3 Under The Radar FA’s The Hawks Could Look Into Acquiring

The Atlanta Hawks enter free agency with some key pieces potentially hitting the market.  Most notably starting forwards DeMarre Carroll and Paul Millsap will command lucrative deals this summer, as both former Jazzmen helped get the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time.  Pero Antic is a restricted free agent, while Elton Brand and John Jenkins enter unrestricted free agency like Carroll and Millsap.  With the Hawks potentially losing a third of their 2014-15 roster to free agency, Atlanta might need to make a few key under the radar moves to stay competitive as I don’t think new owner Tony Ressler is going to spend decadently once his group takes over June 24th.  Here are three very under the radar free agents I think Atlanta could look into acquiring.  For simplicity, I’m only going to use UFAs without team/player options with their current clubs.

Jan 25, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mo Williams (25) drives to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks in the first quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

G Mo Williams, Charlotte Hornets

Williams has been in the league for what seems like forever.  At his peak in the NBA he was one of the key pieces of the initial LeBron James Era Cavs with C Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who might actually end up in Springfield one day.  He was really, really good for Cavs in the 2000’s.  Mo made his only All-Star game in 2009 playing with LeBron.  Though his most productive days are behind him,  Williams can still get the ball through the cylinder as a great bench scoring option.

When he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves before the trade deadline, Mo scored 52 points against the Indiana Pacers!  Though the Pacers had a down year due in part to the horrific Paul George injury, Frank Vogel’s team was still seventh in the Association with a 103.2 defensive rating.

When the game slowed down in the postseason for the Hawks, Atlanta struggled to find a rhythm with their bread and butter jump shooting.  I can see Williams being in the Hawks rotation as a more polished version of John Jenkins.  He shouldn’t garner a terribly expensive contract and I think he gives our wings a slightly higher ceiling with regards to his offensive game.  Then again Bud might not like how Williams fits into the Hawks’ defensive plans.  While I like the Sefolosha and Bazemore signings, the Hawks missed Lou Williams’ outside shooting as the Atlanta native went on to win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award this past season.  I think Atlanta could buy low on Mo and at the same time take away the only jump shooter on division rival Charlotte that I’m remotely concerned with.

PF Luis Scola, Indiana Pacers

Scola is a great offensive player but very slow for a man of his size.  When he was with Houston and even with Indiana, Luis could take over a game offensively from the bench with his inside out game.  It’s smooth and I’ve always admired it from afar.  The problem with Scola is that he comes across a defensive liability as he lacks the lateral quickness to rotate in the low post.  It’s really been an Achilles’ Heel for him and that’s why most people who aren’t basketball junkies like myself know all that much about him.

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This past season in the few Pacers games I watched, I noticed that while he certainly lacks mobility defensively, he’s usually in a good position to at least challenge a shot.  So he’s not a turnstile or a matador defender like we’ve grown to believe.  He’s kind of like Pero down low, where it doesn’t show up on the stats sheet but you feel that the opponent’s short-range field goal percentage actually decreases when he’s on the floor.  While I’m convinced that Antic returns to Atlanta in 2015-16 because Coach Bud really loves what he brings to the team, I think Luis Scola could fill that void should Antic no longer be a Hawk.

Mar 5, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Robin Lopez (42) spins to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

C Robin Lopez, Portland Trail Blazers

Admittedly this isn’t as under-the-radar as the two previous players I discuss.  But I still find Robin Lopez undervalued with the Blazers.  Since going to Portland from New Orleans, he’s become an important piece in the Blazers’ starting five.  His rim protection and low post play allows PF LaMarcus Aldridge to unleash all of his playmaking ability.  Lopez has been the perfect complement down low for Terry Stotts’ Portland team these last few years.  I think he could do the same of thing for Al Horford who is a natural PF to begin with.

Robin hasn’t had as much success in the NBA as his identical twin Brook has had with the Nets, but I think Robin will have a longer career than his twin brother, as Brook might be one foot injury away from being out of the league.  That would be a shame because Brook Lopez is incredible to watch when he’s relatively healthy.

Robin Lopez could give the Hawks that rim protector and inside game that it doesn’t really have with Al Horford and Paul Millsap.  But to get Lopez in free agency, Atlanta would have to let Paul Millsap walk.  I don’t think Lopez will be an All-Star for us like Millsap has been these last two years but Atlanta could save some money if it chose to spend its cap space on Robin Lopez.  While Lopez will never shoot threes for the Hawks, he could bring some defensive grit down low that could get us over the top in another deep playoff run next season.