Atlanta

Hawks

Veesaar slid to the Hawks at pick No. 52 last month, but he’s far more talented than his draft slot. However, he didn’t contribute much during his 18-minute summer league debut. It’s obviously far too early to draw any conclusions, but Veesaar should see his role increase as summer league continues.

Newell didn’t have his best shooting performance from deep, but he got up plenty of shots from deep and looked confident as a shooter. That’s going to help him get on the floor, but the other factor is how well he can defend down low and rebound. He still has a ways to go on that end, even if he does look noticeably stronger than he did as a rookie.

Ejiofor was the Hawks second first-round pick last month, and he has a chance to be a rotation player this season. While he didn’t do much scoring in this game, he found other ways to make an impact, which is certainly an encouraging sign. Ejiofor made his mark on defense and on the glass and should spend time as both a backup power forward and backup center during his rookie season.

The Hawks added Flemings with the No. 8 pick in the draft, and while he struggled to score, there was a lot to like about what he did as a playmaker. One encouraging aspect about what he did as a scorer was his shot from deep, which was a question mark entering the draft. He even hit a big shot that nearly tied the game at 100 late, but his foot was in the line. Still, the assists and steals should be his bread and butter for fantasy hoops, and he only turned the ball over once.

Between the Grizzlies and Hawks, Landale appeared in 67 games in 2025-26. Serving mainly as Onyeka Okongwu’s backup until a high ankle sprain ended his season in early April, the 6-foot-11 center averaged 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 19.4 minutes for the Hawks. Landale’s return fortifies Atlanta’s center rotation, which the team added to in the draft by selecting Zuby Ejiofor with the 23rd overall pick.

With Kuminga’s $24.33 million option, it’s unsurprising the Hawks declined to exercise it. According to multiple reports, the front office attempted to find a trade partner but failed, leading to this transaction. Acquired from the Warriors, Kuminga appeared in 16 games for Atlanta, averaging 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.1 three-pointers in 22.1 minutes. While he had his moments of fantasy relevance, especially with the Warriors, Kuminga likely needs to land in a position where he’ll be featured to be worth the risk in most drafts.

The 13th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Carter could never truly establish himself after shoulder surgery pushed his NBA debut back to January 2025. Appearing in 74 games over two seasons, the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 6.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 14.8 minutes. And with the Kings using their lottery pick on Darius Acuff Jr., Carter was unlikely to get the opportunities needed to reach fantasy relevance. The trade to Atlanta gives him a fresh start, but it’s unlikely to change his fantasy outlook since the Hawks used their lottery pick on Kingston Flemings.

With Hield’s $9.66 million salary reportedly going to be guaranteed, the Hawks will retain a proven veteran who has consistently been one of the league’s best three-point shooters. His salary could also be used as filler in a potential trade, according to The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer. Regardless, Hield didn’t have much value in fantasy leagues last season aside from scenarios in which managers need streaming options for three-point production. He barely played at all for the Hawks after the trade.

After appearing in 39 NBA games in his first two seasons, Gueye played in 77 games in 2025-26. The 6-foot-10 forward provided additional depth in the frontcourt, averaging 4.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 15.3 minutes. With the Hawks drafting Zuby Ejiofor and Henri Veesaar and possibly looking to add another frontcourt player in free agency, Gueye’s opportunities may take a hit in 2026-27.

After three seasons at Arizona, playing two, the 6-foot-11 Veesaar made a decision that likely made him a first-round pick. He transferred to North Carolina and was featured more offensively, resulting in a significant increase in production. Veesaar averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.3 three-pointers, shooting 60.8 percent from the field and 61.5 percent from the foul line. Veesaar also shot 42.6 percent from three, taking advantage of his increased offensive freedom. Most mocks had Veesaar going in the first round, so it was a big surprise that he slid this far. The Hawks traded up from pick 57 to add him, and with Jock Landale set to his free agency, Veesaar could see some time as the backup center in Atlanta early on.