Trades happen to every team in the NBA throughout the course of every single NBA season. No matter what position a franchise is in, mid-season trades are used to strengthen their position for the stretch run. Contenders might add efficient veterans to complement the core, in both performance and mentality. Challengers might add key pieces to work towards having a complete unit, ready to take the next step. Tankers might trade out the last of their best players to fall further down the standings. So, no matter how the Hawks’ season goes, a trade is an almost guarantee. The question is who and here are a few answers.
Paul Millsap
Let’s start with the biggest of them all; the 31-year-old power forward out of Louisiana joined the Atlanta franchise in 2013 and has been a vital player in the Hawks’ recent surge to the top of their division. Arguably a top-20 player, Millsap is among the best in the league at his position and there is literally nothing he can’t do. He can score; both near the rim and from mid-range and pass. He can block, steal and rebound. That is why he has been huge for Atlanta’s success and also why he’s remained a great player.
However, if the 2016-17 season does not go to plan, his status becomes all the more uncertain. If the Schroeder-Bazemore-Millsap-Howard unit fails to recreate the heights of the Teague-Millsap-Horford era and the team falters towards an early summer, the power forward’s potential exit at the end of the year might might make him an available asset.
His name has already come up in trade talks, both in a frenzy to try to re-sign Al Horford and since. Also, there are a number of teams interested. The Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns, both teams looking to break into the upper echelons of the NBA, have been in supposed contact with the Hawks and, if Atlanta struggles to maintain a playoff push and he seems likely to exercise his player option and leave, Millsap might as well be traded mid-season.
The return for a player of his ability is considerable, fetching multiple picks or prospects, even with his impending free agency. It might be hard for Hawks fans to take, especially with the departures of Horford and Teague, but, if things go a certain way, Millsap might not be a Hawk much longer.
Hopefully, the upcoming season will be a success, though, and Millsap will see it out in the ATL. We love you, Paul!
Kyle Korver
Three-point machine Kyle Korver has only been a Hawk since 2012, but he has been vital in transforming the franchise, completely epitomizing the Hawks with his killer shooting and underrated defense. His range has greatly affected an Atlanta team that has become a pass-happy, floor-spacing, court-stretching offense and that system led the franchise to being a contender capable of 60 wins in a season.
Despite a difficult season last year, Korver’s accuracy from range is his obvious appeal. He holds the record for three-point percentage in a season, shooting an astonishing .536 in the 2009-10 season with Utah, and regularly shoots way over .400 from the arc. Should Atlanta struggle this season, it is this ability that will make Korver in high demand on the trade market.
Korver was previously linked with the Cleveland Cavaliers and as a reasonably-priced veteran, it would not be at all surprising to see any contender look for his trifectas to take them all the way, should the Hawks fall from that conversation. The return for him would not be huge, likely ranging from lower-picks to less-fancied prospects. But, if Atlanta’s season derails, Korver could be another player who finds himself in another uniform before the end of the year.
I, for one, don’t think we’ve seen enough Sauz yet!
Sauz! RT @CBSSportsNBA: WATCH: Kyle Korver scores 11 points in 65 secondshttp://t.co/tGdUHud7RJ pic.twitter.com/drz7hF3yBu
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) March 31, 2015
Thabo Sefolosha
Thabo Sefolosha is the last of the players that may well become trade bait because of a difficult season. He came to Atlanta in 2014 and was with the team for its record-breaking 60-win season. He is a bench player that is not only a relentless and staunch defender, but also contributes on the offensive end. Sefolosha is the kind of player whose overall impact far outweighs his individual stats and that is part of his appeal.
Andre Iguodala’s efforts against LeBron James in the last two NBA Finals shine a light on just how important a player in that role can be and Sefolosha should be considered a player who is also capable of delivering shut-down defensive performances. His grinding defensive style makes him perfect for contenders to improve their bench depth and should the Hawks fail to keep up this year, they may well find themselves fielding a few calls about the Swiss swingman.
The Sacramento Kings were supposedly interested at this year’s trade deadline and that is likely when we could see him traded this year. The return for the 32-year-old may not be huge, but he can make quite the impact.
Tiago Splitter
The only player on the list that might be traded no matter how the Hawks do, Tiago Splitter was acquired last year from a San Antonio Spurs team desperate to make room for LaMarcus Aldridge. Behind an undersized center in Al Horford, Splitter was meant to be a meaningful contributor for Atlanta last season, only to struggle with injuries. His all-round game and rebounding were meant to have a major impact for the Hawks but it was just a struggle for time.
“When Splitter did play, the team was really good with him on the floor. He posted a team best 94.2 defensive rating and had a net rating of 9.3 which was also the best on the team for everyone who appeared in at least 35 games. Those numbers show that the Hawks were a better team at both ends when he was on the floor but that was the problem with his 2016 season overall. He never was fully healthy for an extended period,” said Kris Willis of SBNation’s Peachtree Hoops.
With Dwight Howard coming in with a three-year, $70 million contract, Splitter may well struggle once more in finding time on the court. Even if his injury woes are behind him, the Brazilian big man is still behind Howard in the rotation. With Coach Budenholzer still a big fan of Mike Muscala (who often found time on the floor instead of Splitter of Mike Scott), Splitter may not have a role with the team this year.
As a result, Splitter and his now-reasonable $8.5 million contract might find themselves on the block. Between what he brings to the floor and his championship experience, the 31-year-old still has value to attract another team. Splitter would likely not get much in terms of a return, but offloading his salary could become important should the franchise try to trade for a more expensive stud, like Rudy Gay.
A Rookie
Specific, huh? The Atlanta Hawks have several rookies on their roster and in their organization for the upcoming season. There are three that were drafted this year, Isaia Cordinier (44th pick), DeAndre’ Bembry (22nd) and Taurean Prince (12th). While Cordinier is returning to Europe for now, the latter two can make an immediate impact straight away. The Hawks also added Malcolm Delaney and Matt Costello, both of whom were undrafted.
If everything goes well for Atlanta, though and they find themselves battling away at the top of the Conference, the first year players can become vulnerable. In this situation, the franchise might end up jettisoning some of these prospects for extra experience and role players to help the team push further into the playoffs.
It would probably not be Taurean Prince, a small forward
in the mold of DeMarre Carroll
who was the other part of the Teague trade. DeAndre’ Bembry, with his perfect Hawks-friendly game, and Malcolm Delaney, fresh out of a hot scoring year with Lokomotiv in Europe, might also be off-limits but, in reality, any could be fair game to prepare for another push.
If you are doubtful, it is worth noting Atlanta’s utter failure at the draft recently. Of the ten players drafted in the first round by the Hawks since 2006, only Teague, Horford and Schroeder have made any real contribution. Others, like Adreian Payne, John Jenkins or Shane Larkin, have been waived or traded and we might well see that happen again this year. Until the team commits to a rebuild, rookies might continue to be fair game on the trading market, especially if the Hawks are doing well.