On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The Hawks surprisingly won an NBA Cup group that included two of the best clubs in basketball in the Celtics and Cavaliers. Even if they have a 10-11 overall record, with some poor underlying metrics, there’s reason to be hopeful in Atlanta.
The Hawks are 20th in offense, 21st in defense, and 20th in net rating, but they have a young core that is only finding its footing in the Association, two of which were included in ESPN’s top 25 players under 25 years old.
Dyson Daniels, who the Hawks acquired in the trade of Dejounte Murray, has been a complete defensive revelation for a Trae Young-led team. He’s averaging 13.5 points per game but more importantly, Daniels is averaging 3.0 steals per game at just 21 years old.
“After coming to Atlanta as part of the Dejounte Murray trade this offseason, Daniels has turned himself into one of the NBA’s elite perimeter defenders, averaging 3.0 steals per game. He has repeatedly had huge moments late in games at the defensive end, including stripping Sacramento Kings star De’Aaron Fox in the final seconds of a Nov. 19 win at Sacramento, and is a clear difference-maker at that end,” Tim Bontemps writes. “The thing that will determine Daniels’ ceiling is his offense; Daniels is shooting 29.5% from 3, and his shot remains a real question. But even if it never comes around, his defense is enough to make him a real force in Atlanta.”
Daniels’s impact on the defensive end has had a profound impact, but Bontemps is correct; his ceiling depends on his shooting. If he can ever find a consistent shot, the Hawks will have found another pillar of the franchise to go along with Trae Young, Zaccharie Risacher, and the other member of the 25 under 25 club — Jalen Johnson.
The former lottery pick is averaging over 20 points per game, nearly 10 rebounds per game, to go along with 5.5 assists per game. He’s taken the next step, and as Kevin Pelton points out, his season averages put him in elite company.
“Johnson is averaging career highs in points (20.1), rebounds (9.9) and assists (5.5), putting him just shy of three players leaguewide — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Domantas Sabonis — who are topping 20 PPG, 10 RPG and 5 APG. Johnson isn’t on their level, but he has flashed All-Star potential with continued improvement as a shotmaker,” Pelton writes.
The Hawks will be lucky to capture a postseason berth, let alone win a series, but that’s not the goal. The goal should be for Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Zaccharie Risacher to take considerable steps in their respective developments as the Hawks continue to build around Trae Young.
More must-reads:
- Bulls sign HC Billy Donovan to multiyear extension
- Nikola Jokic’s agent sparks LeBron James to Denver speculation with Instagram post
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Warriors eyeing superstar in blockbuster trade, explains why Golden State has moved slowly with Jonathan Kuminga
The Golden State Warriors are yet to reach a resolution with Jonathan Kuminga this summer, and they seem to be biding their time for a superstar, should he be made available. The Golden State Warriors are yet to make any sort of move this offseason, despite being linked to both Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton. Priority number one seems to be figuring out the Jonathan Kuminga situation. He is a restricted free agent, and the Warriors have extended a qualifying offer, keeping him on the books for another season unless he is moved in a sign-and-trade, which seems to be a very real possibility. Kuminga and the Warriors seem to be on the outs, with both parties preferring him to play elsewhere this season, although it could benefit both of them for him to sign a longer deal with Golden State. Warriors would prefer to sign Kuminga to longer deal If Kuminga returns to Golden State on the one-year qualifying offer, he will make $7.9 million next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer. As a free agent, he should be able to sign a lucrative deal next summer, but that means spending another year in Golden State, which he doesn’t want to do. On top of that, if he gets injured this season, there is no guarantee that his next contract will be maximized, so there is some risk involved. It seems counter-intuitive for him to sign a big deal with the Warriors, although committing–on paper at least–to the Dubs long term could work out for him. If he signs a new deal, he has to wait three months before being traded, although he will likely have more suitors than he would if he was simply playing on a one-year rental contract. For both the Warriors and Kuminga, signing him for three or four years not only would make him more guaranteed money, but it makes him easier to move. With Kuminga signed to a whole new contract, the Warriors can set their sights on a prized trade target. Kuminga could be centerpiece of Giannis Antetokounmpo trade Giannis Antetokounmpo has yet to demand a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks, but if the Doc Rivers-led team falls flat, even with Myles Turner in town, it stands to reason that the Bucks will have to have a difficult talk next summer. A fourth first-round exit in a row in 2026 would likely spell the end of the Giannis era in Milwaukee, and the Warriors, as well as the rest of the league, are gearing up to add him. With Kuminga signed to a longer deal, the Warriors can include him as a key part of a possible trade package. “There’s another reason why the Warriors don’t want to give Kuminga away for less than his full trade value: Like every other smart team, they’re trying to maintain every asset they’ve got so they’re ready once and if the Giannis Antetokounmpo market heats up,” wrote The San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami. “If you’re looking to build a trade around a young player who could step right into a barren roster and give a transitioning team a burst of energy … well, I think the Warriors might have a candidate to bring up if Milwaukee ever asks. That is, if the Warriors and Kuminga can agree on a solid deal this summer.” It will take a lot more than Kuminga to land Antetokounmpo, although the Warriors could toss in Moses Moody, who was extended last summer, as well as up to three first-round picks and multiple pick swaps, possibly enough to get a deal done for a new franchise centerpiece to build around.
