Brad Rowland here, the host of the daily Locked On Hawks podcast, with your daily Locked On Hawks newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Hawks and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
The Fallout from Larry Nance Jr.'s Injury
Oct 14, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Larry Nance Jr. (22) and forward Zaccharie Risacher (10) go up for a rebound over Philadelphia 76ers forward Caleb Martin (16) in the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis/Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks received unfortunate news as veteran big man Larry Nance Jr. suffered a fractured fourth metacarpal bone in his right shooting hand during Saturday’s game. Nance is scheduled for surgery on Thursday, with the timeline for his return to be determined post-operation.
This injury comes as a notable blow to the Hawks’ depth. Nance, while not a starter, has been a valuable asset off the bench, providing solid defense and offensive versatility. His absence will test the team’s depth, particularly in the frontcourt.
Impact on Hawks’ Roster
The silver lining for Atlanta is the recent return of Onyeka Okongwu, which helps mitigate the loss of Nance. As long as Clint Capela and Okongwu remain healthy, the Hawks should be able to manage at the center position. However, any additional injuries to the frontcourt could pose serious challenges.
The injury to Nance also brings attention to the Hawks’ roster construction. While Dom Barlow and Mo Gueye are available, neither has been a significant part of the rotation this season. The team may need to rely more heavily on these players or explore other options to fill the void left by Nance’s absence.
It’s worth noting that Nance has only appeared in 15 of the Hawks’ 33 games this season, serving primarily as the team’s third-string center. While his absence will be felt, the Hawks have shown they can manage without him for stretches.
The focus now shifts to how the Hawks will adjust their rotation and whether they’ll explore any roster moves to address this temporary gap in their frontcourt depth. With the trade deadline approaching, this injury could potentially influence the team’s decision-making process.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Hawks’ roster situation following Nance’s injury, tune into the Locked On Hawks podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Hawks Podcast:
• Zaccharie Risacher’s rookie season progress report
• Cody Zeller’s status with the team
• Impact on Hawks’ draft pick from Sacramento Kings’ struggles
The NBA’s next generation of stars is already here
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and guard Isaiah Joe (11) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. | Kirby Lee/Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Here’s something that will read like a riddle: When do you know the future has arrived?
Fitting, on the eve of a new year, to have one foot in the future and one eye still cast over the shoulder, looking back at the past. I value New Year’s Eve for this liminal space it lends, the opportunity to pause and consider the year that was and the one to come without a sense yet of its pressures. In-between spaces like this are rare in life, and if or when you find them, are nice not to rush out of.
Basketball has its liminal spaces too, though they’re a bit more rare. The time right after the Draft, when the next season’s rookies-to-be have their teams but no hulking expectations. The brief stretch between the regular season and the playoffs is another — the brackets set, but no competition commenced. It’s easier to tell in these situations when the future arrives, when the liminal space shuts.
But back to the riddle. Under the surface of this season’s NBA discourse, there’s been a persistent hum. With the inevitable aging of the game’s superstars comes the question of who’s next?
What confuses me is that I’ve mainly seen it asked in worry and incredulity, the implication being that there’s no one obvious, or ready, to fill those well-worn shoes. All it takes is a cursory glance at the season’s standings, now firmly set as we shift past the quarter mark, to see that the future is here — and it’s been humming for a while now.
The top four teams in the East and West all boast talent, skill, and star-power. Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ja Morant, Donovan Mitchell and Karl-Anthony Towns are the most established in terms of their fan familiarity, but Darius Garland, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Williams, and Jalen Green are already on their way to being as regularly recited — and that’s really it.
When the skill and flare of an NBA athlete proves to have staying power, to dazzle consistently, the rest comes down to name recognition, which comes through repetition.
We’ve been saying the same big names for a long time now. LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo — their names conjure stats and highlight reels in our heads.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
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Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Roundup: Morant’s Injury, Waiver Wire Trends, and Monday’s Game Recaps
Dec 27, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts after a screen by New Orleans Pelicans center Daniel Theis (10) during the third quarter at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images | Matthew Hinton/Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
As we enter the final week of 2024 for fantasy basketball, there’s plenty to discuss. Let’s dive into the latest injury updates, waiver wire trends, and recap Monday’s action.
Ja Morant’s Injury Update
The Memphis Grizzlies received some concerning news about Ja Morant. He’s been diagnosed with a right AC joint sprain in the same shoulder that was reconstructed last season. The team is considering him week-to-week, which typically means a minimum absence of one week, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it stretches to two or three weeks.
The Grizzlies’ injury report is staggering. In addition to Morant, Marcus Smart is out for multiple weeks, Santi Aldama is week-to-week, and several others are sidelined. This situation could lead to increased opportunities for players like Scotty Pippen Jr. and John Konchar.
Waiver Wire Trends
Looking at the most added players over the last 48 hours, Scoot Henderson tops the list. With the Portland Trail Blazers dealing with injuries, Henderson could see increased minutes. However, I’m skeptical about consistent 30-minute outings for him.
Other notable additions include Scottie Pippen Jr., Justin Champagnie, and Keon Johnson. While Pippen seems like a clear add given the Grizzlies’ injury woes, I’m less convinced about Johnson’s role with the Brooklyn Nets.
On the drop list, Larry Nance Jr. leads the pack due to his broken hand. Brandin Podziemski and Royce O’Neale are also seeing significant drops, which aligns with my expectations.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Hawks podcasts.
Larry Nance Jr. injury, Zaccharie Risacher’s rookie season, and Happy New Year Topics include an update on Larry Nance Jr.'s hand injury, Zaccharie Risacher’s rookie season to date, the Hawks signing Daeqwon Plowden to a Two-Way deal, the struggling Sacramento Kings, and much more.
Hawks create havoc, bludgeon Raptors for 4th straight victory The episode focuses on Sunday’s win for the Atlanta Hawks over the Toronto Raptors, headlined by Atlanta’s havoc creation even without Dyson Daniels.
Hawks outlast Heat, wrap up homestand with third consecutive win The show centers on Saturday afternoon’s game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat, including a third straight victory, Jalen Johnson putting up big-time production, Trae Young’s passing, strong overall offense, a potent bench despite injury absences, and much more.
