Atlanta Hawks: 6 Veteran Players to Consider in Free Agency

Ed Davis

The center position is rapidly changing in the NBA. With plodding, ground-bound centers being rapidly ostracized in favor of switchy, long rim-runners that can switch on the perimeter, it’s “adapt or die” for any big man – that isn’t already signed to a wildly massive contract (Ian Mahinmi, Timofey Mozgov, Bismack Biyombo, Miles Plumlee, etc.).

One such player that has played quite well despite a lack of perimeter skill is Ed Davis of the Brooklyn Nets. Davis is a brilliant rebounder who has a nose for the ball – as his career 18.7 rebound rate would attest.

Beyond that, Davis accrued 216 offensive boards this season for the Nets, which was 15th in the NBA, and he was able to score at a career-high 61.6 clip from the field along with a 63.2 percent true shooting percentage, which was also a career-high.

Davis is bulky but lithe, and he has good length to affect shots around the rim, which is also something that the Atlanta Hawks desperately need.

Though entrenched big man John Collins is clearly the option for the future, perhaps the signing of Davis could help Collins unlock some of his skills as a rising shot-blocker and rim protector while also doubling down on his already-brilliant rebounding ability.