The Atlanta Hawks have an eventful offseason ahead of them. The franchise was seemingly ahead of its developmental curve as they burst on the scene in 2021. The Hawks embraced the villain role and made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately, the franchise took a step back this season by going 43-39 in the regular season and was knocked out by the Miami Heat in the opening round of the playoffs.

The focus will have to shift to building for next season as Atlanta seemingly has great change on their mind. It has been reported that just about everyone outside of Trae Young and De'Andre Hunter could be moved. It also seems inevitable that John Collins is traded although the Hawks have had difficulty finding a suitor. The Hawks must do a better job surrounding Trae Young with win-now two-way talent as they hope to have an improved season this year. This will start in free agency and here are three names to keep an eye on.

3 players Hawks must sign in 2022 NBA free agency

3)Bruce Brown

A scrappy defensive-minded guard who can do a little bit of everything, Bruce Brown would be a terrific addition to the Hawks. Brown plays a winning brand of basketball and is a clean fit on most contending teams. Last season with the Nets he averaged 9.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He also shot 40.4% on three-point attempts throughout the regular season.

In the playoffs, the Nets relied on Bruce Brown in a larger role and he was able to produce accordingly. The 25-year-old averaged 14.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals. Brown plays with a high motor and is a much better rebounder than his 6'4″ size would suggest. He also does an excellent job cutting into the paint and creating looks for others. Brown excels when checking in to the top of the key and forcing the opponents' defense to make decisions. His effectiveness with the floater and solid passing ability make things very difficult for opposing defenses. The Hawks' offense is already fairly lob dominant, and adding Bruce Brown to the playmaking mix would provide an interesting new element. He is a winning player that would increase the overall competitive nature of the Atlanta roster as well.

2)Donte DiVincenzo

Another guy who does a great job doing the little things a team needs is Donte DiVencenzo. The Villanova product was the 17th overall pick in the 2018 draft but has yet to find his true niche in the NBA. DiVencenzo was traded from the Bucks to the Kings last season. In the 25 games he spent in Sacramento, he averaged 10.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.5 steals during his 26.6 minutes of play.

Although he stands just 6'4″, DiVencenzo has the positional versatility and athleticism to guard positions 1-3. He is a capable shooter and although his career 34.7% three-point percentage does not jump off the page, he likely would benefit greatly from the open looks that Trae Young creates. DiVencenzo would be a low-cost signing who could greatly outplay his contract. He would make an impact on both sides of the ball which is exactly the type of player the Hawks should be targeting.

1)Deandre Ayton

The Deandre Ayton saga has been one of the major storylines of the offseason. While the market is sure to be hot for the former number one overall pick, the Hawks would be wise to get into the mix. Atlanta is in need of more frontcourt talent and Deandre Ayton's ability could prove to be further unlocked alongside Trae Young. Ayton would be the highest-caliber teammate that Trae Young has played with thus far. Giving Ayton some additional touches as well as the lob opportunities the Hawks already run for their big men could be the opportunity the big man desires and the production the Hawks are missing.

Clint Capela and John Collins have shown some real positive flashes in their time with the Hawks. However, the pedigree that Deandre Ayton possesses could bring the Hawks' offense to a whole new level. It will be interesting to watch how the Ayton saga ends this offseason. The unwillingness from the Suns to give him a max contract has made many look at the situation from a pure free agency standpoint. However, a sign-and-trade is still on the table, and using John Collins in the deal could give the Hawks a leg up. Regardless, the franchise should do their due diligence to see if bringing Ayton to Atlanta is a real possibility. Trae Young is in need of a true costar and Ayton may be the best option on the market at the moment.