The Atlanta Hawks dropped a major bag this offseason on two cornerstone players in Trae Young and John Collins. They’ll payout up to $332 million if all incentives are hit. No small fee but the cost of drafting well. Teams will choose this situation over overpaying for a veteran 10 times out of 10.
But, just as sketchy of a proposition, can be overvaluing your own players. This can result in being locked into a lesser roster.
As Kevin Huerter is set to follow Collins’ path into restricted free agency, expectations are different.
The Atlanta Hawks first tough decision could be soon-to-be restricted free agent Kevin Huerter
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He won’t get a deal close to the one Collins just got but he still won’t come cheap.
During the regular season, Huerter averaged 11.9 points with 3.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
The former Mayland Terp shot 43.2 percent from the floor and 36.3 percent from beyond the arc. Huerter also notched 1.2 steals while starting 49 of his 69 appearances.
But those numbers tell just part of the story for Red Velvet.
As a starter, he averaged 12.1/3.6/3.7 and slashed .447/.366/.784 while having an offensive rating six points better and a defensive rating one point better than when he comes off the bench.
SHEEEEEESH Another One https://t.co/153P12VN4S
— Kevin Huerter (@KevinHuerter) August 4, 2021
He stepped back into a starting role in the postseason following De’Andre Hunter’s injury. Heurter put up 11.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in his 10 playoff starts.
But after going 0-for-7 in his second start, Huerter averaged 13.0/4.8/4.3 over his next eight starts and 6.3 assists over his final four.
The 6-foot-7 wingman also got up to 1.0 blocks per contest over his final six as well.
His biggest moment still came in the form of a 27-point scoring outburst against the Philadelphia 76ers but he proved to be much more than that.
44 other players put up the numbers Huerter did last season. Interestingly enough (but totally unrelated) Collins is tied for 44th highest-paid player by annual value.
Huerter’s current deal places him 52nd among shooting guards and 211th overall. His closest comp is likely Gary Trent Jr of the Toronto Raptors. Originally drafted by the Kings, Trent spent the first two and a half years of his career with the Trailblazers showing a knack for sparkplug offense off of the bench including in the playoffs.
That last bit sounds a lot like Huerter and Trent just re-upped with Toronto to the tune of $54 million over three years.
Not bad for a former second-round pick.
Huerter’s deal could push past that roughly $16.7 million per year average and get closer to Bogdan Bogdanovic’s $18 million per as the deal for Phoenix’s Mikal Bridges is expected to be.
We’ve maintained the first course of action as this payroll grows would be to offload some of their valuable but pricey vets. Danilo Gallinari for one had drawn some interest prior to the draft and has just $5 million left in guarantees on his contract after this season.
As Forbes put it back in February, the trick for Huerter and the Hawks will be finding that right number.