In the fourth quarter of last night’s game against New Orleans, Bey sustained an injury. Today, the Hawks learned some bad news.
Hawks forward Saddiq Bey sustained a season-ending torn ACL early in the fourth quarter of the team’s 104–108 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans Friday night, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
ESPN Sources: Atlanta Hawks F Saddiq Bey has suffered a season-ending torn left ACL. MRI revealed injury this morning. Bey — who’ll be a restricted free agent this summer — has averaged 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds. pic.twitter.com/DlPmzV3lhj
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 11, 2024
Bey will now miss the remainder of the Hawks season due to injury, as head coach Quin Snyder of the Hawks stated last night. Bey has started for the Hawks for the most of the season and will be a restricted free agent this summer.
Importance of Saddiq Bey to Hawks
He helps the Hawks stretch the floor and has been a solid rebounder for them this season.
Bey’s injury merely makes the Hawks’ already lengthy list longer. Atlanta is currently without rookie Kobe Bufkin, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, and Trae Young.
For the past two games, Vit Krejci has started for Atlanta in lieu of Johnson. If Johnson needs to be out for an extended period of time, the main concern will be who will start in his place. De’Andre Hunter might seem like the obvious choice, but Snyder has stated that he is still subject to minute restrictions. It will be intriguing to observe the team’s actions up until Johnson and Okongwu return from their injuries.
The Hawks were a small club to begin with, and Bey’s injury only highlights that issue.
If Johnson is unable to return for the team’s forthcoming five-game West Coast trip, Garrison Matthews and Wesley Matthews are two more players who might start in the starting lineup. Despite being a 42.3% three-point shooter and starting several games this season when the Hawks have been injured, Garrison struggles defensively. Despite his poor three-point shooting this season, veteran Wesley Matthews has joined the Hawks to support their defense. The Hawks are 3.5 games ahead of the Brooklyn Nets in 10th place in the Eastern Conference right now. On Wednesday night, they play a game in Portland to start their road trip.