Atlanta Hawks: 5 Questions Heading Into The Offseason
2. Can The Hawks Keep Their Core Intact?
This is the most important question facing the Hawks at the moment. Without everyone feeling so low about the way the season ended, it might be tempting to wonder what happens next. With Paul Millsap, DeMarre Carroll and Pero Antic all becoming unrestricted free agents this summer, Atlanta is looking at a very important offseason.
The Hawks only have $39.2 million on the books next season, leaving them with approximately $27.9 million in cap space for the 2015-16 season. Millsap is coming off one of the best contracts in the NBA (two years, $19 million) and even after such a crappy playoff series, should be heading for a big payday.
Paul Millsap on his upcoming free agency:
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) May 27, 2015
"This team is family, this team is close and that will play into the decision."
The same goes for Carroll, who proved his value as a 3-and-D player all season long, but really made strides in the playoffs as Atlanta’s most consistent player. The Junkyard Dog originally signed on for two years and $5 million, but has also played himself into a nice new contract this summer.
With the NBA salary cap set to shoot through the roof in 2016-17 and then again in 2017-18, Atlanta’s free agents may leave themselves some flexibility to opt out again and earn even bigger paydays by signing on for one- or two-year deals. But if they want to earn their money now, which makes sense given their ages (Carroll is 28 and Millsap is 30), can Atlanta afford them both?
In short, yes they can — as long as Millsap and Carroll want to stay in Atlanta. Of course, we should remember that Antic, Elton Brand and John Jenkins all come off the books this summer too. Antic is a useful stretch-five, but the problem here isn’t what these players bring to the table; it’s the fact that they’re healthy bodies the Hawks will need to replace.
The good news is this team clearly has a sense of togetherness. This bitter defeat may give Millsap and/or Carroll reason to consider leaving, but it also leaves the Hawks with unfinished business. After all, none of them had ever been that far in the playoffs before, and they were facing an NBA legend who’s been there many times.
This may be the end of the Hawks, but there’s also a very good chance Atlanta is able to keep its core intact to try and build on this year’s success.
Next: No. 1