DeAndre Hunter emerging as a future 6MOY?

[Jamaaliver]

I did not see this coming. The young man seems to have emerged as a two-way force and a surefire building block for this franchise.

Is there another player (other than Trae) more important to this team's future?

The emergence of De’Andre Hunter



De’Andre Hunter has never failed to surprise — fans, coaches and perhaps even himself.

He isn’t the flashiest player. He isn’t the most animated competitor on the court. But he has quietly gotten the job done since high school, and despite adversity, he has exceeded expectations at every stop in his career. Hunter has bypassed the “sophomore slump” and, through 15 games, has been one of the Hawks’ most reliable options. Hunter has looked comfortable in his second season, smoothly navigating through pick-and-rolls and creating for himself without playing too much outside of his game.

Hunter’s offense hasn’t just progressed; it has blossomed. The forward is averaging 17.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game through the first month-plus of the NBA season. Although he’s only games into his second campaign, Hunter has enjoyed incredible jumps in efficiency from everywhere on the floor, shooting 52.0 percent from the field, 39.1 percent from three-point range and 86.7 percent from the free-throw line.

While Hunter has continued to expand offensively, he has also emphasized his defense more than ever. Given the unsatisfactory season Hunter had defensively a year ago, the expectations for him to pick up his pre-draft prowess have resurfaced. Hunter has answered the call.

Hunter has turned heads and changed expectations everywhere he’s been. Growth is all he knows. To challenge Hunter to improve isn’t a matter of whether he can do it — it’s a matter of when. In terms of his development, Hawks fans might only be seeing him scratch the surface.

Peachtree Hoops

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

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Entering Sunday’s game, NBAMath.com’s Total Points Added metric ranked Hunter first, just ahead of last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Zion Williamson. Hunter has a net rating this season of 5.1; he was a minus-5.5 last season. That level of growth is a testament to wanting to get better.

“I wanted to take that next step as a player,” Hunter said after Sunday’s game. “It was something I talked about with the coaches. I just try to go out there and execute. That’s it.”

The Athletic

[Jamaaliver]

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[Spud2nique]

All of them! I don’t think I’ve ever loved this many guys on our team at one time. Even during 93-94 or 07-08 or even 2014-15.

Honestly I can see any of the 5, if I had to rule out out I guess I’d pick Huerter but he can do it all as well. Huerter is his splash draft backcourt mate.

Onyeka would be Trae’s bodyguard and defensive anchor.

Collins is Trae’s Kemp to his GP.

Hunter is NOT who I thought. I projected a rugged 3 and D. But he wants to be an IT guy. Baby Kawhi as Len said last year early on.

Cam might have the most potential of all and teases us with flashes.

I haven’t voted yet too tough here.

[graymule]

Slowly, our world turns!

And this Hawk team just continues to improve. I don't believe most of us fans really know how good
our group of players really are.

Since we only had a half season last year and haven't had half of this season yet, Reddish and Hunter
would still be rookies in olden time!

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

Are the Hawks Finally on the Other Side of Their Rebuild?

It’s a playoffs-or-bust season in Atlanta. The good news is that Trae Young has found a running mate and the franchise might be ready to turn the corner



On Tuesday, Young had 38 points in a 108-99 victory over the Clippers, who didn’t have Kawhi Leonard or Paul George due to COVID protocols. But Atlanta wouldn’t have won without De’Andre Hunter, who had 22 points of his own. The no. 4 pick in the 2019 draft is one of the most improved players in the league this season. His emergence is the reason Atlanta might finally be on the other side of a painful rebuild. Young now has a running buddy who doesn’t rely on him for success.

Atlanta's big-name free-agent acquisitions have barely played due to various ailments. Hunter has made up the difference by averaging 17.7 points on 51.3 percent shooting, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. That’s a huge jump from his rookie season, when he didn’t look ready for the speed of the NBA game and couldn’t do much to lift Atlanta out of the basement. The Hawks would probably still be there if not for him.

Spoiler:

Hunter has quickly developed into one of the most versatile wings in the league. He does so many different things for the Hawks that there’s no way to replace the 6-foot-8 forward when he sits. They go from a net rating of plus-5.6 in 522 minutes with Hunter to minus-4.8 in 299 minutes without him. He defends the primary scorer on the opposing team, can guard players at all five positions, contributes on the boards, spaces the floor, creates his own shot, and sets up his teammates. When Hunter is out of the lineup, Atlanta is almost always lacking in one or two of those areas.

