Veteran sharpshooter could give Hawks critical shooting boost in free agency

The Atlanta Hawks scored the fifth-most points per game in the NBA this season, fueled by a top-three pace in basketball and Trae Young’s 11.6 assists a night. However, they struggled in one key area on offense, 3-point shooting, and veteran sniper Seth Curry could be a solution.

After ranking No. 2 in 3-point percentage for the 2021-22 campaign, the Hawks have stumbled to three consecutive finishes outside of the top 15. This season, Atlanta finished No. 18 in 3-point efficiency with a 35.8% clip from beyond the arc.

With the offseason approaching, new Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh should consider looking for players who can boost Atlanta’s outside shooting and space the floor for Young and his teammates. Not one Hawks starter cracked league-average accuracy with their 3-point shooting, leaving ample room for improvement on the perimeter.

The Hawks should pursue veteran guard Seth Curry

Atlanta should look into signing Curry this summer. The 34-year-old sharpshooter led the league in 3-point percentage this season, nailing 45.6% of his threes. Curry is an unrestricted free agent who just spent nearly two seasons with the Charlotte Hornets and probably wouldn’t mind a change of scenery.

Hawks fans may remember when Curry, a Philadelphia 76er at the time, lit Atlanta up in the second round of the 2021 playoffs. While the Hawks beat Philly in seven games, Curry shot a mind-boggling 61.4% from the field and 59.6% from three.

The Hawks are expected to resign Caris LeVert, but they could still use more shot creation and ball handling in their second unit. While Curry is best known for his catch-and-shoot prowess, he sank a staggering 43.2% of his pull-up threes this season. While he didn’t take many, Curry also connected on 55.6% of his 3-point attempts with two dribbles.

If the Hawks were to unleash Curry in their offense, their spacing would immediately improve. Atlanta ranked No. 17 in total passes made this season, and the presence of an elite shooter could promote more ball movement. When allowed more space to work with, players like Trae Young and Jalen Johnson can make opposing defenses pay, both as scorers and playmakers.

Curry is simply one of the strongest pure shooters in NBA history. He ranks No. 7 all-time in career 3-point percentage with a 43.3% mark over 11 seasons. Steph’s younger brother has shot below 40.0% from three for a season just once in his career.

Given that Curry’s last contract was a veteran minimum deal, the Hawks would be foolish not to pursue such a cheap option in free agency. His pure marksmanship would make him a financial steal for Atlanta.

Curry turned back the clock in early February when he torched the Pistons for 26 points and five 3-pointers, showing the basketball world he can still shoot his opponents out of the gym. If the Hawks can secure him this offseason, Curry could become the missing piece Atlanta needs to solve its long-range woes.