 27 NBA appearances since being drafted 15th overall in 2023 – is the only back-up guard on the roster. Vit Krejci, who had a usage rate of just 13.1%, but posted a 3:1 assist to turnover ratio and shot 43.3% from the perimeter (56.7% after the All-Star break) last season, is the only back-up wing.

In the frontcourt, while I’d feel good about Mouhamed Gueye and either Porzingis or Onyeka Okongwu manning the backup ‘4’ and ‘5’ minutes*, given the respective injury histories of Gueye, Porzingis and Jalen Johnson, the Hawks need to add some depth here as well.

*I wouldn’t be surprised if first-round pick, Asa Newell, starts the season in the G League with the College Park Skyhawks. Additionally, I’ve got Okongwu penciled in as the starter for now due to Porzingis’ injury history, the fact that he’s on a one-year deal, as well as Okongwu’s impressive play over the second half of the 2024-25 season.

Essentially, the Hawks need to add a back-up guard, a back-up wing, and a back-up level big.

It’s been reported that the Hawks are interested in bringing back both Caris LeVert and Larry Nance Jr. – moves that I’d be perfectly alright with as LeVert is versatile enough to play both on and off the ball, while Nance Jr. has experience playing both the 4 and the 5 (even if he is a bit undersized for extended stretches at the 5 at 6’8”).

That being said, if the team is really trying to go for it next season (as the Porzingis trade suggests), I personally believe that they’d be one high-level, two-way wing short of being legitimate contenders for the Eastern Conference Finals even after bringing back Levert and Nance Jr.

One intriguing option is Minnesota Timberwolves wing, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, but is reportedly a name to watch for the Hawks in a potential sign-and-trade. Apart from Alexander-Walker, the free agent isn’t exactly overflowing with wing talent this year (can I interest anyone in Kelly Oubre Jr., Alec Burks, or Taurean Prince? Didn’t think so), which is where the $25.3 million trade exception comes into play.

The Hawks could acquire a player like Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson (who shot 39% from three on 7.2 attempts per game in 2024-25), Phoenix’s Dillon Brooks, or Washington’s Marcus Smart. Additionally, Blazers’ forward, Deni Avdija, Celtics wing, Sam Hauser, or Suns forward (and former Quin Snyder player), Royce O’Neale, could be options as well.

Simply put, if Onsi Saleh is to continue in this vein of making aggressive moves, I’d be surprised if this significant trade exception doesn’t come into play over the next few days. Free agency begins at 6 PM EST on June 30th, which is when teams can start to negotiate with players. Players can officially sign contracts on June 6th.

It’s been an exciting offseason so far in Atlanta, and these next two weeks should be no different. I can’t wait to see what the Hawks’ front office cooks up.

Stay tuned!

All statistics used are from basketball-reference.com, nba.com/stats, cleaningtheglass.com, dunksandthrees.com, sports-reference.com, and bball-index.com. Salary info is from Spotrac and RealGM.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...ee-agency-kristaps-porzingis-asa-newell-stats

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Four games scheduled for Hawks’ Summer League

When and where to see the new young Hawks.

The Atlanta Hawks will once again head to Las Vegas and vie for the Summer League Championship next month. The team has announced the four scheduled games to be played out west (with one or more pending depending on results):

Summer hoops pic.twitter.com/4xD7odDllu

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) June 27, 2025​

Atlanta is still putting together its roster for the competition but it’s likely to include first-round pick Asa Newell, two-way signings Eli John Ndiaye and Lamont Butler, and offseason signing Kobe Johnson, brother of Jalen.

30 teams will compete in Las Vegas for the Summer League title there in July. Based upon the results of all team’s first four games, the top four teams in the standings after tiebreakers will head to a single elimination bracket for a maximum of two extra games. The teams that don’t qualify will have a fifth and final game amongst each other to be announced at that point.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...ummer-league-las-vegas-latest-news-asa-newell

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Hawks decline option on Barlow

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The move makes him an unrestricted free agent, likely ending his time in Atlanta.

With the deadline this afternoon to decide on his team option, the Hawks have reportedly declined to pick up Dominick Barlow’s option for 2025-26.

The Atlanta Hawks are declining forward Dominick Barlow's team option for $2.2 million, making him a free agent, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2025​

The move isn’t too terribly surprising given the actions of the team so far. After trading for Kristaps Porzingis and drafting Asa Newell, two players that can play both the 4 and the 5, it left little room on the roster for the 22-year-old big man.

