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.
Dwayne Bacon said the best fit for him is to go elsewhere.
— Sports Radio WFNZ (@wfnz) June 11, 2020
He said he's been in Charlotte three years and he has a lot of respect for MJ and the front office but it's best for him to present himself to a new opportunity.
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.
Should the Atlanta Hawks sign Dwayne Bacon?