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Atlanta Hawks: A Blueprint on letting Paul Millsap walk during Free Agency

By Nile Goodwyn

Apr 6, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) reacts after a play during their game against the Boston Celtics at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 123-116. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) reacts after a play during their game against the Boston Celtics at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 123-116. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Step 4A: Use Excess Money to Build a Stronger Team

Apr 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) attempts a free throw during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) attempts a free throw during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

The Atlanta Hawks were not a perfectly built team during the 2016-17 season. Their 103.2 points per game ranked 22nd in the league. 8.9 made three-pointers per game placed the Hawks 20th, and only two teams turned the ball over more than the Hawks’ 15.8 mark. If Paul Millsap walks, there would be excess money to improve the roster’s deficiencies.

The Hawks’ shooting was likely one of the biggest deterrents of the season at times. Post-All-Star Break, the Hawks shot 34.1 percent from behind the arc, which ranked 20th in the league. In the playoffs, this number dipped to 30.5 percent over six games. To improve this, low-budget options are abundant in the 2017 free-agent class.

Anthony Morrow shot a career-low 30 percent from the three-point line last season, but played only 14.6 minutes per game. His 41.6 percent career three-point percentage ranks thirteenth all-time, ranking ahead of notable marksmen like Mark Price and Ray Allen. Nick Young  regained his shooting stroke in 2017, after a 2016 season in which his career looked to be potentially over. Young started all 60 of his games played, and nailed 2.8 threes per game while shooting over 40 percent from the arc. Either one of these marksman should likely be attainable for reasonable cost.

Higher-paid shooters include Danilo Gallinari, who made two threes per game while shooting nearly 39 percent from behind the arc.  The Los Angeles Clippers’ JJ Reddick has shot above 43 percent from the three-point line for the past three seasons, though his Win Shares dropped from 6.7 in 2015-16 to 4.8 in 2016-17.

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