The Hawks have had some high highs and some low lows this season. But with the NBA’s annual trade deadline less than 48 hours away, the Hawks can make some moves that could potentially stabilize them.
A few names have been tied to the Hawks (23-27) in the NBA trade rumor mill ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. EST deadline. But the team will have to take a serious look at the assets it has and if they will be enough to net the team a return that will ultimately make it better.
As of now, the Hawks have shied away from indicating that anyone on the roster is untouchable. Plus, some of the latest moves around the NBA have shown that even the faces of franchises can find themselves on the trade block.
The Hawks, though, have a couple of obvious players that they’ve subtly indicated could be on the move.
Over the past five games, the Hawks have held Bogdan Bogdanovic out of games. The team made him a healthy scratch last Monday against the Timberwolves, before listing him out for personal reasons one game later.
Bogdanovic did not travel with the Hawks on their three-game road trip.
Similarly, center Clint Capela has missed the past four games. The Hawks though, have listed him out with back spasms, scratching at the last moment before their meeting with the Rockets at State Farm Arena.
Both Bogdanovic, 32, and Capela, 30, had seen their minutes reduced with the breakout of De’Andre Hunter and Onyeka Okongwu, respectively.
Moving Bogdanovic would be a cost-saving move for the Hawks. The veteran sharpshooter has two years remaining on the four-year, $68 million extension he signed in 2023. He has a $16 million club option for the 2026-27 season.
The Hawks shifted Capela to the bench Jan. 20. It was the first time Capela had come off the bench since Feb. 25, 2017.
Capela, unlike Bogdanovic, is on an expiring deal and is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Both veterans could net the Hawks some younger solid role players, who could address the needs of team long term.
The team also has veteran center Cody Zeller on the roster, though he has yet to play a game in a Hawks uniform. Zeller and the Hawks agreed that he would sit out as the team worked to find the right trade partner.
The Hawks have spent much of this season without a designated secondary point guard, largely because of the versatility of Jalen Johnson. They also have handled the non-Trae Young minutes by committee with Johnson, Bogdanovic, Dyson Daniels, Keaton Wallace and Kobe Bufkin.
Both Johnson and Bufkin have been ruled out for the rest of the season.
The Hawks also need to address the need for a long-term backup center. With Capela, as well as Larry Nance Jr., on expiring deals, the Hawks will need a viable option to backup Okongwu.
A few players that have been reported are Suns center Jusuf Nurkic, Sixers forward Paul George and Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram.
Nurkic has one year left on his four-year, $70 million contract and could address the Hawks depth at center. But his production has dropped off significantly and has fallen out of the rotation with the Suns acquiring center Nick Richards last month.
The Suns have a logjam at center, so the most likely player included in a deal with them would be Bogdanovic.
Meanwhile, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said the market for a big man “was dry” during an introductory news conference for Luka Doncic on Tuesday.
The Lakers need a center after trading Anthony Davis to the Mavericks. But Pelinka’s statement does not give a ringing endorsement to the centers currently available.
As for George and Ingram, the Hawks could use the depth that the two could add to the frontcourt.
But both struggle with availability and have dealt with significant injuries that have caused them to miss many games this season.
George, who turns 35 in May, still has three years remaining on his four-year, $212 million deal, with the final year including a player option.
For the Hawks, who repeatedly have looked to dodge the luxury tax, acquiring George does not line up with the timeline they seem to have pivoted to. The Hawks have seemed to shift to acquiring younger and cheaper talent they can develop long-term.
A similar statement could be said of Ingram, who is on the final year of his deal. Long term, Ingram could address the Hawks need for scoring when Young goes to the bench.
As of last summer, though, Ingram reportedly wanted a contract worth the max. He and the Pelicans couldn’t come to terms on a number during the offseason.
Of course, the Hawks could opt to stand pat at the deadline and let Capela test free agency. They also could decide to wait until the offseason to try to trade Bogdanovic after teams have reevaluated their roster situations.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
