Atlanta, GA
2024-25 Atlanta Hawks Roster Preview: Cody Zeller
Age: 32 years old (12th season)
Height, Weight: 6’11, 240 lbs
2023-24 Averages: 1.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game on 41.9%/33.3%/60.5% splits (43 games)
Career Averages: 7.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game on 52%/22%/72.7% shooting splits (552 games)
Even if Atlanta ends up being his last stop, Cody Zeller has carved out quite an impressive career for himself.
The veteran big man has never been at the top of the league’s center rankings, but he finds ways to impact the game and be helpful for his team. Whether that’s giving full effort on the boards, finishing plays or setting hard screens, he has earned his keep as a respectable veteran player,.
However, it’s unlikely that he will be able to make much of an impact for the Hawks.
The Hawks are very deep at center. Capela, Nance and Okongwu are a very capable trio of big men who will not limit the Hawks from running anything. Neither are elite at any particular skillset, but they are all capable starters in their role. Zeller is clearly a step behind all three. He has lost some of the athleticism of his younger days to compete on defense. Furthermore, he is not much of a three-point shooter, so he cannot fall back on that skill to supplement some of his decline. Atlanta also signed free-agent center Tony Bradley to a new deal.
General manager Landry Fields was fairly candid in his assessment of Zeller’s role on the team in 2024-25. He said this at Media Day:
“It’s still an evaluation right now as it relates to our roster and how that’s going to shape up going into training camp. “We’re in talks with his camp. Just kind of seeing what that’s going to look like for the future.”
Due to him not playing in the Hawks preseason opener vs Indiana, it seems pretty clear that Zeller is going to be released as part of a buyout. That being said, there is still a chance that the Hawks decide to hold onto him. Okongwu has not yet recovered from his toe injury and the Hawks are an injury to Nance or Capela away from really needing Zeller for the start of the regular season.
If he does stick around for the Hawks, I would expect Zeller to be a part-time player. He does not have the athleticism to hold up as a starting center in the NBA anymore, but he can put forth a solid effort in 10-15 minutes of action. He can be a solid roll man in pick-and-roll actions with Trae Young, which is probably his main pathway towards being a useful offensive player for Atlanta.
On defense, I’m very skeptical that he can offer more than his size at this stage in his career. He’s 6’11 and the tallest person on the roster for the Hawks, but I am not sure if that can translate into real defensive impact.
Best-Case Scenario: Zeller steps into the backup role due to injuries and fits as a helpful veteran presence for Atlanta. He competes hard on defense, sets good screens and hits the occasional three when the defense ignores him.
Worst-Case Scenario: N/A since the most likely outcome is Zeller being bought out. The worst-case scenario might be that he sticks on the roster and has to play due to injuries, but is not very effective.
Atlanta, GA
New Venues in Atlanta for Summer 2026 Meetings and Events
Here’s a closer look at Atlanta’s newest eateries, drinking spots, hotels, conference areas, private rooms, and other spaces available for events this summer. The new and renovated Atlanta-area venues are available for corporate parties, weddings, fundraisers, outdoor functions, business dinners, team-building activities, conferences, meetings, and more.
Hotel Phoenix
Rendering: Courtesy of Green Olive Media
One of downtown Atlanta’s most anticipated openings, Hotel Phoenix brings 292 guest rooms, 15 suites, and more than 15,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space to the rapidly evolving Centennial Yards district, just in time for FIFA festivities. Opening in December 2025, the 18-story property sits steps from Mercedes-Benz Stadium and offers floor-to-ceiling skyline views throughout. For planners, the headline is the flexible event footprint, anchored by an 8,214-square-foot ballroom that can be separated into three spaces by airwalls. The indoor flexibility is complemented by outdoor gathering spaces, which debuted this spring, including a resort-style pool deck, event lawn, and terrace lounge. With modern industrial design, built-in AV capabilities, and easy access to Atlanta’s sports and entertainment corridor, Hotel Phoenix is poised to become a go-to destination for conferences, galas, receptions, and high-energy corporate events.
JW Marriott Atlanta Downtown
Photo: Courtesy of JW Marriott Atlanta Downtown
Following a complete transformation of the former W Atlanta Downtown, JW Marriott Atlanta Downtown debuted in May with 237 guest rooms and nearly 10,000 square feet of refreshed meeting and event space. The property’s redesigned venues include conference rooms, banquet spaces, prefunction areas, and JW Marriott’s signature Blank Canvas Room, a gallery-style venue featuring white walls and wood floors designed to be fully customized for any event vision. An elevated boardroom, one of the city’s largest executive lounges, wellness-focused guest accommodations, and a rooftop pool bar add extra appeal for executive retreats and multi-day conferences. For planners seeking a luxury downtown option with a fresh new identity, this one deserves a spot on the shortlist.
