Expectations?

[u/jazz_raccoon]

What do we really expect from Dort this year for the Hawks? What would be the bar for success with him this year?

[u/GreatBarrierQueefDD]

Make the Magic think twice about intentionally injuring us

[u/Dattypeofdude16]

[u/Quad-G-Therapy]

To put Goga in the hospital

[u/maxnotcharles → u/Quad-G-Therapy]

A man can hope. Watching Goga in preseason refueled my hatred for the man

[u/ExtensionDue3726 → u/Quad-G-Therapy]

Dear Santa....

[u/cheemydee5]

Hit some threes play good-great defense and be an enforcer

[u/Optimal_Hat1754]

To be a dog

[u/Burner_420_burner_69]

-Lu and NAW will top the league in screen fouls drawn.
-Top 5 defense.
-The new Hawks culture of defense, physicality, and toughness that Onsi has been building will be felt.

[u/lenymo]

He is going to shoot his moon ball 3s and it’s going to be amazing when he’s on one of his hot streaks. When he’s cold it will be less fun. Dort is known for being very streaky. Feast or famine.

He leaves a massive hole in OKC’s perimeter defense, per HoopsJunkie he spent the most time of any player in the league defending the top 20% of scorers in the league (eg the opposing team’s best player): https://hoopsjunkie.io/stats/2025-26/players/matchups/elite-share

They’re not a great fit offensively but anytime Lu and Dyson share the floor it’s going to be tough for opposing perimeter players.

[u/Gr33nV3lv3tCak3 → u/lenymo]

I understand Quin would never even consider it because he’s an offensive minded coach and the halfcourt would get really ugly at times but I’d love to start Dyson NAW and Dort together instead of CJ. Set the tone early

[u/Bob_Rathbun_fan]

37% or better from 3. That's the biggest thing I want to see.

If his shooting can revert to 2023-25 levels (39%, 41%) on decent volume, the season will be a great big success. His poor shooting last year (34%) is why the Thunder dumped him. If that's addressed, we can play Dort with any player on the team without worrying about spacing.

On the defensive end, I'd prefer to not enter with any expectations. I trust Dort as a high level defender, but his impact will depend on Quin's rotations. AFAICT Dort will likely play a lot of small ball PF next to Jock Landale (based on preseason and Quin's prior tendencies). I'm not enthused about it, but I understand the logic:

• Mo Gueye out due to injury
• Asa atrocious defensively
• Dorian Finney Smith's legs are hard to trust
• Zuby still a rookie; prone to fouling and turnovers
• Additionally, Dort let's Quin play a quasi four guard lineup on offense similar to what he did with Saddiq, as well as those Jazz teams.

Given that, I think best to temper expectations defensively (during these PF minutes). Dort is very strong but he's still only 6'4. Additionally, we have no Chet type rim protector behind him. Makes the 6'9 types tricky to guard.

[u/Ice2jc]

Cautiously optimistic that he'll regain his shooting form while being a top 20 defender in the NBA

[u/rbsssss]

Honestly? A much better version of Zacch. Hit enough open threes to not be a liability. Be a POA defender or at least good enough off ball. And deal with some of the moon balls he will inevitably take.

[u/basketbaIlnetwork]

Dort was a vital and underrated piece in OKC's rise. Trust me, he will make the Hawks better.

[u/Adminscantkeepmedown]

An Orlando Magic-deterrent

[u/immonkeydluffy]

Kill Goga

[u/Heyec]

Just imagine himself, Dyson, and NAW out there together dude. Offensively not hyped but the clamps bro.

[u/red2play]

Should have kept ZR but the wacky coach we have, loves Kispert.

[u/mlpdude]

Same as his number

[u/xenasrevenge74]

No expectations fr, I guess maybe be a solid 3 & D Guy

[u/KevinsPopsTypeshii]

Makes sense and gives us the depth in defense we haven’t had in a long time, he’ll probably switch on and off the starting rotation given his all around contributions and championship experience

[u/ATLFaithful53]

🐐

[u/Sir-Viette]

People concentrate on Lu Dort, as he’s the more famous new Hawk from the trade market.

