Tag: Atlanta Hawks

Rockets’ Reed Sheppard selected to win Rookie of the Year by executives in ESPN poll

Rockets guard Reed Sheppard was voted the top choice to win Rookie of the Year by executives and scouts in a poll conducted by ESPN.

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard was voted the top choice to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award by a panel of executives and scouts in a poll conducted by ESPN.

The 20 individuals polled were asked a number of questions about the incoming rookie class, such as the best player and the biggest steal of the draft. They were also asked about the draft expanding to a two-day format, which received a positive reaction.

Sheppard received seven votes from the panel, while Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey garnered four votes and San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle had three votes.

Who’s your NBA Rookie of the Year pick?

  1. Reed Sheppard, Rockets: 7 votes
  2. Zach Edey, Grizzlies: 4
  3. Stephon Castle, Spurs: 3
  4. Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers: 2
  5. Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks: 1
  6. Ron Holland II, Pistons: 1
  7. Dalton Knecht, Lakers: 1
  8. Tristan da Silva, Orlando Magic: 1

Sheppard debuted with the Rockets in the NBA Summer League, averaging 20 points, 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 1.3 blocked shots on 50% shooting from the field in four games. He was named to the NBA All-Summer League first team and finished ninth in scoring.

The third pick is second in odds to win Rookie of the Year, narrowly trailing only Risacher. He looked to be one of the top rookies on the court in the desert and proved himself as a high draft pick in a small sample size with the Rockets.

The odds will certainly continue to fluctuate over the course of the upcoming season, which tips off on Oct. 25. However, Sheppard and the rest of the players on the list established themselves as the top players thus far and should be in store for strong rookie campaigns.

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E.J Liddell traded to another new team

Hopefully, Liddell can land somewhere where he can have a stable career soon. #GoBucks

Former Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell is on the move again. For the second time in about a month, the former All-Big Ten performer was traded. He was first shipped to the Atlanta Hawks from the New Orleans Pelicans on June 28. And just four weeks later, the Hawks have sent the U-Haul to Phoenix and the Suns.

Liddell was selected by the Pelicans in the second round of the 2022 but suffered a torn ACL that wiped out his rookie season. He received only spot duty in his return this past season, appearing in just five games for the Pelicans, picking up most of his playing time and development instead in the NBA’s G-League.

The Hawks inserted the former Buckeye start in five summer league games once he arrived there, but now it appears Liddell will have to start over again. Even more challenging are reports that the Suns may release the 6-foot, 6-inch ‘tweener soon to open up a roster spot.

Here’s to hoping Liddell can find somwhere stable to continue his professional basketball career soon.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

Hawks’ Nikola Djurisic out until November after undergoing foot surgery

Hawks rookie Nikola Djurisic is expected to be out until November after undergoing surgery to repair a left foot fracture.

Atlanta Hawks rookie Nikola Djurisic is expected to be out the next 3-4 months after undergoing surgery to repair the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot on Monday.

Djurisic suffered a foot fracture in his second game in the NBA Summer League on July 14 during a loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Las Vegas, Nevada. The injury was discovered during an X-ray taken at the Thomas & Mack Center and announced by the team the following day.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, North Carolina. He will begin rehabilitation for the injury as soon as possible and an update on his status will be provided by the team in November.

Djurisic, the 43rd pick, debuted with the Hawks on July 12, recording seven points, two rebounds, two assists, one steal and one blocked shot in a loss to the Washington Wizards. He went 2-of-6 from the field in 25 minutes of action.

The 20-year-old from Belgium hasn’t yet signed a contract with the Hawks. He isn’t guaranteed a roster spot as a second-round pick, so it is unclear how his foot injury may affect his contract situation for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

Djurisic averaged 14.8 points, 3.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 36 games last season across all league competitions with Mega Basket in Serbia. He was previously named the ABA League Top Prospect in 2023.

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Hawks’ Nikola Djurisic diagnosed with foot fracture in summer league

Hawks rookie Nikola Djurisic sustained a left foot fracture on Sunday during a loss to the Spurs in summer league.

Atlanta Hawks rookie Nikola Djurisic sustained a left foot fracture on Sunday during a loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Djurisic suffered the injury in the first quarter after logging 6 minutes, 30 seconds of game time. He checked out of the game and went back to the locker room for examination. He wouldn’t return and later was seen on the bench in a walking boot.

