Hawks Player Previews: Cam Reddish

With the NBA season getting underway in two weeks, now is a good time to take a deep dive into the Atlanta Hawks roster. Rookies have been drafted, free agents have been signed, and training camp has begun.

First up for this preview is second-year forward Cam Reddish.

Player History

Cam Reddish was selected by the Hawks in 2019 with the 10th pick after a somewhat underwhelming freshman season at Duke playing alongside RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson. Reddish, when you look at him, screams untapped potential and potential All-Star. So far, though, it’s been a lot of ups and downs.

He has great measurables, standing 6’8 with a 7’2 wingspan, a fluid jump shot, and solid athleticism, but Cam might lack that competitive edge great players possess.

Last season, Reddish had per-game averages of 10.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. His percentages were worrisome, however, as he shot 38% from the field, 33% from 3, and 80% from the line. Simply put, Reddish mostly struggled during his rookie season. However, he did show signs of vast improvement before his first year was shut down due to the coronavirus. 

In the ten games after the All-Star break, Reddish averaged over 16 points and shot a much more respectable 50% from the field and nearly 40% from behind the arc. 

Season Expectations

Many in the Hawks organization and around the league are excited about Cam Reddish’s expectations moving forward, but maybe not this season. Steph Curry had this to say, and reports suggest that Cam Reddish is now even taller than he was last year, standing close to 7 feet now.

The challenge for Reddish this season might just be where his minutes are going to come from. Kevin Huerter, Bogdan Bogdanović, Danilo Gallinari, and De’Andre Hunter will compete for minutes on the wing.

Realistically, I wouldn’t expect a huge bump in usage and efficiency from Reddish this season. He is still extremely raw and young (21 years old), but anything can happen this year with Covid cases playing a factor. Reddish remains a project and is not yet a sure thing. If he breaks out, it will be a welcome surprise, but that will be much more difficult to do with fewer opportunities for minutes.