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NBA Trade Rumors: Hawks in Talks with Thunder, Schroder for Carmelo?

By Chris Guest

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 23: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 23: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz in Game Four of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 29: Dennis Schroder/Carmelo Anthony  (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 29: Dennis Schroder/Carmelo Anthony  (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

On the Hawks side of this deal, this looks excellent (which means there’s little chance the deal ends up looking this way). Getting rid of Schröder, despite a career year in 2017-18 and 5 seasons in Atlanta, would help to open up cap space for years to come.

Losing Muscala would definitely hurt, as he, along with DS17, are the longest-tenured Hawks on the roster at this current juncture. Musky is a fan favorite and a reliable outside shooter, solid defensive rebounder and prototypical stretch-five option.

A fan favorite, Muscala would deserve a warm place in the heart of any Hawks fans who witnessed him play during his career.

In terms of what the Hawks get back, Melo would not remain on the team for long – only serving as a salary dump and waive-and-stretch scenario for the Hawks. However, this would be a better deal for the team in the long run – allowing them to rid themselves of a $15.5 million per year commitment to Schröd for the next 3 years.

In addition, the Thunder’s 2019 first round pick is a blatantly valuable asset even if it’s top-20 protected. The Thunder would’ve indeed had the #20 overall pick last season if it had not been moved years prior in the Enes Kanter trade with the Jazz.

The Thunder project to be an excellent team next year, though perhaps in a slightly lower echelon than the best teams in the West, which means the pick would likely convey in the 21-24 range.

Having more bites at the apple is always preferable in the NBA draft, and even if Hawks GM Travis Schlenk isn’t crazy about picking there, they can package multiple later picks to move up nab someone they’re extremely high on.

While the 2019 Draft Class isn’t quite as deep as the 2018 one, it’s quite likely that there will be plenty of tantalizing talents available next year, so the Hawks should be thrilled to pry away a first-rounder from Thunder GM Sam Presti – no matter the protections.

Next: Hawks Projected Starting Lineup for 18-19 Season

Keep it locked to Soaring Down South for all your Hawks offseason moves as well as reaction to plenty of NBA Trade Rumors, as it is unlikely that Schlenk and co. are finished wheeling and dealing this summer.