2016 NBA Free Agency: 1 move every team needs to make to be contenders

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks have made the playoffs eight straight years and for the second year in a row, they were ousted by LeBron James in a 4-0 sweep. That’s the reality that Eastern Conference teams must face in order to contend. In the offseason, they traded their starting point guard, Jeff Teague, in a three-team deal to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for the 12th pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, and drafted Taurean Prince and DeAndre Bembry. The moves cleared the way for Dennis Schroder at point guard while also taking two wing prospects. Headed into free agency, the Hawks are also in the unfortunate position of possibly losing their starting center, Al Horford, and their sixth man, Kent Bazemore.

So what move can a team that stands to lose three of their six best players (and two of their top three scorers), do to contend in the Eastern Conference and beat LeBron James? Sign a superstar.

The Atlanta Hawks are a great team but don’t have a dominant player that can carry them through their shooting slumps. Teams without a superstar have been able to beat LeBron James in the past (the 2007 Spurs, the 2008/2010 Celtics) but with two of the big three gone, the Hawks could instead try another former MVP. And yes, it’s hard to find a team that wouldn’t benefit from playing Kevin Durant at small/power forward, he’s the best free agent that is at least attempting to shop around (sorry LeBron) and the Hawks would be wise to try and get a meeting. The Hawks have a lot going for them: they’re one of the best-coached teams in the Eastern Conference, they have a ton of playoff experience, and they have the parts to compliment Durant with three-point shooting and the third best regular season defense. Signing Durant would make this team an immediate title contender.

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