NOV. 28: The Hawks have made the signing official, per a press release.
NOV. 21: The Hawks have reached an agreement to sign free agent guard Kris Dunn, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). It’ll be a two-year contract worth $10MM, with a second-year player option, Woj adds.
Based on the terms reported by Wojnarowski, it sounds like Dunn could end up fitting into Atlanta’s room exception ($9.77MM over two years) once the team uses up its cap room. If that’s the plan, the Hawks should still have in the neighborhood of $25MM to spend on other players.
A former fifth overall pick, Dunn hasn’t developed much of an offensive game since entering the league in 2016, having averaged just 7.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 3.4 APG on .444/.259/.741 shooting in 51 games (24.9 MPG) last season for Chicago. The Bulls decided not to make him a restricted free agent, passing on their qualifying offer.
However, Dunn has become one of the NBA’s very best perimeter defenders, leading the league with 2.9 steals per 36 minutes in 2019/20. That makes him an ideal fit in Atlanta’s backcourt, where he could handle tough defensive assignments and allow Trae Young to focus primarily on his offensive game.
Dunn represents the second notable free agent agreement so far for the Hawks, who also struck a three-year deal with Danilo Gallinari. Atlanta is believed to be in the running for Bogdan Bogdanovic and Rajon Rondo too, though it’s not clear if the team’s deal with Dunn will affect either pursuit — there’s definitely some positional overlap with Rondo.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Does this mean they are moving on from Rondo?
Great fit
The hawks could be dangerous. Putting role players and bench rolls around their young core is a smart plan
Love the snell and Dunn pickups. Don’t hate the Gallo deal. Shlenk doing some good things thus far. I am on record saying I don’t want nor would I pursue rondo. It’s a 50/50 chance your either getting the Dallas/1st half Lakers guy Morse than the playoff version that we saw with the Lakers.
Nice addition
My prediction
6th seed Pacers
7th seed 76ers
8th seed Hawks
Some desperate team would have taken done…
The Hawks roster is looking very solid and they have a lot of depth. The question remains if they have a second star on their roster behind Træ. Collins and Capela are above average starters but I wouldn’t call them stars. Looking at this past season’s playoff teams, I like them more than Orlando but I don’t think I can put them any higher than #8 in the East as of right now
Don’t discount competency. Last year we trotted out parson, turner, and jones and Parker. We saw the results it wasn’t pretty. This year Dunn, Gallo, snell Capela and OO. Should form a nice unit added to the young guys. Should be a big turnaround even with the East getting better than most have realized.
Heat
Nets
Bucks
Raptors
Celtics
Celtics are still better than 76ers
Hawks need defense and he’s young. Definitely good addition. Maybe with the spotlight off. He can finally reach his potential. This means Rondo not coming to me. Hawks have done well in draft and FA. They are young deep and talented. Now they gotta show it on court.
East is better than West?
5th seed Jazz
6th Blazers
7th Mavs
8th Rockets
IMO
Harden and WB are not tradable
Harden and Westbrook have no market
No one wants them
looks like the hawks know dunn’s value.
The main problem there is Stone will not sell low yet.
was one of the top guys on my list for Atlanta to grab this offseason. guard that can defend multiple positions, playmake, and play next to Trae Young…Not 100% sure about their Gallinari signing, but this was a great one