After signing their rookies and making a fairly splashy trade for Jeremy Lin, the Atlanta Hawks have remained fairly quiet this offseason.
Though the team was an active and noticeable presence in both the Utah and Las Vegas Summer Leagues, with new point guard Trae Young even taking home Second Team All-Summer League honors, the team has kept a relatively low profile with all their cap space this summer.
The major move of obtaining Jeremy Lin was a somewhat head-scratching one, but clearly, Hawks GM Travis Schlenk and the franchise in general was ready to move on from the services of Dennis Schröder –despite career numbers in 2017-18.
News broke today that the Hawks have made another move by waiving Jaylen Morris who was signed to a non-guaranteed contract worth $1.4 million.
ROSTER UPDATE: We have requested waivers on Jaylen Morris. Details: https://t.co/UZujFtWrId
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) July 19, 2018
Morris was a solid defensive option for the Hawks in limited minutes last season, as well as during Summer League in Utah and Vegas. His offensive skills were far more limited, and his three-point stroke never really came around in his short stints of play during the 2017-18 season.
As a low-ceiling and relatively old prospect when compared to who the Hawks picked up in the 2018 Draft, Morris was unlikely ever to remain on the team for long – though a training camp invite is not out of the question.
This means the Hawks have opened up a little bit more room, which makes the idea that a trade (possibly Schröd for Carmelo?) or other transaction is imminent.
The Hawks have roughly $9 million in cap space as of this writing, putting them second by a wide margin to the Sacramento Kings, who have over $20 million.
Atlanta is now up to $9M in room after the Jaylen Morris waiver. The guard had a $1.4M non-guaranteed contract. The Hawks and Sacramento ($20.5M) are the lone teams that have significant cap space.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 19, 2018
Though a few of our favorite free agent options are off the board at this juncture: Jabari Parker, Marcus Smart and Zach LaVine, there is one big name still available in Clint Capela. Though he would likely not be willing to take such an offer that lingers around $10 million, why not take a chance?
Next: Hawks Projected Starting Lineup for 18-19 Season
With Morris gone, another Hawks transaction is certainly coming soon, so keep it locked to Soaring Down South for all your Atlanta Hawks offseason news.