Hawks: Lou Williams looking for a multi-year deal

John Collins isn’t the only Atlanta free agent set to hit the open market this summer. The Hawks also have to decide whether or not they want to bring back their backup point guard Lou Williams. Just the other day, Williams posted a not so cryptic Instagram post with the hashtag — ithinkimcomingback.

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Travis Schlenk revealed to the media earlier this week that the Hawks also have interest in Williams returning. Schenk said via Peachtree Hoops, “We’d be extremely open to talking to him and his camp about moving forward.” He added, “I thought he brought a lot to our team.”

Given that Williams considered retirement after he was traded in the middle of the season to the Hawks, it’s nice to see how much he came around to his new teammates, particularly Trae Young, who has raved about Williams ever since he arrived. On the court, the days of Williams being a sixth man are over, but he’s still a high-quality backup point guard capable of heating up at a moment’s notice. He averaged 11.3 points and 3.4 assists in 66 regular-season games. Those numbers were down a bit during the Hawks playoff run, which is to be expected, but Williams was incredibly efficient, shooting 45.5% from the field and 43.3% from beyond the arc.

However, complications in contract negotiations could emerge regarding the length of the deal. Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype reports that Williams, who turns 35 before next season, is looking for at least a two-year deal and possibly even longer. It does feel like Williams would like to return to Atlanta, but it has to make sense for both sides. The Hawks may prefer to get a bit younger at the position in an attempt to find a more permanent option behind Trae Young for the foreseeable future.