NBA Free Agency: Teams eyeing LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony

Atlanta Hawks:

Poor Hawks. Not only do they seem doomed to eternal first-round elimination (all of which is usually banished to NBATV, no less), but even now you’re laughing at the idea of even one of these superstars signing in Atlanta. Not so fast, though, because LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in ATL isn’t as crazy as it sounds.

According to ESPN’s Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst, the Hawks are one of a few teams thinking about making a few moves in order to clear up the cap space to make a run at both LeBron and Melo this summer. Thanks to GM Danny Ferry‘s careful planning, the Hawks have one of the most flexible rosters in the league to work with. Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver and Al Horford are all attractive assets that could both be moved or used to build around the two superstar free agents.

The Hawks really aren’t on anybody’s radar, which probably hurts their chances. They don’t have the glamour of the Los Angeles Lakers franchise and they don’t have great weather and recent success of the Miami Heat. But Mike Budenholzer is a coach on the rise who would command LeBron and Melo’s respect while building a team predicated on good ball movement, three-point shooting and defensive schemes that could mask even Melo’s deficiencies on that end. Just as long as someone silences that damn constant organ-playing for home games, LeBron and Melo should at least think about Atlanta if they choose to pair up.