With a new head coach coming to town, the Atlanta Hawks will be switching up the personnel on the team. Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore are available for trade, and the team has already waived Tyler Cavanaugh. Today, Atlanta decided not to tender qualifying offers to Josh Magette, Damion Lee, and Malcolm Delaney, making the trio unrestricted free agents.
Magette spent last season going back and forth to the G-League, but he showed flashes of incredible facilitating ability. With the Hawks seemingly having trouble unloading Dennis Schroder and the draft pick of Trae Young, there may not be any minutes to be had at the point. It took Magette little time to find work, as it has already been announced that he will play for the Golden State Warriors summer league team. This is a great opportunity for him.
Not extending an offer to Lee is a bit surprising. He was one of the best finds in the NBA last season and had a great rookie campaign with the Hawks. Perhaps they feel he is not a fit with new head coach Lloyd Pierce, but it is worth noting he was a 25-year old rookie with an extensive injury history as well. Lee could be a guy who is about to grind out a long NBA career. It is a bit disappointing to see him walk, but this could be all apart of the plan to tank. They also have a new shooting guard coming to town in Kevin Huerter, and nobody is taking Kent Bazemore’s contract anytime soon.
The decision not to bring back Delaney was not surprising considering his disappointing play and the addition of Trae Young. Delaney never really made the adjustment to the NBA, and frankly just took way too many off-balanced shots. He worked hard for the Hawks but the minutes are not there for him and it is time to move on. It would be surprising to see him land with another NBA team.