The 43rd overall pick will miss the remainder of summer league following the injury. The team said it was discovered during an X-ray taken at the Thomas & Mack Center and further medical updates will be provided as appropriate.

Djurisic debuted with the Hawks in the desert on Friday, recording seven points, two rebounds, two assists, one steal and one blocked shot in a loss to the Washington Wizards. He went 2-of-6 from the field in 25 minutes of action.

The 20-year-old from Belgium hasn’t yet signed a contract with the Hawks. He isn’t guaranteed a roster spot as a second-round pick, so it is unclear how his foot injury may affect his contract situation for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

Djurisic averaged 14.8 points, 3.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 36 games last season across all league competitions with Mega Basket in Serbia. He was previously named the ABA League Top Prospect in 2023.

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San Antonio Spurs beat Atlanta Hawks 79-76 without Stephon Castle

Let’s take a look at the best photos from the Spurs summer league win.

The San Antonio Spurs have made it two in a row, with the Sin City Spurs picking up their second consecutive and overall win of the NBA’s 2024 Las Vegas Summer League vs. the Atlanta Hawks 79-76. That they did it without prized rookie Stephon Castle on the court is all the more impressive.

The Summer Spurs were led by backup shooting guard D’moi Hodge (13 points, 2 rebounds, and as many assists and steals with 1 block), with point guard Jamaree Bouyea (12 points, 3 boards, 4 assists, and 3 steals) and big man Nathan Mensah (10 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and as many blocks) also having good games.

The Spurs next face the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, July 16.

Let’s take a look at the best photos from the Spurs summer league win.

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Alex Sarr, Wizards defeat Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks in summer league opener

In a battle of the top picks in the draft, Alex Sarr and the Wizards emerged victorious over Zaccharie Risacher and the Hawks in Las Vegas.

In a battle of the top picks in the NBA draft, Alex Sarr and the Washington Wizards emerged victorious over Zaccharie Risacher and the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sarr finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, four blocked shots and one steal in the 94-88 win at the Thomas & Mack Center. The second pick went 4-of-12 from the field, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range, in 32 minutes.

The Wizards also received a strong performance from 14th pick Carlton Carrington, who neared a triple-double with 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. The group outscored the Hawks 54-46 in the second half to pull out the win.

On the other side, Risacher produced a team-high 18 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block. The No. 1 overall pick went 7-of-16 from the field, including 3-of-9 from 3-point range in 29 minutes of action.

The Frenchmen had solid debuts with their respective teams, showcasing what made them high picks this year. They had some strong moments on offense, from shooting to passing, and displayed their defensive versatility, as well.

The matchup finished off the first day of action in the desert and proved to be a very entertaining contest. They will certainly look to build upon their efforts on Friday and continue to build positive momentum throughout the rest of the tournament.

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Hawks sign No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher to rookie contract

Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, signed his rookie-scale contract with the Hawks on Saturday.

Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft, signed his rookie-scale contract with the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, the team announced.

He will make $10,474,200 next season as the No. 1 pick.

Risacher was named the 2024 EuroCup Rising Star after averaging 11.1 points and 3.9 rebounds on 38.7% shooting from 3-point range in 65 games in France. He joined Kristaps Porzingis and Jonas Valanciunas as recipients of the award.

The 19-year-old emerged as the front-runner for the top pick after the Hawks won the draft lottery in May. He worked out with the team prior to the draft and established himself as its choice over the likes of Alexandre Sarr and Reed Sheppard.

Risacher is the Hawks’ first No. 1 pick since David Thompson in 1975 and is their highest-drafted player since Marvin Williams was selected fifth in 2005. His selection marked the first time in history that a player without college experience was chosen first in consecutive years.

The Hawks announced Friday that Risacher will play with the team in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team will play at least five games, starting with the Washington Wizards on July 12 (9:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN).

Risacher will be joined by fellow draft pick Nikola Djurisic, along with roster players Kobe Bufkin, Mouhamed Gueye and Dylan Windler, among others.

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Former Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell gets traded

Wishing Liddell better luck in a new location. #GoBucks

Former Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell has been traded from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, according to muliple reports.

