Which players should the Atlanta Hawks look to move on from next?
Player the Atlanta Hawks should move on from No. 3: Bogi could be a valuable trade piece
Bogdan Bogdanovic’s place in all of the trade rumors is an interesting one. On one hand, he showed how valuable he can be during last season’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals, particularly as he averaged 22.7 points on 45.3 shooting (42.9% 3P) with 4.0 assists, 3.3 boards, and 2.3 steals while battling through an avulsion fracture in his knee.
He’s off to a rather slow start after beginning this season on the mend following offseason surgery on that knee averaging 12.2 points on 41.8 percent shooting and 36.1 percent from downtown with 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
He has picked it up of late, averaging 17.3 points while shooting 45.6 percent overall and 37.9 percent from deep over his last four appearances with 4.8 boards, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 steals.
It looks like he’s rounding into form offensively.
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However, like the rest of the Hawks, he’s had an issue stopping dribble penetration on the defensive end with opponents shooting 64.2 percent against him in the restricted area. What’s more, it comes against the sixth most attempts and is the sixth-worst mark on the team among the normal rotation players.
At 29, he is very much still young enough to be a part of a long-term plan in Atlanta. But he will turn 30 over the summer and is set to make $18 million next season as well as in 2024 should he exercise his player option.
It could behoove the Hawks to move on before he walks for nothing or his value on the floor sinks too far below his cap hit.
They could use him as salary-matching fodder in pursuit of a bigger fish; perhaps some that are disgruntled with their current situation. The appeal he has with his age and skillset work for contenders in search of some shooting, as well as upstarts like the Hawks were last season. He could provide a nice bridge to and mentor for some team’s shooting guard of the future.
His value to the Hawks wanes with each loss, though, and that is the challenge.