Hawks summer league: which young guys are actually earning rotation minutes

Summer league stats are the most misleading numbers in sports — but the habits are real. Here's what actually mattered from the Hawks' run in Las Vegas.

Defense travels, jumpers don't

The shooting will come and go in July gyms. What carries into October is effort on the defensive end: navigating screens, talking on switches, finishing possessions with a rebound. The young wings who did those things consistently are the ones the coaching staff will trust early.

The point-of-attack question

The biggest open question on this roster is who pressures the ball for the second unit. Summer league gave a couple of candidates extended auditions, and the results were encouraging in stretches — enough to make the preseason rotation battle genuinely interesting.

Roster math

Two-way spots and the back of the bench are still unsettled. That's not a bad thing: internal competition into camp usually beats handing jobs out in July.

Bird Gang bottom line

October rotations get built in July. When Hawks pick'em season tips off, you'll be glad you watched the boring parts.

Play Pick'em Baby