The 23-year-old’s scoring is the biggest change from last season. Hunter no longer needs Young to spoon-feed him open looks. He has always been a good shooter, dating back to his Virginia days, but his ballhandling has taken a massive step forward. Now he can use screens to create space for himself off the dribble, pull up on his way to the basket, or finish at the rim.

The threat of his scoring has made him a better playmaker, too. While Hunter is not a point forward, he no longer ends possessions when he gets the ball. The Hawks’ offense was more stagnant with him last season because he would either shoot after he caught it, or just give the ball back to Young and force him to start the offense over. Hunter now keeps the ball moving when it comes his way, driving into the lane and then finding a big man if the defense collapses.

That takes a lot of pressure off Young. He’s no longer the only player on the floor that opposing defenses have to respect. Hunter is key to making this new dynamic work. His offensive development has allowed the Hawks to start him at the 3 next to a shooter and two big men who can’t create much on their own. The fit between Collins and Capela...has not been an issue because Collins has knocked down 3s (40.0 percent on 3.2 attempts per game) and Hunter has been an excellent secondary ball handler.

Hunter has been just as valuable on defense. The list of players that he’s guarded this season is a who’s who of elite scorers, from Gordon Hayward to Kyrie Irving. Hunter isn’t an elite athlete, but he’s a sound positional defender with a massive frame (6-foot-8 and 225 pounds with a 7-foot-2 wingspan) that allows him to match up with the biggest forwards in the NBA. His versatility is crucial when playing next to an undersized guard like Young whom opponents routinely target. Hunter allows him to hide on less threatening scorers, and protects him when he does get attacked in the paint.

Few players in the league could fill Hunter’s shoes. Guys his size who can defend and space the floor are rare enough, much less ones who can also create their own offense. Players who check all those boxes are some of the best in the NBA. The Hawks raised eyebrows when they traded three picks to move up in the draft to take Hunter. Now that looks like a bargain. Young is not quite good enough to lift the Hawks’ fortunes by himself. The good news for the team is that Hunter’s emergence means Young no longer has to.

The Ringer

[jayu70]

A year ago...soooo many articles indicating the Hawks over paid for Hunter. Interesting.

[Jamaaliver]

A year ago...soooo many articles indicating the Hawks over paid for Hunter. Interesting.

I've never been so glad to be so wrong.

[jayu70]

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[Spud2nique]

King Ken I bought a Cam jersey a year and a half ago, when’s he gonna stop teasing us. He needs to emulate Hunter though Cam was balling against Durant.

No complaints. We are gonna be scary in due time.

[Jamaaliver]

NBA All-Surprise Team

De’Andre Hunter, Atlanta

The second-year forward had a concerning rookie year — an older rookie (22) who nonetheless scored at a low rate and shot 45.4 percent on 2s. The Hawks tried to use him as a secondary ballhandler, and it didn’t really take.

This year, it is taking and then some. Hunter’s improved wiggle off the dribble is the main reason he’s become a much more lethal offensive player. That 2-point percentage is now a sizzling 60.0 percent, and it’s not just dunks and layups. Hunter has become much more comfortable with short pull-ups and runners, with a third of his shots coming from midrange and a conversion rate of 55 percent, according to Cleaning the Glass.

Overall, Hunter’s PER jump from last year’s piddling 8.6 to this year’s 17.6 is one of the largest in recent annals. He’s also defending the opponent’s best players on most nights, and his emergence is the main reason the Hawks are over .500 despite myriad injuries and an early slump from Trae Young. Even with the bias against second-year players, he has a real shot at winning the Most Improved Player trophy.

The Athletic

[Spud2nique]

Dang D missing some time now with wear and tear.

[jayu70]

Noooo...just when he was settling in so nicely.

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[Spud2nique]

Dang D missing some time now with wear and tear.

We can’t have anything good apparently. Get better Hunter! Maaan.

[jayu70]

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[birdlives_ma]

Dang D missing some time now with wear and tear.

We can’t have anything good apparently. Get better Hunter! Maaan.

Hey, at least the Emory crew caught it early enough to include the "wear" part. Good, proactive stuff.

[jayu70]

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[Spud2nique]

Wear and tear usually means he’s simply overdid it with his knee and it might need to be “managed” moving forward. Ya, food catch my our crew because that usually turns into something worse over time of not caught. Emory for 333333333