Atlanta Hawks: 5 potential free agent targets in 2017
Atlanta Hawks could chase Dion Waiters in free agency this summer
Feb 24, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Miami Heat guard Dion Waiters (11) drives to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
The Atlanta Hawks are on the cusp of a massive rebuild. Here are five potential free agents in 2017 that can help the transition go smoothly.
The 2017 NBA free agency frenzy is set to begin in less than 48 hours and the Atlanta Hawks appear to be headed towards a rebuilding phase — and not just with Philips Arena.
Efforts to alter the roster have already begun, with Dwight Howard being dealt to Charlotte with little in return, as the team simply wanted to remove the remaining $47 million owed to him over the next two seasons.
Atlanta appears to be hesitant to offer a maximum contract to All-Star forward Paul Millsap, even though he is set to become an unrestricted free agent Saturday.
While the 6'8″ forward has thrived during his four seasons with the Hawks, a five-year deal in excess of $200 million may ultimately be more than new general manager Travis Schlenk is willing to offer.
Tim Hardaway Jr. becomes a restricted free agent July 1, giving the team a bit of an advantage as Atlanta can match any offer made to him, but will likely let him walk if he signs a deal the team feels is too substantial.
The average salary for an NBA player last season was $4.5 million according with the cap set at just over $94 million. The expected salary cap for the 2017-18 season is expected to be around $99 million, a bit lower than many league executives anticipated.
With possibly three starting positions to replace in free agency and nearly $55 million in cap space for next season if both Hardaway Jr. and Millsap are removed from the roster, the Hawks may be one of the more active franchises next month.
Here are five possible additions Atlanta could make in free agency this summer.
Phoenix Suns
Dec 9, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) dunks the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during a basketball game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
5. Alex Len, C
The combination of Tyson Chandler, Alan Williams and the development of Marquese Chriss in Phoenix has ultimately left Alex Len, the fifth overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, on the outside looking in.
By the end of the year, Len spent over 30 minutes on the court just once in his final 20 appearances of the year for Phoenix.
The Atlanta Hawks could instantly create a competition for the starting center position, alongside Miles Plumlee, while the signing of Len could become an extremely savvy move.
According to the contract value estimation tool from Sports Illustrated, Len is in line for a three-year deal valued at $20 million, potentially providing the Hawks a starting-caliber center at a fraction of the price.
Joakim Noah signed a four-year, $72 million deal a year ago, while Timofey Mozgov inked a four-year, $64 million contract with the Lakers. Less than a year later, Los Angeles dealt Mozgov away to the Nets and the Knicks are hoping to find a taker for Noah.
Landing a promising center that just turned 24 for less than $7 million a year could prove to be a wise move for Atlanta.
May 11, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) celebrates after a play during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets in game six of the second round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
4. Patty Mills, PG
Long range shooting proved to be one of the greatest weaknesses of the Atlanta Hawks during the 2016-17 season. During regular season play, the Hawks ranked 23rd in three-point field goal percentage and their 8.9 conversions per game was the 20th-best mark in the league.
Their lack of 3-point shooting was exacerbated during a playoff series against Washington. Among the 16 teams to qualify for the postseason, Atlanta managed to convert just 30.5 percent of its attempts from beyond the arc, only Chicago shot at a lower percentage.
One move the Hawks could make to address its lack of long range proficiency is to add Patty Mills.
The 28-year-old guard knocked down 147 shots from beyond the arc, just two behind Tim Hardaway Jr., the leading three-point shooter for Atlanta last season, even though Mills took 62 fewer attempts.
Mills shot 41.4 percent from beyond the arc a year ago and for his career, he has connected 39.5 percent, the 20th-best percentage among all active players.
The Hawks could add the prolific long range shooter at a relatively low price. The contract value estimation tool from Sports Illustrated predicts Mills will sign a two-year, $9 million offer. For a team trying to incorporate pieces without breaking the budget, Mills could be an ideal fit.
Apr 11, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Denver Nuggets center Mason Plumlee (24) dunks the ball as Dallas Mavericks forward Jarrod Uthoff (19) and forward Dorian Finney-Smith (10) and guard Devin Harris (34) and forward Dwight Powell (7) and forward Nicolas Brussino (9) look on during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Nuggets defeated the Mavericks 109-91. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
3. Mason Plumlee, C
The Atlanta Hawks could easily pair a set of brothers to compete for the starting center job next season. After landing Miles Plumlee in the Dwight Howard trade, younger brother Mason Plumlee could be added in free agency.
Prior to being shipped to Denver at the trade deadline, Plumlee was quietly submitting an impressive campaign. With averages of 11.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists, marks only eight players managed to post throughout the 2016-17 season, Plumlee appeared to be the long-term center for Portland.
The Trail Blazers received Jusuf Nurkic and a first round pick for Plumlee, while he struggled during his 27 games in Denver. Now, teams can land the services for Plumlee at a bargain rate.
The contract value estimation tool from Sports Illustrated believes Plumlee will land a two-year, $21 million deal in free agency this summer.
The Hawks can bring in a center entering the prime of his career and with some Team USA experience, as he helped the United States capture the gold medal at the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
NBA Power Rankings
Mar 12, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Miami Heat guard Dion Waiters (11) reacts after Miami scores a basket against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Miami 102-98. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
2. Dion Waiters, SG
Dion Waiters is exactly the type of player the Atlanta Hawks could gamble on in free agency this summer.
During his lone season in Miami, Waiters managed to transform his body, shedding over 12 pounds and decreasing his body fat percentage from 10 to 7.5 percent.
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The result was a career-high in minutes per game, as Waiters spent 30.1 minutes on the court, to go along with 15.8 points, 4.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game.
After struggling with the long range shot the first four years of his career, Waiters connected 1.8 times from beyond the arc at a 39.5 percent clip. Both figures were the best of his career.
At times, Waiters can be an unstoppable scorer. During Miami's 13-game winning streak last season, the 25-year-old guard was playing his best basketball of the season, averaging 20.6 points per game while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range.
Waiters is believed to be able to fetch a four-year deal in the range of $60 million in the open market — a contract that could prove to be a bargain, especially for a Hawks team that ranked 27th in offensive efficiency a year ago.
Mar 10, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard (8) is defended by Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka (9) in the second quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
1. Serge Ibaka, PF
The Atlanta Hawks could have an opportunity to bring in similar production to Paul Millsap at a much reduced cost by signing Serge Ibaka.
According to the contract value estimation tool from Sports Illustrated Ibaka will receive a two-year, $37 million deal this summer — a perfectly reasonable contract for a team entering a rebuilding mode and a player looking to reestablish himself as an elite player.
Ibaka is no longer the rim protector he once was during his stint in Oklahoma City, which resulted in him leading the league in total blocks for consecutive seasons.
The tenure of Ibaka in both Toronto and Orlando last season may be viewed negatively, but he still managed to quickly adapt to new systems.
Even though he lasted just 56 games with the Magic, he became the first player in franchise history to reject 50 shots and convert 50 shots from three-point range in the same season.
His time with the Raptors produced an average of 2.1 made shots from three-point range a game, the best mark of his career.
