The NBA’s free agency period begins officially on July 1, and the Hawks have a multitude of decisions to make this summer. The Hawks were involved in many trade rumors leading up to the NBA Draft last week. However, not much has been heard on where the Hawks stand in terms of signing free-agent talent. See below as we dive deeper into some potential free agent targets that can upgrade the Hawks’ current roster.
Deandre Ayton- RFA (17.2 PPG, 10.2 REB, 1.4 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.7 BLK, 29.5 MPG)
It is no secret that Ayton is unhappy with his fit on the Phoenix Suns. While the Hawks
are not in urgent need of a center, they could potentially trade Clint Capela in a package-deal this summer. Ayton would be a great pick-and-roll partner with Young, providing similar rim running capabilities as Capela. The advantages with Ayton would be his ability to shoot from the mid-range, finish around the rim, and generate offense in the post. His passing at the center position could provide another dimension to an already potent Hawks’ offense. One could argue that Ayton is a worse defender than Capela, but at 23 years old, Ayton has time to develop and grow.
Bruce Brown- UFA (9.0 PPG, 2.1 AST, 4.8 REB, 1.1 STL. 0.7 BLK, 24.6 MPG)
When Brown was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, NBA fans took notice of his impact on
the defensive side of the ball. Brown is listed at 6-4, 202 lbs., but plays bigger than his size suggests, even running as a small-ball center at times for the Nets. His versatility to guard multiple positions, ability to rebound from the guard position, and generate steals both on-ball and in the passing lanes, would be a welcome addition for the Hawks. Brown could serve as the back-up shooting guard or small forward, especially if Atlanta does not re-sign Delon Wright. He also can guard the opposing team’s primary ball-handler off the bench. Brown shot 40.4% from three-point range last year, but only averaged 1.3 attempts per game.
Derrick Jones Jr.- UFA (5.6 PPG, 0.6 AST, 3.3 REB, 0.5 STL, 0.6 BLK, 17.6 MPG)
Jones Jr. could slide to the Hawks rotation almost immediately as a versatile defender and
athletic slasher. Jones is most notably known for winning the NBA’s Dunk contest back in 2020, but he has continued to showcase his extreme athleticism with the Chicago Bulls. The Hawks bench unit could have two great defenders and lob threats, in Jones Jr. and Onyeka Okongwu. Jones Jr. is not a great shooter, shooting only 32.8% from three, but spacing would not be an issue as Jones Jr. would have a defined role off the bench.
Facundo Campazzo- RFA (5.1 PPG, 3.4 AST, 1.8 REB, 1.0 STL, 0.4 BLK, 18.2 MPG)
Camapzzo’s role lessened this past season with the emergence of Bones Hyland in
Denver. If the Hawks cannot bring Delon Wright back, Campazzo can fill a similar role. While
he does not have the same off-ball defensive capabilities as Wright, Campazzo is a pesky on-ball defender who can quickly get into an opposing player’s head. His speed and passing creativity could create more open looks for three-point shooters off the bench.
Undoubtedly, it will be an exciting off-season, and free agency can bring drama to the Hawks’
roster so they can get back on the road to contention next season. Buckle up for the free agent frenzy!
Anyone you would like to see the Hawks go after? Let us know in the comment section below.