Liddell was originally selected by New Orleans with the No. 41 pick in the 2022 NBA draft after leaving Ohio State a year early. Since then though, he has struggled, first because of an ACL injury that wiped out his rookie season, then in coming back and finding enough minutes last season.

In fact, he appeared in just eight games during the 2023-2024 season, scoring just four points and pulling down five total rebounds, a far cry from what we saw from Liddell at Ohio State and in the NBA’s G-League.

In three seasons with Ohio State, Liddell averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game and earned first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-American during his junior year.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

A big potential Lakers trade target is now off the board

One star guard who has been linked to the Lakers as a possible trade target is no longer a target for them.

With the 2024 NBA Draft now in the books, the Los Angeles Lakers can turn their attention toward free agency and potential trades, as well as filling out new head coach JJ Redick’s staff.

They have been linked to a number of players on the trade market, particularly star and borderline star guards. Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, Darius Garland and Collin Sexton are some of the big rumored targets they could go after in the days and weeks to come.

But another one of those targets is now off the board. On Friday, the Atlanta Hawks traded Dejounte Murray, another potential Los Angeles target, to the New Orleans Pelicans for Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels and two first-round draft picks.

Murray may not have been the ideal backcourt upgrade for L.A., but he is a speedy combo guard who can score and facilitate, and he has been a stellar defender in the recent past.

If the Pelicans find a way to keep stud forward Brandon Ingram, they could end up becoming a rising team in the Western Conference next season. Meanwhile, the Lakers’ trade options have become more limited.

Dejounte Murray trade: Who won the deal between the Hawks and Pelicans

The Hawks are doing stuff!

All eyes have been on the Atlanta Hawks for months now as the team floundered about during the regular season. Dejounte Murray and Trae Young have been the epicenter of trade rumors in the NBA.

Now, one of them is finally on the move. The Hawks have reportedly traded Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, according to the latest from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Hawks were bound to make a move this season after so many consecutive disappointing seasons. Trae Young’s trade value currently seems shot. Naturally, Murray was the move.

Let’s dive into the details and grade the trade.

The Details

Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Hawks get: A 2025 first-round pick via the Los Angeles Lakers, the least favorable of a 2027 first-round pick from either the Bucks or Pelicans, Dyson Daniels and Larry Nance Jr.

The Pelicans get: Dejounte Murray

The Pelicans grade

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Though CJ McCollum has been solid as the Pelicans’ lead ball handler, New Orleans has struggled to find a suitable backcourt partner who covers his defensive weaknesses and allows him to lock in on his role as a scorer.

Theoretically, Murray serves that purpose. He’s an elite defender at his best and can pick up the opponent’s toughest guard assignment. He hasn’t been as good a defender as he once was, but this is a bet from the Pelicans that he’ll improve again with a diminished offensive role. He’ll also be a solid pick and roll partner for Zion Williamson.

He’s not an elite shooter and won’t solve the Pelicans’ problem with their shooting volume — they shoot the ball well but are one of the lowest-volume shooting teams in the NBA. But he brings them a bit of north-south shot creation and should be able to get to the rim easily. If New Orleans keeps Brandon Ingram around, that offense could be scary.

GRADE: B

The Hawks grade

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

For years, Atlanta has been treading water for the last few years as a play-in team. That’s dissatisfying for a team that was in the Eastern Conference Finals just a few years ago.

Atlanta seems to be ready to head in a different direction, finally. It’s still unclear what that direction is, but the Murray trade is at least motion.

The Pelicans get an unprotected pick in a strong draft in 2025. This Lakers pick could legitimately be a good one — LA was barely a play-in team last season and now the Lakers will have a first-year head coach in JJ Redick.

READ MORE: The JJ Redick isn’t likely to be a good hire early on for LA

They also get another first-round pick in 2027 that could potentially be a lottery pick between the Bucks and the Pelicans. Plus, Dyson Daniels is a solid prospect and Larry Nance Jr. is a nice defensive presence for Atlanta in the frontcourt.

That’s not quite recouping what the Hawks lost from the Murray trade in the first place, but it’s certainly a start. And just because you make a previous mistake doesn’t mean you need to wallow in it.

The Hawks might not be done shifting things around — Young could still potentially be moved. We’ll see. In the meantime, though, this is a smart deal for Atlanta.

GRADE: A