Who Should be the Atlanta Hawks’ Backup Point Guard?

Mar 10, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jose Calderon (13) talks to head coach Mike Budenholzer against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jose Calderon (13) talks to head coach Mike Budenholzer against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 10, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jose Calderon (13) talks to head coach Mike Budenholzer against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jose Calderon (13) talks to head coach Mike Budenholzer against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Who should be the backup point guard for the Atlanta Hawks? And how did we get to this point concerning that specific role?

The Atlanta Hawks have lost several high-quality players just over the past two years. Without actually ever beginning a methodical rebuilding project, they parted ways with 4 of the 5 starters from the 60 win, 2014- 2015 team.

It started with the departure of DeMarre Carroll in free agency that offseason. The remaining chips would fall one by one, each meeting their exit from the Atlanta basketball club in some way or another.

That team was special, and despite Mr. Budenholzer’s best efforts to put together a great roster, they, unfortunately, were a better squad than this year’s version.

The last starter remaining from that top-seeded team is the free agent to be Paul Millsap, who is currently suffering from a nagging knee injury. 

While many would like to see the four-time All-Star stay in Atlanta, offering him the $207 million max level deal that it will take to retain him will be far too hard to stomach. And the Hawks’ brass will ultimately balk at such an idea.

Makes you wonder what it was all for doesn’t it? Like, why they didn’t blow this thing up at the trade deadline to stack up some future assets when they had the chance?

Perhaps I’m wrong, maybe the team would enjoy paying an undersized, 36-year-old Millsap $41 million in the final year of the deal. I doubt it.

No one would argue that immediate changes needed to be made following the second consecutive sweep at the hands of the Cavaliers. But the final product hasn’t prospered as much as coach Budenholzer probably hoped.

The position that saw the most turnover, was at point guard.