The Atlanta Hawks have agreed to sign restricted free agent N’Faly Dante to a two-year, $4.5 million offer sheet. The Houston Rockets will have 48 hours to match the offer sheet from the point when it is officially signed. Dante spent last season on a two-way contract with the Rockets, who tendered him a two-way qualifying offer ahead of this offseason.
Dante appeared in only six NBA games but excelled for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the G League. In 42 G League games, the 6-foot-11 center averaged 15 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Dante shot 74.4% from the field as a rookie for the Vipers last season.
The Rockets do not have room under their first-apron hard cap to match Dante’s offer sheet from the Hawks. Houston would need to make another move to free up space to match the offer sheet from Atlanta.
The Hawks have been looking for additional depth at the center position. Dante will join a rotation that includes Onyeka Okongwu, newly acquired Kristaps Porzingis and second-year player Mouhamed Gueye.