The Hawks got the long-awaited arrival of two of their draft picks on Sunday. The trades that brought De’Andre Hunter and Bruno Fernando to Atlanta were finalized and they signed contracts hours before starting a Las Vegas Summer League game.
Hunter, the No. 4 pick, and Fernando, the No. 35 pick, suited up in the Hawks 90-66 loss to the Timberwolves. Hunter finished with six points on 2 of 8 shooting, including 1 of 3 from 3-point range. Fernando finished with five points on 2 of 5 shooting and seven rebounds.
The Hawks (0-2) were led by Omari Spellman with 16 points and eight rebounds.
“Tough one but it was nice to see De’Andre out there, Bruno out there, get up and down and get a feel for what NBA basketball is all about,” Hawks assistant and summer league coach Greg Foster said. “Obviously, they are going to get better. … They haven’t had a chance to practice at all. Getting them incorporated into what we are trying to do was tough.”
Josh Okogie, entering his second season out of Georgia Tech, led the Timberwolves with 15 points.
The Hawks got off to a miserable start. They shot 4-of-20 from the field in falling behind 32-19 after one quarter. By halftime, the deficit was 52-37.
Foster said he wanted to see Hunter play several positions.
“I think he brings a lot of versatility,” Foster said. “We are trying to figure that out through the summer league process. I wanted to see him play more at the 4. I didn’t want to play him too much because he hasn’t done time this summer. He is real versatile. I want to see him play the 3. I want to see him play the 4. Defensively, he can switch and guard smalls. He’ll be a good one for us.”
The Hawks started Jaylen Adams, Jordan Sibert, Hunter, Spellman and Fernando. Charlie Brown (sore hip) and Tahjere McCall (sore ankle) did not play. Sibert left the game in the fourth quarter with a hamstring strain and did not return.
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