The Atlanta Hawks have been linked to a number of players so far this offseason. There was the possibility of them landing Donovan Mitchell to pair with Trae Young in the backcourt. Then the NBA rumor mill thought the Jazz center, Rudy Gobert, could be a good fit for the franchise.
There have been a number of other players associated with the Hawks as they are looking to reshape their roster given how poorly they performed last season. There are very few players off-limits from trade, with the Hawks looking to add a second star.
While Jerami Grant may not look to be the second star that the Hawks need, he is a highly coveted player. His offensive explosion for the Detroit Pistons in the first season of his deal more than justified them spending $60 million over three seasons on the former second-round Syracuse standout.
The Atlanta Hawks have some big decisions to make this offseason
Who to trade or who not to trade, that is the question that will be buzzing around Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk. They are thinking of moving John Collins‘ salary which will ease some pressure on the Hawks’ cap situation. They also need to make a decision on what to do with Danilo Gallinari.
The Hawks are a young, deep team that has players who would interest most players around the league. However, the Detroit Pistons, who Grant currently plays for would not be interested in veterans to help them win now. They would be interested in long-term pieces, who they can integrate into the team to move them forwards.
Atlanta Hawks trade No. 1 for Jerami Grant
The first trade that the Hawks may consider to obtain the services of Grant is a pure one-on-one swap. They would send Collins to the Pistons, in return they would receive Grant. This would actually work on a number of levels for the Hawks.
While Collins has shown that he is a genuine 20 points, 10 rebounds level of player in the right circumstances, he seemed a little lost at times, especially on offense. If Collins is to earn the bag he has been given he needs to be the true No.2 option on a team.
If he was to play for the Pistons then he would be a veteran leader on a really inexperienced squad. Collins knows his offensive strengths, and there are many, as evidenced by the fact he owns the second-best true shooting percentage for the Hawks franchise.
Grant is a tremendous second option for the Hawks’ offense. He has the ability to create his own shot and thanks to his athleticism, he is able to finish at the rim the same way Collins can. He also can help improve the Hawks’ defense which after this season has to be a priority for the team.
Atlanta Hawks trade No. 2 for Jerami Grant
The Hawks are going to make a number of changes to their roster over the offseason. This second trade proposal is a major start, with the Hawks sending De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic to the Pistons, receiving Grant and Killian Hayes in return.
The Pistons would get a quality floor spacer in the form of Bogdanovic. They also get one of the best players in this year’s playoffs in Hunter. The Hawks could extend Hunter prior to trading him in order for the Pistons to feel secure in their future. Otherwise, they could trade Hunter with no extension and let the Pistons take care of that.
The other part of the trade would partially offset the pain of losing Bogdanovic and his 3-point shooting. Hayes was the seventh pick in the 2020 draft before missing the majority of his rookie season due to injury.
While he is not a good shooter from beyond the arc, he has the ability to initiate the offense. The Hawks’ offense is still a concern when Young is off the floor. Hayes could also take the pressure off Young in a playoff series like the one that recently concluded against the Miami Heat.