Hawks Shock Rockets with Bold Move: Restricted Free Agent N’Faly Dante Snatched Away

N’Faly Dante’s journey through the NBA last season was barely a blink—a mere four games with the Rockets, totaling just 51 minutes on the hardwood. Yet, behind those fleeting appearances, this undrafted Oregon center was quietly honing his craft in the G-League, putting up impressive averages of 15.1 points and 9.8 boards for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. It’s these flashes of potential that caught the eye of the Atlanta Hawks, who extended a two-year, .5 million qualifying offer to Dante. The Rockets, already pressed against their roster limits and capped beneath the hard salary apron, couldn’t swing the deal. Now, Dante finds himself a Hawk with a shot at carving out meaningful minutes amidst a deep frontcourt that features Onyeka Okongwu, Kristaps Porzingis, and promising rookie Asa Newell. Sure, the path won’t be easy, but this opportunity might just be the breakthrough he needs. LEARN MORE

This is a minimum contract and likely not guaranteed for the second year (the details of the contract are not yet known).This is a real opportunity for Dante, although he is going to have to earn minutes behind projected starting center Onyeka Okongwu, the just-acquired Kristaps Porzingis, rookie Asa Newell, and Mouhamed Gueye, who played in 33 games for Atlanta last season.That makes Dante an Atlanta Hawk.N’Faly Dante barely had a cup of coffee in the NBA last season, just getting in four games for the Rockets and playing a total of 51 minutes. However, the undrafted center out of Oregon showed promise in the G-League, averaging 15.1 points and 9.8 rebounds for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.That was enough to get the Atlanta Hawks to make a qualifying offer to the restricted free agent Dante, a two-year, .5 million contract. The Rockets, with a full roster (including all three two-way spots) could not match the offer, reports Michael Scotto of Hoopshype. The offer was for million next season and the Rockets are .3 million below a hard cap at the first apron.