The Atlanta Hawks have been chasing a real defensive identity for years. They have cycled through different bigs and tweaked schemes. They have also leaned on guards to plug gaps they should not have to cover. If they want to stabilize the back line for the long term, the Hawks need a real solution. Jayden Quaintance profiles as the kind of defensive anchor the Hawks have missed. He can reset what this team looks like on that end of the floor.
Quaintance already brings a defensive presence that jumps off the screen. He is long, explosive, and, most importantly, active. Instead of only chasing blocks, he changes how opponents think about attacking the paint. Guards hesitate when they turn the corner and see him waiting. His best NBA comparison is Bam Adebayo, a versatile center who anchors a defense without needing gaudy block numbers. Drivers rethink attempts they would usually take without blinking. For a Hawks team that has struggled to protect the rim, that deterrence alone is huge. It puts Quaintance on the Hawks’ draft radar and makes him more than a casual talking point.
Hawks Should Target Kentucky Forward in 2026 NBA Draft
The main reason Hawks should target Quaintance is his defensive versatility. I have previously mentioned that AJ Dybantsa out of BYU should be the Hawks dream target, and that they could also look to land prospects like Darryn Peterson (Kansas), Cam Boozer (Duke), or Caleb Wilson (North Carolina) with the Pelicans pick. Even with those names on the board, the young center belongs in that mix as well. He is not a stationary big who only survives when camped in drop coverage. Quaintance can step up to the level of the screen and slide laterally with ball handlers. He can still recover to contest at the rim. That blend of rim protection and mobility is what playoff defenses are built on in today’s NBA. Coaches can keep him on the floor against different styles without having to hide him.
Quaintance also brings real physicality on the glass. He is aggressive securing defensive rebounds and often ends possessions himself instead of tipping the ball around. That ability to grab the board and quickly outlet or ignite the break fits the way Atlanta wants to play. When he finishes the stop, transition opportunities open up. Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, and the rest of the Hawks attackers all benefit. A big who can both protect the rim and clean the glass is rare. That skill set shows why the Hawks should target Quaintance as part of a larger roster building plan.
A Defensive Foundation That Puts Quaintance on Hawks Draft Radar
What stands out most is how often Quaintance’s defensive impact shows up in subtle ways. Quaintance alters shots he does not block. He forces kick outs that burn shot clock. He also deters drives that never even happen. Those plays do not always show up in the box score, but they change the math of a game. When a team knows there is a true back line anchor waiting, perimeter defenders can be more aggressive. Passing lanes get tighter and rotations feel cleaner.
For the Hawks, that is huge. Too often Atlanta has asked its guards and wings to over help at the nail or pinch in from the corners. They do that just to keep opponents away from the rim. That approach leads to scramble situations, wide open threes, and late closeouts. With Quaintance behind them, those same players can stay more attached to shooters. They can trust that he will patrol the paint and erase mistakes. That shift does not only improve the defense on paper. It changes how the entire group plays. It also strengthens the case for Hawks to eye Quaintance as a long term answer in the middle.
Offensively, he does not need to be the centerpiece to matter. Quaintance runs the floor hard, finishes plays around the basket, and provides vertical spacing as a lob threat. He is comfortable setting solid screens, rolling with purpose, and living as a play finisher. There are flashes of touch and short roll reads that suggest more could come. Even so, the Hawks do not need him to be a go to scorer. They need him to complement their creators and stay dangerous enough that defenses cannot completely ignore him.
Kentucky big man Jayden Quaintance made his debut today and didn’t disappoint 😤
10 PTS | 8 REB | 2 BLK | 18 MINS
Quaintance is a game changer for this Kentucky squad pic.twitter.com/bRhwyCsmxI
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) December 20, 2025
Long Term Fit With Atlanta’s Core
Age and timeline also work in Atlanta’s favor. Quaintance is still extremely young relative to his competition. He already carries himself with the presence of a seasoned defender. That gives the Hawks a chance to grow with him over several seasons. Whoever remains in the core, whether it is Young, Johnson, or another star-level piece, will be in their prime. That prime window will overlap with his natural progression. Investing in that kind of defensive cornerstone on a rookie deal is how teams buy themselves flexibility later.
There are always questions with any prospect. Health, offensive development, and how quickly the game slows down at the NBA level all matter. For a franchise that has long searched for stability at center, the upside here is hard to ignore. In the end, the Hawks should target Quaintance because he offers rim protection, mobility, and long term upside in one package. Players with that combination rarely become available once they are fully formed.
Getting him in the building and developing him in their system would be a strong first step. Letting him grow with the rest of the roster keeps everyone on the same timeline. That plan might be Atlanta’s best path to building the kind of defense that can survive and win in May and June.
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