A new junkyard dog?
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.
Guard Keaton Wallace, the 25-year-old older brother of acclaimed defensive pest Cason Wallace, is one of many additions to the Hawks roster that profiles as a hard worker and disruptive force on that end of the court.
That focus on defense was quickly evident judging from comments at media day this year. “Coach Quin [Snyder] has been talking about picking up our defense, picking up our tempo, so I think I’ll be a good asset for the team,” Wallace commented. “Picking up full court. Ball pressure. Being in the right spots in help defense. Those things help us be a better team.”
Wallace is someone that similarly profiles as a tireless hound on defense. While just 6’3 in stature, Wallace makes life difficult for opposing ball-handlers with his quick hands, strength, and change of direction. He was a part of an elite Skyhawks defense of a year ago, although an unfortunate injury knocked him out for the second half of the season.
“We were both taught that defense is all effort,” he had to say about he and his brother’s upbringing in basketball. “That was drilled in us early. Just being able to play hard and wanting to play defense. Those things were taught to us early. Those things still stick with us in our careers today.”
After just one game of a strong performance in Las Vegas with the Hawks’ Summer League team this past summer, Wallace signed to a two-way contract with the Hawks. He figures to see most of his time with the College Park Skyhawks but will practice with the senior team and could always be called up in the case of injuries ahead of him in the depth chart.
In five games this summer, Wallace was arguably the team’s MVP considering the many injuries the Hawks sustained during the short two weeks there. Wallace averaged 14.8 points per game, including shooting 48% from the field and 44% from the three-point arc, and added six assists to just three turnovers per game.
Offensively, the Hawks are pretty thin at point guard behind Trae Young. One figures Kobe Bufkin to get a shot at the direct backup spot, but who else could be an option there if need be?
Dyson Daniels is listed as guard by the Hawks and played a bit of point guard in New Orleans. But Keaton Wallace would probably represent the most natural third point guard contingency if it came down to it.
“Playing the point guard position,” he responded when asked to talk about his game. “Being able to make reads. Being able to get the ball out of my hands to the right people at the right times.”
“I play with a lot of intensity, defensively and offensively,” he continued. “So, I think that’s the main thing that people will recognize if they haven’t seen me play before.”
Wallace has worked hard at every stop in his basketball career, and his fire and competitiveness team hopes will contribute to a lunch pail culture on and off the court as we move into the regular season and beyond.