Hawks announce starters for Summer League opener

The Hawks’ summer league opener is just minutes away and the starting lineup is already known.

There aren’t really any surprises on this team. Risacher was widely expected to start due to his draft pedigree and Gueye’s size made him a likely candidate for the starting five. He can play either forward or center, so this team is going to be pretty deep. Baker is 6’6″ and Gueye is 6’3″.

When our own Jackson Caudell predicted the starting lineup, this is what it looked like:

G-Dylan Windler

G – Nikola Durisic

F- Zaccharie Risacher

F- Mouhamed Gueye

C-Nick Ongenda

Baker starting in place of Ongenda is interesting. Ongenda is the only true center on the roster, but I think it makes sense for the Hawks to see what they have in Gueye and Baker in this first game. Durisic starting at guard is a good thing because I think it’s a great opportunity to show what he can do as a playmaker.

Windler’s experience makes him a natural fit for the second-back spot alongside Durisic. His health has been the weak point of his career so far, but he should be able to show what he can do in the season opener.

Here is a list of each of the players in the starting lineup:

Zaccharie Risacher ((F, Jl St Bourg, France) – The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft hardly needs an introduction. The 2.05m wing was selected first overall in the draft based on his shooting (38.7% from three last season on four attempts per game), his off-the-ball movement, and his defensive instincts on and off the ball. He’s all but guaranteed to be in Atlanta’s rotation, if not the starting five, to start the season. Summer League is an interesting environment for him because the Hawks won’t need him to be an offensive creator right away. It’s far more important that his immediately transferable skills – off-the-ball movement, long-range shooting, and taking over defensive assignments on the perimeter – are on display. There were concerns about his foot speed as a prospect, so one thing to watch is how he reacts when defending smaller, faster guards.

Nikola Durisic(F/G, Mega Basket, Serbia) – After averaging 14.4 points, 3.4 assists and 3 rebounds per game on a 45/33/74 ratio last season, the Hawks took Durisic in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. Their selection of Durisic indicates that they believe they can develop him into a wing player who can pressure the rim. His ability to get through and break through a defense should translate well to Summer League while his passing ability is definitely interesting. It’s not fully developed yet, but he can make impressive passes while driving to the basket. The loss of Bufkin means the team is missing a point guard and a distributor, which gives Durisic a chance to show how much potential he has as a passer. I think his shooting still needs some work, but he could make the roster with a good performance in Vegas.

Mo Gueye (F, Washington State, Senegal) – Gueye was selected by the Hawks in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft and saw some playing time in College Park. Unfortunately, most of his year was wiped out due to a back injury and an ACL sprain. That being said, he finished his season on the Hawks roster and scored 19 points with 9 rebounds and 5 steals (steals and blocks) against Indiana in the Hawks’ final game of the year. For Gueye, the Summer League season will be all about showing his defensive potential. Even in his games in College Park, he averaged 1.3 blocks and 1.8 steals. At 6’11, he can credibly play center in a variety of lineups. Summer League isn’t the best environment for big men, but showing his defensive potential and positive growth on offense should give him a chance to crack the Hawks’ rotation. At the very least, it will be a worthy development project for College Park.

Rob Baker II (F, Harvard, USA) – Baker joined the College Park Skyhawks after spending the 2022-23 season with the Osceola Magic and had a solid year in his third season in the G-League. Despite playing in a reduced role, he increased his points per game from 11.2 to 14.7 and increased his three-point attempts and percentage to solid levels (34% on five attempts per game). His efficiency has declined, but he offers size, defense and some floor space as a wing. There is a chance he could stay in College Park since he was a useful player for them last season.

Dylan Windler (G/F, Belmont, USA) – Windler is the most experienced player on the roster, having already played four seasons in the G League. He’s a 6’2″ wing who is an excellent rebounder, grabbing 10.2 rebounds per game. That’s especially evident on defense, where he’s grabbing 7.8 rebounds per game. He’s a good defender, but the question is his three-point shooting. He’s averaging 31% on seven attempts per game, but is also shooting 40.7% on five attempts per game in 2022-23. He’s also only played in 29 games in four seasons, so it’ll be interesting to see what he can do if he stays healthy. If he looks more like the 2022-23 version of himself from three-point range and continues to play good defense, there’s a good chance he’ll be in College Park.