Atlanta Hawks: Who Gets the Final Roster Spot?

The Atlanta Hawks are set to begin training camp less than a week from today on September 29th at the University of Georgia.

With only 1 roster spot available going into the 2015-2016 season, there will be an intense battle that will take place once the team begins camp. Though a second roster may open up if Mike Scott is released following an early August arrest (in which the Hawks’ forward evaded arrest and was allegedly found with large quantities of illegal substances by law enforcement officers), for the time being there will only be one roster spot available.

-= Related: Atlanta Hawks: Summer League Review =-

So who will contend for this roster spot? The Atlanta Hawks have extended invitations to training camp for the following players with non-guaranteed constracts: Lamar Patterson, Terran Petteway, Jason Richardson, DeQuan Jones, Jon Horford and Edgar Sosa. More players may be added before or during training camp, but as it stands now, these are the players that will contend for a spot on the Atlanta Hawks.

Lamar Patterson is a former second round pick of the Atlanta Hawks in 2014 that played professionally in Turkey last year. He was arguably the best player on the Atlanta Hawks Summer League team, leading the team in scoring at 13.0 points per game. Patterson still is somewhat erratic offensively, and may require another season of refinement overseas.

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Terran Petteway is a former Nebraska standout that has the capability to shoot the ball from beyond the arc. As a member of the Atlanta Hawks Las Vegas Summer League team, Petteway impressed with his ability to shoot the ball, but did not maintain a level of consistency. His addition to the club could be a low risk move to develop him into a “3 and D” player at the end of the bench.

Jason Richardson is a seasoned veteran who possesses a 37.7 percent three-point percentage over his 14 year career. Though he has struggled with ongoing injuries over the past few seasons as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, he could become a great asset to the team, both as shooter on the court and a leader in the locker room, if he is able to remain healthy over the course of the season.

Edgar Sosa played professionally in Italy last season and had a decorated career at Louisville. He played for Kenny Atkinson on the Dominican National team this past summer in the FIBA Americas tournament, shooting over 45 percent from 3-point range. Though he is a long-shot to make the roster, he could turn some heads if he can shoot at a similar clip during training camp.

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DeQuan Jones last saw NBA action as a member of the Orlando Magic in 2012, where he appeared in 63 games and averaged 3.7 ppg. The veteran swingman also played overseas last year in the Italian Serie A league.

Jon Horford, the younger brother of Al Horford, played 4 years at the University of Michigan, appearing in a Final Four in 2013. He transferred to his brother’s alma mater of Florida for his final year playing at the collegiate level. Horford is another long-shot to make the roster.

So who gets the final spot? I believe the battle will come down to Jason Richardson and Lamar Patterson; but in the end, Richardson will secure the final roster spot on the Atlanta Hawks squad for the 2015-2016 season. Given his competitors, Richardson’s veteran savvy and effective 3 point shot will provide Mike Budenholzer with another experienced shooter of the bench, regardless of his health concerns. Though he may not be able to create his own shot any longer, I see Richardson being utilized in a similar manner as Kyle Korver, where he comes off of ball screens and is constantly moving to get an open shot.

Lamar Patterson has improved over the past year, but his inconsistencies are still too much of concern. He will require another year of experience overseas, and his potential will be reassessed next summer. Atlanta Hawks basketball is almost back, folks!

UPDATE: Jason Richardson announced his retirement from the NBA after a 14 year career on Wednesday evening. This leaves the Hawks with 18 players on its training camp roster, and changes the competition for the final roster spot. Keep it here for ongoing updates about the Atlanta Hawks as we lead up to the 2015-2016 season.

Next: Anthony Bennett: Option for Atlanta Hawks?

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