The Atlanta Hawks‘ season is in danger. The franchise found out yesterday that standout forward Jalen Johnson will miss the rest of the season with a torn labrum, dealing a huge blow to the Hawks’ competitive hopes. They’re 22-26 this season, falling out of the East Playoff picture in a year where they don’t control their own pick. They need to find a way to keep winning and stay competitive.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been stuck in the Play-In picture of the Western Conference all season long. Their acquisition of Julius Randle hasn’t worked out well this season, with their record being 27-21. The team needs to find a better solution to surround Anthony Edwards with complementary talent, and they could work towards that by trading Randle to the Hawks.
Trade Details
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Julius Randle ($33.0 million), Donte DiVincenzo ($11.4 million), Joe Ingles ($2.0 million)
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: De’Andre Hunter ($21.6 million), Bogdan Bogdanovic ($17.2 million), Cody Zeller ($3.5 million), 2025 First-Round Pick (LAL)
This deal gives the Hawks a genuine co-star on offense for Trae Young, providing an interesting two-man game that could be beneficial for Randle and the Hawks. The Timberwolves land better-fitting role-players around Edwards who will hit shots and bolster the team’s rotation, while also landing the Wolves another valuable draft asset.
The Hawks Make A Playoff Push
The Hawks mortgaged a lot of their future with their failed acquisition of Dejounte Murray in 2022. Now that Murray is off the roster but the Hawks still owe future picks as a result of that trade, they need to find ways to stay competitive instead of handing San Antonio a lottery pick. Young as an offensive talent can carry them far, but they need a co-star beside him while the young core develops.
Julius Randle is averaging 18.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists this season. He could elevate the Hawks by giving them a dangerous frontcourt option to rely upon. Randle has also never had an elite point guard creating for him, so he might enjoy the best seasons of his career next to the pass-first Trae. He can also fit in a frontcourt alongside Jalen Johnson upon his return, making the Hawks even stronger for next season and beyond.
Donte DiVincenzo is having a rough season with the Wolves, averaging 11.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He has the most to gain from being in a Trae Young-led offense as a deadly corner shooter, a skill that he hasn’t been able to consistently display in Minnesota’s stagnant offense.
These additions would give the Hawks a massive boost for this season and beyond, as they slowly look to return to contention in the East without the luxury of drafting a future star with their own pick this season.
The Timberwolves Adjust On The Fly
The Timberwolves are likely regretting their decision to let go of Karl Anthony-Towns in the summer, but they have to move on. Randle and DiVincenzo didn’t wind up being the players they imagined they could be on the Wolves. Instead of forcing them to see this season out and potentially miss the Playoffs, the aggressive front office should make a change right now to gain assets and players who fit their style better.
De’Andre Hunter is among the leading candidates for Sixth Man of the Year this season, averaging 19.3 points and 3.7 rebounds. He could perform the same role or be a starting power forward to create a versatile and spaced-out starting five. Hunter is a Swiss army knife in terms of his ability to play and defend across various spots on the court. His consistency can be hit-or-miss but his skillset would fit like a glove in Minnesota.
Bogdan Bogdanovic is averaging 10.0 points this season. The sniper would be a great backup option or backcourt starter to give the Wolves an offensive threat that isn’t Edwards. This would definitely limit how comfortable teams are with double-teaming Edwards, as Bogdanovic needs just a few shots to heat up and rain buckets on a team.
Getting a first-round pick is massive, as the Timberwolves can use it to draft a win-now player next summer who’d be on a cost-controlled contract for the second-apron franchise.
Not An Easy Deal To Make
This deal would be hard for both franchises to stomach as it indicates a switch in direction. The Wolves wanted Randle because they wanted a co-star for Edwards, but he isn’t the right choice. This trade will see them split that into depth pieces, although those pieces would give the Wolves more freedom to experiment on the court while further highlighting Edwards as the No. 1 option.
The Hawks will have to take a risk by acquiring Randle and hoping his skills translate well to their franchise. Unlike in Minnesota, the Hawks don’t have any center options who’d make it impossible for Randle to have space or success in the paint. If Young can elevate the former All-NBA selection Randle’s production, they would be legitimate threats to the top six in the Conference.
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