Atlanta Hawks Player Appraisal: Kris Humphries
The Atlanta Hawks have several players on expiring contracts this season. What is the value of Kris Humphries heading into the summer?
At the end of last season, the Atlanta Hawks’ signing of Kris Humphries looked very good.
Humphries gave the Hawks a very solid rotational big and played important minutes with high energy. In his 21 games with the Hawks last season, Humphries averaged 6.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per games in just 14.0 minutes played per contest. He also registered a 108 offensive rating in his stint with the Hawks in the 2015-2016 season.
With that solid showing to close out last season, the Hawks brought back Humphries on a one-year/$4 million deal to give the team some frontcourt depth. And his presence has not been as impactful.
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In 56 games this year, Humphries has averaged just 12.3 minutes per games and scored 4.6 points per game. He has also struggled to shoot as efficiently, as he has shot just 40.7 percent from the floor. His defensive abilities have also been less than amazing.
But there is still some value that Humphries can bring to a team.
He shot 35.2 percent from three-point range this season and remains a solid rebounder. He also matched his offensive rating from last season (108), which is very respectable for a bench big man. Humphries has the body type to play power forward in bigger lineups and center in smaller ones. That versatility makes him a good depth guy on an NBA team.
However, Mike Muscala and Ersan Ilyasova have emerged to take on the role as the two primary bench big men and have been very good in those roles. Both players are better shooters than Humphries and provide the same versatility with more effective offense.
Those two players have made Humphries expendable and have forced him to fall out fo the rotation for the playoffs. Humphries could be brought back under the scenario that one, or both, of Muscala and Ilyasova, walk in free agency. Because both of men are on expiring contracts.
Nonetheless, Humphries should be a player that can be had for cheap this summer. And he could be a good insurance policy for the Hawks. But Humphries is also 32 years old and could want to try to make a move to a title contender, and take the minimum salary.
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The Hawks are no title contender but Humphries is a player that knows the system and seems comfortable with the team. That might not save him a roster spot, though.