Atlanta Hawks: 4 Realistic Options Hawks Could Sign in Restricted Free Agency
By Chris Guest
Shake Milton
This restricted free agent is close to my heart, as he was one of my favorite players heading into last year’s 2018 NBA Draft. Shake Milton has spent much of his time this year with the Philadelphia 76ers’ G-League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats.
There, he developed a rapport with Justin Patton, Zhaire Smith and other lovable bench mob blokes. Later on this season, as injuries have ravaged Philly (much like Trae Young has on two occasions down the end of the season), Milton has begun to receive more playing time, and he actually played legitimate rotation minutes in a game late last week against the East-leading Milwaukee Bucks.
Milton also saw significant minutes in a blowout loss to the Orlando Magic in which he notched career-highs in minutes (22), points (13) and field goals made (6) and attempted (8).
Though he’s only played in 17 games this year, logging 200 minutes total, he certainly has the look of a solid NBA wing at 6-foot-6, though his slight 207-pound frame needs to bulk up a bit. When he takes jumpshots, he seems comfortable, and he has canned his three-pointers at a 33 percent clip (only 11 of 33).
Where Milton’s numbers really pop are in a G-League setting. Milton played 27 games for the Blue Coats, and was easily the team’s best players when he was on the court. Shake averaged 24.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 34.7 minutes a night. In that time, he shot 36.9 percent from deep on nearly 6 attempts per contest.
Clearly, Shake is a high-upside young player that deserves a look. As a restricted free agent on a team that needs all the cap space it can get its hands on, once again the Atlanta Hawks should be able to fire off an enticing offer for Milton that the 76ers would be loath to match.