The Atlanta Hawks and forward De’Andre Hunter went down to the wire Monday night before reaching an agreement that will keep the 6-foot-8 forward in Atlanta long term.
ESPN reported the Hawks and Hunter agreed on a four-year, $95 million extension just before the NBA’s 6 p.m. deadline for rookie contract extensions. That allows Hunter to avoid restricted free agency after this season.
At the 6 PM ET buzzer: Atlanta Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter has agreed on a four-year, $95 million contract extension, his agents Thad Foucher and Joe Smith of @Wassbasketball tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/mDm6hZTosm
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 18, 2022
Hunter averaged 13.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in the 2021-22 regular season, but he stepped it up in the playoffs against the Miami Heat, averaging 21.2 points in the five-game series.
The fourth pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Virginia, Hunter is a career 35.9% shooter from behind the arc. He played only 53 games last season after needing wrist surgery. When healthy, he is regarded as Atlanta’s best perimeter defender, although his defensive metrics were down a bit last year from previous seasons.
The 24-year-old Hunter’s signing means the Hawks now have four players from their starting five, Hunter, Trae Young, Clint Capela and John Collins, under contract for at least the next three seasons.
Hawks fans seemed generally happy about Hunter’s big extension, although some were quick to point out that seems like an excessive contract for someone who’s not considered a superstar.
De'Andre Hunter is gonna make more money ($95M) over the next 4 years than Michael Jordan ($93M) made in his entire career 😭 pic.twitter.com/ZzBR1gg3dc
— HaterMuse (@HaterMuse) October 18, 2022
https://twitter.com/bigpapasmvke/status/1582167426178818048
https://twitter.com/Turbotbh/status/1582167336475594753
His agent pic.twitter.com/vNxKJkApDE
— Coby White 23-24’ MVP (@LilChancla) October 18, 2022
Not an overpay
— 😮💨 (@AtlOptimist) October 18, 2022
