It is safe to say the 2021-22 Atlanta Hawks fell short of their lofty expectations, following their Eastern Conference Finals run from the year prior. After the Miami Heat eliminated the Hawks via a gentlemen’s sweep of five games, Majority Owner, Tony Ressler, admitted that it was a “mistake” to bring back essentially the same roster from the previous season.
“I think we should have tried to get better rather than bring back what we had,” added Ressler. “That won’t happen again, by the way.”
These statements from Ressler indicate the Hawks will be active throughout the 2022 offseason, whether by trade or free agency. While NBA free agency does not start until July 1, 2022, the Hawks have plenty of decisions who they should re-sign and let go this offseason.
The following players are set to hit free agency: Sharife Cooper, Chaundee Brown Jr., Gorgui Dieng, Kevin Knox, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Skylar Mays, Lou Williams and Delon Wright. In addition, Danilo Gallinari’s contract is not guaranteed for next season. What are the chances of seeing any of these players back in a Hawks uniform for the 2022-2023 season?
Sharife Cooper (17.1 PPG, 4.0 REB. 7.3 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.3 BLK, 30.7 MPG in G-League)
Cooper did not see many productive minutes with Atlanta this season. He spent most of the year playing a big role with the College Park Skyhawks (Atlanta’s G-League affiliate). Cooper flourished in his role, showing his ability to get into the paint while dishing out dimes to his teammates. He vastly improved his three-point shooting from his college days at Auburn University, going from 22.8% to 36.8% with the Skyhawks. Two of his greatest performances included scoring 42 points, and adding a game-winner against the Lakeland Magic, and a 37-point triple-double against the Maine Celtics. Cooper is a restricted free agent, and the Hawks can offer him a second two-way contract if they choose to do so. It would be great to see Cooper back with the Hawks next year to further his development. If the Hawks choose to bring him back for a back-up point guard role, look for Cooper’s minutes to increase.
Chaundee Brown Jr. (9.7 PPG, 4.7 REB, 1.3 AST, 0.7 STL, 27.7 MPG)
Brown gave the Hawks a much-needed lift on his hardship exemption contract for three games during the team’s now infamous Covid-19 breakout in late-2021. He quickly showcased his ability to play with maximum effort in any opportunity given to him. The Hawks signed him toward the latter portion of the season on April 9, 2022, to provide depth for the regular season conclusion and play-in tournament. However, he did not see the floor much during that stretch. Jalen Johnson seems next in line to earn minutes on the roster, so if Brown is back on the team, expect him to get little playing time. He is still only 23-years old, and as a result, it could benefit Brown to sign with a team that has a bigger role for him, meaning he might not be in a Hawks next season.
Gorgui Dieng (3.5 PPG, 2.8 REB, 0.8 AST, 0.3 STL, 0.3 BLK, 8.4 MPG)
Dieng played a bigger role at the beginning of the season, when Onyeka Okongwu was recovering from a torn right shoulder labrum that required surgery. Dieng has the ability to stretch the floor and hit three’s at a high rate, finishing with a 42.6% from three-point range this season. However, most of his playing time came in “garbage time” minutes, when games were over by the middle of the fourth quarter. At 32 years old, Dieng is still a serviceable back-up center in today’s NBA. However, with Okongwu going into this offseason healthy, and Clint Capela slated as the Hawks’ starting center, Dieng does not have a defined role on this team. If he signs a minimum deal, the Hawks can keep him for depth in case of injury. If he has hopes for a more significant role, it is highly unlikely that Dieng will be in a Hawks uniform next season.
Kevin Knox (2.7 PPG, 1.3 REB, 0.4 AST, 0.1 STL, 0.1 BLK, 6.5 MPG)
Atlanta received Knox and a first-round pick from the New York Knicks in exchange for Cam Reddish on January 13, 2022. Knox did not see much playing time in his short stint with the Hawks but did show flashes of his ability to knock down three’s at a high rate. He is still young at 22 years old, so there is potential for him to improve and earn more playing time. However, the Hawks are gearing up to get back in contention mode for 2023. Developing young talent does not sync with Atlanta’s strategy, as Coach Nate McMillan stated multiple times throughout the season. If Knox wants to see consistent playing time, signing with a team focused on rebuilding might be a better career move for him.
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Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (4.4 PPG, 1.6 REB, 0.8 AST, 0.3 STL, 0.1 BLK, 13.2 MPG)
Luwawu-Cabarrot (TLC) did not have a guaranteed contract at the beginning of the season. The Hawks signed the journeyman out of necessity when injuries and Covid-19 riddled the roster. The Cam Reddish trade also opened a spot in the rotation for TLC. He started 18 games for the Hawks, often guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter scorer, especially when De’Andre Hunter was sidelined. While he did not produce great numbers offensively, Hawks fans should appreciate the six-year veteran’s willingness to stay ready during the season when needed. If TLC wants to sign a deal with Atlanta for 2023, he will most likely have a smaller role, but he might see some run at either back-up forward positions, given the way the Hawks’ roster is currently structured. However, this offseason is expected to produce many roster changes by opening day. If TLC has bigger dreams for his role on the team, the Hawks will most likely fill the roster spot in another fashion.