Dominick Barlow signed with the Hawks on a two-way deal last offseason after two seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. He split time with the G League College Park Skyhawks and the senior team, playing in 31 games with the Skyhawks and 35 games with the Hawks. He averaged just 4.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in 10.7 minutes per game in the NBA in 2024-25, but did earn a conversion from a two-way to a full contract late in the season.

The move likely means that Barlow won’t be back with the Hawks next season, but in theory the two sides could work out a separate deal as he enters unrestricted free agency.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...s-dominick-barlow-nba-latest-free-agency-news

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Dream topple defending champion Liberty

Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Huge win for the aspiring contenders they are.

The Atlanta Dream won their 11th game of the season on Sunday afternoon, defeating the New York Liberty, 90-81. The Dream were in control most of the game, leading 47-34 at halftime, and held on to win in the end.

Leading the way was Brionna Jones, who poured in 21 points, grabbed six rebounds, and anchored the team on both ends of the floor. Her ability to control the tempo and hit timely shots proved crucial, especially during a key third quarter run that swung the momentum in the Dream’s favor.

Jones’s ability to score under the goal is very impressive, as she is currently 13.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Jones credits getting tons of reps in practice and games as her reason for success.

“Just a lot of repetition, over the years just getting a lot of reps under there. I know I’m not the quickest or jumping the highest, but I can get my defender where I want them, and I’m able to finish the play,” said Jones.

Supporting her was Allisha Gray, who added 20 points from her guard position and provided a spark whenever the team needed a lift.

The frontcourt also played a major role, dominating the glass and limiting second-chance opportunities for the opposition. Brittney Griner added 14 points and four rebounds. Griner, who had been struggling as of late, was glad to have a good game.

“Basketball is crazy. Its up and down. There are times when you make every shot in practice, and then you know it’s not going down in the game. Just sticking to it, and I give a lot of credit to my coaches for believing in me and encouraging me. Just telling me to shoot the ball, and without them, I probably would still be stuck in a slump,” said Griner.

Jordin Canada was also huge for the Dream tonight, adding 15 points and eight assists to the effort — as did Naz Hillmon with 10 points and four rebounds.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t all good for the Dream as Rhyne Howard had to exit the game due to an upper body injury. If Howard has to miss any games, it will be a big blow as she is averaging 17.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

The Dream are 1-1 halfway through their four-game homestand, and they will return to action on Thursday against the Seattle Storm.

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...ha-gray-champion-new-york-liberty-quotes-news

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Report: Hawks add sharpshooting Kennard to spending spree

Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

One last piece in free agency.

The Hawks have added Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker this offseason, and now they add a combo guard who has been one of the best shooters in the league over the past few seasons. Per Shams Charania of ESPN, the Hawks and Luke Kennard have agreed on a one-year, $11 million pact for this season:

Free agent sharpshooter Luke Kennard has agreed to a one-year, $11 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks, sources tell ESPN. Kennard has been one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA, and Atlanta negotiated the new deal with CAA's Aaron Mintz and Dave Spahn. pic.twitter.com/630xGDjmuo

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025​

Kennard is a 6-foot-5 combo guard who is much more than just an elite shooter.

Over his last three seasons in largely a reserve role, he averaged 9.5 points and 2.7 assists in 163 games, showcasing both the ability to handle the ball, set up his teammates, and set himself up to score with and without the ball. He has taken almost 70% of his field attempts from three in that timeframe, hitting a blistering 46% of long range attempts for a 65% true shooting percentage.

The 8-year veteran Kennard looks to step into a timeshare at the backup point guard spot with third-year player Kobe Bufkin. Here’s to a great season from the newest Hawk!

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...ta-luke-kennard-free-agency-rumor-latest-news

 

[Atlanta Hawks]

Grading every major Atlanta move from the draft and free agency

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

The definitive report card for the Hawks’ huge moves.

Free agency has (largely) come and gone for the Hawks with the exception of some minor moves to make around the edges.

With all eyes focused on what the Hawks do with the flexibility of multiple large traded player exceptions (TPE), the mid-level exception (MLE), and a desire to put forth a more competitive team in a wide-open Eastern Conference, general manager Onsi Saleh and the Hawks front office delivered in a big way.