Cosm Atlanta
Photo: Courtesy of Cosm Atlanta
If your attendees have already seen every ballroom in Atlanta, introduce them to Cosm. The new 70,000-square-foot venue in Centennial Yards is anchored by an 87-foot-diameter LED dome that delivers immersive “shared reality” experiences unlike anything currently available in the meetings market. The three-level venue accommodates up to 2,000 guests across three distinct event environments. The Dome seats up to 500 for screenings, presentations, and private experiences beneath the massive 12K+ LED display. The Hall offers a two-story event space with theater seating for 500, while The Deck provides outdoor reception space for up to 400 guests overlooking Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena. From product launches and media events to client entertainment and branded activations, Cosm offers planners a built-in wow factor that requires very little additional dressing.
SKOL Brewing Company & Valhalla Gaming Lounge
Photo: Courtesy of Caren West PR
Already known for its Nordic-inspired brewpub atmosphere inside downtown Atlanta’s historic 200 Peachtree building, SKOL Brewing Company is leveling up with the addition of Valhalla Gaming Lounge, a 30,000-square-foot expansion designed for immersive group experiences. Combined with SKOL’s existing 5,000-square-foot footprint, the venue creates a sprawling entertainment destination packed with more than 40 interactive attractions, including simulators, bocce courts, billiards, darts, arcade games, and experiential gaming zones. Private event options are already available, making this a compelling choice for team-building programs, client entertainment, conference after-parties, and events that need a healthy dose of friendly competition.
Thrillz Atlanta
Photo: Courtesy of Thrillz Atlanta & Brown Bag Marketing
Forget trust falls. Thrillz Atlanta is bringing adrenaline-fueled team building to the city with a massive indoor adventure park featuring more than 20 attractions under one roof. Designed for group outings, corporate events, and large-scale celebrations, the venue combines amusement rides, virtual reality experiences, laser tag, duckpin bowling, obstacle courses, arcade gaming, and towering slide attractions reaching up to 40 feet high. Ten themed private event rooms, dedicated event coordinators, and full food-and-beverage service make planning surprisingly turnkey. For companies looking to inject some serious energy into meetings, incentive programs, or employee events, Thrillz offers an experience attendees won’t forget.
You42 Studios
Photo: Courtesy of You42 Studios
Part content campus, part entertainment complex, part event venue, You42 Studios is one of the most unconventional new event destinations to open in metro Atlanta. Located in Roswell, the 36,000-square-foot facility combines creator studios, production suites, restaurants, nightlife concepts, live entertainment, and flexible event space under one roof. For planners, versatility is the selling point. The campus includes a 3,800-square-foot event venue, 11 professional content-creation studios, podcast suites, themed production sets, and The Block Theater, featuring a 30-by-18-foot LED screen for presentations, screenings, and live performances. Add multiple food-and-beverage concepts led by celebrity chef Katsuji Tanabe, and You42 becomes a one-stop shop for conferences, content-driven events, brand launches, influencer programs, and corporate gatherings looking for something far more memorable than a hotel meeting room.
Peachtree Sporting Club & American Dive
Photo: Zachary Bobo
Downtown Atlanta’s new 207 Peachtree development is betting big on experiential events. The 45,000-square-foot entertainment, dining, and event destination opened this month with Peachtree Sporting Club, an upscale sports bar concept, and American Dive, a live music venue serving Southern barbecue in a nostalgic dive-bar setting. For planners looking to move beyond traditional ballrooms, the venue offers built-in energy, multiple environments under one roof, and the flexibility to host everything from watch parties and networking receptions to buyouts and branded activations. It’s the kind of place where attendees can swap conference badges for cocktails without ever leaving the venue.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Braves Manager Makes Honest Statement After Giants Game
Atlanta, GA
Robbie Ray leads SF Giants over Atlanta for first winning homestand since April
SAN FRANCISCO — Robbie Ray was everything the Giants could ask for on Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park.
In a performance that continued a strong recent stretch, the 34-year-old went eight innings and gave up a single unearned run, leading San Francisco to a 3-2 win.
It was an outing that will only increase potential interest in Ray at the upcoming MLB trade deadline, one where the Giants figure to be busy after ending their first winning homestand since April with a record of 35-48.
The Braves, who remain in first place in the NL East, are 49-33.
Ray was perfect through four innings until Matt Olson broke up his run of 12 consecutive batters retired with a single to center to lead off the fifth.
His shutout bid was ruined in the eighth when Michael Harris II drove in Eli White with a sacrifice fly, but Ray buckled down and retired Ozzie Albies with a popup to center to end the inning.
The Giants got on the board when Luis Arraez scored in the sixth on an infield single by Rafael Devers, running home when Austin Riley’s throw bounced off Olson’s glove and trickled away from him down the right-field line. They scored again when Albies threw the ball past Olson on Jung Hoo Lee’s grounder to the right side, allowing Heliot Ramos to score.
Ramos made his return from a right quad strain Sunday and played in his first game with the Giants since May 15.
Arraez led off the inning with an infield single down the left-field line, and Ramos further set the table with a single to center. Arraez added on in the seventh, bringing in an insurance run with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Drew Gilbert, who had led off the inning with a pinch-hit single to center.
The Sunday matinee was attended by 33,138 fans. Next up for the Giants is a quick six-game trip that begins Monday with an evening game in Arizona and will continue with a three-game set in Colorado over the holiday weekend, starting Friday.
Check back for updates to this story.
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