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The Atlanta Hawks will sign big man Ray Spalding to a partially-guaranteed contract, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic.
The Hawks are signing Ray Spalding to a partially guaranteed deal, sources tell @TheAthleticATL and @TheAthleticNBA.
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) July 25, 2019
Spalding, the No. 56 pick of the 2018 draft, began last season with the Dallas Mavericks. He was later called up by the Phoenix Suns after playing 29 games for the G-League's Texas Legends, averaging 15.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 2.5 blocks in 30.1 minutes per game. Spalding appeared in 13 games for Phoenix at the end of the regular season, averaging 11.3 minutes per game, and also played for the Suns at this year's Las Vegas Summer League.
Trae Young is the Atlanta Hawks’ franchise player. John Collins is already an awesome offensive player, with room to grow into an All-Star. Kevin Huerter is coming off a supremely underrated rookie season in which he established himself as one of the league’s most versatile shot-makers. De’Andre Hunter, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, is perfectly suited to a role of guarding the opposition’s best player, providing lineup flexibility, and knocking down open shots and finishing on the break. Some still believe Cam Reddish has All-Star potential.
But Atlanta isn't just a team of young, mostly unproven players with upside. Say what you will about Evan Turner, but he's a celebrated locker-room presence, effective multi-positional defender, and a steadying hand as a playmaker – beneficial when Young is both on and off the floor. Allen Crabbe still has a role in the NBA as a deep-reserve shooter, and there's still a glimmer of hope out there for Chandler Parsons. Alex Len is almost certainly undervalued; there's an argument the same could be said for Jabari Parker.
It might be a year early for the playoffs. The Hawks, though, will get back there soon enough.
