It's a tad early, but I figure we can speculate on what approach and what players we'd like/expect the team to pursue this summer.
Bleacher ReportNBA Free Agency 2017: An Early Look at Each Team's Top Potential Targets
1. Darren Collison
2. Sergio Rodriguez
3. P.J. Tucker
Unless they plan on blowing up their core, the Atlanta Hawks will be operating as a capped-out team over the summer.
Millsap can grant them some flexibility if he opts into the last year of his deal, rather than exploring free agency. But it makes more sense for him to chase long-term money, and general manager Wes Wilcox told The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski re-signing him is "absolutely" Atlanta's top priority.
Pre-contract holds on Millsap, Tim Hardaway Jr., Mike Muscala and Thabo Sefolosha carry the Hawks' commitments past the $100 million mark. They'll need to try ducking the luxury tax while keeping everyone and then hope the mid-level exception—projected to reach $8.4 million for non-taxpayers, per RealGM—is enough to land impactful fish.
Basically: Atlanta cannot set its sights too high.
Targeting backup-caliber point guards and defensive specialists might even be a tad ambitious. But the offense could use a second-string playmaker such as Darren Collison or, more affordably, Sergio Rodriguez.
P.J. Tucker keeps with the Hawks' defensive theme and becomes particularly valuable if Hardaway or Sefolosha walks.
Thoughts?
Predictions?
We keeping this thing in tact?
Slightly changing course?
Blowing it all up?
