Atlanta Hawks interest in 3-time All-Star runs ‘contrary to reports’

The Atlanta Hawks have been liked to Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell since even before the blockbuster Rudy Gobert trade. But, unlike that trade in which the Hawks had at least cursory interest in Gobert, there is none in swinging another major deal to land Mitchell according to a new report.

After going big with the trade for Dejounte Murray, there are some who feel another move is still in order to turn the Hawks into a true contender.

They would seem to concur with reports that they inquired about Kevin Durant.

But the Mitchell rumors didn’t always make sense in the first place from a financial and fit standpoint. They made even less sense in the wake of the Murray trade. That did not stop the Hawks from coming up.

3-time All-Star G Donovan Mitchell of ‘no interest’ to the Atlanta Hawks

We first saw the Hawks connected to Mitchell as the season came to an end and the media began trying to piecemeal the NBA’s next super teams. That connection resurfaced after Gobert was traded but the Hawks already had Murray. But John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM in Arizona says the reports have it all wrong.

The Hawks, along with several other reportedly interested teams, were not interested at all, say Gambadoro.

Murray brings versatility to the backcourt. But at 6-foot-4 he is still best-suited as a guard so it would have made no sense to add Mitchell to the fold after the Hawks already traded (a lot) for Murray.

Mitchell also stands 6-foot-1 and does not have a great reputation on the defensive end of the floor as Murray does.

That is not the ideal pairing for him or Trae Young who is also listed at 6-foot-1.

Then there is the financial aspect of it all. Murray is a virtual lock to hit free agency since his contract makes an extension essentially impossible. But Mitchell is still locked in through 2025 at nearly $98 million and has a player option for 2026 worth an additional $37 million.

That is a lot to commit to for someone with the questions that Mitchell comes with, as talented as he is.

The Hawks are a team that many feel is primed to take that next step, similarly to how they felt after their surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. This time, though, it is because of what they have done to elevate their floor and ceiling.

Could another move be in the works to get them over the top? Sure. But it does not appear that it will be nor that it ever was going to be Mitchell.