5 free agents the Atlanta Hawks should target

By Brad Weiss | Jun 28, 2016

ATLANTA, GA - MAY 08: Fans hold up a sign in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on May 8, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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TORONTO, ON – MAY 05: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat shoots the ball as Bismack Biyombo #8 of the Toronto Raptors defends in the second half of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at the Air Canada Centre on May 5, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

1. Hassan Whiteside, C, Miami Heat

This is a name that is high on the list for a lot of NBA teams, but Whiteside makes sense for the Atlanta Hawks. If the team cannot sign Horford, Whiteside is the kind of player that can jump right in and help the Hawks possibly return to an Eastern Conference Final. As long as LeBron James plays for Cleveland, it will be hard to beat them, but Whiteside would at least give the Hawks an inside presence the Cavs could not defend.

Whiteside will not come cheap, and the Hawks will have to let Horford and Bazemore walk if they want to be able to give him the max contract that he is definitely going to ask for. He is still young, and has turned into one of the more elite defenders and shot blockers in the NBA.

The Hawks need to do something big, as the fan base is tired of them finishing just good enough for a playoff spot, and just bad enough to get a mid-range player in the draft. They have some good pieces in place even if they do not bring back Horford, and bringing in a guy like Whiteside instantly makes them a favorite in the East.

This will definitely be a hard move to pull off, but the Hawks need to show they want to win now and are better than the 48-win team they put on the court last season. Whiteside gives them that credibility right away, but Atlanta may just not be good enough to pull it off.

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