Yesterday you might have read my post about the Hawks losing small forward Josh Childress, and that Atlanta signing a legitimate replacement seemed unlikely. Well, I am pleased to tell you I was wrong. On Friday the Hawks DID sign a replacement for Childress, former Laker swingman Maurice Evans, and at the same time they addressed a couple of their weaknesses. Evans is a versatile and athletic small forward/shooting guard. He plays solid perimiter defense, and he’s also a career 36% three point shooter. Evans averaged 9.3 ppg last year for the Orlando Magic, and 9.0 ppg during the playoffs.
Evans isn’t going to get all the tip-ins and offensive boards that Childress would have garnered- as a matter of fact, he’s not much of a rebounder at all (2.5 rpg during his seven year NBA career). But what Evans gives Atlanta is:
A. Another veteran to guide these young Atlanta players to a winning record
B. A pure scoring threat off the bench, especially from three-point land
C. Nasty perimeter defense
D. Someone who could spell Joe Johnson and keep him fresh for the end of the games.
Maurice Evans has played with the veterans in Detroit, he’s also played under the Zenmaster in L.A. He understands what a winning culture is. During the offseason, Joe Johnson bemoaned the lack of veteran presence in the Hawks locker room. The Evans signing should help quell some of his concerns.
Picture this defensive lineup: Johnson, Evans, Al Horford, and Josh Smith on the floor at the same time, with (dare I say it) Speedy Claxton running the point. Atlanta head coach Mike Woodson’s options just multiplied.
So where are we on that Hawks offseason checklist, lets see- maybe add a couple of big men, and, oh yeah- RESIGN the second best player on the team. If Hawks GM Rick Sund can resign Smith and add someone like Randolph Morris (who has already tried out for Atlanta) I’d be more than satisfied in spite of the unfortunate Childress situation. But this is still the Hawks, so I’ll believe it when I see it.
