Less than a week after the trade deadline, there’s already some buzz around the Hawks and their offseason plans.
Both Jake Fischer and Marc Stein have reported since Thursday’s deadline that there’s speculation around the league the Hawks might make Trae Young available, adding that the Spurs and Lakers are two potential landing spots if Atlanta goes in that direction.
Of course, Young’s backcourt partner was the subject of heavy trade rumors in recent weeks. The Hawks ultimately decided the offers they received for Dejounte Murray weren’t good enough.
The front office also decided to hold onto Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter, and AJ Griffin, all names that surfaced on the rumor mill.
The above-mentioned players are signed through at least next season, so the Hawks have very little payroll flexibility. It would be hard to imagine the Hawks running it back another season with the same core group of players, unless they drastically improve in the second half.
The front office hired Quin Snyder with much fanfare last February to get the most out of the roster it had assembled. But the Hawks continue to spin their wheels, entering the week five games below .500. They still have a good chance of making the play-in tournament but no one considers them a serious postseason threat.
Their recent drafts have been underwhelming. Jalen Johnson has emerged as a reliable starter in his third season but 2022 first-rounder Griffin and 2023 selection Kobe Bufkin have struggled to crack Snyder’s rotation.
That brings us to our topic of the day: What moves should the Hawks make this offseason? Should they trade Young and/or Murray? Or should they seek frontcourt upgrades to complement them?
Please take to the comments section to weigh on this topic. We look forward to your input.
Trade Trae to SA and get the picks back. Gamble that Murray regains his AS form once he gets the keys; if he doesn’t by next trade deadline, trade the other vets and tank now that you’ve got your picks back.
Just about sums it all up
That’s good for the Hawks…
Probably very bad for Trae… A young rebuilding team at the bottom of the bloodbath that is the west in comparison to the east…
Spurs can aim to get solid 3 and D players around Trae and Wemby on the starting 5… Hard to see it as more than a play in team for a few years though…
Spurs won’t trade for Trae. Murray, yes, Young, not a chance. Pops wants players that have a defensive side as well. Murray fits that profile.
Trade Trae Young while his value is still in the “elite star” range. Given how he currently plays, I don’t think you can win a championship with Trae as your best player. Not that he’s not a good player, but his minimal effort on defense and his disengagement on offense when he doesn’t have the ball isn’t going to gain him any favor with his teammates when the team struggles. You can get away with disengagement on offense given his logo range that will always demand a defender sticking close to him, but he’s got to at least try to play defense…he doesn’t even need to become a “good” defender but he can’t just be a turnstile out there.
His minimal effort on defense? So what you’re saying is you haven’t watched a Hawks game since before the All Star break last season and basing your opinion on old narratives? While Trae will never be an elite defender because of his size and stature he is trying this season.
I haven’t watched a lot of Hawks games but in the few I have he’s putting in more effort. He’s drawing offensive fouls, taking timely charges and staying in front of his man for the most part. He still is taking on a lot of offensive responsibilities so I wouldn’t expect him to be giving everything on every defensive possession but I can see the effort is there.
Trae Young has a bottom 50 defensive rating of any player in the nba that meets minimum minutes requirements. His defensive rating actually outweighs his offensive rating (which is obviously solid). Check out nba.com. His defensive ratings most years are very poor. Effort is only one part of defense, his size obviously limits him. He’s the guy to trade.
Trade Trae whilst the hype is still there…
If he goes on a hot streak before seasons end or during the playoffs… Take advantage of it… Don’t rethink… Get what you can and rebuild… Then take advantage of the next star to want out…
Hawks don’t have a game plan. Signing Collins was the first indicator. Of course they regretted it and then moved him. Then trading for another point guard who is reduced from his ceiling because there’s another ball dominant player playing his position is yet another bad move (nothing against Murray, he’s solid, just limited because he’s out of his ideal role to maximize his potential). And then lastly, not moving pieces by the deadline and collecting picks was baffling. They’re not going to go far this year, the off season trades won’t really help their cause because teams are now looking at their caps for FAs, and the picks coming in won’t be substantial enough to move north in the standings. They need a reboot and have two assets that can put everything into motion. I’d even ring Detroit and see if they’d be interested in Young for Cunningham. At least there you have a PG that’s playing SF if you haven’t moved Murray as well. Oklahoma has done well with their reboot, and Houston has as well. Time for Atlanta to take their medicine.
