The Hawks face a myriad of challenging roster decisions this offseason. In an extensive mailbag, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic addresses several possible options the team could take with its present and future roster. Kirschner suggests that intriguing young players Lonzo Ball, Kelly Oubre, or Derrick White could all be solid options for the team, but wonders how many of them are worth the Hawks’ No. 6 pick in the 2020 draft in compensation.
Kirschner continued to discuss the team’s future in a second mailbag, citing other young role players like De’Anthony Melton and Kris Dunn as solid free agent targets. In the 2020 draft, Kirschner sees guard Tyrese Haliburton and swingman Isaac Okoro as fascinating draft possibilities if the Hawks opt to stick with the sixth pick. Assessing how these various players gel with core Hawks players Trae Young, John Collins, and Kevin Huerter will be key.
There’s more out of the NBA’s Southeast Division:
- Goran Dragic, the Heat‘s leading scorer heading into the NBA Finals, has been listed as doubtful to return for Game 6 from the torn left plantar fascia he suffered in Game 1, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald tweets. Dragic is coming off a five-year, $85MM contract he signed with the Heat in 2015, and will be an unrestricted free agent in the coming offseason.
- Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington examines several of the best international prospects that could be available to the Wizards with the ninth pick in the 2020 draft. Guards Killian Hayes and Theo Maledon and swingman Deni Avdija comprise Hughes’s top international options.
- The Hawks and coach Lloyd Pierce are focusing on honing their on-court communication whenever the 2020/21 season does eventually get underway, according to Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Forward Cam Reddish, the 2019 No. 10 pick, noted that engaging in dialogue during games was a focus of the team’s recent mini-camp, which ran from September 21 to October 1. “Definitely a key emphasis, we definitely have to talk on the court,” Reddish said.
Trade Kevin Hueter and Dwayne Dedmon plus the 6th pick to GSW for the 2nd pick and a future second.
Draft either Anthony Edwards or LaMelo Ball second overall to pair with Trae Young and John Collins as the future big three.
In reality it may seem like your giving up a lot but all it is, is Heuter for an upgrade (Edwards or Ball) and it’s costing you Dwayne Dedmon who is an overpaid back up centre. It’s a no brainer.
Then with the extra cap space because of the trade, get in Alex Len (who wants to return), Derrick Jones Jr, bring back Jeff Teague, Kris Dunn and lastly Dario Saric.
1. Trae Young. Teague. Dunn
2. Edwards/Ball. Reddish
3. Jones Jr. Hunter
4. Collins. Saric
5. Capela. Len
What you have now may not seem like much but it’s a bright future. Trae is a star, Ball/Edwards will be a star, at the theee you have competition with Jones/Hunter/Reddish. At the 4 you have Collins, Hunter and Saric and two reliable centres. Teague off the bench is a great leader and vet for this team and Kris Dunn will be a great defender who is capable of playmaking from various positions.
This team has a good bunch of shooters, defenders, athletic freaks which makes their potential very high. I’d predict this team finishes somewhere just outside the playoffs but will develop into a playoff threat
I predicted this trade but forget what else to go with it too. GSW takes Vassell. They could dump Wiggins into ATL capspace too, and take more personnel. But I guess dumping Wiggins makes the Durant S&T decision look bad.
Yeah I think GSW like and keep Wiggins. End of the day he gives them a good amount of production, is still young and developing and as a former number 1 pick has more potential to unlock.
I don’t think they draft Vassell either. With the 6th pick I’d think they take Killian Hayes. Hayes is a combo guard that’s a solid euro rookie. Can score, can pass, can shoot, and can defend. Has good IQ and few years experience just isn’t elite at anything in particular but I think in the GSW system he would develop nicely and as a rookie could be a good contributor.
Dragic needs to sign with Dallas
They project near the cap line. Maybe they could trade Hardaway into capspace to afford him, but that probably means giving up a first too. Not sure how to do it so that it helps them, and they need the right center more!
Hayes would be a good pick, a sub for Curry who has the size for wing work. He seems to like to pass on the run which fits them.