Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder reacts against the Miami Heat at State Farm Arena on February 20, 2026.
Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder reacts against the Miami Heat at State Farm Arena on February 20, 2026. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Bringing in veteran Dorian Finney-Smith near the offseason's final buzzer seems like the perfect way to cap off a thrilling summer of movement.
Even though he struggled painfully in the limited minutes he received last season with the Houston Rockets, the idea of him returning to form in a much more stable situation doesn't seem too far-fetched. Maybe Atlanta can be that spot.
That is, as long as he receives a higher minutes share with his newest organization, which is certainly not a guarantee. It's way too early to tell who exactly Head Coach Quin Snyder will prioritize in the nightly rotation, but whichever direction he chooses to go will have a major impact on Finney-Smith's career outlook.
Atlanta must weigh whether opting for youth will impact their win-total or not
This is a battle for the last spot or two in the rotation. While the decision certainly holds weight, especially for the individual player, it shouldn't drastically alter the trajectory or immediate success of the team.
There's a valid argument to be made that opting for Dorian Finney-Smith over a young guy like Asa Newell or Zuby Ejofor could benefit the squad in the short-term.
It's not difficult to see why. Newell received limited minutes last season, his first, and Ejiofor is just beginning his rookie campaign. Atlanta is trying to win.
That sentiment shouldn't be lost in all of this discourse. The Hawks, just a few months removed from stealing two games on the eventual-champion New York Knicks, don't want to take a step back next season. They want to ascend up the conference standings, and maybe get out of the first round.
Even though Finney-Smith undoubtedly struggled to contribute to winning when healthy last season, the idea of him returning to form could unlock so much for Atlanta's second unit. More than an inexperienced player could.
Having too deep of a roster is an excellent problem to have
The good news for Atlanta is that whatever they choose to do at the start of the season, certainly doesn't have to be final. They could start with Finney-Smith as the ninth or tenth man in the rotation, and if the struggles continue, they could opt for the young guns.
Or, they could be incentivized to go 11-deep, at least at the beginning, as they start to figure everything out.
Atlanta has options, thanks to the brilliant work of their lead decision-maker, Onsi Saleh.
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