Just six months after their Conference Finals appearance, the Atlanta Hawks are looking to trade almost everyone on their roster.
According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Atlanta wants to make some big changes, and are open to trading everyone not named Trae Young or Clint Capela.
Now that the Cam Reddish situation has been resolved, thanks to a trade to the Knicks, will Atlanta’s front office continue to look for upgrade opportunities? “Everyone but Trae Young and Clint Capela are available,” one assistant general manager told B/R earlier this week before the Reddish trade. The Hawks had been looking to move Solomon Hill, out for the season with a hamstring tear, in order to open a roster spot.
There was also belief among rival front offices that the Hawks would be willing to part with De’Andre Hunter to bring a significant veteran contributor to Atlanta.
The Young-Capela pick-and-roll is expected to be the foundation of the Hawks’ attack for some time, so it’s unlikely Collins will ever inherit the bigger offensive role he desires unless he gets a new home. If Atlanta can find a suitable deal, that outcome seems quite possible. “Travis is not going to be afraid to shake it up,” one general manager said.
De’Andre Hunter, Danillo Gallinari, and Kevin Huerter are all names to look out for ahead of the deadline, but John Collins is no doubt the most intriguing player of the bunch.
Collins, 24, has emerged as a significant contributor for Atlanta. Over the past few years, he has impressed audiences with his multi-faceted game while proving his worth as a mobile stretch 4 who does all the little things.
But with the Young/Capela pick-and-roll dominating Atlanta’s offense, Collins is being denied the bigger role he has wanted for years now. By trading him, the Hawks can solve this growing problem and snag a player who might end up being a better fit.
Either way, it’s clear that the Hawks are among the biggest sellers right now and nobody is safe from a deadline-day trade.
