Finding one player from all 22 bubble teams the Atlanta Hawks should scout.
Basketball. Is. Back. Scrimmages started Wednesday morning with the regular season wrapup starting on July 30th. The Atlanta Hawks are not in Orlando but should have their eye on the bubble regardless.
All 22 teams included in the season restart have at least one player the Hawks should be considering adding to their team next season, either through free agency or a trade.
The Hawks are just one or two pieces away from becoming real threats in the Eastern Conference, and this could be the off-season when they end their years-long rebuild. With the league’s most cap space and many tradeable assets, perhaps no team is better equipped to add a big-name player.
Atlanta’s front office can use the bubble to scout players and find their potential fit on the Hawks. Here, we’ll be picking just one player from each team in Orlando that the Hawks should be focusing on.
Boston Celtics: Gordon Hayward
Available through: free agency
Gordon Hayward is one of the biggest X-factors in all of the bubble, and the Boston Celtics’ chances at a championship can improve or worsen significantly depending on his play. The oft-injured, former All-Star has a very lucrative player option that seems like a good bet for him to opt-into.
Hayward could be swayed away from Boston by a team offering a multi-year deal, even if it’s less than the $34 million he would be making next year. For the Atlanta Hawks, they could value his secondary scoring as much as they would his veteran leadership.
He could slide into the Hawks’ starting small forward role, allowing De’Andre Hunter to work off the bench where he may be best suited anyway. When healthy, Hayward is a true offensive threat, and solid enough on defense. If he has a good showing in Orlando, he could be playing himself into another long-term deal, perhaps with the Hawks.
Brooklyn Nets: Joe Harris
Available through: free agency
I wrote a whole piece on Harris and his fit in Atlanta already, and still stand by the main point: Joe Harris would be a great fit in Atlanta. He’s one of the best pure shooters in the league, leading the NBA in three-point percentage last year with 47 percent.
The Virginia product is suddenly the best player on a Brooklyn team that saw many players opt out of the bubble, making him a prime candidate of someone who could increase their price tag in Orlando, which could help the Hawks acquire him in a bidding war.
The Nets don’t have a ton of money to throw around, and the Hawks do. Harris could be the starting shooting guard of the future for Atlanta if they want him.
Dallas Mavericks: Delon Wright
Available through: trade
Delon Wright is a good – if not great –3-and-D guard who should help the Mavs this postseason. So why would they trade him? Well, he’s a semi-expensive ($9 million per season) bench piece in an absolutely crowded backcourt that also features Luka Doncic, Seth Curry, Jalen Brunson, Tim Hardaway Jr and upcoming free agents like J.J Barea and Courtney Lee.
The Mavs are set at guard but are a bit thin in the frontcourt and could see Wright as a trade target to acquire a solid backup forward or center. The Hawks could help them land one, and they would value Wright’s veteran defense as a backup to Trae Young.
Denver Nuggets: Jerami Grant
Available through: free agency
Jerami Grant has been clear he’s going to opt-out of his player option. With the Nuggets already stacked with young forward talents like Michael Porter Jr and apparent star Bol Bol, they can afford to let Grant walk.
The Atlanta Hawks should be very interested, as he’s young enough (26) to slide right into their young core and talented enough to play major minutes. The combo forward can become a starter or high-volume bench piece for the Hawks like he was in Denver this year.
His two-way versatility could cost the Atlanta Hawks (and other interested teams) a pretty penny but could be a major building block moving forward for the team.
Houston Rockets: Austin Rivers
Available through: free agency
Like Joe Harris, I already established Rivers’ potential fit with the Hawks. While I don’t think it’s as snug of a fit as Harris, Austin Rivers could certainly help the team as a veteran combo-guard.
He’d likely be a fairly cheap target that can help the Hawks across the board. He may be the best glue-guy in this year’s free agency class.
