The Atlanta Hawks are facing a difficult choice regarding their roster depth. The team needs to cut players to reach the 15-man limit, and Mouhamed Gueye is a primary candidate to be waived. While he has talent, the math simply does not work for Atlanta right now.
The roster crunch in Atlanta
The Hawks must remove another player from their books to get down to 15 roster spots. According to Daily Knicks, the team has already said goodbye to Devin Carter this summer. Now, the front office has to decide between several players to make that math work. If the team does not pay other players to take on contracts, names like Gueye, Henri Veesar, and Ryan Nembhard are the most likely to go.
It is a tough spot for a team that is trying to get younger. The roster is getting crowded with talent that the team expects to contribute soon. You cannot keep everyone when you are trying to stay under the limit.
Gueye is a prime candidate for departure
The situation with Mo Gueye is particularly tricky because of his recent health issues. The 23-year-old forward suffered a fracture to his left foot this past July. He is still recovering from surgery, which might keep him out of the start of the season. This lack of availability makes it much harder for him to hold onto a spot on the team.
The Hawks already have enough big men to handle the rotation. The team recently drafted Zuby Ejiofor and Asa Newell in the first round during the last two drafts. They also have Veesar, whose salary for the 2026-27 season is already guaranteed. Because the team has so many young bigs, Gueye finds himself in a very bad position.
A massive opportunity for the Knicks
While this is bad news for Atlanta, it could be a huge win for New York. The Knicks are looking for ways to fill their 14th spot. As Daily Knicks noted, the team is comfortable starting the season with only two big men, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond. This means they do not need a third center immediately.
Ian Begley told SNY in a recent mailbag that “the Knicks do not currently have a third center,” but he also noted “there is a strong degree of confidence internally in the Karl-Anthony Towns-Andre Drummond duo at the position.” This mindset makes Gueye a perfect target for a low-cost trade or waiver claim. He is a great value at $2.4 million. He is a much better finisher near the rim than Drummond, with a 71 percent success rate last season.
