12 Potential Targets in Free Agency for Atlanta Hawks

Fred VanVleet

Another player who could serve as a serviceable backup point guard, Fred VanVleet could also serve as insurance if the Hawks attempt to trade Dennis Schröder.

VanVleet has had something of a breakout season as a member of the Eastern Conference’s best team: the Toronto Raptors, and he has been a fairly large part of the team’s success as the primary ballhandler on the team’s terrific second unit. In his second season out of Wichita State University, VanVleet has career-highs in every major category: points (8.8), assists (3.2), rebounds (2.5), PER (16.1) and win shares (4.5).

More importantly for the Hawks, the 24-year-old VanVleet is a knockdown three-point shooter on a fairly high attempt rate. VV is shooting 41.4 percent from deep on a 47.6 attempt rate and 3.4 attempts per game. He isn’t forcing them, but when he hoists up a shot from deep (which occurs almost half the time), there’s a very good chance it’s going in. VanVleet also plays strong on-ball perimeter defense – an important talent for any blossoming point guard prospect.

Next: Atlanta Hawks Mock Draft 3.0

Again, VanVleet would serve as a stronger option than what the Hawks have had at backup point guard for much of this season, and if they want to try him out as a long-term option if Schröder leaves, he could make for an interesting piece moving forward.