Atlanta Hawks big man Mouhamed Gueye could be in line for regular minutes next season. The 2023 No. 39 pick, Gueye looked like a draft steal on several occasions. While he was unable to stay healthy enough to make a lasting impact, he made quite the impression.
So much so that the Hawks “are optimistic (Gueye)… is ready to claim a rotation spot,” per ESPN insider Zach Lowe.
Hawks’ Hopes For Mouhamed Gueye, Revealed
Atlanta’s big man rotation could feature Clint Capela, Onyeka Okongwu, Larry Nance Jr., and Jalen Johnson. Among this quartet, only Johnson is considered untouchable in a trade. In fact, he has the most job security of any player on the roster.
Gueye could secure his spot in the rotation during training camp and the preseason. Unlike Capela, Gueye’s both a floor-spacer and rim-protector. He has better length than Okongwu and Nance, who are both a bit undersized when playing center.
Nonetheless, it wouldn’t hurt Gueye to get a bit of outside help.
The Larry Nance Jr. Factor
With NBA insider Marc Stein reporting that Nance is drawing trade interest, the pathway for Gueye to land in the rotation is a bit clearer. The Hawks have yet to move Nance, who was part of their haul for Dejounte Murray. However, several teams are on the market for a big man.
The New York Knicks might be looking the hardest, as they’ve yet to replace Isaiah Hartenstein. Though Mitchell Robinson is a starting-caliber center, Hartenstein’s mobility brought a different dimension to their defense. Nance could play a similar role.
Interestingly, the Knicks were recently linked to Capela. Yet, Stein writes that though Atlanta has “been trying to trade Capela for more than a year… the Atlanta big man drawing the most external interest is the newly acquired Nance.”
In light of those reports, one might conclude that New York checked in on both Capela and Nance.
Clint Capela On The Move?
The desire to move Capela could have come more from the Hawks’ side.
With teams becoming for cost-conscious, Atlanta may not want to pay $22.3 million to a center who they can replace with a more affordable option. To that point, Nance will make $11.1 million less than him next season. That being said, Capela’s contract expires in 2025, giving the Hawks a reason to move him before the 2024-25 trade deadline.
With Nance generating trade interest, unfamiliar with his teammates and Quin Snyder’s playbook, and on an expiring contract himself at 31 years old, Atlanta is more likely to move him than keep him. They may simply want to see if they can move Capela —who’ll be the second-highest paid Hawks player next season —first.
Does It Matter Who’s Traded?
As it relates to Gueye, whether Nance or Capela is traded, it helps him.
A hybrid big man at 6-foot-11 and over 220 pounds, Gueye can play either power forward or center. At power forward, Gueye has mismatch potential due to his length and ability to score out of post-ups. At center, his 3-point prowess can draw shot-blockers out of the paint.
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