Latest Anthony Davis report gives Hawks the ultimate weapon this summer

The Hawks are no longer interested in a trade for Anthony Davis.

Per a recent report from insider Jake Fischer in the midst of the penultimate week to the NBA trade deadline, Davis may just end up right where he was least expected to a month ago: Dallas.

Not only are the Hawks out on Davis, but so is the other most significant suitor, the Toronto Raptors. Both teams were/are desperately in need of frontcourt assistance, but things have changed for both squads in the last few weeks.

For the Raptors, the emergence of rookie Collin Murray-Boyles has resulted in a defensive renaissance for the Raptors. With aging veteran center Jakob Poeltl nursing a lingering lower back strain – not only for the last few weeks but seemingly without a timetable for a return on the horizon – CMB has been forced into a much more significant role for the Raptors.

Murray-Boyles and Scottie Barnes have formed a defensive tandem as fearsome as the championship duo of Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam. The Raptors' trademark of size and length to lock down passing lanes and interior windows has, unsurprisingly, stood the test of time and is a key reason why coach Darko Rajakovic may no longer be so inclined to support the addition of Davis in a trade that would likely cost at minimum CMB minutes and at maximum a deal including CMB.

As for the Hawks, Mo Gueye has stepped up as a legitimate interior force on defense. His offensive game remains as questionable as ever, but for now, the defensive presence that Anthony Davis may or may not bring (depending on health) to the Hawks is mitigated by how successful Gueye has been in his minutes.

Hawks' short-term weakness will become their long-term strength

While the Hawks move to trade away Trae Young = an obvious stepping stone to making a move for a larger contract such as AD - may have left them a bit flat-footed with the recent decline in Anthony Davis trade talks, it will allow them an even greater boon this summer.

The Hawks have a simply obscene amount of cap space after this season reaches its finale. The expiring contracts of CJ McCollum, Kristaps Porzingis, and Luke Kennard tally over seventy million dollars in freed up cap room after this year.

This sudden influx of flexibility will afford Atlanta a bevy of new options. Should McCollum prove his ability to fit in with the squad, Porzingis prove his health, and/or Kennard prove his defensive survivability, each of the three may be in line for reduced contracts to stay with the Hawks long-term on more team-friendly deals.

The Hawks could also go in another direction – sign more veteran free agents that currently reside at a lower value but have a higher ceiling that they are capable of reaching. Take Nickeil Alexander-Walker's signing from last offseason. Agreeing to a now-ludicrous ~$15M/yr over the next four seasons, this is now one of the greatest value deals in the league after a categorically sensational start to the season for NAW.

Atlanta would also retain the flexiblity to make a whale-sized splash in free agency. While the days of superstars hitting free agency appear to be history, with the recent Milwaukee fiasco and Giannis' deal reaching its conclusion in the not-so-far-out future, perhaps Onsi is waiting for the right moment to pull the trigger on the Greek Freak.

Whatever the case may be, the Hawks are set up for success.