Which players should the Atlanta Hawks look to move on from next?

Player the Atlanta Hawks should move on from No. 4: Vets losing value fast

This last one is our version of the nuclear codes with regards to the Hawks season. But veterans Danilo Gallinari and Lou Williams haven’t provided the same kind of steadying presence as last season when they were acquired for second-round picks and Rajon Rondo after he failed to solve their point guard problems.

Gallinari is averaging 9.7 points, 4.2 boards, and 1.2 assists in a little over 22 minutes per game. He is shooting 41.0 percent from the floor and 39.2 percent from beyond the arc. All but the rebounds are down from last year as his minutes are down by a little over two minutes.

Williams is averaging 6.5 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.6 rebounds. He’s shooting 36.6 percent overall and 30.6 percent from deep on about seven fewer minutes per game.

He was a healthy scratch against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Neither player has ever been great on defense but Gallo (33) and Williams (35) are beyond even being in the way. If they guess wrong initially, there is no making up for it. Given the Hawks issues with this from their “stronger” perimeter defenders, and their waning effectiveness on offense, they are borderline unplayable when their shots aren’t falling.

Gallinari, whose $21-plus million salary is guaranteed for just $5 million next season, was drawing interest from the Minnesota Timberwolves over the summer. Our friends over at Dunking With Wolves mentioned Malik Beasley as a possible return.

Beasley is having a down season but would be a tremendous return for Gallinari at this point.

Williams hasn’t generated any trade buzz but the Gwinnett County native did garner interest from one of his former teams in the Los Angeles Lakers before re-signing with the Hawks.

He’s also been close with Young since his arrival with Young’s father even falling Williams the “best veteran” his son has even had for a teammate. That, on top of moving vets for draft picks, would add to the “white flag” nature of this suggestion.

Unless, of course, one or both can be included in a package. Williams’ $5 million deal expires after the season.