The Atlanta Hawks will carry 15 players on their roster at least to start the season after the team requested waivers on 2011 second-round pick Keith Benson on Friday. The team also released 2010 second-round pick Pape Sy along with Brad Wanamaker and Magnum Rolle.
Here is a look at the expected depth chart as the Hawks break camp:
PG: Jeff Teague / Jannero Pargo / Donald Sloan / Kirk Hinrich*
SG: Joe Johnson / Willie Green / Jerry Stackhouse
SF: Marvin Williams / Tracy McGrady
PF: Josh Smith / Vladimir Radmanovic / Ivan Johnson
C: Al Horford / Zaza Pachulia / Jason Collins
The big winners in this appear to be Donald Sloan and Ivan Johnson who both have spent time in the D-League. Atlanta will carry four point guards on the roster counting the injured Kirk Hinrich and were no doubt influenced by the injury suffered by Jeff Teague in training camp. Teague is expected to start Tuesday's season opener but had he been out for any length of time, Atlanta would have been extremely thin at the lead guard position. Johnson impressed with two solid performances in the preseason games.
Jerry Stackhouse on one hand is a bit of a surprise at making the roster but on the other has been billed as an extension of the coaching staff. While none of us really gave him that much of a chance we really shouldn't be that surprised given the comments Drew and the other players made.
According to MC, there are four players with non-guaranteed deals. The date that those deals would become guaranteed is on February 10 so expect a flurry of roster moves around that time. By carrying 15 players, my unofficial math says that the Hawks are over the luxury tax threshold but only need to get below the number by the end of the season. Those unguaranteed deals should enable them to do just that.
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