So, with that, I weigh in and grade based on what I thought about each of the major moves the Hawks made up to this point — both in reshaping their roster for the present and the future.

Trading Mann, Niang, 2025 first for Kristaps Porzingis​

This one was the opening salvo in a series of domino-like moves. The move ultimately roped in both the Boston Celtics and the Brooklyn Nets, with the Celtics picking up Georges Niang and the Nets absorbing Terance Mann’s $47 million owed over the next three years in order to acquire the 22nd overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. That pick later became UNC wing Drake Powell.

Niang and Mann came to the Hawks at the trade deadline in deals involving De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic respectively, but frankly neither exactly covered themselves in glory in the roughly 30 games in a Hawks jersey. While Niang spaced the floor well from the forward position (41% from three on 6.6 attempts per game), his lack of agility and defensive range just about erased any positives earned on the opposite side of the floor.

Terance Mann was the more problematic of the two, however. While he’s a serviceable bench wing who doesn’t hurt you defensively and also shot the ball well from deep (39% from three on 2.9 attempts per game with the Hawks), his passivity could, at times, bog down the offense. Additionally, his try-hard defense wasn’t quite as impactful as originally advertised — although, to be fair, he was unfairly deployed at the 4 far too often.

But really it was the $47 million owed to him over the next three years — via an extension signed with the Clippers — that was the reason for Atlanta having to attach a first rounder to get off his money. That $15.7 million annual value is roughly sixth man money for ninth or tenth-man contributions.

And so those two got folded into a transaction where the Hawks found themselves at the right place at the right time. With the Celtics looking to duck below the second apron in the wake of Jayson Tatum’s injury, Atlanta swooped in to land the expiring $30.7 million contract of Kristaps Porzingis.

Porzingis is a case of “you can’t teach 7’2” with post turnaround moves.” And his defensive range (career 2.9 blocks per 100 possessions) and shooting (career 37% three-point shooting) give the Hawks a unicorn with which Trae Young has never before been able to pair with on a pick-and-pop.

Even if ‘KP’ only gives the Hawks 25 minutes per game across 50 games this season due to injuries and ailments, the Hawks have a starting-caliber center in Onyeka Okongwu as insurance. It’s such a low risk move to move off Mann’s future money and only surrender a low first-round pick that this can’t be anything more than a big win.

Grade: A-

Swapping 13 for 23 and the best of Bucks/Pelicans 2026 first​

This move certainly raised eyebrows around the league — and from Atlanta’s perspective only for the right reasons.

After executing the above trade for Porzingis the day before the first round of the draft, the Hawks came into the night with just the 13th overall pick via the Sacramento Kings. Once the Hawks were on the clock, in came a report that the New Orleans Pelicans — despite having nabbed Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears with the seventh overall pick — had moved into position at that slot.

No one could have imagined that the cost would be so steep for Pelicans president of basketball operations Joe Dumars to get his guy, Derik Queen from Maryland.

For the low, low cost of moving down just 10 spots in the draft, Atlanta picked up not just an unprotected first-round pick in what projects to be a strong 2026 NBA Draft. They picked up the most favorable of the Milwaukee Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans in what projects to be a strong 2026 NBA Draft. Again, this pick is unrestricted and regardless of the results of the lottery should it land there.

So, the Pelicans, who are coming off a 21-61 season with major availability questions surround their two main drivers on offense, Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray, and the Milwaukee Bucks, who have built a completely uninspiring roster around Giannis Antetokuonmpo, could convey a massive windfall of a pick this time next year.

And, to top it off, the Hawks were able to purportedly get their guy they heavily considered at 13 down at 23. This is a flawless victory in my eyes.

Grade: A+

Drafting Asa Newell 23rd overall​

Newell is a local boy (born in Atlanta and raised in Athens) who grew up a Hawks fan and spent his one-and-done season at the University of Georgia. On the court, he’s a swing big man who brings size, motor, elite rim finishing, and is just 19 years of age coming to a strong Hawks developmental program.

I have major questions about his shooting upside, his passing and short roll vision, his somewhat disappointing wingspan (6’11 1/4”) and standing reach measurements (8’11 1/2”) compared to his 6’9 barefoot height per the combine, but ultimately I really can’t knock the pick too much.

