Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Hawks Release 6-Foot-8 Player After Benching Him All Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Binoy | Last updated Feb 18, 2026 4:23 PM ET

Sometimes the biggest roster decisions don’t come with a lot of noise they happen quietly, after months of waiting for an opportunity that never quite arrives. That’s been the story unfolding in Atlanta Hawks this season, where rotation choices and playoff ambitions have left little room for development projects at the end of the bench.

As the team looks ahead and evaluates what fits moving forward, one lingering question has been whether every player on the roster still has a clear path in the plans. Now, after a season spent mostly watching from the sidelines, that situation has finally reached a turning point for Nikola Djurisic.

Atlanta Hawks forward Nikola Djurisic (22) poses for a photo during Media Day.Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

A second-round pick viewed as a long-term project, he spent most of his time developing in the G League but never reached the point where the team felt comfortable giving him real minutes. To fill the open spot, Atlanta turned to Caleb Houstan, a shooting specialist who has shown promise from beyond the arc and earned a promotion to a standard contract.

The Atlanta Hawks plan to waive Nikola Djurisic to create a roster spot to convert Caleb Houstan to a standard NBA contract, league sources told @hoopshype. Djurisic was the 43rd overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft. Houstan has shot 50% from 3-point range in 10 games for Atlanta.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) February 18, 2026

In practical terms, this won’t dramatically shift the Hawks’ season neither player was part of the regular rotation but it does show how the franchise is trying to fine-tune the edges of the roster.

Houstan’s shooting gives him a clearer potential role, even if minutes remain hard to find in a crowded forward group. For Djurisic, the move simply means a fresh opportunity elsewhere, while Atlanta bets that small, low-profile adjustments could eventually add up in the long run. Unfortunately for Djurisic, for now it is the end of this NBA dream.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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