The Hawks have been far from perfect to open the year.
While expectations were far from lofty for a team poised to battle their way towards the middle of an extremely bloated Eastern Conference, back-to-back-to-back losses against the Rockets (twice) and a previously winless Heat squad are significant cause for concern.
As Atlanta struggles, front offices seeking to rebuild and sell their more valuable veteran assets will likely take notice - front offices such as the New Orleans Pelicans, seemingly on the verge of a total rebuild.
A Hawks team under fire from experts and fans alike must remain poised in their approach, and avoid making an unforgivable trade mishap that would set the team back for years to come.
Hawks' struggles could entice New Orleans to make the call to Atlanta
If the rumors are true, the Pelicans are finally accepting what the rest of the league has known since 2022 - they need to rebuild (or at least, retool).
New Orleans seems poised to find a new destination for veteran guard and former Hawk Dejounte Murray, as well as versatile sniper Trey Murphy III.
While Murray and Murphy's asking prices are still steep, they're not anywhere near as egregious as Herb Jones is rumored to be - despite failing to start any games to begin the season, the Pelicans are asking two first round picks at minimum from any prospective suitors.
While the Pelicans will likely be extending their wings to inquire potential returns from front offices all over the league, there's no doubt the Hawks will be forefront in their negotiations, thanks to one key asset the Hawks still lord over New Orleans.
Atlanta's invaluable bargaining chip with New Orleans
As it happens, the Hawks own the worst of the Pelicans' and Bucks' first round picks in the upcoming 2027 NBA Draft. Thanks to the slow start from both Milwaukee and New Orleans, the pick is very likely to land near the top of the draft, even though it swaps unfavorably between the two.
Atlanta's early struggles can largely be chocked up to their poor frontcourt play, but there's little doubt that Onsi Saleh will look to improve around the margins wherever possible - so long as the price is right.
If Saleh continues to demonstrate the same shrewdness he's demonstrated throughout his entire tenure in the A, he won't negotiate with a Pelicans front office demanding such a ludicrous return for a current bench player in Herb Jones - while the talent may still persist from his peak as a defender 2-3 years ago, he simply isn't worth such a steep price any longer.
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