The Hawks could use some more depth in the front court and on the wing (you can find part one here).
The Atlanta Hawks made the acquisitions of Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard ‘officially official’ last week, putting a bow on what’s been a phenomenal start to the off-season for Onsi Saleh and Atlanta’s revamped front office.
Yet, while these moves give the Hawks an intriguing top eight, and have put them in position to make some noise* in an injury-depleted Eastern Conference next season, I still find myself fretting over the last few roster spots the team has yet to fill.
*4th shortest odds to win the Eastern Conference next season according to ESPN Bet
Even after signing 2024 second-round pick, Niko Ðurišić, to a full time deal on Friday, the Hawks have just 13 players signed for next season* and could stand to add a bit more depth in the frontcourt and on the wing.
*Reminder that teams are required to have at least 14 players, and no more than 15 players on their roster by opening night
In the frontcourt, adding an adequate third big behind Okongwu and Porzingis should quite frankly be considered a necessity given Porzingis’ injury history*, Asa Newell’s youth, and the fact that third year big, Mouhamed Gueye, has primarily been deployed at the ‘4’ rather than the ‘5’ in his 606 NBA minutes thus far**.
*Porzingis has appeared in 99 out of a possible 164 regular season games over the past two seasons
**Though I wouldn’t say that Gueye at the ‘5’ minutes are completely out of the question for next season as he did play there a bit in the G-League last season
On the wing, while Zaccharie Risacher and Jalen Johnson are locked in as the starters and I’d be perfectly alright going into the season with Vit Krejci* and Mouhamed Gueye** as the backup ‘3’ and ‘4’*, the Hawks could really use another player in the ‘3&D’ mold off the bench to fill in should any of these players miss time.
*who shot 43.7% from three and posted a 3:1 assist to turnover ratio last season
**who led the team in plus-minus while establishing himself as one of the most impactful defenders in the league last season (albeit in limited minutes). I am especially intrigued by the defensive upside of a Gueye/Porzingis frontcourt.
While both Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are capable of sliding up to the ‘3’, both players’ defensive skill sets are best utilized when pressuring opposing teams’ ball handlers, and neither one spent much time guarding small forwards last season.
Last week, I highlighted four free agents (all of whom are still available!) that are on my radar for the Hawks in Caleb Houstan, Javonte Green, Lamar Stevens and Chris Boucher. Today, let’s go through a few more players to keep an eye on as the free agency pool dries up.
Robert Covington (34) – 6’9”, 225 pounds
Surely I’m not the only one confused by the fact that Robert Covington wasn’t able to find a job in the NBA last season, right? Covington had consistently been one of the better role players in the league throughout his 11 seasons in the NBA, yet curiously received little interest as a free agent last summer and was last seen suiting up for Team USA in the Americup Qualifiers in an effort to rehabilitate his value around the league.
A low usage offensive player who has shot 36.2% from three-point range for his career (37.9% since the 2020-21 season), Covington’s defense is what makes him special, as he is someone who simply makes s— happen on this end of the floor. Over the past six seasons, Covington is one of just six players (minimum 450 minutes played) to average at least 1.9 steals and 1.5 blocks per 75 possessions per stathead, underscoring his rampant defensive activity.
*It was his single season deflections record that Dyson Daniels obliterated last season
An off-ball demon, he’s ranked in the 94th percentile or better in BBall-Index’s ‘passing lane defense’ metric in each of the last eight (!) seasons that he’s been in the league. Covington also holds up well in isolation situations*, and can comfortably guard at either of the forward positions.
*Ranking in the 82nd percentile or better in BBall-Index’s perimeter isolation defensive metric in three out of his past four seasons in the league
Covington is hands down the best perimeter defender on this list, and while his outside shooting can be a little streaky, I have him near the top of my list in terms of wing targets for the Atlanta Hawks.
Justin Champagnie (24) – 6’6”, 206 pounds
Justin Champagnie (not to be confused with his twin brother, Julian, who currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs) is a player that I’m sure will garner a fair amount of interest should the Washington Wizards decide to waive him – a real possibility given that his contract is non-guaranteed for the 2025-26 season and that the Wizards currently have 18 players on their roster*.
*16 of whom have guaranteed deals for next season
After bouncing between the NBA and the G League over the past three seasons, Champagnie emerged as a pleasant surprise for an abhorrent Washington Wizards team in 2024-25, averaging 8.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and a steal in 62 appearances (21.6 minutes per game).
He doesn’t bring much to the table as a playmaker but was quite efficient as a scorer last season, shooting 38.3% from three (on 5.1 attempts per 75 possessions) and 73% at the rim.
On the defensive end, despite his slender frame, Champagnie is capable of guarding 1 through 4 and ranked in the 99th percentile (!) in BBall-Index’s defensive versatility metric in 2024-25. He also did a great job of being disruptive last season, ranking in the 85th percentile amongst all players in steal percentage* (2.3%) and in the 72nd percentile in block percentage* (2.5%). His defensive activity would be a nice fit for an Atlanta defense that ranked sixth in the league in opponent turnover percentage last season.
*per dunksandthrees
Given his age, as well as the fact that the Wizards have put significant time and effort into his development, I’d be surprised if Washington doesn’t find a way to keep him on their roster for next season. However, if they do decide to move on from him in order to make way for some of their other young prospects, he’d be a solid addition as a depth piece in Atlanta.
