At the trade deadline this season, the Atlanta Hawks acquired Terance Mann from the Los Angeles Clippers for Bogdan Bogdanović and three second-round picks. The move made sense for both sides. Atlanta gained more financial flexibility, and the Clippers received a veteran sharpshooter and ball handler to support their playoff run.
Mann averaged 9.8 points in 22.7 minutes with the Hawks, playing almost three more minutes per game than in Los Angeles. Even though his numbers are similar for both squads, the roles and the way these teams operated offensively required Mann to adjust his playstyle.
Hawks’ Trade Deadline Acquisition Primed for a Bigger Role Next Season
Two Teams on Opposite Sides of the Pace Spectrum
Mann played alongside many more veteran shot and play creators in Los Angeles compared to Atlanta. The Clippers were the third-oldest team in the NBA this season, with an average roster age of 27.358. They ranked 22nd in pace and 21st in total possessions. James Harden, Norman Powell, Kawhi Leonard, and Ivica Zubac had no trouble producing great looks throughout the season in the halfcourt.
In contrast, Mann joined a young, developing Hawks team that ranked third in pace, second in possessions, and struggled to find easy offense outside of Trae Young. Without the star guard, Atlanta relied on Dyson Daniels, Caris LeVert, and Mann to keep the offense afloat. The former Florida State University wing had the highest usage rate of his career since the 2021-2022 campaign. However, while LeVert fit seamlessly into a sixth-man role, Mann’s play style differed from the Hawks’ pace and shot diet.
Head coach Quin Snyder emphasized efficient looks at the rim and beyond the arc. In fact, Atlanta finished dead last in percentage of points scored from mid-range at 3.9%. Over his first few games, Mann settled for jumpers that his teammates generally did not take over the course of the season. Sometimes, he did not take advantage of fastbreak opportunities.
However, over the final two months, Mann made huge strides. He took on heavier responsibility as a perimeter slasher in the pick-and-roll and showed great ability to initiate contact and finish through traffic. His pressure on the rim and ball-handling improvement opened up looks for shooters like Georges Niang, Vít Krejćí, and Zaccharie Risacher.
Mann Took Steps As a Leader
As Clint Capela, Larry Nance Jr., and LeVert enter free agency this summer, Mann suddenly finds himself as the second-oldest player on the roster at 28 years old. In his exit interview, he expressed how different he felt being one of the oldest guys in the locker room when he was used to being one of the youngest.
When asked about his leadership style, Mann pointed to leading by example. “Being a professional every day, coming here working every day, saying the right things and doing the right things… I think the young guys just caught on. I watched them grow even in that short span I was here,” Mann said.
Look for him to take on an even bigger leadership and offensive role in the 2025-26 season.
Featured image: © Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
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