3 More Free Agents The Hawks Could Look Into

With a new ownership group taking over the Atlanta Hawks organization on June 24th, we as fans are not certain about how the new Atlanta front office will conduct itself in free agency. Even though the Hawks went to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history in 2015, I get the feeling that new majority owner Tony Ressler won’t break the bank right away with his newly acquired Hawks franchise.

More from Atlanta Hawks

I expect Ressler, HC Mike Budenholzer, and Assistant GM Wes Wilcox to navigate free agency to acquire smart, under-the-radar players and sign them to cap-friendly deals. While I definitely think the front office will try to re-sign both starting forwards DeMarre Carroll and Paul Millsap, here are three more free agents I could see fitting into Coach Bud’s system in some capacity in 2016.

Apr 4, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (4) drives against Memphis Grizzlies center Kosta Koufos (41) in the first quarter at FedEx Forum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

C Kosta Koufos, Memphis Grizzlies

Kosta Koufos would bring some of that Grit from Beale Street to the Highlight Factory should Atlanta sign the seven-year veteran center out of Canton, Ohio. Koufos was a major part of the Grit N’ Grind Grizzlies front court these last two seasons. He’s a plus defensive player (2.5 DWS) and an accurate inside shooter playing in the low post (.508 FG%). I could see Kosta Koufos replacing Pero Antic in Atlanta’s rotation as a member of 2015-16 Hawks should Antic sign elsewhere. While Koufos has no mid-to-long range offensive game, I think he can really help anchor Bud’s second team defense when he’s on the court. It’s that toughness associated with Memphis that intrigues me the most about Kosta Koufos.

SF Omri Casspi, Sacramento Kings

I remember when the Hawks played the lowly Sacramento Kings this past season. They weren’t a good team at all but I came away impressed with a few rotational players on their roster. One of those guys was SF Omri Casspi. We knew that our Hawks team would only go as far as our wing depth could take us. So I’m predisposed to analyze opposing team’s bench wings to see if there is another under-the-radar move Bud and Wilcox can make. Casspi is a strong shooter (.402 3P%) from long-range and I think he could really improve defensively playing for a contending team. Sacramento might have been the most lackadaisical defensive team in the entire Association in 2015. I look at Casspi as a good complementary piece to Thabo Sefolosha coming off the Hawks bench. He could be one of those wing scorers than can take over a game when the starters are on the bench.

Feb 2, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik (3) dunks over Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) during the fourth quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Hawks 115-100. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

C Omer Asik, New Orleans Pelicans

Asik has been on the Hawks’ radar for the last two seasons, or the media at least made us believe that. I remember hearing rumors in 2014 about the Hawks trading Paul Millsap to Houston for Omer Asik as Atlanta needed rim protection and Houston needed inside scoring from their power forwards. Asik left Houston and signing a one-year deal with the rival New Orleans Pelicans in 2014-15. He’ll enter free agency with many suitors as a solid big man down low for somebody. He might be slow and lumbering for a big man but if Atlanta doesn’t resign Millsap and looks to move Al Horford over to power forward, I could see Omer Asik helping the Hawks inside with this low post presence (9.8 RPG). Asik also brings 37 games with of NBA Playoff experience wherever he ends up signing.

More from ATL All Day

Home/Atlanta Hawks