Could the Atlanta Hawks get involved as a third team in the Anthony Davis trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans?
With NBA free agency looming in under a week, there are an absolute glut of rumors swirling around regarding almost every team in the NBA. However, one team that has almost no room left for free agent signings is none other than the Atlanta Hawks.
After piling up hideous contracts over the past few years, including three this offseason in the form of Evan Turner, Solomon Hill and Allen Crabbe, the team has precious little cap space left to pull off any real free agent signings.
Of course, the team will likely prioritize re-signing Dewayne Dedmon to a “balloon payment” and this writer believes 42-year-old Vince Carter should also be brought back, but other than that, the only moves the Hawks can make this offseason will come via trade.
In fact, a few rumors revolving around the Hawks include a team they’ve already traded with this offseason – the New Orleans Pelicans. A few notable writers have brought up the Hawks as potential destinations for two or three of the L.A. Lakers’ young players as part of the Anthony Davis deal:
Order re: Lakers @ $32 mil near max: Agree to Caruso at min, revoke QO, renounce him/every FA. Sign $32 mil player. Sign THT (& other rookies) to 3+ yr deals. Trade Zo, BI, Hart, Hunter, Jones, Wagner, Bonga, etc to Pels and ? (Hawks?). Sign Caruso, room exception & min players
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) June 26, 2019
Just a thought...Do the Pelicans and Lakers make this a true three-team trade and the Hawks take on Wagner and Bonga and maybe a guaranteed Jones too?
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 20, 2019
Lakers still need help to get to that max cap space slot.
It is common knowledge that the Lakers are looking to unload more salary in order to clear enough cap space to land another max-contract free agent. If the Atlanta Hawks were willing to take on those young players, the Lakers would be in the running for yet another big name.
For the Hawks, why not take a chance on players such as Alex Caruso, Isaac Bonga and Moritz Wagner? The latter two were both drafted last year, and Bonga doesn’t turn 20 until November – so he fits in with the team’s youthful timeline.
Wagner would give the team more frontcourt depth as well as a Dedmon replacement if he walks in free agency, and Caruso has been something of a fan favorite in L.A. the past two seasons.
For this writer, taking on three more young players for free sounds like a pretty sweet deal, but we shall see if Atlanta Hawks GM Travis Schlenk agrees.