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Atlanta Hawks: Lou Williams brings more scoring to Hawks

ByMalik Brown|
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 14: Lou Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Clippers drives to the basket against Isaac Okoro #35 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter at Staples Center on February 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 14: Lou Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Clippers drives to the basket against Isaac Okoro #35 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter at Staples Center on February 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Hawks and Magic City just went up.

Last week, the Hawks traded Rajon Rondo to the Los Angeles Clippers for two-time sixth man of the year Lou Williams.

Williams is back at the place where he played in high school (South Gwinnett), and also his second stint with the Hawks.

From 2012-2014, Williams was a huge contributor off the Hawks bench as he averaged 11.9 points in those two seasons. Since then, he’s been played for four different teams, won two sixth man of the year awards, and has a wing named after himself at a strip club in Atlanta.

It’s obvious he’s been winning on and off the court.

The Atlanta Hawks are looking for Williams to provide more scoring off their bench, and possibly run the offense as well. He currently ranks 13th in the NBA in scoring among bench players. Pencil in Williams with a fully healthy Hawks squad and you have an offensive group of Williams-Gallinari-Huerter-Snell in the second unit.

Williams can score from all levels of the court, and most importantly from three where he’s shooting 38.0 percent this season. This is what the Hawks will be working with off the bench as far as 3-point percentage:

In other words, they should be shooting lights out for the rest of the season.

Like Trae Young, Williams is well known for creating contact and getting to the line. There’s definitely been a decline this season in his attempts (second-lowest FTA in his career), but he’s shown throughout the years that he’s capable of getting easy points.

Playmaking is something that has evolved in Williams’ game in recent years, largely do the two-man game he established with Montrezl Harrell on the Clippers.

Harrell was a perfect pick-and-roll player for Williams, as he was good around the basket, and at times could pop out and hit a jump shot. With defenders worrying about Lou shooting or driving, it left Harrell many open opportunities to score.

Two players that should be happy about this are John Collins and Clint Capela. The Hawks run a lot of pick and roll, and Collins and Capela have been great around the rim this season. If they can recreate that same productivity that Williams had with Harrell, the Hawks will be in good hands.

One good thing for Williams is that he won’t have to play many minutes with the depth the Hawks have. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kevin Huerter can run the offense if Trae Young is not on the floor, which means Williams can play a secondary role. The Hawks can still utilize Brandon Goodwin and Skylar Mays at point guard as well.

Williams noted that he was considering retirement after getting traded, but coming home may have changed his mind. Like they always say, “home is where the heart is”.

Adding Williams and his veteran presence will be a plus for a Hawks team that’s trying to make the playoffs, and it should pay dividends in the last two months of the regular season.

Maybe he’ll hook up his Atlanta Hawks teammates with some “LouWill Lemon Pepper BBQ Wings” after the road trip.

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