Grade the trade: Proposed Hawks trade lands $40 million trio from West rival
The Atlanta Hawks held trade talks with several teams at this year’s deadline, most notably the Los Angeles Lakers.
Among the details revealed from those talks, which centered around Dejounte Murray, Lakers guard D’Angelo was viewed as a poor fit alongside Trae Young. The Hawks were also said to covet Austin Reaves, whom the Lakers were reluctant to part with.
Expectations that the Hawks will explore trading Young this offseason offer another path.
Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes suggests the Hawks and Lakes reconvene, settling on a package that would send Young to the Lakers while bringing a trio of players to Atlanta.
“With no clear top-option talent available to select at No. 1 in the 2024 NBA draft, the Atlanta Hawks can't exactly justify moving Trae Young because they've got his replacement all lined up. They can, however, use their fortunate position at No. 1 to sell a broader reconfiguring of the roster,” Hughes wrote on May 17. “Possession of a top overall pick provides great cover for a soft reset.
“In this hypothetical, the Hawks put the ball in Dejounte Murray's hands full-time.”
Trae to LA (B/R - 5/17/24)
Austin Reaves set career highs this past season, averaging 15.9 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.3 rebounds while appearing in all 82 games with 57 starts. But he did not take the leap some expected after his breakout in 2022-23 led to a four-year, $53.8 million contract last offseason.
He will count $12.9 million against the salary cap next season.
Rui Hachimura spent last season training under LeBron James, something Hawks forward Jalen Johson also did.
Hachimura received a three-year, $51 million contract in free agency. His 13.6 PPG in 2023-24 aligns with his first two NBA seasons. But he did shoot 42.2% from beyond the arc on a career-high 3.4 tries per game also making a career-high 68 appearances.
Hachimura will count $17 million against the cap in 2024-25.
The Lakers signed Gabe Vincent in free agency last offseason, inking the former Miami Heat guard to a three-year, $33 million contract.
He is on the books for $11 million and $11.5 million over the next two years but is coming off a disappointing opening salvo with the Lakers. Vincent averaged 3.1 points and shot 10.7% from deep, making just 11 appearances after suffering a knee injury that required surgery.