Hawks exec's comments paint ominous picture for Clint Capela & De'Andre Hunter

Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin is outspoken.

He has blasted trade rumors in the past, noting the complexity of such transactions and explaining the lengths they go to to protect their intel. He did say he expected the Hawks to be active in the trade market before they ultimately traded for Dejounte Murray in 2022.

Koonin was back at it on Friday, this time lauding the team’s potential despite outside perceptions and even suggesting a major change to the starting lineup.

It could be bad news for Clint Capela and possibly even De’Andre Hunter.

“I think we’re going to be long, we’re going to be athletic, we’re gonna be very young, and I think this team is gonna be an incredible amount of fun,” Koonin said on “Dukes & Bell” on August 30. “And there’s a good chance Trae Young is our oldest starter at 26 years old.”

Hawks CEO puts veterans on alert with latest comments

Capela, 30, has started all but three of his 275 appearances in a Hawks uniform since coming over in a trade from the Houston Rockets in 2020-21.

He averaged 11.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 2023-24.

It was his seventh straight season with a double-double. Capela also appeared in 73 games marking his second time playing in 70-plus games in the past three seasons and the fourth time in his career.

Capela is in the final year of a two-year, $46 million contract and the Hawks already have his potential replacement on hand in 2020 first-round pick Onyeka Okongwu.

Okongwu is starting a four-year, $61.9 million contract

Hunter and Young will both be 26 years old for three-plus months before the former turns 27 years old, so he would meet the criteria for players who should be on alert in the wake of Koonin’s remarks.

Hunter had started 200 of 206 career games since entering the league in 2019-20. He started 37 of his 57 appearances in 2023-24 as injuries continued to be a theme for him.

Hunter started his final 13 appearances of the regular season.

However, he came off the bench in favor of the departed Saddiq Bey in the Hawks’ Play-In Tournament loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Hawks also drafted Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Risacher could end up coming off the bench to begin the season or even starting at shooting guard as a rookie.

But he has a forward’s body type and figures to end up there before all is said and done.

Bogdan Bogdanovic could also be a player who should be on alert as the Hawks look to replace Murray in the starting lineup, though he has said in the past that he prefers closing out games to starting.

Dyson Daniels could be in line to start after Hawks CEO's comments

One player Koonin’s comments bode well for is Dyson Daniels, whom the Hawks acquired in return for Murray.

Daniels had a strong Olympic run and is an elite defender but needs to shoot better.

Whether or not Koonin’s version of events would mean Capela, Hunter, or Bogdanovic would be traded or simply moved into a bench role is unclear. All three players have been named in trade speculation.

Hunter is in Year 2 of a four-year, $90 million contract. Bogdanovic is in Year 2 of a three-year, $68 million deal.

Daniels, Okongwu, Risacher, and Jalen Johnson are all younger than Young, fitting Koonin's remarks.