We’re in the beginning stages of the Atlanta Hawks' offseason preparations, and there are plenty of plots and subplots to follow during July’s free agent push. The Hawks are looking to add some pieces to strengthen their team, but signing the wrong player or two could send them in the wrong direction. Here are three free agents they should avoid:
Tayshaun Prince
Atlanta is looking to add more wing depth after losing DeMarre Carroll to the Raptors, but the 35-year-old has limited athleticism that would keep him from making a real impact in the Hawks' up-tempo offensive system. As a result, Prince likely wouldn't see much playing time or be effective when he was on the court.
Derrick Williams
Williams hasn't lived up to being the No. 2 pick in the draft in 2011, due to his lack of overall skill, but several teams are intrigued by his athleticism and energy. He averaged 8.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game for Sacramento last season in a bench role, and Atlanta may think that athleticism will flourish in their system. However, there's a reason Williams hasn't had a successful career, and the Hawks would be smart not to spend what little cap space they have on him.
Marco Belinelli
Atlanta was one of the best three-point shooting team in the NBA last season, but that's not going to stop them from adding more shooters to their lineup. Marco Belinelli, who's a career 39 percent three-point shooter, is the best one left on the market, and is receiving interest from multiple teams. However, he has seen in minutes (and impact) drop in recent years, and the Hawks don't want to spend a good amount of money on someone who's going to ride the bench.
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