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NBA Free Agency 2020: 5 teams with the most to gain

By Bryan Toporek

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 06: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat, Bam Adebayo #13 and Duncan Robinson #55 react against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on March 06, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - MARCH 06: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat, Bam Adebayo #13 and Duncan Robinson #55 react against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on March 06, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks, NBA, John Collins, Trae Young, NBA Free Agency
John Collins, #20, Trae Young, #11, Atlanta Hawks, (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

1. Atlanta Hawks

No team stands to gain more this offseason than the Atlanta Hawks, who should enter free agency with the most cap space in the league and few glaring holes to fill.

Point guard Trae Young became an All-Star in only his second NBA season, and nightly 20-10 threat John Collins may not be far behind. The Hawks have yet to see Clint Capela in action after acquiring him from the Houston Rockets at the trade deadline, but he and Collins should form a strong two-way frontcourt.

Having young players such as De’Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish and Kevin Huerter to round out their core puts the Hawks in an advantageous position heading into free agency. Rather than feeling pressure to overpay past-their-prime veterans, Atlanta can use its cap space more strategically.

The Hawks could take after Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks and drive up the price on restricted free agents such as Brandon Ingram, Bogdan Bogdanovic or Malik Beasley. Even if their respective teams matched those offer sheets, Atlanta might then have less competition for free agents in the future.

Conversely, the Hawks could leverage their cap space to acquire draft picks and/or young prospects in exchange for taking on bloated, unwanted contracts. If the salary cap plummets in 2020-21, having the league’s most cap space could put Atlanta in prime position to extort teams that are desperate to offload salary.

Throw in a mid-to-high lottery pick — the Hawks will have a 12.5 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick and a 48.1 percent of a top-four selection — and Atlanta could be back in the playoff hunt as early as next year with a strong offseason.

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Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Early Bird Rights.

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