Just days after reports surfaced that the Atlanta Hawks are expected to be active this offseason, and amid their search for a top executive with gravitas and, potentially, an agent’s background, new intel has tied the franchise to Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Amid unsuccessful overtures to Bob Myers and links to Masai Ujiri, the Hawks are now linked to Antetokounmpo’s agent, Alex Saratsis, for their vacant president of basketball operations role.
This link comes amid uncertainty around Antetokounmpo’s future.
“One agent to emerge as a potential candidate with the Hawks, league sources say, is Octagon’s Alex Saratsis, who represents Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Miami’s Bam Adebayo,” The Stein Line’s Marc Stein wrote on May 14.
“Saratsis’ possible involvement in the Hawks’ search would be a fascinating development that connects two of the major curiosities at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago this week … with Antetokounmpo's future, of course, atop the list. Saratsis co-represents Antetokounmpo with Octagon’s Georgios Panou and both agents are expected to soon meet with the Bucks to determine whether the two-time MVP will remain in Milwaukee after 12 seasons a Buck or seek a trade elsewhere.”
Antetokounmpo has not said he wants a trade from the Bucks. He has also not been as outwardly committed as in years past, though there remain signs that that is indeed the case.
Adebayo is the wild card in the report.
There have been little to no reports of the Miami Heat looking to move the five-time All-Defensive pick and three-time All-Star this offseason. However, after they were swept in the first round of the playoffs, perhaps massive changes are needed.
Still, the prize is Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP and one-time NBA champion, among many other accolades.
Trae Young Hawks’ unknown
The question for the Hawks is what kind of package would they be willing to put together for Antetokounmpo (or Adebayo, for that matter). Putting together a deal would be simpler if the Hawks use Trae Young and his $46 million salary in 2025-26.
That remains the great unknown for the Hawks right now, though.
“Whether the Hawks do or don’t prove open to fielding trade interest in Young this offseason, they do project as a team likely to be active,” Stein wrote on May 11. “One potential crimp in the Hawks' flexibility: They sit only $8 million or so shy of the luxury tax first apron between now and the end of the current salary cap year on June 30.”
“The reason: Atlanta has a relatively clean cap sheet. Depending on the free agency outcomes for Clint Capela, Caris LeVert and Larry Nance Jr., Atlanta should have significant flexibility to absorb salary via trades in the role of facilitator this summer.”
Stein pointed to the Hawks’ “relatively clean cap sheet” and $25 million (Dejounte Murray) and $13 million (Bogdan Bogdanovic) trade exceptions.
They should also have the $14.1 million non-taxpayers midlevel exception at their disposal.
That luxury tax note looms as a glass ceiling, given Hawks ownership’s propensity to avoid paying into the pool. One has to imagine the Bucks would want one and likely multiple of Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson – a Wisconsin native – Onyeka Okongwu, and Zaccharie Risacher.
Then, the Hawks would have to include ample draft capital, all assuming Antetokounmpo even wants to leave the Bucks and come to Atlanta. The Bucks must also be willing participants.
Antetokounmpo is one of the most dominant presences in the NBA.
However, he is also turning 31 in December and has one season with at least 70 appearances in the past six campaigns. He is also set to begin a three-year, $175 million contract – with a player option in the final year – in 2025-26.
That would put the Hawks in a similar position as they are facing with Young and with fewer assets to soften the potential blow of a star’s exit.
Hawks’ plan has major implications for Giannis Antetokounmpo, second All-Star