There were a couple of guys remaining on my draft board I personally had higher for the Hawks to land here, and I would be much more critical of this pick had the Hawks taken him at 13, but late in the first round it’s a decent flier. If nothing else, he should form a solid pick-and-roll partnership with Trae Young and contribute defensively, and he fits the hardworking ethos that Quin Snyder and his coaching staff have instilled during the current regime.

Grade: B-

Signing Nickeil Alexander-Walker for a reported $62 million​

Nickeil Alexander-Walker was one of the most talked about unrestricted free agents in this class in the lead up to this summer. After being more of an on-ball guard between Virginia Tech and in his first three NBA seasons with the Pelicans after being drafted 17th overall in 2019, he had carved out a nice role coming off the bench for a resurgent Minnesota Timberwolves franchise over the past 2.5 seasons.

Alexander-Walker played all 185 out of a possible 185 games in the past two regular seasons and postseasons combined for Minnesota, showcasing his incredible ability to be available. In accepting a lower usage role as compared to earlier in his career, he averaged just 7.8 points and 2.3 assists in 22.2 minutes per game in the regular season, but his impact is much greater than those basic box score stats.

Even with some ability to handle the ball and distribute (as evidenced by his past experience), his willingness to buy into a role as a ‘3-and-D’ point-of-attack (POA) defender while hitting 39% of his threes means over the past two years he has emerged as one of the most preeminent in the league in that archetype.

Alexander-Walker is both slender enough to slink through screens and tough enough to be physical with ball handlers in tight space. His 6-foot-10 wingspan comes in handy to harass opponents on the ball and in the passing lane. Plus he’s fearless and possesses a high motor. There’s simply little he hasn’t mastered defensively on the court.

The Timberwolves have been +3.9 points per 100 possession with him on the floor versus off the floor across the past two seasons, for example. And the Timberwolves (led by Rudy Gobert and other important defensive cogs of course) have been first and sixth respectively over the past two seasons in defensive rating as a result.

And so, with the Hawks targeting further defensive improvement and him hitting unrestricted free agency at 26 years of age, the team has worked out a sign-and-trade to land Alexander-Walker roughly starting at the amount of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception (although they have instead reportedly absorbed him into the large $25.3 million TPE created from the Dejounte Murray trade). That means a little over $14 million in this year with 5% salary increases through 2028-29 (when he’ll have a player option that prior summer).

Trae Young even worked overtime to aid in recruiting ‘NAW’ to the A, so when your best and most important player is this bought in as he becomes extension-eligible this offseason, it’s a huge win to actually get the deal across the finish line.

This is a high floor move — and it’s a move that shows maturity and an acknowledgement of where the league is at. Supplementary two-way players in the prime of their career are more desired than ever, and guys who has taken on the toughest matchups — like his cousin and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — have proven to be almost invaluable, especially as you try to progress through the playoffs.

Grade: A-

Signing Luke Kennard for a reported $11 million​

After signing ‘NAW’, Atlanta still needed some backcourt shot creation to backup Trae Young. Given that there are no perfect fits to be found in free agency, the team pounced upon one of the best targets available for that role.

Luke Kennard comes to Atlanta after two and a half seasons in Memphis where he established himself as a polished ball handler and a deadeye shooter both off the dribble and from off-ball movement. Kennard averaged 14.6 points and 5.1 assists against just 1.8 turnovers per 36 minutes while shooting 51% from the floor and 44% from three in his two full seasons with the Grizzlies.

As a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, he has decent size for his position, but his limited athleticism and injury history caps his impact at being a reserve. He’s someone who can come off the bench and give you, say, 16-to-18 minutes a contest — but he may also be someone you cut out of a playoff rotation. So while he may not be able to exactly replicate the ‘Caris LeVert role’ for this team, he’s a fiscally responsible facsimile.

Coming in at a reported $11 million as a portion of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, the price tag may be a touch higher than desired for a guy who is neither a true point guard nor can reasonably play alongside Trae Young defensively, but it’s just a one-year deal at a position of need so there’s really little tangible downside.

Grade: B+

Verdict​

As the kids say, Onsi Saleh and company largely cooked over the past week.

Certainly, results on the court need to follow, but to be able both improve your team greatly in the power vacuum that is the 2025-26 Eastern Conference AND set the franchise up for future success through roster flexibility and recouping draft assets means it aces this test with flying colors.

Overall grade: A

Source: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2025...gis-nickeil-alexander-walker-opinion-analysis