Atlanta Hawks 2018 Free Agency Wish List

Stable Backup Point Guards — Marcus Smart, Fred VanVleet, Isaiah Thomas

After recently waiving Isaiah Taylor, who provided solid backup point guard minutes for Atlanta last season, the team is lacking a solid backup point guard to soak up minutes not provided by Trae Young and (if he remains on the team) Dennis Schröder.

There will be a few notable point guards on the market with Chris Paul being the highlight – though he will almost certainly return to the Rockets on an immense long-term deal – and the Hawks would do well to test the restricted free agent market on both Marcus Smart of the Celtics and Fred VanVleet of the Raptors.

Both play hard, are capable passers and defenders and each have a singularly impressive skill: Smart is an incredible defender who puts forth maximum effort on each and every possession and VanVleet is a deadeye three-point shooter (41.4 percent in his second season in the league).

Both players would match the Hawks need for youth, as both players will be 24 when the 2018-19 season begins.

One player who does not match that age range is the embattled Isaiah Thomas, who was hoping a team would have to “back up the Brinks truck” to give him his next contract. After a nightmarish season with both the Cavaliers and Lakers, IT will be lucky to get a minimum deal from any team.

Atlanta has already upgraded its starpower this offseason via the draft, as Trae Young comes in as one of the most highly touted rookies the Hawks have selected since Al Horford in 2007. Adding Thomas in a backup, veteran point guard capacity would allow the Hawks to capitalize on a talented and likable player who should still be able to play around 15 to 20 minutes a game for Atlanta.