Alec Burks (34) – 6’5”, 214 pounds
A 14-year veteran with 920 career games (regular season & Playoffs) under his belt, Alec Burks is one of the safer free agents still on the market.
A solid bench scorer who has shot 38.6% from the perimeter over the course of his career (40.1% over the past three seasons), Burks shifted into more of an off-ball role* last season in Miami, posting a career-low usage rate while taking a career-high 76% of his field goal attempts from three-point range (8.9 3PA’s per 75 possessions) with over 95% of his three-point makes being assisted by a teammate. While his ability to score from inside the arc is somewhat hit or miss at this stage of his career, he’s an experienced veteran who would be a clean fit in Atlanta’s offense as a reliable floor spacer.
*His 16.1% usage rate last season was a career low
On defense, while I wouldn’t necessarily call him a perimeter stopper, he’s become a more intelligent defender as his career has progressed, rating in the 71st percentile or better in defensive EPM* in three out of the past five seasons. Burks has the size to hang with most 2’s and 3’s and has also consistently been an above average defensive rebounder for his position.
*A one number metric for defense from dunksandthrees. More on EPM here.
Burks has been an NBA-caliber rotation player for his entire career and would be a nice veteran addition for Atlanta’s bench unit.
Duop Reath (29) – 6’11”, 245 pounds
Another player on a non-guaranteed deal for next season, Reath might not be back in Portland seeing as they’ve spent two first round picks on bigs in the last two drafts (Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen) and still have Robert Williams III on their roster. As one of the few stretch 5’s (potentially) still on the market, the 29 year-old ‘Aussie’ has obvious appeal for a Hawks team that prioritizes shooting at the center position.
Reath began his career overseas, spending time in the Euroleague, NBL and CBA before latching onto the Blazers on a two-way contract in 2023-24. As a 27 year-old rookie, Reath made 20 starts in 68 appearances for Portland, shooting an impressive 35.9% from three on 7.5 attempts per 75 possessions. While he regressed slightly last season, with both his efficiency and playing time taking a hit, Reath still shot 32.1% on 8.1 three-point attempts per 75 possessions, and I’d still be willing to take a chance on him given his willingness to let it fly from beyond the arc.
Reath isn’t very impactful on the defensive side of the ball, rating well below league average in defensive EPM in each of the last two seasons (though opponents did shoot just 64.4% at the rim* in his minutes last season). He also tends to struggle on the defensive glass. Nonetheless, given the crop of free agent centers still on the market, Reath is a player worth taking a closer look at if the Blazers decide to waive him.
*74th percentile amongst all players per cleaningtheglass
Thomas Bryant (28) – 6’10”, 248 pounds
An eight-year veteran big-man who is capable of spacing the floor, Thomas Bryant began the 2024-25 season with the Miami Heat before being acquired by the Indiana Pacers in a mid-season trade. In 56 regular season appearances for Indiana, Bryant averaged 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds (playing 15 minutes a night) while shooting 32.1% from downtown.
Though Bryant had his moments in the Playoffs, his playing time waned as the postseason wore on due to his shortcomings on the defensive side of the ball, and it’s unlikely the Pacers bring him back for next season given that they currently have four centers on the roster.
Bryant changed up his offensive shot profile last season, setting a career high in three-point attempt rate with just under 50% of his field-goal attempts coming from beyond the arc (5.5 attempts per 75 possessions). While his efficiency at the rim took a dip in 2024-25, he has shot 76.9% from this area of the floor for his career and is a reliable play finisher on putbacks and as a roll man.
On the defensive end, despite posting solid individual block numbers (3.5% block percentage for his career), lineups anchored by Bryant typically struggle to protect the rim, and he’s graded out as a below average defender in defensive EPM in each of the past four seasons. Still, given his willingness to let it fly from beyond the arc as well as his experience playing in a fast-paced Indiana offense last season, Bryant would be a fine option as a third big.
Richaun Holmes (32) – 6’10”, 235 pounds
Holmes was officially waived by the Washington Wizards on Monday, and while he’s a few years removed from being viewed as an impactful rotation player*, he’s someone the Hawks should certainly do their due diligence on given the dearth of free agent bigs left on the market.
*Holmes ranked in the 82nd and 89th percentile in EPM playing for Sacramento during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, but has struggled to hold down a consistent role in an NBA rotation since
A strong interior presence on the offensive end, Holmes has shot an excellent 73% at the rim and 49% from floater distance* for his career, and is an above average offensive rebounder at his position. While he doesn’t bring much to the table as a floor spacer, Holmes is a capable play finisher, and has also shot a respectable 75% from the free throw stripe for his career.
*Though he’s shot just 37.4% on these looks over the past two seasons
On defense, Holmes has rated in the 88th percentile or better in Bball-Index’s rim protection metric in each of the past five seasons and helped the Wizards hold their opponents’ to league-average efficiency at the rim in his minutes last season*, per cleaningtheglass. Still, he’s far from perfect on this end, rating as a below average defender in D-EPM in each of the past four seasons, and has struggled with fouls (4.6 fouls committed per 36) and on the defensive glass throughout his career.
*Impressive considering Washington ranked dead last in opponent rim-FG% last season.
As one of the few rotation-caliber bigs remaining in free agency, Holmes should draw a fair amount of interest, and is worthy of consideration for the Atlanta Hawks.
All statistics used in this article are from from basketballreference.com, nba.com/stats, cleaningtheglass.com, dunksandthrees.com and bball-index.com.