I’d like to see more of a Cavs with Lauri style lineup with a big front court. Play Jalen at the 3. I’m not convinced a Trae DJ Jalen OO lineup with another bigger front court player can’t win. Capela is great rebounder but gives nothing on offense not created by Trae, hunter is never available, I like bey but he is inconsistent and has zero vision. Can a combo of those guys and/or Bufkin or griffin get that piece? Sadly probably not.
Hawks could certainly be active on draft day.
If the Spurs are actually trying to trade for Trae, a Top-3 pick certainly helps that case.
They’ll cut Graham, Champ, and Bassey. Imagine Tre Jones would be a player going back to Atlanta plus picks. Spurs would have 34M in cap space. So that should work.
Atl didn’t do anything wrong , in fact they ran the playbook many in here suggest day after day in assembling a young core and building thru the draft –
The problem came when the bills came due these players had to be paid above market to be held or lost for nothing – it’s what small market teams irresponsibly asked for 2 cba”s ago
Sure sone ceilings haven’t been met but they had little choice on to pay or not to pay –
I don’t fault the draft day Trae/Luka trade, Monday morning Qb”n drafts is beyond a futile act
I don’t fault the DMurray trade, you gotta take a hack every now and then. It’s a tough league to exceed in if you don’t catch a break or two as a non taxpayer and Atl hasn’t
Blames the name of the game today but I don’t see a direction to really point a finger at here …..I’m sure they’ll be plenty of disagreements
Actually, I couldn’t agree more. They’ve assembled a very good collection of talented players, it just hasn’t worked out like they’ve liked.
Other than maybe Griffin, which I even liked the pick at the time, there really hasn’t been a pick I’ve thought was really off either.
I think having to let go of Huerter really hurt, but their depth was hurt by having to pay some of their younger guys. They were just forced to make some tough decisions, and it hasn’t exactly worked how anyone in that organization thought.
I don’t really blame the Hawks, but, like you said, in today’s world someone has to take the blame.
Well, which is it: Did they not do anything wrong? – or – Did they run the playbook many in here suggest day after day? j/k
I agree that they did draft well. They also signed away a fairly desirable RFA (rare feat) and avoided bad trades, while making a solid one to get Capela. If I had to identify what they did wrong it would be: 1) the typical demolition obsession that afflicts rookie FOC’s (Schlenk), translating into a need to level every element of the inherited team to the ground even those that are working (ATL was still a winning team when he took over); and 2) the failure to consider the broader parameters of the CBA payroll system in assembling the team; 3) buying into Trae Young as a star; and 4) forgetting that the job of a FO is to build a team, not collect pieces.
At this point you need to figure out your identity with this team. Hunter is a good player but many NBA draft pundits such as myself was absolutely high on him coming out of the draft. He has not grown into 2nd star that Atlanta and Trae needed to be able to compete in the East. I still think he will have value, but he won’t ever be the 2nd best player on his own team. I think he needs a change of scenery. Bogdan has been steady but he is just another piece. I still think there’s value for but he’s turning 32 this year, so it’s wise to sell high right now on him. Package maybe Bogdan and a future protected 1st for Jerami Grant? I’m just throwing names out there but obviously it would cost more than just what I just mentioned. Capella, i think you ride his contract out next year and see his market next February. There are a few good players on this team, but none make the whole look better than what they are actually are. I’d build around Murray and hope to get lucky in the draft. Lakers were offering pennies on the dollar for a guy like DeJounte, who isn’t a superstar but he’s better than any guard that Lakers currently have on their roster both offensively and defensively. Also, AJ Griffin has been a let down. Cam Reddish was a disaster. It’s mind boggling that the Atlanta Hawks have appeared in only one ECF since relocating from STL 50+ years ago. The culture and attitude need to change and it starts with trading Trae.