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Atlanta Hawks: 3 Free Agents to Avoid This Off-season

By Dallin Duffy

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 18: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center on November 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 18: Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts during the second half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center on November 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) /
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Looking at three free agents the Atlanta Hawks shouldn’t sign this off-season.

The Atlanta Hawks will head into the 2020 off-season with the league’s most cap space. That, combined with the fact that they want to start competing for the playoffs next season, the Hawks should be looking to bolster their roster this fall.

With an especially weak free agency class upcoming, that could lead to some teams over-paying the few high-level players on the market. The Hawks can afford to pay a few players a pretty penny, especially if they are short-term deals.

But there are a handful of free agents the Hawks shouldn’t be interested in, based on their fit on the team and expected payout. Let’s take a look at three free agents the Hawks shouldn’t go after in October.

#3 – Serge Ibaka

A veteran defender that has redefined his game in Toronto, Serge Ibaka may be attractive to a few teams this off-season. For the Hawks, the 30-year-old could work as a sixth man behind John Collins, but Ibaka will likely cost more than the team should be willing to spend on an aging backup.

Ibaka still has value as a rebounder, defender, and floor-spacer, but it’s easy to see his production falling off once he leaves the Raptors. There will be better (and likely cheaper) options in both free agency and the trade block.

#2 – Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanović burst onto the scene in 2017 as a 25-year-old rookie but has failed to improve in the following seasons. He can jack threes with the best of them, taking 7.2 per game this season but making just 36 percent.

While not an outright negative, he’s far from a good defender, and the Hawks will have many 3-and-D options in the draft to fill the same role for much cheaper.

#1 – Montrezl Harrell

Montrezl Harrell could actually get a max or near-max deal this off-season. Whether or not he deserves that is up for debate, but his fit on the Atlanta Hawks is unquestionably bad.

An undersized center that has consistently shown issues defending other big men, Harrell could theoretically slide to the four on defense, but he plays like a class center on offense without a shot outside the paint.

With Clint Capela and John Collins ready to take the Hawks’ frontcourt into the future, Harrell has no fit with the Hawks.

Next. 3 Top Prospects The Atlanta Hawks shouldn't draft. dark