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NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 offseason targets for the Atlanta Hawks

By Jerry Christodoulatos

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 10: John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks makes his entrance before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 10, 2018 at Philips Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kevin Liles/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 10: John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks makes his entrance before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 10, 2018 at Philips Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Kevin Liles/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

2. Julius Randle

Randle is a tricky big man to evaluate in today’s game. He’s not an adept rim protector, he doesn’t have 3-point range and he’s not the type of crazy leaper that we often envision when describing ideal rim runners. Those weaknesses make Randle somewhat of an awkward fit in the modern NBA. Even so, Randle is a talented big man that can thrive in the right situation.

Randle had the best season of his career last year after getting into awesome shape. He was devastatingly effective when playing the five on offense, improving as a finisher and getting inside for easy looks more frequently. Julius excelled as a roll man this year, scoring 1.16 points per possession in pick and rolls. That was good for fifteenth in the whole NBA. His strength really gives defenders problems. Guys just bounce off of him when trying to deter his ferocious drives to the basket. Randle has also had a nice passing touch for a big man since he came into the league. His lack of a jump shot has long been a big concern among his detractors though. The jumper hasn’t advanced much (if at all). But when Randle is playing the five and rolling hard, not having a reliable jumper doesn’t negatively impact his team’s spacing much.

At the other end of the floor, Julius has taken flak for his inability to develop as a rim protector. His interior defense is legitimately concerning and he hasn’t shown much potential in conventional pick and roll defense schemes. He has however displayed some promise as a switch defender. Randle has held up well defending on switches and can deny penetration against a wide variety of players. The former Kentucky star may never be a positive defender, but he can be at least passable.

The potential fit between Randle and John Collins isn’t great. But I’m not sure that matters all that much though. Atlanta will spend much of the season experimenting with lineups and players.  Randle had some moments last season in which he looked legitimately indomitable on offense. Adding that kind of player and expanding his role in the offense won’t hurt. And of course, the Hawks don’t have to play the two bigs together.

Randle is on LA’s books with a cap hold of about $12.5 million this summer. Is he going to get an offer sheet that starts at anywhere close to that figure? That’s difficult to say. We hear the expression, “it only takes one team” every offseason, but I’m not sure there is much of a market for Randle at this juncture. Dallas expressed interest at the trade deadline and a team like Brooklyn could get into the mix. If the Lakers strike out in the LeBron and Kawhi Leonard sweepstakes they might decide to Randle back. In any case, Randle’s annual price tag doesn’t seem like it will be much higher than his current cap hold.  If his market is rather cool, the Hawks should send an offer sheet his way.

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