Mouhamed Gueye was downgraded from day-to-day to out on Monday with a left foot injury, with an estimated return of November 20. Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks reported that Onyeka Okongwu's extension window closed Monday night, leaving two seasons on his current deal.
Gueye's foot thins the frontcourt
Gueye, 23 and in his third year, is out until an estimated November 20, which is a month of games without a forward who was supposed to fight for bench minutes. Henri Veesaar was already gone for the year with a right knee, so the big rotation behind Okongwu is Jock Landale, Asa Newell, Zuby Ejiofor and whatever Dorian Finney-Smith gives at 33. Landale shot 38.3 percent from three last season and averaged 10.6 points in 22.1 minutes. That is the depth Quin Snyder has to open with.
Okongwu's deal waits a year
Rowland reported the extension deadline passed at 11:59 pm ET Monday with no new contract, and Okongwu plays this season at $16.1M with two years left. The math explains the patience. Atlanta sits at $198.5M, under the $200.4M tax line by less than two million, and Peachtree Hoops' Garrett Brown wrote that Onsi Saleh's tax comments point to exactly this approach. Okongwu's case is strong anyway. He put up 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 37.6 percent from three last season, and the five of McCollum, Alexander-Walker, Okongwu, Johnson and Daniels posted a plus-20.3 net in 391 minutes, with a 102.8 defensive rating.
Orlando Wednesday, then a road week
The opener is Wednesday, October 21, at the Magic, with both teams on four days' rest. Orlando went 45-37 last season behind Paolo Banchero's 22.2 points a night, and it lists Anthony Black and Franz Wagner as day-to-day while Noah Penda and Izaiyah Nelson are out. Atlanta arrives on three straight preseason wins, and Rowland noted a 133 offensive rating and 99 defensive rating through three quarters of the Dallas finale with near regular-season lineups. The open question is the one last spring left behind. The Hawks closed 2025-26 at minus-11.8 a game over their final ten, so the first real test of the preseason form is whether that slide stays buried. Charlotte follows Friday, then a Rockets home-and-home on October 24 and 26.
When does Mouhamed Gueye return for the Hawks?
His estimated return is November 20. He was moved from day-to-day to out on October 19 with a left foot injury.
Did the Hawks extend Onyeka Okongwu?
No. Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks reported the extension window closed Monday night, and Okongwu has two seasons left on his current deal.
