Grade the trade: Hawks solve shooting woes in latest proposal

Would the Atlanta Hawks accept this deal?

The Hawks have two stars in the backcourt, and Buddy Hield would make their lives easier on the offensive end of the floor. No team is leaving the sharpshooter open. Mark the 6’4 guard down for 15 points and four 3-pointers made every night. He spaces the floor and forces the opposition to make difficult choices.

The Hawks must hide Trae Young on the defensive end, so can they make up for adding Hield? The 6’4 guard struggles and is often best hidden on a non-threat. Atlanta finished 19th in defensive rating last season and matching that number with two subpar defenders would be difficult.

The Atlanta Hawks are downgrading from AJ Griffin to Aaron Nesmith, so this deal comes down to how much better they believe their team is with Buddy Hield than De’Andre Hunter. It is a change in composition, but may not help them perform significantly better.

Grade: C+

Buddy Hield wants a new contract and will likely make somewhere in the ballpark of Hunter’s four-year $90 million deal. Given the defensive questions, this earns a C-plus. It might be a small upgrade for Atlanta and gives them flexibility to try different lineups, but does not vastly improve their chances of contending.

Are the Atlanta Hawks in on the Buddy Hield sweepstakes? This is a developing story, so stay tuned for all the latest.

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