3 Eastern Conference wings floated as Atlanta Hawks’ trade targets

One of the most common occurrences when a team gets bounced early from the postseason is the speculative overhaul of the roster by the rumor mill.

The Atlanta Hawks are no different coming off their second such playoff exit.

“Whatever they envisioned for the 2022-23 campaign could not have been this,” writes Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report in a piece setting out to identify some trade targets in what should be a pivotal offseason. “So, it’s back to the drawing board for the Hawks, who loom as one of the biggest wild cards of the upcoming offseason. Atlanta has several intriguing trade candidates…but after buying big on Murray, it might be looking to add instead of subtract.”

This season was supposed to be a step forward from last season when the Hawks had a potent offense in the regular season but was hindered by its defense.

Then came last postseason when the Miami Heat honed in on and shut down Trae Young.

Enter Dejounte Murray whose blockbuster trade was supposed to remedy all of that. It was always a lot to ask of a player who had thrived as an off-ball and help defender playing passing lanes and getting chase-down blocks in San Antonio with the Spurs. The Hawks need to build out their infrastructure to support him in a less-effective role as a point-of-attack stopper.

That means more help is needed on the wings to at least slow down some of the dribble penetration and backdoor cuts that saw them give up far too many layups against the Celtics in the playoffs.

Chicago Bulls F Patrick Williams

“The No. 4 pick in 2020 hasn’t exactly stormed out of the gate to open his career, but he’s also done nothing to lower his towering two-way ceiling,” argues Buckley. “He could step in and provide the Hawks with perimeter defense and a reliable three-ball, and if the Hawks find a way to up his offensive assertiveness, he could give them so much more.”

Standing 6-foot7 and listed at 215 pounds, Williams averaged 10.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists on a .464/.415/.857 slash line while appearing in all 82 games in the regular season.

But Chicago finished the regular season as the eight-seed and got eliminated from the postseason in the second round of the Play-In Tournament after management set expectations for the season at a second-round playoff berth. That did not happen and Williams’ inability to take the necessary leap to support the Bulls’ top trio of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic was a big part of the reason why.

Williams is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and will be extension eligible this offseason. It’s fair to wonder if having to make such a quick decision on a player would alter the Hawks’ approach assuming they had interest in the first place.

However, while the Hawks are not trying to win any less than the Bulls are, the age of their roster would seem to be better suited for the 21-year-old Williams to grow with. Chicago’s average age is 26.7 years old, above the league average of 25.9 years old.

Atlanta’s average age is just 24.5, making them tied with the San Antonio Spurs in fielding the seventh-youngest roster in the NBA, per Real GM.

But the Bulls have been reluctant to part with Williams and that has not changed.

Toronto Raptors F OG Anunoby

“[OG] Anunoby cracks the league’s shortlist of its very best defenders,” asserts Buckley. “There are better post defenders and perimeter stoppers, but few players who can execute both roles at such a high level…Defense remains his calling card, but there are nights he’ll convince you he could become a go-to option or strong No. 2 at some point.”

Anunoby is coming off a breakout campaign that saw him average 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on .476/.387/.838 efficiency.

The 25-year-old is also one of the stoutest and most versatile defenders in the NBA.

Of course, suitors for the 6-foot-7, 232-pound swingman have already been plentiful, and he has acknowledged that he might not be long for Toronto.

The market only figures to grow this offseason when teams are more realistic about what they may or may not need.

For the Hawks that is two-way wings and Anunoby may be the next up in terms of gaining national recognition. But as good as Anunoby is, three first-round picks are a steep price to the pay, particularly for the Hawks after trading for Murray last offseason.

This one is probably less likely unless there is a specific Hawks player the Raptors like. If they rebuild, perhaps they take a liking to AJ Griffin whose father, Adrian, was an assistant under former head coach Nick Nurse and is said to be a candidate to replace him. If they want to win now, perhaps they would have an interest in adding John Collins.

Boston Celtics G/F Jaylen Brown

“If [Jaylen] Brown hits the trade block, Atlanta should offer the sun, moon and stars to Boston. He is exactly what this team needs, simultaneously scratching itches for defense, shooting, secondary scoring (and distributing) and star power.”

The 6-foot-6 swingman averaged 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists all of which set or met previous career-best marks. If there is one criticism of the two-way star, it’s that his three-point efficiency dipped to 33.5% (career-high 7.3 attempts per game) – the lowest it’s been in his career.

Brown-to-Atlanta rumors have been a staple of every transaction cycle over the last few years with the Hawks’ needs being what they are and Brown hailing from Marietta, Georgia.

He even showed up to his postgame press conference donning an Atlanta Braves cap.

Brown’s situation is the most clouded some outsiders believing it will take an All-NBA bid – and the salary that comes with it – to keep the 26-year-old’s eyes from wandering in free agency.

Coincidentally, Brown’s deal expires after the 2024-24 season at the same time as Murray’s who is even more destined to at least hit the open market than his Celtics counterpart due to the structure of his contract.

Of course, with the Milwaukee Bucks out of the way, the Celtics are the conference favorite.

Another run to the NBA Finals, and perhaps even taking home the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of it all this time, could go a mighty long way to keeping the band together in Bean Town.

However, that does not mean the Hawks should not explore every possible angle.