Hawks floated as dark-horse trade destination for 6-time All-Star

The Atlanta Hawks are not among the teams touted as powerhouses in the Eastern Conference. But they fancy themselves as an under-the-radar threat following an offseason of significant changes.

A slow start could lead to more changes. But would a fast start make them buyers?

Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale listed Atlanta as a “surprise” potential landing spot for Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, saying, “How about the Hawks?”

“Jimmy Butler did not sign an extension with the Miami Heat over the offseason and has a 2025-26 player option,” Favale wrote on September 27. “Maybe, just maybe, Miami's current window has run its course and the front office contemplates taking a bigger-picture approach.

“Miami may insist on getting Zaccharie Risacher or Jalen Johnson. Atlanta should draw a line on them. Butler just turned 35 and is approaching the end of his contract. The Heat's leverage is limited. Scooping up a handful of digestible contracts, players like Onyeka Okongwu (who can be re-flipped since Miami has Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware), Dyson Daniels and Kobe Bufkin and multiple firsts is a viable return.”

Favale noted the Hawks’ lack of control of their first-round picks.

That could explain the prospect-laden offer that features Okongwu, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, and Daniels whom they picked up in the Dejounte Murray trade.

The Hawks got back first-rounders from the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans in that deal, and they could opt to try including those instead of the players Favale named. But Miami is not an organization that rebuilds, so immediate help makes more sense for them.

Adding Jimmy Butler closely aligns with Hawks’ offseason moves

Butler is older than the players the Hawks added over the offseason. And there are questions about his fit alongside Trae Young.

However, Butler’s skillset could realize what the Hawks hoped for when they traded for Murray.

“Whether Butler transforms Atlanta into a quasi-contender is a separate matter. The same goes for how his diabolical competitive streak meshes with Trae Young. But the two are no doubt a dynamite on-court fit,” Favale wrote.

“Young has more off-ball chops than he's consistently shown, and Butler is someone to whom ceding partial offensive control makes sense. Between Risacher, Butler himself, Vit Krejčí and potentially Daniels, the Hawks would also have a line to some pretty intriguing defensive combinations around their floor general.”

Proposed Hawks trade lands Jimmy Butler from rival Heat

The Hawks are high on Daniels and what he can add alongside Young. While there could be some spacing concerns with Butler, he did shoot a career-high 41.4% from deep in 2023-24.

An alternative like this hypothetical offer could suit the Hawks, especially if they send draft picks.

This trade would still cost the Hawks draft picks, and potential more than it would were they to include Daniels. However, it would also get them from under the remaining three years of De’Andre Hunter’s four-year, $90 million contract.

Hunter has been a potential trade candidate while Nance has already drawn trade interest since coming to the Hawks in the Murray deal.

Okongwu would arguably be the toughest loss.

Moving him would leave the Hawks with a pair of older players in Clint Capela and Cody Zeller at center and only undersized David Roddy and unproven Mouhamed Gueye behind Johnson at power forward.

The Hawks view positions 2 through 4 as interchangeable. But they still need some size down low, and getting Butler could cost them in that regard either way.

Then there is his contract situation. It all highlights why he and the Hawks are an unlikely match.