The potential for an Atlanta Hawks offseason roster overhaul is picking up steam. It could result in their landing a coveted free agency, albeit one of the restricted variety. Adding this player, though, would almost certainly spell the end of this current core for better or worse.
Coming off of their 4-1 first-round loss to the Miami Heat, Hawks brass made no bones about their disappointment both in the team’s performance on the floor and their lack of moves to help improve the group.
General manager Travis Schlenk was actually on that bus near the trade deadline.
Now, it seems they have set their sights on up-and-coming big man, Deandre Ayton. Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer writes that the Phoenix Suns center and his head coach do not always see eye-to-eye.
The Atlanta Hawks could pursue rumored “favorite target” Deandre Ayton this offseason
Fischer adds that the club does not view his position as very valuable. Not to the tune of $30-plus million anyway. He goes on to say that Ayton has become a favorite target of the Hawks’ current regime and Schlenk in particular, albeit not the only one.
"Ayton has been a popular rumored target for Schlenk’s front office, but multiple league sources with knowledge of the Hawks’ thinking have also pointed to various wing scorers as Atlanta’s prioritized endgame."
The Hawks have been linked in rumors to players ranging from Ben Simmons to Rudy Gobert, to Kyrie Irving.
But the fit with Ayton stands out above most of those.
Fischer wonders if a package centered around Clint Capela could get a deal done in light of news that the Hawks are open to “wholesale changes” this offseason. The Hawks could include Bogdan Bogdanovic’s $18 million or Kevin Huerter’s $14.5 million contract plus a bevy of draft picks.
Ayton does come with his fair share of red flags. Suns head coach Monty Williams is said to be dissatisfied with the 7-footer over the latter’s inconsistent motor.
"Ayton is not particularly a favorite of Phoenix’s head coach Williams has purportedly griped about Ayton’s waning focus, which…has often been reflected by the ebbs of his playing time."
The former Arizona Wildcat’s agent recently spoke out about the disappointment over not receiving a max contract from the Suns. Would the Hawks be willing to take the step that Ayton’s incumbent team – which knows him better than anyone else – has not to this point?
Perhaps the better question is, should they?