The Hawks are looking to acquire a high second-round pick in exchange for either guard Marco Belinelli or forward Ersan Ilyasova, league sources tell Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported earlier this week that Belinellii and Ilyasova are among the Hawks veterans who are expendable as the team looks to stockpile more draft picks and young players.
While the Hawks are well out of the playoff race in the East, both Belinelli and Ilyasova have been their usual productive selves this season. Belinelli has matched his career high in scoring with 11.8 PPG so far, converting 38.6% of his three-point attempts. Ilyasova has also been effective from long-range, posting a .400 3PT% to go along with 11.2 PPG.
Neither player has an exorbitant salary, making them attractive trade pieces for contenders in need of another rotation piece. However, both veterans would likely be rentals for any team acquiring them — Belinelli is on a $6.6MM expiring contract, while Ilyasova is earning $6MM before becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency in July.
Scotto likens the Hawks’ situation to the Suns shopping P.J. Tucker at last season’s deadline. Tucker, who was in the final year of his contract, was sent to a contender in Toronto, with the Raptors surrendering a pair of second-round picks for him. Like last year’s Suns, who acquired Jared Sullinger‘s expiring salary in that Tucker deal, the Hawks wouldn’t want to take back any undesirable multiyear contracts.
Of course, if Atlanta wants to land a high second-round pick for Belinelli or Ilyasova, working something out with a playoff team may be tricky. For instance, would-be contenders like the Timberwolves and Thunder hold their own second-rounders, but those picks figure to fall in the 50s, or at least the late-40s. The Sixers, who hold multiple 2018 second-round picks, including the Nets’ selection, are among the clubs that might make more sense as potential trade partners for Atlanta, given the Hawks’ asking price.
If the Hawks can land two high 2nd round picks for them or a late first without taking on salary, that would be ideal!
We will likely have 3 first round picks, adding 2 more seconds to go with the one we have, would make us the team controlling one of the deepest drafts in recent memory. That’s without including the likely trade of Bazemore or Schroder for another 1 rat.
Now we just have to draft the right players (Bagley III) and surround them with the right Vets.
Hawks have been making the right moves but they better get more than a rat for Bazemore lol.
Really if it’s not top 5 then a good prospect in addition. Is the Bazemore/Shroder combo not synergistic?
Ilyasova fits into Boston’s DPE and they have a collection of various 2nd rounders.
I didn’t see the 2nd round picks Boston has incoming on the list and I doubt Atlanta would want Bos own 2nd round pick because it will be in the bottom of the second round and Atl is looking for at least a high 2nd. However I do agree Bos is a good fit. With Bos having LA’s first round pick, would they be willing to deal their own late first round pick to get him? Top 24 protected.
Boston dont need player that cant play well on a losing team… what makes u think they goun to trade for them in a deep draft… danny wont.. hes to smart.. sorry hawks are goin to suck for years…aka boston will be getting a top 5 pick again lol.. thats a smart gm.
Dont let ur team lose seasons. And what r the hawks waiting for anyways
Lol….. you don’t get I guess, please re-read. No need to bash our Hawks we know we’re bad, however BK made a dumb trade. Not so much Danny being so smart as to a dumb trade by BL and an owner desperate to win now. That said, I do like the moves Danny has made, but it’s predicated by a dumb trade by another team.
Once you re-read you’ll see it’s Boston’s pick at the end of the 1rst round not the picks they have coming in trade. So a win/win as you guys do need another shooter to dethrone the King and you’d be hard pressed to get another better for a late first or early 2nd even in a deep draft.
That said if you don’t want him, it’s cool. More than confident he’ll find a home for the price we want. Jut don’t miss the window to beat Cle by holding on to a late first. And he’s at .368 from 3pt land for his career behind the arc, so it has nothing to do with playing on a bad team. He’s a 4 that can shoot.