Eight Free Agent Guards for the Atlanta Hawks to Consider
5. Frank Mason III 5’11 190
Frank Mason III comes in at number five on our list of available point guards for the Atlanta Hawks. At 25 years old, Mason is one of the youngest players on this list.
Mason has only played in the NBA for two seasons, both with the Sacramento Kings. He was originally selected by the Kings, at number 34 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Frank Mason is a speedy PG, who can score the ball, but is also a pretty good passer. Mason played surprisingly well as a rookie for a second round pick, averaging nearly eight points and three assists per game.
Defensively Mason steals the ball well, swiping 1.3 steals per 36 minutes played. His 113 points allowed per 100 possessions isn’t great, but Mason has tools that head coach Lloyd Pierce can develop being a defensive guru.
As a shooter Mason’s sample size is interesting. As a rookie, Mason shot the ball well from three-point range, knocking down 36 percent of his triples. However he struggled inside of the arch, shooting just 38.4 percent from two point range.
The past season, Frank Mason showed a significant improvement in his two point shooting. He shot an impressive 54.3 percent from two point land. However his three-point performance declined drastically and he only made a horrid 21.9 percent of his shots from outside.
If Frank Mason III can somehow combine the two point performance of this past season, with his three-point efficiency from his rookie year, he could be a dynamic backup point guard. He would not bring a veteran presence to the Atlanta Hawks, but would give the team another talented young player to develop.
4. Trey Burke 6’1 175
Back in 2013 Trey Burke was a player that many Atlanta Hawks fans had interest in the team drafting, after his impressive NCAA performances at Michigan. Instead Burke was selected number nine overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves and traded to the Utah Jazz.
Trey Burke is a good scoring guard. He has averaged ten points or more, in five of the six years he has been in the NBA. Burke has a pretty complete offensive game, being able to score from all three levels.
Burke is able to get past defenders and get to the rim, where he shot 61 percent last season. He also shoots the ball very well from mid range, making 45 percent of his attempts from 16 feet out to the three-point line.
From beyond the arch Trey Burke is proficient, making better than 35 percent of his treys, in each of the last three seasons. He shot a career high 44.3 percent from downtown, during the 2016-17 season.
Though Burke is a shoot first point guard, he capable and setting up teammates with his passing. The defensive end of the court is Trey Burke’s weakness, making him a less than ideal fit for Atlanta. If his defense were better he could possibly top this list. Yet if the Atlanta Hawks want to give teams fits with another PG that can score, Burke is a solid option.
3. Jeremy Lin 6’3 200
Another familiar face, is the number three player on our list of remaining options for the Atlanta Hawks. Jeremy Lin was just traded for by the Hawks last season.
Lin did a very good job while with the Hawks last season, averaging 10.7 points and 3.5 assists in 51 games with the team. He made one-third of his attempts from downtown last season, and is a career 34 percent shooter from downtown.
Most of all, you get veteran savvy and positive locker room leadership with Jeremy Lin. He is a nine-year vet, that knows how to play the game. His experience dealing with the spotlight during the Linsanity craze, allows him to impart wisdom to the younger Hawks on how to deal with media attention.
The main drawback on Lin, is he’s not a great defender. He has the mental capacity to defend well, but he has lost some quickness after numerous leg injuries. The fact that Lin was able to play in 74 games total last season, his most since the 2015-16 season, bodes well to the fact that he may have over come those injuries and shed the injury prone label.
The Atlanta Hawks granted Lin’s wish to have his contract bought out after last seasons trade deadline. This allowed Lin to sign with the Toronto Raptors, where he won his first NBA title. Could the fact that Atlanta did right by Lin, lead to a reunion at a lower rate? It is a reunion that could definitely be beneficial for both parties.