N’Faly Dante, Oregon’s undrafted center, parlayed a G-League breakout into a two-year, $4.5 million offer from Atlanta. His Rio Grande Valley numbers—16-point-ish and near 10 boards per game—made him a tempting, low-cost lottery ticket for a Hawks team that needed interior depth after last season’s Rockets stop. The Rockets couldn’t match due to cap constraints, and Dante is now Atlanta-bound, a restricted free agent with clear development upside.

He’ll chase minutes behind Onyeka Okongwu, a task that will define his early NBA footprint. The deal is likely non-guaranteed for the second year, signaling Atlanta’s patience with young bigs and a plan to nurture Dante’s development while preserving future flexibility. Fantasy managers should weigh Dante as a potential late-round flier with meaningful growth if he earns bench minutes and fills a rebounding, efficient role in the Hawks’ frontcourt.

The Hawks’ move alsoVeter maps a broader cap context: Dante lands in a summer where Atlanta can be patient with roster decisions, while Houston’s cap position and two-way realities continue to shape their internal options. Dante’s G-League showcase and his eventual NBA path illustrate how dynamic development pipelines can translate into real NBA value in a league constantly seeking affordable, high-upside bigs.