5 free agents the Atlanta Hawks should target
By Brad Weiss
5. Harrison Barnes, F, Golden State Warriors
Harrison Barnes had a tough NBA Finals, as he seemed to lose his shooting stroke at the wrong time. Still, Barnes will be one of the more sought after small forwards in this free agent class, and the Hawks could scoop him up if they cannot re-sign Bazemore to a contract.
In Golden State, Barnes has been a secondary player, though he has shown the ability to take on more of a role. He will never be a top option for the Warriors, so he may want to go somewhere else where he can be relied upon more on a nightly basis.
The Hawks are going to go into the season with Schröder at the point, so he is going to need a good cast around him to take the pressure off himself. Barnes would alleviate a lot of that pressure, mostly because he can score from anywhere on the court.
Barnes is a former top-10 pick, and his game has evolved in his first four years in the league. Last season, he averaged nearly 12 points per game on a team where he was not a top option offensively. He also has tremendous playoff experience, which would help the Hawks make the next step.
He seems primed to make the jump from role player to star, and the Atlanta Hawks may be the team to make that happen.
Next: 4. Al Jefferson