Oct 9, 2014; Lithonia, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Thabo Sefolosha (25) is guarded by Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) during their open practice at Miller Grove High School. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
AM: How big will the loss of DeMarre Carroll prove to be for the Hawks? Can players like Thabo Sefolosha, Tim Hardaway Jr and Justin Holiday fill that void?
AS: I’m on record as saying DeMarre Carroll’s departure is a huge loss. Some readers think I’m exaggerating so it’s been a point of contention over at Soaring Down South.
The fact of the matter is, Carroll is a big, versatile defender at the small forward position and he shot 39.5 percent from outside last season. It’s tough to replace that kind of production.
If Thabo Sefolosha has recovered from his injuries he can somewhat replace Carroll on the defensive end. He is not quite as big as Carroll so he is not as adept at guarding power forwards. In other words, he lacks DeMarre’s versatility.
Tim Hardaway Jr. is a poor defender, but he may be able replace Carroll’s outside shooting. He shot 36.3 percent from three-point range in his rookie season, so in theory, he can become a capable shooter in Mike Budenholzer’s system. Common sense suggests that Hardaway will get more open shots in Atlanta’s offense then he did in New York’s, all he has to do is knock them down.
I’ve recently called Justin Holiday a lottery ticket. He’s a long, athletic wing that has intriguing potential, but he hasn’t shown much offensive ability during his short NBA career. If he can become a better shooter he has the makings of a “Three and D” wing that would slide perfectly into Carroll’s old role. Of course, there’s also the chance that he doesn’t even factor into the rotation at all.
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