After a remarkable 2021 postseason run that saw them reach the Eastern Conference Finals, the Hawks have staggered out of the gate in 2021/22. The team is off to a 16-20 start and currently occupies the conference’s No. 12 seed. Chris Kirschner and John Hollinger of The Athletic discuss several potential trades for Atlanta. Kirschner and Hollinger identify a defensive upgrade on the wing as the ideal priority for the club.
Hollinger pinpoints the expiring mid-sized deals of Lou Williams, Gorgui Dieng and Delon Wright, as well as intriguing young players such as Cam Reddish, Onyeka Okongwu and Jalen Johnson, as possible trade chips that team president Travis Schlenk could look to move. Kirschner considers the Pacers and Celtics to be amenable to making deals that could suit the Hawks’ needs.
The Hawks would be open to offloading some of their depth to add a high-impact player in a two-for-one deal, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic in another piece. Amick suggests that forwards Danilo Gallinari and Reddish may be the most likely players to be moved.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- Several Magic players signed to 10-day hardship exception deals will soon discover their fates with the club, writes Khobi Price of the Orlando Sentinel. Hassani Gravett, Admiral Schofield, Tim Frazier and Freddie Gillespie are the team’s four current hardship exception signings. The contracts of Gravett and Schofield, who signed their second 10-day deals with Orlando in late December, expire today. “The one thing is these guys understand what we’re asking them to do,” head coach Jamahl Mosley said. “Their ability to move the basketball, sit down and defend the right way — no matter who’s out there, they’re coming in and doing their jobs.”
- Rookie Magic small forward Franz Wagner, selected with the eighth pick out of Michigan, has emerged as one of the prime bright spots for the 7-32 team this season, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.
- Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. has revealed that center Thomas Bryant, still recuperating from ACL surgery, could rejoin Washington within the next two weeks, per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington (Twitter link).
Hawks now realize how valuable DeAndre Hunter is as a defensive stopper and shooter. Schlenk was foolish to sign and overpay on Bogdanovic, Gallinari, Collins & Capela. Too many mouths to feed on this team. A case of addition by subtraction.
Hawks last season finished 5th in the east and in the playoffs won in 5, won in 7 and lost in 6.
A total of 18 playoff games.
Hunter only played 23 games during the regular season and 5 games in the playoffs. He hasn’t been the difference between last season and this season.
As for the decision to sign and extend dude’s. Last season was only achieved cause you had those guys. If you didn’t sign them you wouldn’t have achieved what you did so how it is a foolish decision? You’ve regressed from a really good season due to many reasons.
Bogi is playing very poorly, Capela has regressed, and the obvious answer Covid.
Hawks are desperate to turn the season around and build something really strong around Trae young. There biggest issue is their defence sucks.
Why not add one of the leagues best defenders and three time all star Ben Simmons who is holding out for a trade and who’s value has plummeted?
End of the day if your building a contending team your going to need more than 1 all star which is all the hawks currently have. Ofcourse some of their guys have potential to one day get there but no guarantees that will happen.
The Nets have 3 all stars, Bucks have 3, Heat have 2, Celtics have 2 and they aren’t even in the top 8.
The deal:
Ben Simmons and Isiah Joe for Bogi, Hunter and either Okungwu and 2 second rounders or Lou Williams and a first.
Hawks are left with Trae and Simmons as your two stars and a supporting cast of Hueter, Reddish, Wright, Johnson, Collins, Gallo, Deing and Capela. That’s 10 players making up your main rotation and with guys like Joe, Mays, Cooper, TLC and Hill for back ups.
Great mix of players, great mix of promising future and competitive basketball. Should be playoff bound with this team.
For my Sixers, it’s not a superstar return but it’s alright. Bogi aside from this season is usually a really solid bench contributor and steps up his game in the playoffs. Hunter when fit is a very solid young two way forward. A great fit with what we currently have. Then your either getting Lou Will and a first or young Okwungwu and some seconds. If fully fit and firing we would have a great chance of making a playoff push.
Maxey Curry Hunter Harris Embiid, Milton Bogi Green Thybulle Korkmaz Niang Drummond that’s a very strong rotation.
Simmons would be great for Atlanta.
Simmons fanboys are delusional to believe that ATL will plunge into a trade. Schlenk was a front row witness to the Ben meltdown and a beneficiary with his own contract extension. He ain’t going to stick his neck out for a sure career terminating move.
Simmons will fit perfectly in ATL, yes this situation reduced his value but he is still an All Defensive player, super young with a 3 year contract. Acting like he is some bum or just a bench player is being delusional, please stop.
Only delusion are those who believe an “all star” is a player you sit at crunch time when the defense is only in glee defending 4 with 5 players. But then again Morey is the smartest guy in the room. LOL.
We have seen a lot of players, All stars, that sit for defensive posessions, there is no shame in that. He still can be fixed tho.
He played 6 playoffs series and his team won 3. 3 of the loses were 7 game series and he played 35MPG, so he is really valuable even in playoffs.
We can disagree about his real value, but he is nothing less than an All star caliber, and DPOY player, that is undeniable. What kind of return do you think he will get?
He’s damaged goods. Can’t shoot, doesn’t want to work on his shooting, and has a suspect motor. You’re only going to get similar damaged goods unless a desperate GM drops a gift to the smartest guy in the room. The greater risk is a much weaker negotiating position when Embid’s broken down body breaks again. Then this becomes another 5 year “process” cycle.
He will never shoot at a decent %, i get that. But he is a phisycally gifted player he can still create offense with that and be a DPOY caliber on the defensive end.
That means he can get you at least one border all-star player and middle picks or something like that.
I hate Simmons attitude, a lot, but still he is an All star player, this is a league that moves around talent and he has that.
Not to mention if Ben does turn it around he still has sky high potential. Everyone says imagine how scary Giannas will be once he adds a jumper and it’s taken time but he’s now a nba champ and two time mvp. His work ethic is crazy good tho.
If Ben can atleast improve his ft% then he’s going to be playable throughout the playoffs and then on top of that if he can shot the three occasionally he’s going to give teams problems.
In fairness too, it’s not like he can’t shoot the three at all too, he has worked on it in the gym behind closed doors and occasionally film gets leaked it’s just he hasn’t translated that into games.
I think Mr Hollinger should take out Cam & OO from the list of transferable players & add Hunter instead, I mean dude ain’t that good & never plays, at least Cam doesn’t play much more, but boy when he plays he is good… also OO has great potential!
2005 was probably one of the best 2nd round drafts
Brandon Bass
Cj Miles
Ersan Ilysova
Montae Ellis
Lou Williams
Andray Blatche
Amir Johnson
Marcin Gortat
I take 2014 2nd Round.
Jokic
Jordan Clarkson
J. Grant
Joe Harris
S. Dinwiddie