DeMarre Carroll enters his fifth season playing for his fifth team.
His stop in Atlanta promises to be different. Carroll will suit up for the Hawks as a member of the starting lineup.
The small forward worked exclusively with the first unit during the first three days of training camp as the Hawks prepare for the season. In 173 career NBA games with the Grizzlies, Rockets, Nuggets and Jazz, Carroll made 22 starts.
“I think he’s a guy who has thrived and taken a lot of pride in doing all the little things,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said when asked what he saw in Carroll to elevate his role. “I think he brings that toughness and that willingness to do anything, particularly on defense. I think offensively his game is growing and he’s becoming a better shooter. I think, hopefully, it’s a good time for both him and us for him to continue to grow as a player.”
The Hawks signed Carroll as an unrestricted free agent this summer. Carroll was coming off his best professional season, a full season with the Jazz in which he averaged 6.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 16.8 minutes.
Carroll said it wasn’t always easy being a role player — a job he called the toughest in the NBA.
“I’ve been in a situation where I didn’t know if I was going to play some nights,” Carroll said. “I did play some nights. I may have started some nights. Or I didn’t play at all. To have a starting role in the NBA, I think that is a load off my shoulders and will allow me to focus on getting wins and helping the team get better.”
In Carroll (6-foot-8, 212 pounds), the Hawks saw a player who brings a versatility in his ability to defend multiple positions. The Hawks lack size again this season and will need players who can defend the wing.
Carroll was drafted by the Grizzlies in the first round (No. 27 overall) in 2009. In 2011, he was traded to the Rockets in February, was waived in April and signed with the Nuggets in December. Carroll was waived by the Nuggets in February 2012 and signed with the Jazz four days later.
“It’s what every NBA player hopes for to be out there with the first team,” Carroll said. “It’s one of those things where you have to take advantage of the opportunity. It’s a big opportunity for me. I’ve been given opportunities all my life and for the most part I’ve taken advantage of them.”
By signing with the Hawks, Carroll saw an opportunity for playing time and improvement.
“I’ve added a lot to my game this offseason,” Carroll said. “I’ve really been focusing on corner 3’s and my jump shot. I always slash. I always run the floor. There are a lot of guys who fail in this league, and I had to learn that early in my career, that’s why I played for so many teams.
“You have to stay true to yourself, but along with staying true to yourself you have to add different components to keep you honest. That was my biggest thing. I’m a junkyard dog. I’m a blue-collar guy. I’m a physical guy. I get up and down the floor. I’m a nitty-gritty guy. But what makes me not be able to work on my offensive game to work on corner 3’s and knocking down jumpers?”
Camp notes: The Hawks concluded their training camp stint on the campus of the University of Georgia on Thursday. All 20 players participated in drills. Lou Williams (torn ACL) continued to be held out of five-on-five scrimmages. The team will not practice Friday and will hold an open practice at Philips Arena on Saturday. The event is free and doors open at 4 p.m., an hour before the start time.
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