The Atlanta Hawks are in the first year of what will almost certainly be a lengthy rebuild, and though times have been tough this season, the future will be bright – especially after the NBA draft occurs in June.
Though Atlanta’s best bet for landing a transcendent talent will be their near-certain Top 5 selection in the draft, there will be plenty of attractive free agents available in the offseason that the team would do well to investigate.
The Hawks have needs at pretty much every position, and the team might lose more than ¾ of its roster in the offseason. As the team has been running at a huge talent deficit against most teams every night, all of these players are on the younger side of free agency and many of them will be coming off their first NBA contract.
The Hawks will have an almost clean cap sheet once the 2017-18 season ends, as plenty of notable names come off the books. With all that excess cap space, here are 12 possible free agents the Hawks should at least attempt to sign in the offseason.
Jabari Parker
The Bucks’ Jabari Parker, who just turned 23 on March 15, has been riddled with injuries in his 4-year NBA career. However, his scintillating upside is still untapped and extremely attractive. Parker has victimized the Hawks with 3 savage dunks this season, and he has also expressed dissension with Bucks brass in the way that he is being employed on the court. Parker will be a restricted free agent this offseason, meaning the Bucks can match any offer he receives if they so choose.
Clearly, Milwaukee has a generational superstar on its hands with Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Parker’s limited defensive ability will do the Greek Freak no favors going forward. Still though, Jabari has shown supreme scoring talent and touch in the post and his athleticism has seemingly not regressed after two left knee ACL tears.
Though his defense is suspect at best, Parker’s propensity for highlight plays and scoring prowess would provide the Hawks an immediate shot in the arm on that end, where they sometimes look listless and indecisive – with many players unwilling to hoist up a shot. Parker would not suffer from that syndrome, and remember, he was a 20-a-game scorer last season in 51 games.
He also recently had 35 points off the bench in a loss to the Denver Nuggets, punctuated by this one-handed punch in traffic:
https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/980746670857248768
Another wrinkle in the Jabari talks is his stated dissatisfaction with the Bucks organization, and it has become clear that he will most likely not be a part of the team’s plans building around Giannis going forward.
With that in mind, Parker would provide a high-upside play for the Hawks looking to get as much talent on the roster as possible – and time does not seem to be an issue either, as rebuilds sometimes last upwards of 5 years. With Parker in the fold, Atlanta’s fans would have a fairly big name to cheer about as well as a proven scorer in the frontcourt.
Julius Randle
Though Julius Randle’s market might be a little too robust for the Hawks, his immense strength and ferocity inside would suit a Hawks team that has sometimes seemed lethargic around the paint – even with vicious dunker John Collins lurking there in most games. Lethargy is something that Randle could not be accused of, as his effort and energy inside would hopefully be infectious for a young Hawks team.
Randle is only 23 years old, so he would match the Hawks youth uprising with an established player who will bring an intense, focused attitude every night. Randle is leading the Lakers in Player Efficiency Rating (20.0) and win shares (6.1) this season, and his hulking frame allows him to grab rebounds with ease over less hefty players.
Pairing Randle with John Collins the frontcourt would create a formidable tandem, and despite their lack of size, the two would have a killer combination of size, strength, speed, athleticism and energy that would send lesser frontcourts cowering in terror.
Randle will be a restricted free agent this offseason, and it is likely that the Lakers will let him walk as they try to land a “big fish” like LeBron James or Paul George (or both).
Mario Hezonja
A more exploratory option, Mario Hezonja has been widely panned as a draft bust after being selected by the Orlando Magic with the 5th overall pick in 2015. However, with the trade of Elfrid Payton and injuries up and down the roster, Hezonja has shown far more flashes this season than he has in prior campaigns.
Making an offer to Mario, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, would be more of a high-upside flyer than a sure bet, as some of his stats in his 3 NBA seasons have been less than ideal.
Still though, Hezonja has a clear NBA-ready frame and skill set, which was on full display in a recent showcase game against the Nets, in which he put up 23 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Though he did most of his scoring as an off-ball slasher and spot-up long-range bomber, his ballhandling was quite strong in that bout, showcasing good instincts, and the ability to handle in the pick-and-roll.
Even more recently, Hezonja played against the Hawks and though he didn’t quite reach the lofty heights of his Nets game, he still piled up 14 points, 3 steals and 2 rebounds.
