Jusuf Nurkic: 3 potential landing spots in 2018 free agency
By Ty Delbridge
2. Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are another young, rebuilding squad that could take a chance on a guy like Nurkic. Right now, the Hawks only have Miles Plumlee and Dewayne Dedmon at the center position. Both combined to start a total of 81 games last season. Atlanta has a promising power forward in John Collins, but it needs to pair him a consistent starting center down low.
Nurkic could play well with Collins and could be a massive help to rookie point guard Trae Young. Nurkic sets big screens in the pick-and-roll and would free up space for Young to work and get his shot off. He is good at scoring the basketball and could be the go-to or second option for the Hawks his first season with them.
According to the Spotrac, the Hawks have the third-most practical cap space at the moment. They would have the ability to negotiate with Nurkic and work out a deal that both sides like.
A team like Atlanta with nothing to lose can add a guy like Nurkic to its franchise in hopes he becomes an elite player. The Hawks are in no rush to compete for a championship and could let him develop with Collins, Young and all the other young Hawks players.