Skylar Mays (2.9 PPG, 1.0 REB, 0.8 AST, 0.3 STL, 7.9 MPG)
The Hawks converted Mays’ contract from a two-way to a standard NBA contract on April 7, 2022. Mays saw the bulk of his playing time during the Covid-19 breakout, where he spot-started five games. He showed ability to get to the rim and finish using his 6’4 frame to his advantage. He played 27 games total with Atlanta but also started eight games with the Skyhawks, with an average stat-line of, 18.0 points, 4.5 assists, 4.5rebounds, and 1.6 steals across 33.6 minutes a game. Mays did not receive consistent playing time as the season progressed. If Mays wants to grow his opportunities with the Hawks next season, Atlanta should sign him to a team-friendly deal so he can continue to improve with the organization that drafted him.
Lou Williams (6.3 PPG, 1.6 REB, 1.9 AST, 0.5 STL, 0.1 BLK, 14.3 MPG)
Williams did not get his usual playing time this season, averaging less than 20 minutes per game for the first time since the 2006-2007 season. However, he was a mainstay in the rotation for McMillan through the middle part of the season. Unfortunately, Williams did not produce the offensive numbers Hawks or Lou Williams fans are accustomed to. He did not play in the final weeks of the season due to lower-back discomfort. As the Hawks look to retool their roster this offseason, Williams’ role on the team is not a given. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kevin Huerter handle the majority of the shooting guard minutes. At 35 years old, Williams was already contemplating retirement before the season started. The legendary sixth-man has yet to win an NBA championship during his illustrious career. If he opts to come back for one more season, he may want to sign with a certified contender to get a final shot at winning a championship. Alternatively, Atlanta could hope to sign Williams on a veteran minimum if he wishes to return as a veteran presence for a young Hawks team.
Delon Wright (4.4 PPG, 2.9 REB, 2.4 AST, 1.2 STL, 0.2 BLK, 18.9 MPG)
The Hawks acquired Wright in the 2021 offseason with the vision of him becoming the primary back-up point guard behind Trae Young. Many fans were unfamiliar with Wright’s game when the season started. He got off to a sluggish start offensively but was still relevant due to his defensive prowess. As the season moved forward and the Hawks struggled, Atlanta fans began to appreciate the importance of his strong perimeter defense. Wright consistently stepped into passing lanes and generated timely turnovers. By the time the play-in tournament started, Hawks fans counted on Wright to play a key role in stopping offensive talents such as, Darius Garland and Tyler Herro. In the playoffs, Wright had the biggest on-off differential of any player that played at least 100 possessions, at 46.4. To put in perspective, the next highest was Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies at 31.8. Wright consistently made winning plays throughout the season. In his exit interview, he made it clear that he would like to re-sign with the Hawks. Atlanta should give considerable thought to re-signing Wright to address its defensive struggles. Out of all the free agents discussed, Wright may be the most deserving of a second contract and can carve out a similar role in 2023.
Danilo Gallinari (11.7 PPG, 4.7 REB, 1.5 AST, 0.4 STL, 0.2 BLK, 25.3 MPG)
Gallinari is technically a free agent, but his contract is not guaranteed. If the Hawks guarantee his contract for next season, he will be paid $21 million. If they do not guarantee it, he will receive $5 million as a buyout. Gallinari played a pivotal role off the bench this season and was one of the more consistent Hawks players on offense. He started slow but was averaging 13.1 PPG after December 1, 2021. His impressive work won him Sixth-Man of the Month for December. Gallinari also stepped into a starting-role for an injured-John Collins toward the conclusion of the season. Gallinari’s shooting and ability to take advantage of mismatches were key whenever the Hawks offensive stalled out. If the Hawks guarantee Gallinari’s contract, he will be an unrestricted free agent following the conclusion of the 2023 season. The Hawks could look to trade him before next season’s deadline in a package deal. If the Hawks waive Gallinari, they lose a trading piece, a veteran and a reliable shooter off the bench. He provides Atlanta more value if his contract is guaranteed.
Offseason Strategy and Excitement
Atlanta’s front office and coaching staff have a great deal of strategy and planning to do this offseason. Last year’s offseason was the most hype offseason in franchise history, and this year could be the most pivotal. This offseason has the feeling of setting the tone for the next four to five seasons. The team has momentum with the fanbase and needs to curate this roster into a winner. Hawks fans should buckle up and get primed to see a team with plenty of new faces via free agency, trade, or even a sign-and-trade deal to get back to contention in the 2022-2023 NBA season.
Comment below with players you would like to see back in a Hawks uniform?
