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Atlanta Hawks: 3 ‘plan b’ free-agent options to explore

By Joshua Buckhalter

Jun 13, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) drives to the net against Phoenix Suns forward Torrey Craig (12) in the fourth quarter during game four in the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton (5) drives to the net against Phoenix Suns forward Torrey Craig (12) in the fourth quarter during game four in the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Hawks ‘plan b’’ free agent No. 3: Doug McDermott has turned into quite the bench threat

When he was drafted by the Bulls, Doug McDermott was expected to be a catch-and-shoot threat to open the floor for Derrick Rose. It didn’t quite work out and they shipped him out just two and a half seasons later. He bounced around for a few years after that before landing with the Pacers two seasons ago.

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McDermott averaged just 7.8 points per game, albeit while shooting 40.4 percent from beyond the arc, over his first five seasons. He’s averaged 11.9 points per game on 41.2 percent shooting over his last two in Indiana.

That includes 13.6 points on 53.2 percent shooting and 3.3 boards per game last season. All of those were career-highs.

The biggest appeal McDermott holds is in the money and length of contract he’s expected to command; both of which should be considerably less than our other two options. And, since he is such a specialist, he should be more available than a similarly priced two-way type player. Atlanta’s readiness to win now should appeal to him too.

We do have to address his being a “specialist”. That could be interpreted as one-dimensional and it wouldn’t be wrong. But, if things broke the right way, the Hawks wouldn’t need defense anyway.

Cheap, effective, and knows his role. Those are all traits that would play well off the bench.

As an added bonus, McDermott also got to the line at the best rate of his career where he’s only had two seasons under 81 percent.

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He’d be especially useful if the Hawks moved on from Huerter or Danilo Gallinari, both of whom were key for their perimeter shooting (among other things) during the playoffs. McDermott wouldn’t be a 1-for-1, but he could at least allay offensive concerns.