Third team looking to gain from potential Hawks-Raptors trade

If the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors are able to find common ground on a trade for two-time All-NBA and All-Star forward Pascal Siakam, the Dallas Mavericks hope to benefit.

This is per a new report from Marc Stein of The Stein Line (subscription required) on July 16.

Atlanta and Toronto have gone back and forth on multiple potential trade packages that would land the 6-foot-9, 29-year-old Siakam in Atlanta. But, in addition to compensation, Siakam is a potential flight risk who is said to have no interest in being a Hawk.

Still, Dallas lurks as a potential third team that could help facilitate a potential trade somehow with the idea that they can finally land Hawks center Clint Capela, per Stein, whom they were targeting leading up to the draft, though nothing obviously ever materialized. Dallas went on to trade for Richaun Holmes and draft Dereck Lively II.

Despite those moves, it appears their interest in nabbing Capela as a backline defender for Luka Doncic – much in the same capacity as he functions for Trae Young – remains.

Unfortunately for them, the same roadblock that stalled out the pre-draft talks also remains.

The Hawks have eyes for fourth-year wing Josh Green whom they targeted in those previous conversations leading Dallas to balk with Stein noting the Mavericks are hoping to work out a long-term deal with the former No. 18 overall pick.

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It is unclear just how serious the Hawks are about acquiring Green or if that is just part of their valuation of Capela as a player in trade talks. It should also be noted that Stein adds the idea of moving Capela – who starts a two-year, $46 million extension next season – is gaining steam within the organization.

Capela has been a noted Young favorite and, with Collins off to the Jazz, his lone bonafide lob target.

The end-game for the Hawks is rumored to be more playing time for Onyeka Okongwu. The fourth-year, former No. 6 overall pick is extension eligible this offseason but the Hawks could want to see more before committing big money to him long-term.

Forward De’Andre Hunter has already been linked to Dallas among others in trade rumors.

He begins a four-year, $90 million extension this coming season showing just how fine of a line the Hawks are trying to walk.

Atlanta Hawks rookie predicted to lock down top backup role

Another reason the Hawks may not be as anxious to get their hands on Green – who is also extension eligible this offseason – is that rookie Kobe Bufkin is on track to lock down the backup guard role behind Young and Dejounte Murray he was drafted for.

“Unless the Atlanta Hawks acquire another veteran ball-handler before the season, Kobe Bufkin is in position to operate as their second-unit playmaker,” wrote Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report on July 15. “The rookie enters the league with high passing IQ, and he should be able to excite Atlanta’s coaching staff with his defensive quickness and anticipation.”

Bufkin is smaller than Green and not yet nearly as good of a shooter as the Mavs’ wing who shot 40.2% from deep (on 2.8 attempts) in 2022-23.

But his defensive chops are a start and his playmaking ability is an advantage.

There is still plenty of offseason to go so it’s anyone’s guess how the rest of it will shake out. But this Hawks team could very well be the one that enters training camp even if it’s not the same one that finishes the regular season.