Mike Muscala, Hawks Reportedly Agree to 2-Year, $10 Million Contract

Free agent power forward Mike Muscala has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $10 million contract with the Atlanta Hawks according to Shams Charania of The Vertical. 

Charania added that the deal includes a player option for the 2018-19 season, allowing Muscala to potentially enter free agency again next summer.

Muscala, 26, averaged 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per game with the Hawks last season. He shot a career-best 41.8 from beyond the arc on 110 attempts.

NBA writer Nate Duncan was surprised Atlanta was able to retain Muscala for a relative bargain: 

And Dan Feldman of Pro Basketball Talk noted that Muscala could be a major contributor for the team next season:

"Muscala can play either big-man position, which, in the modern NBA, means he should probably play more center. But that depends what else Atlanta does. With Paul Millsap and Dwight Howard gone, Muscala might even start this year.

"That exposure could put him in line for a raise next season. His range extends beyond the arc, and he’s an acceptable defender inside and out. Muscala is far from elite, but he loosely fits the coveted skill set for bigs."

Indeed, Muscala's major competition for playing time likely left this offseason. If Ersan Ilyasova is re-signed, he'll see minutes at the 4, while rookie John Collins should be given plenty of time on the court for a Hawks team in transition. 

Beyond that, Miles Plumlee will see minutes at center. But if Muscala continues to grow his game, there's a legitimate chance for him to be a regular starter for the team in the 2017-18 season.