It’s pretty clear that the Hawks have put a heavy emphasis on improving the perimeter defense over the offseason. Despite adding a former All-Defensive Team guard in Dejounte Murray through trade, the past two seasons of guard defense have been just as unproductive as the years that came before it.
In came Dyson Daniels through trade, a player with the size and grit to terrorize opponents. Zaccharie Risacher was drafted not just for his shooting upside, but also for his tall wing frame and dedication to defensive improvement. It’s clear that flashing defensive effort will be rewarded with opportunities for playing time and impact for the Atlanta Hawks going forward.