Player Notes

Jerebko is encouraged by the recent signing of new head coach Maurice Cheeks, MLive.com reports.
Recommendation: It was an open secret that Jerebko and former Pistons coach Lawrence Frank did not see eye to eye, which helps explain his reduced role in two seasons under Frank's direction. In 2012-13, Jerebko posted career lows in points (7.7), rebounds (3.8), field goal percentage (44.9), and minutes (18.1). Moreover, he only appeared in 49 of 82 contests, after missing two games combined in his first two campaigns in Detroit, so a change of scheme could invigorate the mindset and production of the hybrid forward.

Johnson averaged 6.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 15.0 minutes for the Hawks this season.
Recommendation: In his second season with the team, Johnson put up nearly identical numbers to those he posted in 2011-12. He, along with Anthony Tolliver, served as a versatile defender off the bench. Unlike Tolliver, however, Johnson thrived more in the interior and was often able to draw contact from opposing defenders. The 29-year-old is a restricted free agent this offseason, and his fate with the team likely will not be decided until later in the summer, as the Hawks appear to be in play for a number of big free agents.

Petro averaged 3.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in just 31 games this season - his first with the Hawks.
Recommendation: The 27-year-old primarily served as a post defender, as his offensive game remains largely unpolished. He's an active rebounder when given the opportunity but rarely logged enough minutes to make a significant fantasy impact. His three-year, $10 million deal expires this offseason and it is very unlikely that he'll be in a Hawks uniform next season. However, a team in need of a veteran, end-of-the-bench big man will likely give Petro a shot for a much cheaper contract.

Granger (knee) will more than likely remain off the trade market this offseason, ESPN reports.
Recommendation: Despite Granger entering the final year of his contract worth $14 million, the Pacers figure to keep the band together in hopes that a healthy wing rotation is enough to overtake the Heat in the Eastern Conference next year. His season-long knee concerns allowed Paul George to break out as a legitimate two-way player, so the onus will not be on Granger anymore to carry the scoring burden. However, Granger's rehab this summer will ultimately determine the kind of a workload he'll be able to handle during the 2013-14 season.

Lewis is unsure whether he will accept his player option for the 2013-14 season, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.
Recommendation: Depending on the who returns to the Heat next season, Lewis could play an integral role in his second season with the team. There is an impending decision on whether to amnesty Mike Miller and the two years (and $12.8 million) remaining on his deal, as Miami maneuvers to avoid paying the more severe penalties for surpassing the luxury tax threshold. Meanwhile, Lewis has appeared in 11 of 21 playoff tilts, averaging just 1.5 points (on 40 percent shooting), while missing all four three-point attempts, in 4.2 minutes.

Horford averaged career highs in points (17.4), rebounds (10.2) and minutes (37.2) in 2012-13.
Recommendation: After missing the vast majority of last season with a torn pectoral muscle, Horford returned to form and emerged as one of the NBA's best big men. The former Florida star often played out of position alongside Josh Smith but still managed to shoot an efficient 54.3 percent from the field. However, he struggled to get to the line (2.8 attempts per game) as well as make free throws at an efficient rate (64.4 percent). Atlanta's roster will likely look very different next season, and given the possible departure of Josh Smith, Horford, who has three years remaining on his $60 million deal, could be the face of the franchise in 2013-14.

Mack appeared in 31 NBA games in 2012-13, spending time with the Wizards, 76ers and Hawks.
Recommendation: Mack, who played last season for the Wizards, was cut by the team at the end of the preseason and subsequently spent the next two months in the D-League. He was re-signed by the Wizards in December and started a couple games in the absence of John Wall and A.J. Price. The Wizards released Mack on Jan. 7, one day before his contract would have become guaranteed. He then signed a pair of 10-day deals with the 76ers before eventually landing with the Hawks in early March, where he would remain for the rest of the season. The former Butler star was not overly effective, but his shooting percentages (46.0 percent FG, 36.7 percent 3Pt) in limited minutes were encouraging. He's a free agent once again this summer and will likely have a few teams interested in his services as a third point guard.