Indiana Pacers: Victor Oladipo
Available through: trade
For as good as the former All-NBA guard is, Victor Oladipo is in trade rumors quite frequently. He’s apparently butted heads with the Pacers’ front office after their low-ball extension offer, opening the door for the team to trade him for assets instead of letting him walk when he’s an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Oladipo would be an ideal second star (or third, depending on how you rank John Collins) for the Hawks, as his play on both ends of the court would fit like a perfect puzzle piece next to Trae Young. His high-energy defense would offset Young’s lack of, and his off-ball scoring makes him a great player on a team with an elite level point guard like Trae.
It’s still unclear if Dipo will play in Orlando, but it’s trending in the direction that he will be. He should certainly be on the minds of Atlanta’s front office.
Los Angeles Clippers: JaMychal Green
Available through: free agency
With fellow free-agent-to-be Montrezl Harrell currently out of the bubble due to unknown reasons, JaMychal Green will be a key piece of the Clippers’ bench unit in their playoff run.
Green, who has a $5 million player option for next season, could easily play himself into a deal larger than that, potentially even on a long-term basis. The Atlanta Hawks are looking for a backup power forward, and Green could fill that role.
The team should be watching him closely, and if the 30-year-old can help the Clips in their quest for a championship, he could help the Hawks do that as well.
Los Angeles Lakers: Anthony Davis
Available through: free agency
Yes, it’s (very, very) unlikely, but Anthony Davis could become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career in a few months. No one expects him to sign with any team other than the Lakers, but hey, you never know.
If the Lakers fail spectacularly (like, lose in the first round) or AD gets in a disagreement with his teammates, Davis could be looking for a new team.
Again, it’s not going to happen, but the Hawks should offer the max to Davis, and they don’t even need to scout him in Orlando before doing so. More realistic options include Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Avery Bradley (the latter of which is not playing in the bubble).
Miami Heat: Jae Crowder
Available through: free agency
The Heat have a few upcoming free agents the Hawks could be interested in like Meyers Leonard, Goran Dragic, Derrick Jones Jr, and Solomon Hill. Jae Crowder might be the best fit, as the journeyman provides consistent defensive pressure and above-average shooting.
He’s not the high-usage, potential All-Defensive Team selection that he used to be, but could be perfect for a middle of the bench role in Atlanta. Teams can never have too many defensive-minded wings, and the Atlanta Hawks – who had a bottom-ten defense last season – are no different.
Milwaukee Bucks: Kyle Korver
Available through: free agency
Kyle Korver, who will turn 40 by the team next season is over, is still getting it done in the league. He’s averaged 16.7 minutes per game for the Bucks this season, the best team in the NBA.
Obviously there’s a connection between Korver and Atlanta, as the 16-year veteran spent his best seasons with the Hawks. If they can pry him away from Mike Budenholzer and the Bucks, the Hawks would value him as a locker room leader, and an above-40 percent three-point shooter.
New Orleans Pelicans: E’Twaun Moore
Available through: free agency
E’Twaun Moore is one of those players that still feels like he’s new and young, despite being in the league for eight seasons now. He’s also one of the most underrated players in the league, in my opinion, and could help the Hawks’ guard rotation greatly.
Moore’s efficiency (43 percent from three last year to 37 percent this year) took a hit this season but he’s still a solid 3-and-D option. At 31 years of age, Moore could be looking for his last long-term deal, and Atlanta should consider him if he shows up in Orlando.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Andre Roberson
Available through: free agency
Andre Roberson has been hurt for so long, people forgot how good he was defensively. Roberson hasn’t played since January 2018 but shocked fans when he reported to the Orlando bubble without announcement.
It’s unlikely Roberson will be thrown into large minutes after a two-year hiatus, but his return to having a large role in the NBA will begin in Orlando. If he’s even near the player he was before his devastating injury, the Atlanta Hawks should be very interested.
Orlando Magic: Mo Bamba
Available through: trade
Evan Fournier is a good free agency target, but we haven’t looked at a trade target for a while so let’s find one with the Magic. Mo Bamba has been in trade talks essentially since the night Orlando drafted him, as Nikola Vucevic made his star-turn soon after.
The Hawks don’t have room for Bamba on paper, but if Clint Capela, Bruno Fernando, and/or Dewayne Dedmon is included in the trade, a spot would open up quickly.
