Atlanta Hawks: Seven Free Agents to Provide Veteran Guidance
3. Shaun Livingston 6’7 192 • Guard
Shaun Livingston is a 14 year NBA veteran, who has extensive playoff and championship experience. He was a major role player on all five Golden State Warriors NBA Finals teams, winning three rings.
Livingston was originally a star point guard, after being drafted number four overall in 2004. He suffered a horrible knee injury in 2007 that robbed him of stardom, but he did a wonderful job bouncing back to have a productive NBA career.
Injuries and age have robbed Shaun Livingston of his speed and explosiveness, but he is still a resourceful player, with an extremely high basketball IQ. He averaged only four points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game last season. The point total that Livingston posted last season, was the worse of his entire career.
Livingston has championship rings and at this point a lesser role as a mentor, is something that could interest him. Being a point guard, there is definitely wisdom that he could impart on Trae Young. With the connection that Travis Schlenk has to the Golden State Warriors, a reunion with Livingston could certainly be in the cards.
2. Joe Johnson 6’7 240 • Combo Forward
Another former Atlanta Hawks player Joe Johnson, is number two on our list of veteran free agents. Good ole Iso Joe is a seven time all-star, with six of those appearances coming during his time as a Hawk.
Johnson did not play in the NBA last season, after 16 straight years of competing at the highest level. He spent the 2017-18 season with the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets, averaging 6.8 points and 3.1 boards per game.
The previous season with the Utah Jazz, Joe Johnson showed he still had the clutch gene. He nailed two game winners against the Los Angeles Clippers in round one of their playoff series. The Jazz won the series in seven games and Joe was huge reason why.
These days Joe Johnson is showcasing his talented in The Big Three. The league is a three on three league that features former NBA players, founded by rap star and actor Ice Cube.
Joe Johnson is currently dominating the the Big Three. He is first in the league in scoring and assists. Joe is also second in the league in rebounding and third in steals.
Joe Johnson is displaying his full repertoire of crossover dribbles, dunks, layups and floaters in his new league. He almost seems too advanced for the Big Three at this point in his career.
Joe Johnson recently told 92.9 The Game, that he is still interested in playing in the NBA. He was a huge reason for the Atlanta Hawks streak of making the playoffs for ten consecutive years. It would be nice to see him return to Atlanta and to hear public address announcer Ryan Cameron once again say Ja-Ja-Ja-Ja Jooooe Johnson after he makes a basket.