Mayo averaged 15.3 points, 4.4 assists and 4.5 rebounds in his first season with the Mavericks.
Recommendation: After spending the past two seasons with the Grizzlies as the team's sixth man, Mayo signed with the Mavericks this offseason and started all 82 games. He got off to a very hot start, averaging 20.9 points per game in the month of November and making two or more 3-pointers in 12 of his first 13 games. However, his numbers curtailed as the season progressed and the return of Dirk Nowitzki reduced his shot attempts. Mayo recently announced he would exercise his player option and become a free agent this offseason. While both he and the Mavericks are believed to be interested in a long-term deal, the team's financial situation is murky at this point. Mayo will undoubtedly draw interest from a number of teams - potentially Minnesota, Phoenix or Milwaukee - looking for a shooting guard.

Smith turned in yet another solid statistical season in 2012-13, leading the Hawks to the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Recommendation: Smith's season averages (17.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists) were, for the most part, right on par with his career numbers and he failed to score in double figures just seven times. He shot 46.5 percent from the field and 30.3 percent from beyond the arc but regressed noticeably at the charity stripe (63.0 percent in 2011-12; 51.7 percent this season). At 27 years old, Smith is in the prime of his career and ranks among the league's elite forwards. As an unrestricted free agent this offseason, he'll draw plenty of interest and will likely seek a long-term, maximum contract. The Hawks could be the team to offer him that deal, but it appears they will first try their luck in acquiring Chris Paul and/or Dwight Howard.

Tolliver provided solid interior defense and rebounding off the bench for the Hawks this season.
Recommendation: In his fifth NBA season, Tolliver averaged 4.1 points and 2.5 assists in 15.5 minutes per game. He appeared in 62 games, starting 11, when Al Horford or Zaza Pachulia were out of the lineup. The 28-year-old is a very versatile defender, as his combination of size and strength enables him to guard multiple positions. He is still very much a work in progress offensively, however, and has a tendency to float to the perimeter, as evidenced by the fact that he attempted nearly three times as many 3-pointers than free throws in 2012-13. Tolliver is an unrestricted free agent this summer and will almost certainly be a target for several teams. He's played for five franchises in five seasons and, depending on Atlanta's potentially tight cap situation should they acquire Dwight Howard and/or Chris Paul, Tolliver could be suiting up for his sixth tea! m next season.

Walker improved in nearly every statistical category this season, finishing with averages of 17.7 points, 5.7 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game on 42.3 percent shooting.
Recommendation: Walker was one of the few bright spots for an otherwise lowly Bobcats squad that finished with the league's second-worst record. After shooting 36.6 percent last season, Walker improved his shot selection and was able to get to the free throw line at a higher rate (3.2 attempts per game in 2011-12; 4.5 in 2012-13). He still struggles with outside shooting (32.2 percent) and careless turnovers, but if Walker can continue to improve, the Bobcats may have finally found a solution to their revolving door at the point guard position.

Teague averaged 14.6 points and 7.2 assists per game on 45.1 percent shooting in 2012-13.
Recommendation: It's hard to believe Teague has already been in the league for four years, but the former Wake Forest star made major strides this season - his second as the team's starting point guard. Teague's free throw shooting improved dramatically (75.7 percent last season to 88.1 percent this season) and though it's still a work in progress, his 3-point percentage (35.9) improved as well. Teague is a restricted free agent this offseason and, like many of the current Hawks, will likely have to wait until later in the summer to learn his fate, as the team is expected to pursue both Dwight Howard and Chris Paul. Should the team acquire Paul, Teague would have to sign elsewhere - but if not, expect the Hawks to match any reasonable offers he receives.

Bazemore appeared in 61 games but averaged just 4.4 minutes per game as a rookie in 2012-13.
Recommendation: The former Old Dominion standout rarely saw meaningful minutes for the Warriors this season but could often be seen as the de facto cheerleading captain at the end of Golden State's animated bench. He averaged 2.0 points on 37.l percent shooting and - though he signed a two-year deal - his contract is non-guaranteed for next season. The Warriors will likely keep him around, but a strong summer league and pre-season showing could go a long way toward solidifying his spot as a reserve combo guard.

Stevenson averaged 5.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 20.7 minutes per game in 2012-13.
Recommendation: Suiting up for his sixth NBA team (fourth in the last four seasons), Stevenson appeared in 56 games (starting 31) but was hampered by chronic knee and back issues for much of the season and often did not suit up for the second game of back-to-backs. He's clearly deteriorated offensively over the past few years, as he's shot under 40 percent from the field in each season since 2007-08. Stevenson signed a three-year deal with the Hawks last offseason, but the team is likely waive him this summer to clear cap room, as his contract is non-guaranteed.