Hezonja is still only 23 and because the Magic didn’t offer a rookie extension to him, he will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The impression of Hezonja around the league is “lottery bust,” so it is unlikely that many offers will be made.
If the Hawks can put a cost-effective contract on the table, Hezonja might be worth a shot in order to try and discover his untapped potential.
Ed Davis
Ed Davis is one of the few players who does not match this list’s youth restrictions. Though many of these players are still learning the game and figuring out their role within it, Davis is fairly set with his role in the league – but a valuable role it is.
For the Blazers, Davis is a fearsome rebounder, eschewing scoring and other areas to focus solely on crashing the glass. The results have been staggering as well, as Davis is a complete vacuum on the boards: clocking in at a 13.9 offensive rebound percentage (5th in the league), a 28.6 defensive rebound percentage (12th in the league) and a 21.3 total rebound percentage (7th in the league).
Though he doesn’t rank highly in rebounding totals or per-game rebounding, that is mostly due to his extremely limited minutes load. Though he has played in 76 games for Portland this season, he is only averaging 18.9 minutes per tilt.
On a Hawks team that needs rebounding in bad way (beyond the stellar offensive glasswork of rookie John Collins), Davis would be able to feast on the glass with ease.
As a 28-year-old unrestricted free agent with a limited offensive skill set, Davis will not be hottest commodity on this list, meaning Atlanta should be able to get him on the cheap – providing the team’s poor rebounding numbers (25th overall this season) with a much-needed boost.
Jahlil Okafor
As a semi-archaic player in today’s spacing-centered NBA landscape, Jahlil Okafor might have a limited market as an unrestricted free agent this offseason. After a splashy early-season trade sent him to the Brooklyn Nets, Okafor has struggled to insert himself into the team’s narrative, as former Hawks Assistant Coach Kenny Atkinson runs a pace-and-space system that’s reliant on length, speed and three-pointers.
Okafor’s skill set, while robust, does not match that setup, and he has been marginalized during his time with Brookyln – only 2 years removed from a 17.5-point, 7.0-rebound rookie campaign with the 76ers.
When it comes to Okafor, the eye test clearly expresses his skillful finishing around the rim and innate ability to put the ball in the hoop in the painted area. However, a lack of being able to do pretty much anything else limits the market for Okafor.
Even still, Atlanta has lacked a gifted paint scorer in the frontcourt for years and Okafor would certainly fit that bill. If the price is right, Okafor – still only 22 years old – would be worth a chance developing under the tutelage of Mike Budenholzer.
Patrick McCaw
As a member of last season’s title-winning Warriors team, Patrick McCaw will likely get a look from numerous teams looking for a solid backup point guard, or as a possible flyer on a future franchise cornerstone.
McCaw has seen minutes on some of the most stacked rosters in NBA history, but he has yet to fully flesh out his role in the league by defining what his best skills will be.
McCaw also recently had a frightening collision with Vince Carter that caused a spinal contusion – but looked like it might be much worse.
As a 22-year-old restricted free agent, it is unlikely that the Warriors will let McCaw go, but Quinn Cook has been, well, cooking since the injury to Stephen Curry, and McCaw might be expendable going forward.
The Hawks could certainly use a player of McCaw’s pedigree, though he might struggle to impose a winning mentality on a team by himself – seeing as he is still just as young as many of the Hawks future core players (if not younger).
Dante Exum
Dante Exum came into the league as an 18-year-old a shocking 4 years ago and will be a restricted free agent this offseason for the Utah Jazz.
Exum suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason and underwent surgery, from which he just returned on March 15th. In only 8 games this season, Exum looks to be having his best season with career-highs in points (8.3) and assists (2.5) per game as well as a career-high 40 percent clip from downtown and a career-high 65.8 true shooting percentage.
Exum has been inconsistent throughout his career, but he could prove to be an important backup point guard for the Hawks if this quality play becomes the norm for the rest of his career. Depending on how Atalnta’s draft goes in the offseason, signing Exum could be another high-upside play for a roster lacking talent all over the court.
