Hawks sign sharpshooter Danilo Gallinari to 3-year contract

Danilo Gallinari has joined the Atlanta Hawks with his eyes set firmly on getting them back to the playoffs.

Danilo Gallinari was going to be a highly sought-after commodity as the 6-foot-10 big man with a sweet 3-point stroke is coming off of a season in which he averaged 18.7 points per game with the Oklahoma City Thunder. While several contending teams were interested in the Italian sharpshooter, Lloyd Pierce and the Atlanta Hawks won the Gallinari sweepstakes.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed that Gallinari has chosen to sign with the Hawks, agreeing to a three-year deal worth $61.5 million. Considering that several contenders were considering bringing him aboard, Gallinari must believe that the Hawks have the ability to win in the immediate future.

Danilo Gallinari is an excellent shooter that will join an exciting Hawks team

While some might scoff at giving a 32-year-old without an All-Star game nod this much money, Gallinari gives the Hawks size, veteran poise and lights-out shooting without demanding the ball. For a team that will let Trae Young create most of the offense, he fits like a glove.

Gallinari should assume a starting role right away on a Hawks team that is oozing with young talent. Young might be the big headliner, but the likes of John Collins and Clint Capela alongside Gallinari in the frontcourt should make Atlanta a force to be reckoned with if its shooters can catch fire from beyond the arc.

The Hawks will still be one of the worst defensive teams in the league, but their offensive talent will make any GM jealous. Young is an elite scorer, both Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter look like quality players for the next decade, and Onyeka Okongwu has All-Star potential. Atlanta has more than enough offensive firepower to make the postseason in 2020.