Still (very) young, Bamba provides nearly the same upside he did back in 2018 coming out of Texas. He averaged just 14.5 minutes per game for the Magic this year, and a change of scenery could be best for him.
Philadelphia 76ers: Alec Burks
Available through: free agency
Alec Burks was one of the lone Warriors to put up good stats during their disastrous season, which made him a trade target of the Sixers. He played just 11 games for the team before the hiatus hit, and should show his true value on a contending team in the bubble.
The Atlanta Hawks should be monitoring him, as Burks could be a solid bench combo guard for Atlanta.
Phoenix Suns: Kelly Oubre
Available through: trade
There has been no indication that the Suns would trade Kelly Oubre, but that doesn’t mean the Atlanta Hawks shouldn’t be trying to strike a deal for him.
Oubre is near the top of the list of young-ish veterans who would fit in nicely with the Hawks, and if they can land him, they should. The 24-year-old can shoot efficiently, plays a high level, if not an elite level of defense, and handle the ball enough to be considered a secondary playmaker.
Even if it costs them a pick and a young player, Oubre should atop the Hawks’ wishlist.
Note: Kelly Oubre is injured and it’s still unclear if he’ll actually play in Orlando.
Portland Trail Blazers: Carmelo Anthony
Really. The ten-time All-Star has been quietly solid in Portland this season, and with Vince Carter retiring, the Atlanta Hawks are looking for someone to fill his end-of-the-bench veteran role.
Shooting 42 percent from the field and 37 percent from three (his highest since 2014), Carmelo still has value in the league. He can prove that to the mainstream by helping the Blazers make the playoffs in Orlando.
Sacramento Kings: Harry Giles
Available through: free agency
Once a top recruit out of high school, Harry Giles has suffered through not one, but two ACL injuries. When he has been able to hit the court in Sacramento, he’s been a solid do-it-all big man. He has an old-school midrange game to compliment his interior game and is far from a negative defensively.
Giles is still just 22 and his youth and potential alone will net him a large deal. His injury history is concerning, and can’t be relied on for major minutes. Luckily, the Hawks need a backup four, and Giles could be a real steal.
San Antonio Spurs: Rudy Gay
Available Through: trade
Just like Oubre, there haven’t been rumors surrounding the Spurs trading Rudy Gay. If the Spurs decide to blow it up and go full rebuild, they could be looking to make the most of Gay’s expiring contract.
The Hawks could use his veteran play, although that play has fallen off a bit in recent seasons. He still deserves a role in the league, and the Hawks could use him as a fourth wing to give the locker room a leader and proven depth.
Toronto Raptors: Fred VanVleet
Available through: free agency
Fred VanVleet has become a star in Toronto, first as a high-usage sixth man then as a starter next to Kyle Lowry in the Raptors’ two-point guard lineup. If they Hawks think they can replicate that lineup with VanVleet and Trae Young, they will have the opportunity of doing so.
He’s becoming an unrestricted free agent at the age of 26, allowing him to pick the team he’ll spend his prime with. His defensive notoriety would make him a good fit with Young, and the Atlanta Hawks should be taking a long look at his bubble tape.
Utah Jazz: Jordan Clarkson
Available through: free agency
Jordan Clarkson is a great choice is the Hawks want to add a true secondary shot-creator to their backcourt, but his defensive pitfalls mirror Trae Young in all the wrong ways.
If the team wants to go all-in on offense, Clarkson can either work with or behind Young in the guard rotation, averaging around the same 25.3 minutes per game he did with Utah this season.
Washington Wizards: Shabazz Napier
Available through: free agency
Shabazz Napier is probably one of the best backup point guards in the league, which is pretty incredible considering he was averaging less than ten minutes per game in Portland a few seasons back.
Napier has played for six teams in as many seasons since joining the league, and if he wants to make it seven jerseys in seven years, the Hawks could make it happen. He’s proven his ability to run an offense, and without Bradley Beal and Davis Bertans (the Wizards best two players this season), Napier could make an impact in the bubble.
What players do you think the Atlanta Hawks should be scouting in Orlando?