Atlanta Hawks: What’s next in the free agency period?
The Atlanta Hawks made changes early in the free agency period. With a 15-player maximum current roster at this point and three full days remaining in the period, what’s next for the Hawks?
The Atlanta Hawks took advantage of the free agency period from day one. First, on Friday, July 1, the Hawks signed center Dwight Howard on a three-year, $70.5 million deal.
Next, as anticipated, the Hawks re-upped with shooting guard Kent Bazemore. Bazemore agreed to a four-year, $70 million deal with Atlanta. Then there was the fate of All-Star center Al Horford, who the Hawks originally hoped to re-sign as well.
Instead, Horford signed a four-year, $113 million deal with the Boston Celtics. Luckily, with Horford leaving, the Hawks can hold on to power forward Paul Millsap. Then the Atlanta Hawks landed a two-year contract with former Virginia Tech guard Malcolm Delaney. Delaney went undrafted in the 2011 NBA Draft, and went on to play for Lokomotiv Kuban of the VTB United League.
Last season, the 6-foot-3 guard scored 18.9 points per 40 minutes, and had been a topic of discussion for the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets recently. With Dennis Schroder currently the only point guard on the roster, Delaney could be the backup.
According to ESPN Staff Writer Kevin Pelton, “Delaney projects as an average or slightly better backup point guard. He doesn’t figure to be great in any particular area in the NBA, but he shoots the 3 well enough to space the floor and is a capable ballhandler.”
What’s next?
Now, with the NBA free agency period coming to an end on July 7, the Atlanta Hawks have a few options. After all that has already taken place, the Hawks have an estimated $4 million available salary cap space to work with. With Schroder being the only true point guard on the current roster, the Hawks could pursue a backup point guard. Trades are still a viable option as well.
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The “July Moratorium,” which ends this Thursday, is another factor. The Hawks will then officially begin the signings of Taurean Prince, Dwight Howard, and Kent Bazemore, and can also say goodbye to Horford. The league will then review the revenue from the previous season and officially set the salary cap.
On Sunday, the $3.3 million contract of power forward Mike Scott becomes guaranteed…unless of course the Atlanta Hawks decide otherwise. If they were to decide to waive him before then, it would only increase the salary-cap.
Scott was recently delivered a notice of accusation on drug charges that could potentially amount to a total of 25 years in prison. He could continue to face legal troubles well into the upcoming season. Whether or not Scott could face any consequences from the Hawks or the NBA is still up in the air, and could greatly impact Atlanta’s final decision.
Next: Atlanta Hawks: Is Taurean Prince DeMarre Carroll 2.0?
The Atlanta Hawks have plenty of options and time left in the free agency period to address remaining issues…the problem is the currently limited salary-cap space.