Ranking the centers the Atlanta Hawks have been tied to

Steven Adams

Of all the centers the Atlanta Hawks have been linked to, Steven Adams is the best fit.

Adams has been a great defensive anchor in the paint for OKC for years. He’s used to setting powerful screens for Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul, and now he could do the same for Trae Young. His size and defense are what Atlanta should put next to John Collins. He’s a rebounding a machine and exactly what the Hawks need.

The only problem is that the Thunder, unlike the other teams, are playing winning basketball. They surprisingly find themselves in the playoff race and would understandably want to see what they can do in the postseason.

With this season going well for them, it’s hard to imagine the Thunder willing to part with Adams. Unless the Hawks are willing to overpay for the New Zealand native, it’s unlikely they’ll acquire him.

Any trade would probably consist of the Hawks giving expiring contract filler, young talent, and future draft considerations.

This is very similar to the Andre Drummond trade on the previous slide, but this is what the Hawks should offer. This by itself is fair, but it probably won’t be enough for the Thunder to decide to give up on their entire season.

It’s on the Hawks to call around and see if the Thunder are aiming for a lottery pick or a playoff seed. If they are on the hunt for the former, then perhaps an Adams trade is feasible. If not, Drummond is a great alternative to pursue.