Atlanta Hawks: 1 player to poach from each division rival

Apr 20, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba (5) scores a basket behind Atlanta Hawks guard Kevin Huerter (3) during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba (5) scores a basket behind Atlanta Hawks guard Kevin Huerter (3) during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
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Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

With no Atlanta Hawks basketball until early October we’ve gone through many exercises already. Taking stock of the perception of this team around the league, grading out the different parts of their offseason, and looking forward to potential breakouts from members of the best young core in the league.

But what if you were given carte blanche over not only this roster but those of the other teams in the Southeast Division?

Who would you take?

The Atlanta Hawks division is full of talented players who would benefit this team

That’s what this piece sets out to explore. The Hawks division (a relatively meaningless term for most of the year) is full of talent that could help this team out. Even the teams on the bottom rungs have options that would make for intriguing additions to an Atlanta squad that made its way to the Eastern Conference Finals with a banged-up roster and interim head coach.

Imagine what they could do with some of the top talent from their fellow Southeasterners. If they were looking, that is.

For what it’s worth, they aren’t. Though they do have one free roster spot after Skylar Mays officially signed his two-way contract on Thursday. He and Sharife Cooper might be the most interesting two-way combo of any team.

They could end up going with big man Johnny Hamilton who they signed from overseas. Or maybe they win the Paul Millsap sweepstakes. For our purposes, they will use that spot to sign one of the following players away from a divisional foe.