Atlanta Hawks: 3 former players still unsigned in 2021 NBA Free Agency
By Dalton Sell
The Atlanta Hawks surprised everyone during the 2020-21 NBA season as they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals and took the Milwaukee Bucks to six games.
This looks like just the beginning for a youthful Hawks team that has key pieces like Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kevin Huerter, and a newly re-signed John Collins. In addition to handing Collins a massive five-year extension, the Hawks kept Lou Williams and Solomon Hill around as they will run it back with practically the same team next season.
It was a rather quiet offseason for Atlanta, which is likely how they wanted it after a successful 2020-21 season. The Hawks are likely done making any bigger moves in free agency at this point as things have started slowing down.
As fans anxiously wait to see if Atlanta can deliver an encore next season, here are a few former Hawks that are still unsigned and could make their way onto a roster before the 2021-22 season begins, along with some suggestions for suitors to pass the time.
Atlanta Hawks: Mike Scott remains unsigned in 2021 NBA Free Agency
Mike Scott spent the first five seasons of his NBA career with the Hawks from 2012-17, making a name for himself as a solid role player. He was a quality bench piece for those Atlanta teams that made some deep runs in the postseason, doing a little bit of everything for the team.
Scott has played the last two and a half seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he continued to be a rotational piece off the bench. Due to his toughness and outside shooting, Scott played a key role for the 76ers up until this season, where his role decreased significantly, and he was booted out of the playoff rotation. He will not be returning to the team in all likelihood due to that minimized role and the team’s other moves.
The 33-year-old will not elevate any team’s status in the ranks of title contention, but Scott could be a low-risk addition for teams looking to fill out their roster on a cheap deal. Perhaps the veteran could help bring some toughness to any locker room while playing some meaningful minutes. One team that should take a look is the Chicago Bulls, who are looking to make a genuine run in the Eastern Conference next season after a slew of moves in the offseason. Adding Scott would give them a ready-made contributor to help them in their quest to snap their playoff drought.