The Atlanta Hawks made a call to the Brooklyn Nets inquiring about Kevin Durant, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania (subscription required). Not just that, the Hawks put in an offer for the 12-time All-Star. They were rebuffed, obviously, given the current state of their roster. But their approach shows a lot about what they think of this roster.
Atlanta has been mentioned on a semi-consistent basis when it comes to Durant who is in the midst of a standoff with the Nets.
They most recently were brought up by Bill Simmons who briefly suggested they could get in on a three-team trade that would send Durant to the Boston Celtics while bringing Jaylen Brown to Atlanta in exchange for a package of picks and players.
But the Hawks had other ideas.
Hawks offered two cornerstone players, picks for Nets superstar Kevin Durant
Charania’s report updates the status of both Durant and Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell whose future is also in limbo as his team steps into a rebuild. Both players’ respective situations –as well as the blockbuster Rudy Gobert trade – have put a damper on what was expected to be an even more active offseason.
Per Charania, the Hawks offered up John Collins who has been in trade rumors for a couple of offseasons now, and a draft pick.
But they also offered De’Andre Hunter.
The former fourth-overall pick was believed to be off-limits in trade talks. That has a limit for someone of Durant’s stature if the report is true. Charania goes on to say that the talks did not get very far, much like the conversations the Hawks had for Gobert.
Still, this says plenty about how the Hawks view their current roster compared to the rest of the Eastern Conference and, really, the entire NBA.
Durant is a great player, sure.
He turns 34 years old during training camp and comes with lower-body injury concerns as a near 7-footer. His contract runs through 2026 but for $194 million and he has shown a willingness not to honor it with this entire ordeal.
Perhaps that is why the Hawks offered a singular draft pick. But it also highlights Simmons’ point about it being difficult to get a fair trade done with two teams.
For what it’s worth, we now know the Hawks at least attempted to get a deal done.
As for how this could play out in the locker room – Collins has taken part in pro-am action with Trae Young and Dejounte Murray this summer – it shouldn’t. The Hawks made an offer for one of the greatest players of his generation.
Better players have been traded for far less. But keep an eye on the Hawks as a team looking to make another major move, possibly, soon.