The Hawks’ need for a stable and talented backup point guard is apparent with Dennis Schröder out for the rest of the season, even though Isaiah Taylor has been a great story this year as the backup one guard. Exum would provide that in spades, and he also comes with an athletic, lanky 6’6” frame that could be switchable across 3-4 positions – something to take note of as today’s NBA becomes more and more perimeter-oriented.
David Nwaba
An energy/glue guy extraordinaire, the Bulls’ David Nwaba will be a 25-year-old unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Nwaba should be a bargain for most teams, and the Hawks could really use his motor on the team, as only a handful of players on Atlanta could be described as energetic (Kent Bazemore being chief among them). He gashed the Hawks in Chicago earlier in the season, notching a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds on his way to an effective performance against Atlanta.
Nwaba’s stats have been quite decent this year (7.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.4 apg) and his persistent, pesky defense could also prove to be an asset for Atlanta going forward. He has an even offensive and defensive rating per 100 possessions of 110 (not great for the defensive end), but he still pours in a strong effort every night – which would aid the Hawks in their quest for consistency on that end.
Kyle Anderson
Kyle Anderson, or (as his amusing nickname would offer) “Slo Mo,” will become a restricted free agent this offseason with the San Antonio Spurs – again, meaning Greg Popovich and R.C. Buford would be able to match any offers he receives.
Though it is unlikely that any other team would get quite the same value out of Anderson that the regal Spurs do, Coach Bud is one possible head man who might. As a tenured assistant with the Spurs, Budenholzer might be able to pry the same effort out of Anderson that Pop gets on a night-to-night basis.
That effort would be a boon to Atlanta going forward, as Anderson’s strong all-around perimeter and help defense could change the culture of a young, up-and-coming team – as defense is usually not the strong suit of rebuilding franchises.
Anderson’s defensive rating per 100 possessions has never crept above 101, which is where it stands this season in over 1800 minutes played. That number would rank first on the Hawks by a wide margin, though some of that rating must be chalked up to the Spurs’ defensive system and great coaching staff.
Anderson is having something of a breakout season in an under-the-radar fashion, befitting a player with the moniker “Slo Mo.” Anderson has the highest PER (15.7), the highest win shares (5.7) and the highest true shooting percentage (58.2%) of his career. He is also averaging career-highs in every major category: points (7.9), rebounds (5.5), assists (2.8), steals (1.5) and blocks (0.8).
Montrezl Harrell
Montrezl Harrell, in his 3rd season in the league, is having a breakout year on the back of an “advanced stats darling” skill set that focuses in on things that PER loves – like impact per minutes played as well as rebounding and field goal percentages.
Still though, Harrell is averaging career-highs across the board in an expanded role with the Clippers, who have unleashed him as a formidable backup to DeAndre Jordan as well as someone who can serve as an energy big guy alongside DJ.
Harrell has career-highs in myriad categories ranging from points per game (10.6), rebounds per game (4.0), PER (a sky-high 24.7) and win shares (5.1), and he is clearly a gifted offensive player that knows what to do on that end.
Again, the Hawks are looking for young talent at every position. Harrell is a skilled 24-year-old big man who will be a restricted free agent this offseason – why not take a chance and make him an offer?
Marcus Smart
Though the outlook was dire in Boston after both Kyrie Irving and his backup, Marcus Smart, went down with injuries recently, the Celtics have continued to roll along – defeating opponents with clutch shooting and even downing the East-leading Raptors – pushing the Celts to only 2 games behind the Raptors for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.
Because Marcus Smart will be a restricted free agent this offseason, has the terrific play of his team without him affected his leverage? They definitely love him in Boston, and his defense and indefatigable motor are extremely valuable and enjoyable to watch. Against the Rockets in late December, Smart almost single-handedly won the game with a clutch bucket and two offensive fouls drawn from James Harden:
But for all that effort and energy, his penchant for clanking bricks from downtown is sometimes difficult to watch – especially when he hijacks possessions from more efficient players like Al Horford, Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown.
Smart’s market will probably be lukewarm this offseason, but he is definitely a player who can affect a team’s culture – a part of the Hawks’ franchise that could do with a jolt. At only 24 years old, Smart will meet the age requirements of a rebuilding team, and he could help to school the 3-4 draft picks that will enter “Hawks Univeristy” this offseason.
Smart is also a terrific defender who can switch across four positions, another invaluable aspect of his skill set that would greatly benefit Atlanta.
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.