Atlanta Hawks: 5 bargain bin targets in 2019 NBA free agency

Don’t expect the Atlanta Hawks to be major players in 2019 NBA free agency, but these are some shrewd moves they could pull off.

Of all the teams that missed the playoffs last year, the Atlanta Hawks appear to be one of the few doormats that have positioned themselves for long-term success. Sure, that potential success depends on point guard Trae Young‘s development. But despite those concerns, general manager Travis Schlenk has made almost all the right decisions since taking over last year.

Expect that shrewd decision-making to continue into the summer. While Atlanta has a gorge of cap space heading into free agency, it isn’t rumored to be in on any of the big-name stars available in this year’s class and the team doesn’t seem likely to overpay for a second-class star or a middling player. This leaves one option: bargain hunting.

The Hawks wrung some value out of the secondary market last year when they brought in Phoenix Suns castoff Alex Len and a future Hall-of-Famer in Vince Carter. But who will Schlenk and company pursue this year?

Given their draft selections and the lateral Kent Bazemore/Evan Turner trade, the Hawks are all but set, so they will probably look to fortify their bench with a point guard and a center. These players are the most realistic options the Hawks may go after.