Ellis will opt out of the final year of his contract with the Bucks, which will make him an unrestricted free agent, ESPN reports.
Recommendation: The decision has been expected for some time, but Ellis has apparently informed Milwaukee management what his intentions will be once July 1 hits. The Bucks will likely still engage in talks with him during free agency, but the scoring guard seems eager to move on to a new organization. With averages of 19.2 points (on 41.6 percent shooting), 6.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 1.1 three-pointers in 37.5 minutes last season, he should have numerous suitors for the upcoming campaign.

Jones did not appear in an NBA game this season.
Recommendation: Jones, who entered the league in 2005, has not appeared in an NBA game since the 2009-10 season. The Warriors plucked him from the D-League in late April and he remained with the team throughout the playoffs. There is little chance Jones returns to the Warriors, or the NBA for that matter, next season.

Scott averaged 4.6 points on 47.6 percent shooting in 40 games for the Hawks in his first NBA season.
Recommendation: The rookie second-rounder out of Virginia played a very minor role this season, often appearing near the end of blowout contests. However, at the end of the regular season when the team was resting starters, Scott put up some impressive lines - including two consecutive double-doubles, punctuated by a 23 point, 14 rebound performance in the season finale. At 6-foot-8 with marginal athleticism, he's a bit undersized for the power forward position and his contract for next season is non-guaranteed, meaning his spot on the roster could be in jeopardy. He'll need to perform well at the Las Vegas Summer League to impress new coach Mike Bundenholzer, but he'll likely receive some looks from other teams should the Hawks opt to go in a different direction.

Korver continued to show he's one of the top 3-point marksmen in the league, as he shot an NBA-best 45.7 percent from beyond the arc in 2012-13.
Recommendation: While Korver knows his role as a shooter, he turned in perhaps his best overall season, averaging 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists to go along with 10.9 points per game. He started a career-high 60 contests and, while still a poor defender and prone to fouling, compensated with his unbelievably efficient shooting. Korver set an NBA record this season by making at least one 3-pointer in a ridiculous 77 consecutive games. His contract expires this offseason and he should receive plenty of interest around the league. Atlanta is sure to want him back but could opt to save some cash and instead go with second-year man John Jenkins as their primary perimeter shooter.

Jenkins averaged 6.1 points on 44.6 percent shooting in his first NBA season.
Recommendation: Jenkins, the 23rd overall selection in the 2012 draft, was brought in primarily for his shooting prowess. In college, he led the SEC in scoring twice and shot nearly 44 percent from beyond the arc in his career. He appeared in 61 games for the Hawks and saw his playing time increase following a season-ending ACL injury to the newly-acquired Lou Williams in January. However, with established marksman Kyle Korver already on the roster, Jenkins was never able to emerge as the primary shooter. He played well in a short, mid-season D-League stint (51 points in two games) and will likely be a member of the team's summer league squad this offseason. As per his rookie deal, Jenkins is under contract for next season and the Hawks hold club options for 2014-15 and 2015-16. The team's roster could look very different next season but expect Jenkins to once again contribu! te as a shooter off the bench.

Pachulia averaged 5.9 points and 6.5 rebounds in 21.8 minutes per game this season.
Recommendation: The veteran saw his minutes reduced, as coach Larry Drew often opted to go with a smaller lineup featuring Al Horford at center. Still, Pachulia was able to make an impact, primarily on the boards, as he averaged 10.7 rebounds per 36 minutes. He missed the final month-and-a-half of the season, as well as the team's first-round series versus the Pacers, with an achilles injury but is expected to be back to full strength well before the 2013-14 season. As an unrestricted free agent this summer, Pachulia figures to garner plenty of interest, particularly from contenders like Miami or Oklahoma City in need of a veteran rebounding presence. He's been a fan favorite in Atlanta and expressed his desire to sign a new deal, but given the franchise's current state of flux, it may be difficult to negotiate until later in the summer when the roster will likely be l! ess murky.

West, who becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1, is a top offseason priority of the Pacers, the Indianapolis Star reports.
Recommendation: West expressed his desire to return to Indiana earlier in June, so both sides are motivated to make a reunion happen.