The Atlanta Hawks are a team that reached the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2020-21 playoffs, upsetting the No. 1 seeded Philadelphia 76ers in the process. Trae Young has solidified himself as an All-NBA caliber player, and some would go as far as calling him a bonafide superstar in the league.
Despite the fact that the Atlanta Hawks have some solid players such as John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanovic, few would say that the Atlanta Hawks have a true All-Star caliber partner for Trae Young. The Hawks have a lot of solid young pieces, but perhaps a move to trade them for a solid No. 2 to pair with Trae Young could be beneficial for their chances at the championship.
A player that would improve the Atlanta Hawks with his addition is Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam. Here is a trade package that would potentially provide great benefits for both teams:
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Pascal Siakam
Toronto Raptors Receive: De’Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish, Onyeka Okongwu, Jalen Johnson, Delon Wright, 2022 first-round pick, 2023 second-round pick via Pelicans
The Toronto Raptors Get Some Good Young Prospects For Their Rebuild
From the Toronto Raptors’ standpoint, this scenario could be a great way to send Pascal Siakam to a contending team, while also getting back some great young players to develop while rebuilding. It was previously stated by NBA analyst Evan Cohen that the Hawks have the assets to trade for a superstar such as Bradley Beal or Damian Lillard, so perhaps they could send some of those assets to the Toronto Raptors for Pascal Siakam.
De’Andre Hunter is a two-way wing that averaged 15.0 PPG and 5.8 RPG, and he looks like a player who could become a mainstay in the league if developed well. Hunter could become a great starting SF for the Toronto Raptors, with OG Anunoby moving up to the PF spot in this scenario.
Cam Reddish is a wing that didn’t play well at all during the regular season, but during the playoffs, Reddish showed traces of lockdown defense while shooting 64.3% from beyond the arc. Obviously, he won’t stay hot from the 3PT range forever, but he is a perfect player to put through Toronto’s development system, as he’s got great length and athleticism on top of his defensive abilities.
Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu are both players that would likely get limited minutes, but they could also be beneficial to the Toronto Raptors. The Toronto Raptors’ current starting center is Khem Birch. He’s a solid veteran, but the Raptors also need to think about the future. Onyeka Okongwu was a No. 6 overall pick in 2020, and while he only played limited minutes for the Hawks, he’s shown some potential as a rebounder and finisher at the rim. Jalen Johnson would give the Raptors a forward with defensive versatility and athleticism, both of which are valued in coach Nick Nurse’s system.
The Toronto Raptors would also get back Delon Wright, who last played for the team during the 2018-19 season. As far as draft compensation goes, they’d get a low-value 2022 first-round pick from the Hawks as well as a 2nd round pick in 2023. The draft picks would be the sweetener in this deal, since the Hawks are already giving up a lot of young players.
The Atlanta Hawks Gain A Championship-Caliber No. 2 Option In Pascal Siakam
Pascal Siakam has not had a lot of success being the primary scorer for the Toronto Raptors in 2021, and the team missed the playoffs, ending their 7-year playoff streak. Even with that in mind, Pascal Siakam still had a decent year statistically, averaging 21.4 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 4.5 APG.
On the Atlanta Hawks, Pascal Siakam would have less pressure to create for himself as a No. 2 option next to Trae Young, while also getting the opportunity to flash his all-around game. It was clear that the Hawks needed another player who could create opportunities for others while also providing solid scoring, and perhaps Siakam could be that player.
We have also seen Pascal Siakam succeed as a No. 2 option on a championship Raptors team in 2019, and having Trae Young on his team means that he’d likely have more easy opportunities to score due to Young’s passing ability. On top of that, all the spacing on the Atlanta Hawks would open up room for Siakam’s drives.
Considering the Atlanta Hawks already have John Collins and Clint Capela on the roster, Siakam would likely play the SF position. That likely means that he’ll have a key role on the defensive end. Siakam is a great two-way player, and on top of his offense, he’d give that Hawks a player that could guard opposing superstars. His length and athleticism allow him to keep up with quick perimeter players, while also being versatile enough to guard forwards and bigs.
At the end of the day, Pascal Siakam would give the Atlanta Hawks a player who plays hard on both ends, and one that has championship experience. This deal would be great for both the Hawks and Siakam himself: the Hawks would get a true No. 2, while Siakam would get the opportunity to play for a prominent team and show the world that he’s still an All-Star player. While there have been no trade reports linking Pascal Siakam to the Atlanta Hawks, this scenario seems as though it could work out well for all parties.