Shedeur Sanders gets new chance after Browns QB injury
Shedeur Sanders has been working with the Cleveland Browns' equipment staff as the No. 4 quarterback this summer. He'll have a new opportunity following troubling injury news for Kenny Pickett. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Pickett suffered a hamstring injury during Saturday's practice and will not receive reps until his issue is re-evaluated. "Browns QB Kenny Pickett injured his hamstring near the end of Saturday’s practice and is expected to re-evaluate the injury later this week, per sources," Schefter posted on X. "Pickett was coming off a strong couple of practices, per sources, and at least for the short term, there now will be more reps for Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Pickett's injury will shake up the quarterback race in Cleveland. Through OTAs and early in training camp, Sanders has been the odd man out as the only signal caller on the roster not to receive reps with the first-team offense. It's unclear if the Browns coaching staff intends to give Sanders reps with the first-team offense now that Pickett is sidelined, but the fifth-round pick will have more chances this week to prove that he deserves an opportunity to stay in Cleveland. The Browns are in a unique situation with their rookie quarterbacks. Third-round pick Dillon Gabriel was selected before Sanders, but the son of Deion Sanders fell to Day 3 of the draft for reasons other than talent. The majority of draft analysts had Sanders as a better-graded quarterback than Gabriel, and many thought the Colorado product would be taken in the first round. The Browns can use the injury as an excuse to give Sanders reps with the first team, and it's a task they need to take advantage of before the team names a starter. Sanders has the potential to be a starter in the league, and this week is pivotal for his rookie season in Cleveland.
All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit into the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .217/.288/.408 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability, and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts, and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
What we learned after the first week of 2025 Steelers training camp: Rookies put on a show, defense dominates, and OL struggles
The first set of practices are in the books, and the next time the Pittsburgh Steelers are on the field, it will be in pads. But before we look ahead, let's look back at what we learned from Week 1 of 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers training camp... Rookie Class Impresses Let's start at the top. By all accounts, first-rounder Derrick Harmon was a walking TFL through the weekend. Obviously, things are different when the pads come on, but some of the plays he was making will carry over against any and every lineman he faces: But it didn't stop there. Kaleb Johnson made plays in the run and pass game. Jack Sawyer had some great reps agaginst Troy Fautanu. Yahya Black batted multiple passes at the line of scrimmage on Sunday and by the end of the weekend, Will Howard was taking reps with the ones in 7on7. So far, so good with the rookies. Defensive Domination Defense will always have the upper hand to start camp. Add in a new quarterback, first time left tackle, and new WR#1 and they should definitely be winners more than losers. But after the first weekend, the league's highest-paid defense has looked like it. Whether it's been the Steelers' patented 7 Shots period, 11v11, or even 7v7, the defense has been suffocating and multiple. T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith have rotated more. Jalen Ramsey has played every position in the secondary, and the DTs have been nightmares in the backfield. It could be a bad omen for the offense, but I think it's more of a look into how special this defense can be. Offensive line off to a slow start Typically, you want to reserve judgment for offensive line units after the first week of pads. The reason why the unit has been a bit of a concern isn't that they have been getting beaten like a drum, however. Instead, it's that Broderick Jones, who needs all the reps he can get, is now day-to-day with a soft tissue injury after Sunday. It's that Zach Frazier had two bad snaps in back-to-back days leading to him being pulled from the lineup. The same thing happened to Troy Fautanu on Sunday after he had a false start. So we'll reserve the actual judgment for this time next week, and chalk it up to rust for the unit, but they need to show they can protect Aaron Rodgers and not have so many mental errors.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
