Hawks announce N’Faly Dante signing after Rockets decline to match offer

The Atlanta Hawks have signed center N’Faly Dante after the Houston Rockets declined to match his two-year, $4.5 million offer sheet. The move was first reported by Michael Scotto of HoopsHype and later confirmed by the Hawks.

Dante, 23, played last season on a two-way contract with Houston. He appeared in four NBA games but was a regular with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the G League. In 42 outings, he averaged 15.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 26.8 minutes per game.

The Rockets extended Dante a two-way qualifying offer in June, but their roster decisions signaled a change in direction. Houston filled its two-way slots with Kevon Harris, Isaiah Crawford and JD Davison, leaving little room for Dante’s return. The club is also operating just $1.26 million below the first-apron hard cap, limiting its flexibility to add players.

Atlanta’s offer is expected to come in at the minimum salary, though even that proved too costly for Houston given its financial constraints. The Hawks now have 14 players on standard contracts, with Caleb Houstan also expected to join the team.

Dante becomes the first two-way restricted free agent to sign an offer sheet since Tyrone Wallace in 2018. He is also the first to change teams in such a scenario since 2020, when Atlanta signed Sacramento’s Bogdan Bogdanovic and the Kings chose not to match.

The addition of Dante provides depth to a Hawks frontcourt that features Onyeka Okongwu, Kristaps Porzingis, rookie Asa Newell and third-year big man Mouhamed Gueye.