Atlanta Hawks Reportedly Agree to Deal with Lou Williams

Just when you thought the Atlanta Hawks were about to take a few steps back, newly appointed GM Danny Ferry went to work reloading a roster that took a hit with Joe Johnson's trade to the Brooklyn Nets.

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, the Hawks have reached an agreement with free-agent guard Lou Williams:

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The Atlanta Hawks have agreed to a deal with free agent G Lou Williams, a source told ESPN.com. 

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 10, 2012"

Windhorst later reported that the deal is for multiple years, and likely involves the team's $5 million mid-level exception. 

Though the Philadelphia 76ers decided to go in a different direction after Williams opted out of the final year of his contract, their loss will most certainly be Atlanta's gain.

The 6'1" combo guard isn't much of a passer, and he certainly won't contribute much on the defensive end. That being said, Williams is an absolutely electric scorer. He just had his most productive season with the 76ers, averaging 14.9 points and 3.5 assists in over 26 minutes per game. 

Williams is originally from Georgia, so his signing represents a homecoming of sorts. It is also an ideal fit on the court, as the Hawks bench was in need of some offensive help with Kirk Hinrich reportedly heading back to Chicago to play for the Bulls. 

The star sixth man can hit threes, but his bread and butter is a mid-range game that allows him to pull up from anywhere on the floor. In addition to his shooting, Williams is adept as slashing inside and finishing around the rim. 

Whether Williams ensures the Hawks will remain a force in the postseason remains to be seen, but they look much closer to doing so now than they did a week ago.