But as a Thunder fan (coming in peace), your biggest trade was signing Aaron Wiggins.

He’s been a bench player the whole time so no one knows about him. But on the Thunder, he was consistently the most efficient player on the team. Not just because he had that season shooting 3s at above 50%, but because of how many points and rebounds and assists and steals he would get on such limited minutes. What’s more, he did it playing out of position as a power forward when he’s really a shooting guard.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up as your favourite player within a year.

[u/JLTN_10]

“First team all defense” -Tony Allen

[u/embutidomasarap]

Bring his trademark dawg defense, up his offense. Bring toughness to the team.

NAW, DD, LD, DFS is a wing and perimeter shut down line up

[u/ShowdownValue]

Lead the league in dirty plays and players injured

[u/ATLfinra]

A defensive irritant who will probably get a few ejections and a couple of suspensions

[u/sondiame]

Predicting he'll be injured for most of the year by some freak accident.

We'll lose in the first round after beating the Celtics in the play in.

[u/LoHidey]

I don't have high hopes

[u/WashingtonSpecifics]

As an outsider I'm anticipating 25-28 minutes per game, with him closing primarily in games where the Hawks are ahead. That should go up a bit in the playoffs where he'll have to be the POA defender on #1 options

[u/Bob_Rathbun_fan → u/WashingtonSpecifics]

where he'll have to be the POA defender on #1 options

Why would we go with Dort over Dyson for POA duties?

Dyson has been assigned tougher matchups the past few years, and is under contract for several more years. BBall Index requires subscription to play around with data, but they posted a stat measuring thsi last feb

https://x [.] com/The_BBall_Index/status/2020920634256089118

[u/shangalang69 → u/Bob_Rathbun_fan]

i think it would be a huge luxury to have lu on ball and dyson play off ball defence and get back to his 3 steals per game numbers

[u/EmploymentJumpy8993]

We got two absolute dogs on defense now with Dyson and Dort.

[u/Dajackyl]

First Team All D

[u/No_Worldliness_6982]

A hair cut.

[u/bignutwilli → u/No_Worldliness_6982]

Weirdo comment

[u/No_Worldliness_6982 → u/bignutwilli]

Whatever!😐

[u/Silent-Ad9911]

Be our Og annunoby. 3 and D who plays big.

[u/Junior-Champion-6918 → u/Silent-Ad9911]

OG just had the most efficient 20+ PPG championship run of all time. On top of what he already does on the defensive end.

At times, Dort is a legitimate negative on offense.

Dort is not 3 and D in the same way OG is.

[u/Bob_Rathbun_fan → u/Silent-Ad9911]

You're expectations are out of line.

• OG is 6'7 with a 7'2 wingspan, 9' standing reach
• Dort is 6'4 with 6'8.5 wingspan, 8'4 standing reach

Dort is a guard who is strong enough to bother PF's, but that's not his natural position and it comes at a cost against long athletic forwards and with regards to rim protection. We'd prefer him assaulting perimeter players.

Anunoby can unironically play small ball center (which the Knicks do). He has the similar dimensions as Onyeka and Bam Adebayo lol and hits that 9' standing reach all centers need to meet. And thats on top of anchoring the Knicks perimeter defense, guarding 1-4.

The closest players to OG on our roster are

• Zuby in a few years if he develops his shooting
• Mo if he got a bit stronger and developed his shooting
• Dorian Finney Smith 2+ years ago

[u/Middle_Awoken]

None

[u/sleepingbusy]

Hawks still gonna be mediocre. We should have had luka. Opportunities like that are far in between

[u/bignutwilli → u/sleepingbusy]

Its been 8 years and you still on this 😭 💀

[u/sleepingbusy → u/bignutwilli]

I'm still beside myself. I gave up on Georgia sports a long time ago.

[u/Tpellegrino121]

I hope he doesn’t make us miss Trae on defense.

At least with Trey we knew who their score was gonna be… Whoever he was guarding

[u/dat_boy_lurks → u/Tpellegrino121]

[u/Quad-G-Therapy → u/Tpellegrino121]

https://giphy.com/gifs/2XskdWuNUyqElkKe4bm