NBA Free Agents 2011: The Atlanta Hawks Need to Re-Sign Jamal Crawford

Veteran journeyman Jamal Crawford thought he had finally found a home with the Atlanta Hawks when he was traded from the Golden State Warriors before the 2010 NBA regular season.

Instead of attempting to re-sign the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Atlanta allowed Crawford to play out the final year of his $10-million contract and enter free agency.

As NBA free agency creeps closer, Hawks management should come to the realization of how much they need Crawford.

Over his first year on the Hawks, Crawford’s 18 points per game were second on the team throughout the regular season, sitting only behind veteran Joe Johnson. He played 31 minutes per game and was the driving force behind miraculous comebacks and game-winning buzzer-beaters.

Crawford got his first taste of the playoffs as well. He averaged the second most points on the team throughout the 2010 playoffs, just over 16 points in almost 32 minutes per game.

Crawford’s arrival in Atlanta cemented them as perennial playoff contenders. His energy was remarkable and his blacktop crossovers were what brought fans in the Highlight Factory to their feet. Once fighting for their playoff lives against the over-matched Boston Celtics in the 2008 playoffs and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009, they were instantly contenders in the East with a mixture of youth on the floor and consistent scoring off the bench.

The Hawks quickly became one of the most exciting teams in league as they combined the veteran sharpshooter with Al Horford, Josh Smith and Joe Johnson.

In 2011, Hawks fans knew what they had coming into the season. Atlanta was starting fresh after a demoralizing playoff sweep to the division-rival Orlando Magic. Crawford’s production slightly diminished and the Hawks slipped into the fifth seed of the postseason.

Orlando had been a thorn in Atlanta’s side over previous years, but Crawford’s heroics saved the team yet again. In just his second year with Atlanta, Crawford averaged just over 20 points per game, shot a blistering 45 percent from three-point land and made 76 percent of his shots from the charity stripe.

Despite being ousted by the Chicago Bulls and league MVP Derrick Rose in the second round of the playoffs, Crawford averaged just over 10 points per game and was dominant in the two games they won.

The 12-year veteran was speculated to be demanding a three- or four-year extension worth around $10 million annually after Joe Johnson inked a six-year $119-million deal. The Hawks are simply unable to match that sort of deal with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which basically prohibits them from going over the cap via Bird Rights.

Although the road will be tough for the Hawks to re-sign a vital piece of their franchise, one thing is certain.

Bringing Jamal Crawford back to Atlanta is simply a no-brainer.