The Hawks added some experienced veterans to their roster and they’re all ready and eager to win.
On Thursday, the Hawks acquired Caris LeVert, Georges Niang and Terance Mann in a pair of trades with the Cavaliers and Clippers. The Hawks have a young team and LeVert, Mann and Niang (who have a combined 24 years of NBA service) had one thing on their mind when asked what they were looking forward to about being in the city of Atlanta.
“Building relationships with the guys, growing as a team,” LeVert said. “Obviously, experiencing the city some too, trying to get into the playoffs. I think that’s all three of our goals. I don’t want to speak for them, but it’s definitely one of my goals.”
“Yeah, playoffs,” Niang added. “I think all of us, like I said won at all different levels, and we’re competitors and if there’s one thing, if we hang our hat on, I think it would be being winners.”
LeVert, Mann and Niang made their debuts Saturday night in the Hawks’ 125-111 win over the Wizards. Niang started and scored 16 points in 26 minutes while LeVert had nine points in 15 minutes and Mann scored four points in 24 minutes of action.
Hawks general manager Landry Fields highlighted the shooting and versatility that each player can contribute to the rotation. During their introductory press conference, they each agreed.
“I think, for me, is versatility, both sides of the ball,” LeVert, who is having a career year from 3, said. “Defensively, you know, guarding the ball, guard, pick and roll, gardening space, being able to switch one through three, one through four, sometimes, and offensively, scoring play, making, really just doing, doing whatever it takes. And then, bringing a level of professionalism too. It’s my ninth year in the league now, fourth team now, so it’s crazy. I’m getting up there. But yeah, it’s, I think, I think those are the things that I bring.”
“Shooting,” Niang, who has shot 40% from 3, said. “I would say veteran leadership. You said four teams. I think I made four or five, one of those because of 10-days or training camp deals when I was early on. But yeah, just energy, enthusiasm. I bring a light-hearted joy to the group. But, obviously a level of professionalism. Like, we’re here to win games, and I feel like that’s why we were brought here.”
“Well, for me, I think (I bring) passion, energy and just wanting to win every night,” Mann, who played a key role in the Clippers’ Western Conference Finals run in 2021, said. “Do whatever it takes to win. I think that’s, you know, what I always hang my hat on. That’s what I’ve been doing since I was younger. So that’s all I’m bringing to the team.”
While the new players will be expected to contribute right away, Fields and coach Quin Snyder understand that they will have an adjustment period. But they all have faith that their years of experience in the league will allow them to get up to speed and acclimate to their new team quickly.
“They’re all smart guys, and they all know how teams function, and that’s part of it,” Snyder said. “If you’re joining a team in the middle of the season, as opposed to in the off-season, you just don’t have that time. But it’s still important and all of them will embrace that. We’ll do our best to get them going quickly.”
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