After a quick playoff exit at the hands of the Miami Heat in the 2022 NBA playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks are certainly eager to prove their previous playoff run wasn’t a fluke.
The Hawks were one of the first teams to make serious noise this offseason when they took over all-star guard Dejounte Murray from the San Antonio Spurs and immediately created one of the league’s most impressive backcourts in Trae Young. The team also traded Justin Holiday and Maurice Harkless for more wing depth.
Although Atlanta tends to stay under the radar, it has also signed a number of free agents who could prove to be key figures in the team’s quest to become a true contender. The Hawks’ cores — Young, Murray, Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic and John Collins — will carry the load for another season. On the bench, on the other hand, will be new faces who could be waiting for big seasons in their own right.
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Atlanta Hawks 2022 Free Agency Sheet Music
Frank Kaminsky: B+
Going into his eighth season in the league, the seven-foot may have found himself in an ideal situation. With the 6’10 Capela and the 6’9 Collins, this current iteration of the Hawks was notoriously undersized on the front court. With Kaminsky, coach Nate McMillan has the opportunity to experiment with his rotation throughout the season and see how the team can benefit most from the center’s presence.
Kaminsky has established himself as a viable backup during his time in the league. He spent his first four seasons with the Charlotte Hornets averaging 9.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 22.2 minutes per game. He then played three seasons with the Phoenix Suns, contributing 8.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in about 18 minutes per game.
Kaminsky’s last four seasons have sadly been marred by injuries, but the Hawks could have a true steal on their hands if he can stay grounded. In nine games with the Suns in 2021-22, he averaged solid numbers of 10.6 points and 4.6 rebounds before going down with a knee injury.
Don’t expect Kaminsky to repeat this box-score production in Atlanta. Given their apparent need for distance up front and additional catch-and-shoot opportunities afforded him by playing with Young and Murray, Kaminsky was still able to make a tangible impression off the bench for the Hawks and get his wayward career back in get going.
Aaron Holiday: B
The Hawks signed the younger Holiday brother on July 6, giving the team more depth in the backcourt. His final season began with the Washington Wizards and ended with the Suns, where he averaged 6.8 points and 3.4 rebounds in just 22 appearances in 16.0 minutes per game. Holiday will be reunited with McMillan, with whom he had his best season as Indiana Pacer, so a resurgence is not out of the question.
During the 2019-2020 Indiana season, Holiday averaged 9.5 points, 3.4 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game. He started half of the 66 games he played. That’s not to say Holiday should be considered for an Atlanta starting spot, but this season was a taste of just how effective the six-foot-tall guard can be when he plays regularly. Despite being undersized like Young, Holiday has extensive experience leading an NBA-level offense and should prove a useful backup.
