The Atlanta Hawks made what in all likelihood was a fairly difficult decision to trade former No. 4 overall pick De’Andre Hunter to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the deadline.
Since then, Hunter and the Hawks have been on very different paths.
The Hawks did not draft Hunter, instead acquiring his rights in a draft-night trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. However, he has been a staple of the Hawks’ rotation ever since and even emerged as a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate this season.
The trade has seen Hunter’s individual numbers take a significant hit. He averaged 19.0 points on 61.6% true shooting with the Hawks.
Hunter is at 14.0 PPG in six games (one start) while seeing four fewer minutes with the Cavs.
However, Hunter’s efficiency has taken a significant step. His true shooting mark is up to 68.8% in Cleveland. And after shooting a career-high 39.3% from beyond the arc with Atlanta, Hunter has connected on 56.7% of his deep looks as a Cav.
There is also the obvious step up in terms of the standings, going from the Hawks who sit ninth in the Eastern Conference standings to the top-seeded Cavaliers.
Cleveland has the best winning percentage in the league entering play on February 28.
The Hawks have gone 4-4 since the trade deadline. But they are 1-4 in their last five outings and still face a daunting slate of games to close out the regular season slate. The Cavaliers have tacked on seven straight wins for an eight-game streak.
Hunter’s contract and injury history made him a logical trade candidate, especially after he was mired in speculation for years before the deal.
Still, it is difficult to say the Hawks made out better than he (or the Cavs) did in the trade.
That is not to denigrate either Caris LeVert or Georges Niang, who the Hawks acquired in the transaction. Both players quickly established themselves as useful contributors that the Hawks should consider leaning into more down the stretch.
Hunter is younger, bigger, and under team control longer than both of the new Hawks. Placing the team’s struggles on his shoulders is also unfair.
This does not justify or condemn the Hawks’ decision. But the early return still goes to Hunter.
Bogdan Bogdanovic finding stride with Clippers
The Hawks also traded Bogdan Bogdanovic, who was one of the last five members of the team that made the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. He had not contributed as well this season, but has found a rhythm with the Clippers.
Bogdanovic is averaging similar PPG with the Los Angeles Clippers as he was with the Hawks but has still seen an uptick form 10.2 PPG with Atlanta to 11.0 PPG in LA.
However, that includes a pair of 7-point outings that began his tenure.
Bogdanovic has averaged 13.3 points while shooting 31.3% from outside in four games sicne then, well below his career efficiency but an improvement from his Hawks days nonetheless. The Clippers are also the No. 6 seed in the West.
Their hold on that spot is tenuous to say the least. But Bogdanovic could avoid the Play-In Tournament while the Hawks are tracking for their fourth straight appearance.
Terance Mann has added to the Hawks in ways that do not always show in the stat sheet.
The Hawks got younger with this deal, even after waiving guard Bones Hyland who they also acquired in the deal. If the end cannot always justify the means, then the inverse is also true and the Hawks potentially finishing in worse spots than LA or Cleveland will not define the deal.
It does serve as unflattering context around a Hawks team that has struggled to say the least, even when accounting for their injury woes.