The Atlanta Hawks are looking to reverse their recent trend coming off their first missed postseason since 2019-20. To do that could require changes to the current roster. That decision may not come until the season has already begun.
The Hawks retooled the roster around Trae Young over the 2024 offseason.
They should at least see what the new iteration can do together before making more, potentially increasingly drastic moves.
If they get to a point that a further shakeup feels necessary, though, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz offered three potential “top” trade targets for the Hawks to pursue. Swartz listed Karl-Anthony Towns, Jerami Grant, and Derrick Jones Jr.
Swartz did not outline any potential packages but Soaring Down South certainly can.
Proposed Hawks trade lands 2-time All-NBA big man
“If the Atlanta Hawks plan to keep and build around Trae Young, the franchise should be searching for All-Stars to pair him with given that their next three drafts are controlled by the San Antonio Spurs,” Swartz wrote in the article published on August 29.
“Towns is a strong candidate given his three-point shooting, rebounding and ability to be a secondary offensive hub alongside Young.”
Towns is a four-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA selection, and former Rookie of the Year in his nine-year career.
It would be costly to acquire him in a trade no matter how you slice it.
The Hawks have to match Towns’ salary – $49 million in Year 1 of a four-year, $220 million contract – and give up to key contributors from the past few seasons. However, Clint Capela and De’Andre Hunter have already been subjects of trade speculation.
Both players could also be at risk of becoming expensive bench options in the wake of comments from Hawks CEO Steven Koonin.
Towns averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, hitting 41.6% from deep in 2023-24.
Capela is on an expiring two-year, $46 million contract. But Hunter is entering Year 2 of a four-year, $90 million deal. This trade would upgrade from Capela, avoid losing him for nothing at the end of the season, and remove Hunter’s potentially onerous contract from the books.