Many wondered after the unpredictable run by the Atlanta Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals how they would navigate the offseason. So far, they've done it with the idea of running it back with the same group as last season.
Trae Young got the max contract extension, John Collins is back for 5 years and $125 million and now, add Lou Williams to the mix.
Free agent guard Lou Williams has agreed to a deal to return to the Atlanta Hawks, his agent Wallace Prather of @parlay_se tells @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 5, 2021
Williams — the three-time Sixth Man of the Year — returns to Atlanta on a one-year, $5 million deal, sources said. https://t.co/wc6Q6MsbPQ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 5, 2021
Williams turned out to be a key piece for the Hawks especially in the playoffs when Trae Young dealt with an injury in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Atlanta's reserve guard was almost deemed to be a filler piece in a trade during the season last year that sent Rajon Rondo from the Hawks to the Los Angeles Clippers. Williams struggled early in the year mightily in LA but really found some comfort in Atlanta late in the season.
He averaged 10 points and 3.4 assists per game for the Hawks and shot 44% from three-point range. Williams adds a much needed veteran presence to a very young Atlanta back court.
The Hawks go as Young and Collins go in large part but those veterans like Williams provide such valuable minutes and advice throughout the course of a season. It's a short one-year deal for “Sweet Lou” but that was somewhat to be expected.
Atlanta looks primed to run it back in the 2021-22 season with much of the same squad from a year ago. This time around, they'll be aiming to get over the hump in the Eastern Conference Finals and to the NBA Finals.
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