The Hawks have lost two games in a row and both losses were disheartening. Atlanta gave up 150 points and 50 assists to the Pacers on Friday night and then lost to an Orlando team that was missing Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr.
The Hawks have been the team that has been mentioned the most in trade rumors in recent days and with only one month until the trade deadline, the rumor mill is going to continue to churn.
Over the weekend, NBA insider Marc Stein shared that Atlanta is determined to build around Trae Young and Jalen Johnson:
“Atlanta is determined to, as one source described it, ‘build around Trae and Jalen Johnson’ going forward under new coach Quin Snyder,” Stein wrote. “Which means [Dejounte] Murray, De’Andre Hunter, and Clint Capela, most notably, are all available in potential trades … and with sharpshooter Bogdan Bogdanović expected to generate as much external interest as any current Hawk.”
Bogdanovic has had a really good season and I have said he should be in the running for 6th man of the year. However, it would be wise for the Hawks to explore their options in for him since he could command some assets due to the year he is having.
Stein is not the first insider to suggest Atlanta could be looking to build around Young and Johnson and be “sellers” at the trade deadline.
When discussing the Atlanta Hawks, Yahoo Sports NBA insider Jake Fischer had this to say:
“Right now it sounds like the Hawks are truly considering the idea of being a real seller. Taking a step back and maybe even getting a couple extra lottery balls this year…”
Fischer did have more to say about the potential plan for the Hawks.
“The Hawks are certainly open for business, with plenty of long-term deals to be moved. Of late, Atlanta has informed numerous teams the only untouchable players on the Hawks’ roster are Young and rising third-year forward Jalen Johnson, sources said. Just watch Johnson’s behind-the-back dribble and flush in transition against Oklahoma City on Wednesday, or his pacing, passing and shooting ability at his size, and you’ll understand why Hawks figures are so bullish on the 22-year-old’s upside at a broad and bouncy 6-9.
Atlanta owes its 2025 first-round selection to San Antonio as part of the haul that landed Murray, so there’s plenty of sense for the Hawks, currently 14-19, to weigh selling some of its veteran contributors, incorporating a lottery pick alongside Young and Johnson, then stepping back toward Atlanta’s bigger goal of competing in the playoffs under head coach Quin Snyder next season. Atlanta has been one of the more active teams on the phones across the league, sources said. And that seller’s path becoming more likely has league personnel no longer considering the Hawks as a prominent potential landing spot for Toronto’s other trade-deadline darling, Pascal Siakam, now that the Raptors ultimately moved on from Anunoby.”
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