Atlanta Hawks rumors: A denied offer they sent for RJ Barrett

The Atlanta Hawks tried to move up in the 2019 NBA draft to the third pick in order to select RJ Barrett. According to Marc Berman of the NY Post, the Hawks offered the New York Knicks two draft picks in order to move up.

The actual package was pick No. 8 and pick No. 10 to the Knicks in order to move up to the third pick in order to select Barrett. The Knicks turned down that offer and instead the Hawks traded up to the fourth pick where De’Andre Hunter was selected.

In order to acquire Hunter, the Hawks gave up two first-round draft picks and a second-round pick in the 2019 draft and a conditional first-round pick in the 2020 draft. They managed to keep the tenth pick which they used to select Cam Reddish.

Did the Atlanta Hawks catch a break with the New York Knicks refusing the offer?

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The Hawks, instead of getting only Barrett, managed to get Hunter and Reddish in the same draft. While Barrett appeared to be the best of the rest, that has changed in the two seasons this draft class has been in the league.

Hunter, who was originally the fourth pick, has shown himself to be a potential cornerstone for the Hawks franchise moving forward. He took such a leap in the offseason that should he not have been injured this season, he would have been in the conversation for the most improved player.

Not only has he improved offensively but when he was healthy, Hunter took the best opposition player on defense most nights. The other benefit for the Hawks was they were able to select Cam Reddish, another high-level defender.

This was an area the Hawks needed to address in this draft. So instead of getting a shooting guard who is weak on one side of his body, they got two defensive-minded, high-quality small forwards. Even if Reddish is traded this offseason with the way the Hawks roster has developed, this no-trade was beneficial for the Hawks moving forward.