As part of our offseason coverage, Soaring Down South is ranking each and every offseason transaction the Atlanta Hawks made.
After a slow start, the Atlanta Hawks kicked it into high gear and had one of the most action-packed and interesting offseasons in recent memory. Multiple trades and signings took place even after the NBA Draft, which was even more important for the Hawks in the long-term.
In our ongoing series of offseason reviews, it’s time to grade each move the Hawks made this offseason from draft picks to trades to free agency deals.
Next up is the second trade of the offseason – and perhaps the worst move the Atlanta Hawks made this offseason: The trade of the #34 overall pick to the Charlotte Hornets for two future second round picks.
While accruing assets in a growing war chest of future draft picks is clearly the priority for the Hawks going forward, trading away a quite valuable second round pick for two substantially less valuable second round picks is simple math that does not go in the Hawks’ favor.
THE GRADE: F
Overall, this move makes little sense. After the draft was over and later in the offseason, the team took flyers on four players: Jaylen Adams, Justin Anderson, Alex Poythress and Daniel Hamilton. All four of those players are a little bit older and don’t quite have the upside of some of the extremely intriguing prospects that were available at #34 overall.
The pick, which was traded to Charlotte, was eventually used for Devonte’ Graham out of Kansas, who looked quite good in Summer League.
Of course, the Hawks would not have selected Graham, as they had already used their Top 5 pick on a point guard. That doesn’t mean that multiple interesting players weren’t available there. Here is a short list of a few of the terrific prospects who were still on the board when the Hawks traded the #34 pick: Khyri Thomas, De’Anthony Melton, Keita Bates-Diop, Melvin Frazier, Mitchell Robinson, Gary Trent Jr., Hamidou Diallo and Shake Milton.
Instead, the Hawks got… no one. Sure, one or both of those future second rounders might turn into longtime contributors, but for next season, it looks like a hasty and ill-thought out move.
Stay tuned for the next story in our offseason grades series, and always keep it locked to Soaring Down South for all your Atlanta Hawks news.