If the Hawks are serious about competing in the Jalen Johnson era, they have two trade options: Anthony Davis and LaMelo Ball.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is clearly better than both of these players, and the Hawks would be a dangerous team with Jalen Johnson alongside The Greek Freak. But Giannis can walk as early as the 2027 offseason, and other teams will also offer a competitive trade package. Is it worth emptying the war chest for a two-year rental? Would it still be worth pushing the chips in if the Bucks demand both picks and real rotation players, such as Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, or Nickeil Alexander-Walker?
The reality with star trades is that they don’t work very often. Teams have to give up a fortune in assets, which inherently weakens the roster left over. Even if adding Giannis overcomes the deficiencies left in Atlanta’s roster, is he good enough to both do this and elevate the team to a championship level?
Matter of fact, is any team, real or theoretical, good enough to compete with the ridiculously stacked Thunder lineup this season? Why make a desperate win-now move when arguably the greatest team of all time is in the midst of a historic season?
The Hawks simply cannot afford to make such a reckless gamble with no long-term security. A mishap in this trade will set the franchise back years, where recovery through the lottery could be impossible.
The market undervalues the other stars available for trade
The hype around a Giannis trade has led to teams forgetting that many other stars are on the market. Not only would a trade for Davis or Ball be much less expensive, but they would be a much better fit on this squad.
Giannis and Johnson both do the same things on offense: relentlessly attack the paint. While Johnson is flourishing as a shooter this season in a way Antetokounmpo never has, there would be real basketball issues that result from their pairing.
On the flip side, AD and Ball were handcrafted to accompany Johnson. Davis is a stout defensive presence at the five who would instantly solve Atlanta’s defensive and rebounding problems. He’s been a shaky offensive player in recent years as his jump shot has waned, but he still thrives in his bread-and-butter as a roll man.
Alternatively, Ball is the offensive weapon the Hawks want Trae Young to be (and he’s much cheaper than a max extension for Trae). While he, like Young, takes too many ill-advised shots, he’s been more willing to be a pass-first player than the Hawks star. Young is a masterfully skilled playmaker, but he has never been the second option on offense. If he can’t make this adjustment, Ball would be an excellent successor to his role. (For fun, stop and consider how electric the LaMelo-Jalen fast break would be.)
A Giannis trade is the flashy move, but the Hawks don’t need a flashy move. They need thoughtful moves that fit seamlessly with their team. The Hawks could acquire both Davis and Ball for roughly the same price Giannis would cost. Why would the Hawks risk it all for a two-year rental of one player when they can grab two stars on longer-term deals who fit better?