Soaring Down South
Fansided

Atlanta Hawks: One Potential Free Agent Signing From Charlotte Hornets

By Dallin Duffy

SALT LAKE CITY, UT -APRIL 01: Dwayne Bacon #7 of the Charlotte Hornets brings the ball up court against the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 01, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT -APRIL 01: Dwayne Bacon #7 of the Charlotte Hornets brings the ball up court against the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 01, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Finding one player the Atlanta Hawks could sign from the Charlotte Hornets in free agency.

Continuing our series of finding one player the Atlanta Hawks could sign in free agency from all other 29 teams in the league. We’re now at the Charlotte Hornets, a fellow non-bubble team who are almost as young as the Hawks.

The Hornets will have just two players leaving in free agency after Nicolas Batum opts into his no-brainer $27 million player option. Those two players are veteran centers Bismack Biyombo and Willy Hernangómez.

The Hawks don’t need a center, however, making this one a bit tough. The Hornets do have a restricted free agent the Hawks could take a look at, Dwayne Bacon. Bacon is essentially unrestricted after making it clear he rather leave Buzz City for a fresh start elsewhere a few weeks back.

Bacon had a breakout season as a sophomore in 2018-2019 but failed to live up to expectations this year. His three-point percentage fell off a cliff (43 to 28 percent) in his third season, and the team had to send him to the G-League to see if he could turn his season around.

The free-agent-to-be is still a solid defender, and he’ll get another shot in the NBA on his perimeter D alone. The Atlanta Hawks continue to need help in that regard, and Bacon could be a cheap option to help sure up their bench.

If his shot can return to what it was just a year ago, Bacon might actually be one of the best 3-and-D wings on the free agency market, and at just 24 years old, he still has room to improve the rest of his game.

I think the Atlanta Hawks could take a look at the Florida State product if decide not to go with a 3-and-D guy in the draft and instead take a playmaker or big man. If they do select someone like Devin Vassell or Anthony Edwards in the draft, however, Bacon likely wouldn’t have a spot on the roster.

A signing of Bacon wouldn’t make the Hawks into championship contenders or anything, but he could be a very solid, cheap option to help them defensively.

Next. NBA Mock Draft Digest: Atlanta Hawks. dark

Should the Atlanta Hawks sign Dwayne Bacon?