The Hawks are interested in retaining two of their free agents, Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype reports.
They’re looking to keep Caris LeVert and Larry Nance Jr., though the price tag on LeVert apparently rose during his strong late-season performances.
After getting traded from the Cavaliers, LeVert was a valuable member of Atlanta’s second unit. In 26 games, he averaged 14.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists. He also impressed the Hawks with his locker room presence.
LeVert, 30, is expected to receive offers from rival teams at the non-taxpayer mid-level exception of approximately $14.1MM. As we explained in late March, Atlanta holds LeVert’s Bird rights. That will allow the Hawks to exceed the salary cap to re-sign him. Scott anticipates a starting salary similar to the $16.62MM that LeVert made this season would help separate Atlanta from the competition.
Nance is another player valued for his off-court leadership. He was limited to 24 games this season due to a knee injury, averaging 8.5 points on 51.6 percent shooting from the field and 44.7 percent beyond the arc in 19.3 minutes. However, Scotto also notes that Nance will have some suitors in the open market. Nance, 32, has bounced around the league, as Atlanta was the fifth uniform he’s worn since entering the NBA in 2015.
Not surprisingly, Clint Capela is considered a candidate to join another team in free agency. Capela lost his starting center job during the second half of the season to Onyeka Okongwu.
An even bigger issue looming over the front office, headed by new GM Onsi Saleh, is how to navigate contract extension talks with four-time All-Star guard Trae Young. Their star guard has one guaranteed year remaining on his contract at $46MM, along with a nearly $49MM player option for 2026/27. His name has popped up frequently in trade rumors and the Hawks could explore that option as well.
Nance was really solid once upon a time, but he’s an older 32 due to injuries without the bounce that made him more valuable earlier in his career IMO. Plus he’s only played 60 games twice since 2019 and I think the Hawk’s need to value guys that play more. Hopefully it’s a super cheap contract. I don’t really know what to think of Atlanta’s future. They’re in such an interesting place as a team with a fairly low ceiling and decently high floor.
Onyeka overtook Clint as our starting 5 & played extremely well as a starter. We got him locked up for 3 or 4 more seasons but Clint & Nance are both UFA’s so clearly we need a backup 5. What I don’t understand is why the narrative of Clint leaving gets pushed so hard. He obv fits our style. He obv pairs extremely well with Trae. He’s obv a great leader for our young bigs. I’m guessing people think he might cost to much or wanna start again? Both of those reasons are clearly bogus but I can’t think of what else it could be.
In any case there’s a lot of different ways Onsi could choose to go with this roster. Resigning Caris seems logical to me as well but we def don’t need to bring him back. We got TeMann & Vit as bench wings already plus we can bring back Garry Matthews for prob a fifth of what Caris will cost. Caris is better than those guys tho & he solidifies our 2nd unit with his scoring/play-making so we prob do bring him back.
Trading Trae is my #1 hope but if that doesn’t happen I’d honestly rather bring back Clint than Nance. Nance is obv a better passer & much better shooter but Clint is still an elite rebounder & we’re gonna need that next yr.
LeVert is criminally underrated. He has produced in the NBA when given the opportunity. With the ball in his hands, he has faced the best defender on the court very frequently throughout his career. He is a very covetable 6th man.
Nance would cost a fraction of what Capela will get and not push for as much playing time. The size of our bigs has been one of our biggest the past few years. Trae is a lot like an Iverson or Isiah Thomas when it comes to defensive liability due to size. Both of those guys best years team wise were when they a big defensive presence behind them. Something the Hawks have lacked for years
How much do you think Nance & Clint will get this summer?
I’m not sure wym by saying Nance wouldn’t push for as much pt but we need a guy that can play the 5 for 20mins/gm. Basically comes down to which of those guys could do a better job. I like Nance a lot & I’d be cool if we keep him but Clint seems like the better option.
I gotta completely disagree that a lack of size has been our biggest issue. Our bigs have been one of our biggest strengths when both healthy. Anytime 1 of them was hurt was when we were at our worst.
Trae is obv a defensive liability but Isiah def wasn’t & neither was AI. But I agree it’s necessary to have an elite defensive presence behind Trae. Lucky for us Clint Capela is exactly that. His ability to defend the paint isn’t as great as it was a few yrs ago but it’s still well above severe as far as NBA bigs & it’s a main reason we need him (or someone similar to him).
I’m thinking Capela will get 3/50 or so and want starters minutes. Nance I’m hoping we could do like 1/7 or 2/12 maybe. He has some nights where he would play 25-28 minutes but mostly 16-20 minutes. Capela was always undersized and now he has lost of his explosiveness. Our biggest need this off-season is to get longer. Even onyeka is really undersized. Look at Cleveland, Milwaukee, Indy and Boston. They are all much longer than us. The Knicks have some of our issues and I caught up to them against Indy.