Hawks Summer League Notes Through The Preliminary Games

Walter Tavares

Big Edy Tavares looks to be ready to contribute to an NBA team. He has bulked up over the last two years and is starting to be a real force as a shot blocker. Tavares is averaging 7 points, 7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in 21 minutes a game this summer league. Tavares still has virtually no offensive game. He is able to make free throws but has only taken thirteen shots over three summer league games. He still has room to grow as a rebounder. Even at 7 feet 3 inches, he can get out muscled on the boards by shorter opponents. As he continues to grow into his body, I expect that to become less of an issue. Overall, Tavares looks ready to contribute to an NBA roster and could play serious minutes for the varsity squad this season. With his growth along with the re-signing of Kris Humphries, Atlanta may be looking to move Tiago Splitter who is coming off of a hip injury that cost him most of last season.

Deandre Bembry

Bembry stole the show in his first summer league performance. He scored 14 points, grabbed 6 boards and dished 4 assists in a win over the Houston Rockets. He displayed that wonderful all around game that attracted Atlanta to taking him in the first round. His second two games were not as great, but he still showed terrific vision and ability to play in a team first system. Most importantly Bembry has looked nice from behind the three-point line. The sample size is small, but Bembry’s jump shot was considered to be broke coming into the NBA. He failed to shoot 30 percent from the arc in his final season at St. Joseph’s. However from the looks of it, Bembry has a mechanically sound shot. With a few years under the Hawks player development staff, Bembry could become a terrific starter for the Hawks in the future.

Taurean Prince

The trade involving Jeff Teague and Taurean Prince finally went through yesterday morning, allowing Prince to finally play in the Hawks’ third summer league game. Prince was not spectacular, but showed the attributes that the Hawks fell in love with prior to the draft. He was a hound on defense, collecting four steals and suffocating opponents with his long wingspan. His athletic body is something that cannot be taught. It is going to take him a little while to adjust to the NBA three-pointer and defensive rotations, but Prince seems to be a quick learner. It should not be long before Prince is playing a significant role for the Hawks.

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