The Atlanta Hawks are officially a player in the Eastern Conference. This season is about the Hawks building on their stunning run to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals, with a goal of getting the ball rolling early after struggling out of the gates a year ago, when they began 14-20.
Needless to say, third-year wing Cam Reddish taking the next step in his development would be a major catalyst toward those efforts.
To date, Reddish's NBA career has been largely forgettable. Over two seasons with the Hawks since being selected with the tenth overall pick of the 2019 draft, Reddish has averaged 10.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 37.8 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from beyond the arc. He was limited to 26 games last season due to an Achilles injury, missing valuable time to grow his game on both sides of the ball.
With that said, Cam Reddish showed out for the Hawks against the Milwaukee Bucks during his abbreviated stint with an NBA Finals berth on the line. He averaged 12.8 points while shooting an astounding 64.3 percent from beyond the arc in four games, especially impressive numbers considering he'd last taken the floor in February. Reddish's best showing came in Game 6 where he finished with 21 points on 6-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.
The Duke product likes to shoot the basketball, and has shown an ability to do so effectively in spurts. Reddish also has the skill and athleticism needed to score off the dribble. Consistency is the name of the game for Reddish now, progress that comes from a combination of regular playing time, better health luck, and an uptick in efficiency.
On the surface, at least, it seems like the Hawks don't need another scorer. Trae Young is among the most flammable bucket-getters in basketball. John Collins is a bouncy, versatile scorer who continues to expand his game. Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic are capable of big nights anytime they step on the floor. Kevin Huerter is a reliable shooter with a developing floor game. De'Andre Hunter showed immense promise offensively last season before going down with injury. Clint Capela is an imminent lob and dump-off threat around the rim. No one has ever scored off the bench like Lou Williams.
But if Reddish becomes a more efficient and well-rounded scorer, coach Nate McMillan's team could go from a borderline elite offensive outfit to an absolute juggernaut.
First of all, Reddish isn't and won't ever have to be the first or second source of offense for the Hawks. Any unit that has Young and Collins on the floor will force teams to focus their defensive efforts on shutting down those players. Meanwhile, the Hawks have a handful of players who stretch the floor and are capable isolation scorers. Some of them, like Hunter, have the upside to grow more impactful and productive as their careers continue.
Hunter has dealt with a number of injuries in the early stages of his time in Atlanta. He nursed muliple ankle injuries toward the end of his rookie season in 2019, and was limited to just 23 games last season due to a knee injury. Hunter's hopes to appear in the playoffs were then dashed due to another knee issue.
Case in point: The Hawks could use another building-block youngster to slot beside Young and Collins, but unfortunately can't bank on both Hunter and Reddish staying healthy for a full season.
Reddish's skill set and upside make his game somewhat reminiscent of Bogdanovic's. The latter has made a living on hoisting up outside jump shots with ease and being able to shoot and score off the dribble. Cam Reddish has the raw ability and developmental timeline to be that same player. In theory, he and Bogdanovic could split playing time going forward if the roster as a whole continues to progress. If everyone stays fresh, the Hawks would have a healthy balance of scoring and complementary playmaking to ease the heavy burden on Young.
While Atlanta's bevy of scorers is the most notable aspect of the roster, it was this team's defensive improvement in the second half of the regular season that helped it make significant strides once McMillan took over for Lloyd Pierce. Imagine the Hawks defending at a top-10 level, frustrating opponents defensively with lineups as stingy off the bench as they are at tipoff.
The East will have more depth next season, as there's a trio of teams on or above the Hawks' level. Those teams are the reigning-champion Bucks, star-studded Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. The Hawks also have to deal with the improving New York Knicks, teams with bounce-back potential like the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics and rebuilding teams on the verge of breaking out like the Chicago Bulls.
Reddish was a touted college recruit, a starter at Duke and a lottery selection for a reason. He clearly has the talent to be an impact player in the NBA. The Hawks' enviable depth and his own injury misfortune have merely prevented Reddish from flashing the All-Star upside he possesses on a regular basis. Atlanta doesn't need him to put up box-score numbers like a star, though; this team already boasts multiple players capable of that consistent production.
But Cam Reddish playing up to that capability would help the Hawks immediately soar to new heights, potentially making them real contenders in the Eastern Conference as soon as this season.
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