The Atlanta Hawks have reached the crossroads of development and contention, and Hawks fans seemed to be split down the middle after an abrupt end to a peculiar season. The Hawks struggled in almost every facet of the game at some point throughout this past season. Atlanta’s front office may have a difficult time pinpointing a specific problem, when there is a plethora of issues to address. Does the team go heavy on defense? This is an area in which the Trae Young-led Hawks have struggled with season after season. Do they go all-in on offense and fix the issue of a secondary playmaking/scorer? After the Miami series, it was very clear the Hawks need another bona-fide scorer. Regardless of which direction the front office takes, some significant and wholesale changes are on the books for Atlanta this offseason.
**Draft Picks were not available on the simulator, but factor those in to the potential trades below**
John Collins, Bogdon Bogdanovic, 2022 1st-round pick, & 2023 1st-round pick (via Charlotte) for Donovan Mitchell & Royce O’Neale
This would be a sentimental loss for Atlanta fans. The Hawks are not only losing two of their best players, but two guys that led this team to the verge of the NBA finals. Both Collins and Bogdanovic will never be forgotten for their contributions, but strictly from an “X’s & O’s” perspective, this is a no-brainer for Atlanta. Mitchell is a proven star-talent and one of the best shot creators in the league and still at the ripe age of 25 years old. He fits the timeline of youth and contention that the Hawks seem to be on. After three years of disappointing playoff appearances, Mitchell may be ready to move on from the Jazz and the Western Conference. Couple that with the surprise resignation of Quin Snyder (reports came out later that Mitchell was very confused by this decision), and that may be the straw that broke the camel’s back. While Collins will forever be a fan favorite because of his highlight-reel plays, his availability and on-court performances, have made it difficult for the front office to see him as a foundational piece for the franchise. Collins still has the potential to be an elite player or a regular contributor on a title contender, but his lack of shot creation limits Atlanta’s offense. Mitchell would immediately move into the starting two-guard role, adding another surefire scorer for the Hawks. For Utah, John Collins fits perfectly next to star big man Rudy Gobert, while Bogdanovic’s underrated playmaking could flourish with a change of scenery. After the Hawks playoff performance against the Miami Heat, Atlanta desperately needs to add another playmaker and help take the load off Trae Young. Would the price be too steep for Travis Schlenk & Tony Ressler to pull the trigger on this type of deal? Or will the Utah Jazz even shop Mitchell? Only time will tell, but any time a multiple-time All-Star is available, the Hawks should kick the tires on a deal.
Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic, & Jalen Johnson for Ben Simmons & Seth Curry
Atlanta has been linked to Ben Simmons since his now infamous meltdown against the Hawks back in the 2021 NBA Playoffs. The Hawks were active with Philadelphia at last year’s trade deadline before he was ultimately sent to Brooklyn. Simmons’ trade value has never been lower after he forced his way out of Philly and spent almost the entirety of this season riding the bench for the Brooklyn Nets due to mental health concerns and back issues. This decrease in trade value does come with potential drawbacks, as Atlanta’s front office has nothing recent to evaluate Simmons on. Essentially, making this potential deal a massive risk. The safest bet for the Hawks would be to assume that Simmons can be the same player that he was on the 76ers, but even still, is that a player that the team wants as their second-highest-paid player? Seth Curry is the sweetener that makes this trade work for Atlanta, as he has proven himself to be one of the league’s most reliable shooters. Curry would fill Bogdanovic’s scoring role off the bench, but Simmons may have a challenging time finding a fit on Atlanta’s roster as he is a ball-dominate guy on a team with Trae Young. Clint Capela fills a need for the Nets at center. What the Hawks lose on defense from Capela, they gain on the perimeter with Simmons. Seeing Jalen Johnson go may be tough for Hawks fans, because the team never really got to see what they had in the young player. That is the cost of doing business in the NBA and young players are a premium asset.
John Collins & Jalen Johnson for Jerami Grant & Saben Lee
In my opinion, a trade similar to this one should have happened during last season’s trade deadline. Both Grant and Collins had similar stories going into their contract years. Both chose to bet on themselves, both are promising forwards (although their skillsets could not be more opposed), and both seemingly got precisely what they wanted. The similarities seem to end there, as Grant went to Detroit to become the number one option, while Collins chose to stick with his current role in Atlanta. Grant went on to have a career year in Detroit, showing both his scoring and defensive versatility that he flashed with the Denver Nuggets. Collins was no slouch and kept up his normal production, but something was missing this past season from the former Wake Forest procduct. While there is an argument that Collins should have been given the ball more often, especially in low-post situations, his lack of shot creation clearly hurt Atlanta at times this season. With the addition of Grant, the Hawks would immediately improve on the defensive end of the floor, while not losing too much in terms of offensive production. Collins and Johnson would join the young core in Detroit to try and help bring that franchise back to relevancy.
Bogdan Bogdanovic & 2022 1st-round pick for Kyle Kuzma & Ish Smith
This may not be the Washington Wizards player Hawks fans were looking at in terms of trade (i.e. Bradley Beal), but it may be a sneaky good move. Kyle Kuzma found himself on the wrong end of criticism at the end of his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he quietly had maybe his best season for the Wizards. Kuzma’s fit with Atlanta is a bit clunky, but his length and shot creation would be welcomed in Atlanta and helps fill some needs on the offensive end. His consistency is a bit of a drawback and makes the trade tough to evaluate, as you never know which version of Kuzma you may be getting. However, the same could be said of Bogdanovic after yet another season of injuries and overall inconsistency. Atlanta would be getting back a younger player who shows promise on the offensive end while having the length to be an excellent addition to the Hawks’ lowly-ranked defense. Bogdanovic would give the Wizards another shooter, and they would add another draft pick to their arsenal.
Bogdon Bogdanovic & Jalen Johnson for Malcolm Brogdon & 2023 1st-round pick (via Cleveland)
Brogdon is coming off an injury-riddled campaign in Indiana, which saw almost every aspect of his productivity decrease across the board year-over-year. However, the 2017 Rookie of the Year still boasts one of the NBA’s best two-way resumes. He has had many roles throughout his career already, serving as a sixth-man in Milwaukee and eventually taking over the reins in Indiana. The Pacers made some wholesale changes by bringing in point guard, Tyrese Haliburton, from the Sacramento Kings, thus making Brogdon expendable. His versatility allows him to slide between positions on a Hawks team that lacked this sort of variety. Whether he is playing the two-guard role alongside Trae Young or leading the bench unit, you almost always know what you will get from Brogdon. While the Hawks will have to give up prospect, Jalen Johnson, and shooting guard, Bogdon Bogdanovic, the versatility of Brogdon will allow seamless integration to a Hawks team dying for diversity. The extra draft pick to Atlanta also gives them some more ammo for another potential move. The Pacers will continue their rebuild and add another high-level prospect in Jalen Johnson.
Is there anyone you think the Hawks should have their sights set on? Would you pull the trigger on any of these moves? Let us know in the comment section below:
