Hawks can find bargains in free agency

Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva are off the free-agent board already. By the time the holiday weekend has ended they’ll probably have company.

Even in what has been described as “down” free-agent market, there is bound to be plenty of movement.

While the Hawks have players of their own to deal with, most notably unrestricted free agents Mike Bibby, Zaza Pachulia and Flip Murray and restricted free agents Josh Childress and Marvin Williams, they also have to scan every aisle in this buyer’s market and make sure they don’t leave any bargains on the showroom floor without at least weighing the pros and cons.

So while the best of this summer’s group might be headed elsewhere, some of the true difference-makers who could help the Hawks might come from the less-heralded group of free agents.

A few under-the-radar names to keep an eye on in the coming days:

GERALD GREEEN, small forward

• Vitals: 6-8, 210

• Last team: Dallas

• 2008-09 statistics: 5.2 points and 1.4 rebounds

• Why he makes sense for the Hawks: Green is a bargain hunter’s dream. Green is a former first-round pick who has struggled to find the right fit in the league; he’s been on four different teams in his four NBA seasons. When he was used prominently, during the 2006-07 season in Boston, he averaged a career-best 10.4 points and 2.6 rebounds. He could be an ideal rotation player off the bench for the Hawks.

THEO RATLIFF, center

• Vitals: 6-10, 235

• Last team: Philadelphia

• 2008-09 statistics: 2.8, 1.9 points and 1.0 blocks

• Why he makes sense for the Hawks: Ratliff, a former Hawk, still is a defensive force when called upon, and he averaged 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 points in 15.7 minutes during the 76ers’ first-round playoff series. Since he wouldn’t be relied on for major minutes, Ratliff’s age wouldn’t be an issue., and the Hawks wouldn’t have to go far to track him down. Ratliff calls Atlanta home in the offseason.

CHRIS WILCOX, power forward

• Vitals: 6-foot-10, 235 pounds

• Last team: New York

• 2008-09 statistics: 7.2 points and 4.5 rebounds

• Why he makes sense for the Hawks: They need a toughness boost on the frontline, and Wilcox provides that in bunches. He has worked mostly off the bench during his eight seasons in the NBA, the first four with the Los Angeles Clippers. Wilcox has dealt with his share of injuries in the past, but the Hawks need a rotation player capable of providing quality minutes behind both Josh Smith and Al Horford. Wilcox can do that.

BRANDON BASS, power forward

• Vitals: 6-8, 250

• Last team: Dallas

• 2008-09 statistics: 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds

• Why he makes sense for the Hawks: Sure, the Hawks need size in the paint, and Bass is only 6-8, but he plays much bigger than listed. Bass also has a nice face-up game, his range stretches out to 17 feet, and he’s a rugged rebounded and defender. He averaged nearly 20 minutes per game in two seasons with the Mavericks, who might have the inside track on re-signing him.

CHANNING FRYE, power forward

• Vitals: 6-11, 245

• Last team: Portland

• 2008-09 statistics: 4.0 points and 2.2 rebounds

• Why he makes sense for the Hawks: Lost in the shuffle in a deep frontcourt rotation in Portland, the Blazers didn’t extend him a qualifying offer, so he is on the open market this summer. Still young and surely not a finished product, the Hawks could use another player of Frye’s size as reinforcements off the bench. The next team that grabs him could get the steal of the summer.