ATHENS - The Hawks will have a roster of at least 14 players to start the regular season. Whether the team fills the final available roster spot remains to be seen.
The Hawks have 20 players in training camp, meaning six are vying for a potential final spot. In the past, the team has wanted the flexibility that an open roster spot provides, especially in case of injury or around the trade deadline. However, it sounds as if the Hawks will carry a 15th player. At his media day press conference, I asked coach Mike Budenholzer about the team's plans.
Q: I know you like the flexibility of having an available spot, what would of the one of the players competing for that spot have to do to make you choose to go in that direction and keep a 15th?
A: Just the ability to fit in and understand how we want to play at both ends of the court, defensively especially. For those kinds of players to be able to come in and help you defensively. Then, obviously, if they can do it on the other end. I think our entire group is trying to be built with guys who can play at both ends of the court. I think just giving us that depth and giving us alternatives as we work through the preseason and into the season. I think that a 15th guy, for us, going into the season could make a lot of sense over the flexibility of an open roster spot."
That leaves wings Lamar Patterson and Terran Petteway, center Earl Barron, forwards DeQuan Jones and Arsalan Kazemi and guard Edgar Sosa as options.
Time of vote. Which one of the six would you keep.
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