The NBA trade deadline is February 6th, and the Atlanta Hawks must prepare to make big decisions if they want to push for the Larry O’Brien trophy.
As of January 25th, they are 22-22, sitting at the 8th seed in a tight Eastern Conference race. Through 44 games, the Hawks' .500 record is their best start in the last four seasons, and with the trade deadline approaching in two weeks, time is running out for Landry Fields to make some roster changes to prepare for a playoff run come April.
Here are some realistic moves within the salary cap that could improve the Hawks as they prepare for the second half of the season.
1) Target Bucks C Brook Lopez in trade as Clint Capela upgrade
Clint Capela’s contract situation is one of the Hawks' biggest stories this year. He has one more year remaining worth $22 million, and he has not received an extension yet. The front office could let him walk in 2025 free agency or extend him for a cheaper price if he accepts the offer. Assessing the optics, Capela is 30 years old but is regressing, as he currently averages his lowest statistics since the 2015-16 season with 9.5 points and 9.0 rebounds.
His ability to score in the paint is lacking in the modern NBA. His one-dimensional style relies on offensive rebounds and lob passes. He has failed numerous layups and soft-touch attempts around the rim this season. Even though there have been moments of good timing and rebounding from the 10-year veteran, his decline has been evident throughout the season.
Onyeka Okongwu just became the starting center for the Hawks on January 20th in a third match up with the Knicks after playing the best stretch of his career from January 14th to the 18th, and all signs point to the franchise moving on. A plausible trade for Capela could be Brook Lopez from the Milwaukee Bucks. Lopez is on a similar contract of $23 million, and he fits in with the Hawks' roster due to his ability to spread the floor as a 37% three-point shooter.
According to Stats Muse, He averages a plus-minus of +62 and would also be a great veteran for the locker room. The main downside of signing Lopez is his age at 36 years old. Regardless of his age, the former NBA champion still averages 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game playing 32 minutes a night.
2) Target Tim Hardaway Jr. reunion
Bogdan Bogdanovic was a candidate for Sixth Man Of The Year last season after averaging 16.9 points per game, but lately he hasn't been able to produce at the level fans are accustomed to due to numerous quadricep and knee injuries. The injuries have affected his availability and hes only played 23 out of 44 games, averaging 10 points per game, the lowest average of his seven-year NBA career. His inconsistent health and performance have made him unplayable for the Hawks.
It would be wise to trade Bogdanovic while he still has value. One of the better trades available for him is an old friend of the Hawks, Tim Hardaway Jr. The contracts work out in an even exchange, and even though Hardaway Jr. is on a one-year deal, he would be available immediately. He has scored double-digit points in most of his last ten performances, including three 20+ point games off the bench.
Hardaway Jr. also shoots 38% from beyond the arc, similar to Bogdanovic, and is the same age at 32-years old. He could make an immediate impact by scoring off the bench and filling the void that Bogdanovic has left with his poor performance. This is one of many options the Hawks have, but time is of the essence to address their roster issues.
3) Give Keaton Wallace more burn
The backup point guard position is one of the Atlanta's biggest weaknesses right now. There aren’t many point guards to trade for, so the most they can do is assess their options and make plans for the future. The Hawks are mainly in this predicament because Kobe Bufkin is out for the season. This was going to be the season the former 15th overall pick would prove himself as Trae Young’s backup, but numerous shoulder injuries and surgeries have derailed the beginning of his NBA career.
By the end of this season, Bufkin will have played only 17 games out of 164 across two seasons. The front office has no choice but to consider his role with the franchise due to his inactivity and inability to stay healthy. He has accumulated little playing time and will take an extended amount of time to acclimate to NBA-level physicality. In his absence, Keaton Wallace has shined, and could be a realistic replacement for Bufkin moving forward.
He has proven to be very athletic for a 6 '2 point guard; he recently finished with 27 points, six rebounds, and six assists in a 110 - 94 win over the Chicago Bulls while filling in for Young as the starting point guard.
Wallace is technically a rookie, but he has adjusted to the NBA level rather quickly as an older first-year player at 25 years old. His fast-paced style of play coincides perfectly with the system Quin Snyder and Landry Fields are creating in Atlanta. He is undoubtedly a part of the future, and the Hawks could keep him on a team-friendly deal, which he will likely sign.
The Hawks' salary cap issue will make signing a notable backup point guard difficult, so they must either settle for a player on a minimum contract or select from the talent they've developed over in College Park with their G-League Affiliate team the SkyHawks.