Ranking Every Potential Atlanta Hawks Trade Target for the Summer

The Atlanta Hawks might be one of the most active teams this summer when it comes to reworking their roster. Not only do they have the No. 1 pick, but they have several players who might not make the team when the new season begins in October. Atlanta needs to make a decision regarding the Trae Young/Dejounte Murray backcourt and other players such as Clint Capela, De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Oneyeka Okongwu could all be moved in certain scenarios. Atlanta is expected to rework its roster and many different players are considered potential trade targets for the Hawks.

Who should be the Hawks’ top trade target this offseason? I’ve ranked all the viable trade candidates for Atlanta and analyzed their chances of acquiring them (reminder: this is all speculative).

1. Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges

I think the Hawks should have Bridges as their primary target in a potential trade this offseason, but I doubt the Nets will actually make him available unless he asks for it, which he has shown no signs of doing. Bridges would be a great fit alongside Trae Young and strengthen this team’s biggest weakness on the defensive end, while also being a supplemental ball handler and creator capable of getting his own shot.

Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz pegs the Nets as the Hawks’ “dream” target this summer:

“The best path forward for the Hawks is to split the Trae Young/Dejounte Murray combo, improve the team’s overall defense and try to improve the future salary prospects of a team that missed the playoffs playoffs but projects to be in the luxury tax this coming season.

Moving Young or Murray in a deal for Mikal Bridges would solve many of this team’s problems. Bridges, 27, is a top defender who could help fix a Hawks defense that finished 27th overall last season. He would be the perfect piece to place next to Young as someone who can lock down opposing wings and play a secondary scoring role.

Bridges’ contract (two years, $48.2 million) is one of the best in the NBA. If the Hawks choose to move Young and keep Murray as their franchise point guard, Atlanta would only pay Bridges and Murray a total of $48.8 million next season, less than Bradley Beal would make alone with the Phoenix Suns.

There is a lot of talent in Atlanta, especially with the arrival of the No. 1 overall pick. This team needs a shake-up though, with the addition of a player like Bridges who is sure to propel the Hawks into the playoffs in 2025.”

It’s a little difficult to come up with a trade proposal for Bridges, but Dan Favale of Bleacher Report had an interesting proposal involving the Brooklyn Nets:

The exchange

Atlanta Hawks receive: Mikal Bridges, Dorian Finney-Smith, Phoenix’s 2027 first-round pick, Memphis’ 2028 second-round pick

Brooklyn Nets receive: Clint Capela, No. 1 pick

I fully expect Bridges to be on the Nets next season, but Atlanta should check on his availability.

2. Jalen Suggs – Orlando Magic

Jalen Suggs would be the perfect complement to Trae Young as a point-of-attack defender at the guard position and also a good three-point shooter. Orlando hasn’t made Suggs available and, like Bridges, I don’t expect them to, but there is a scenario in which I could see the Hawks moving him away. Orlando. The Magic desperately need a playmaker on offense and the Hawks have a pair of guards who could be on the move. Orlando might still have a good defense without Suggs and there might not be a better guard on the trade market than Dejounte Murray. Could the Hawks send them AJ Griffin and Murray for Suggs and a draft pick? Again, I doubt Orlando will trade Suggs, but Murray might be the best point guard available and Orlando needs him badly.

3. Alex Caruso-Chicago Bulls

Caruso and Suggs are similar players and both fit similar needs for the Hawks. Caruso is one of the best defensive players in the NBA and would instantly improve the Hawks’ defense, while providing them with a good three-point shooter. So far, Chicago has been reluctant to trade Caruso, but he will be entering the final year of his deal and may not re-sign with them. They could have traded him for more value than they would get this offseason, but Chicago tried to stay competitive. Caruso would be coveted around the league and there is no trade that instantly pops up that makes sense for the Hawks. Would the Hawks trade Murray for Caruso in a trade? This is the only logical move and Atlanta might need a third team. Caruso is more likely to be available than Suggs, but he could be a Bull once the season starts.

4. Brandon Ingram- New Orleans Pelicans

Ingram seems like the most likely player to be traded on this list and he would make a lot of sense for the Hawks and it’s easy to propose a trade that makes sense for both sides. I’m not as big a fan of Ingram as others, but he would fit in well in Atlanta alongside Trae Young.

At 6’8 190 LBS, Ingram checks off the size the Hawks need and he also checks the playmaking box. Whether he has the ball in his hands or not, Ingram can either get his own shot or set up one. others. He averaged nearly six assists per game over the past three seasons and was a good shot creator for the Pelican offense. He had a rough offensive run against the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs this season, but being with either Young would open up a lot of things for him.

However, he is not a perfect fit for Atlanta, especially from a defensive standpoint. If he were to be paired with Young, he would add to the team’s defensive issues, but they could be overcome because while he is not a great defender, he is not one of the worst in the league and he at least has size. . The other thing would be his three-point shooting, as it has fluctuated a bit over the years. He shot 35.5% from three this year, up from 39% last year. The year before, he shot 32 percent. There is an inconsistency with his three-point shot.

Ingram is also entering the final year of his contract and will need a new one after next season. Obviously, if the Hawks trade for him, they’ll give him a new contract, but that would also tie him and the team’s point guard up. Also consider that Jalen Johnson will be extension eligible this offseason, meaning Atlanta could have a lot of money tied up in Young/Murray, Ingram, the No. 1 pick (unless he’s traded), and Johnson .

5. Jarrett Allen – Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland is in a similar position to Atlanta and needs to rework its roster. Assuming Donovan Mitchell re-signs there, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen could be on the move. If so, Allen would be a great fit alongside Young as a big rim runner who is an excellent shot blocker and rebounder. He would be an upgrade over Clint Capela and he is also younger. There is no possible trade between the two teams that stands out immediately, so a third team may need to be involved. If Atlanta traded for Allen, I guess that means they take Zaccharie Risacher with the No. 1 pick.

6. Jonathan Isaac and Anthony Black – Orlando Magic

I think this player combo is much more likely to be traded from Orlando than Suggs, but I would bet that Atlanta would rather have Suggs. Still, this duo could instantly bolster the Hawks defense, but there are more risks. Isaac is one of the best defenders in the league, but he has struggled with injuries and might not be able to play heavy minutes. Black showed flashes as a rookie, but is not a proven player. Would the Hawks want to trade Murray for an injury-prone player and a largely unproven second-year player? I doubt it, but maybe Orlando attaches enough capital to lure Atlanta.

7. Cities of Karl-Anthony– Minnesota Timberwolves

I debated whether to put Towns on this list, but there is a non-zero chance he could be moved from Minnesota. The Minnesota Timberwolves may have just advanced to the Western Conference Finals, but they could have a very important decision to make this offseason. The Timberwolves will move past the second apron next season if the team stays as it is and its trade assets have declined due to the trade for Rudy Gobert, who just won another Defensive Player of the Year award . This has led to speculation that the Timberwolves may try to trade star forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns in order to avoid the second apron and potentially recoup draft picks and players.

While it’s unclear yet if the Timberwolves could actually do this, it could be a good idea for a team that already has Anthony Edwards. Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid is also set to take over Towns’ role, making the move even easier. If Minnesota decides to move Towns, there will be plenty of suitors around the league as Towns is one of the best offensive big men in the league.

Towns may be the most talented player on this list, but I’m placing him at the bottom because I don’t know if he addresses the Hawks’ biggest weaknesses. Towns would be a great fit on offense with Young or Murray (especially Young), but he’s not a strong defender. Pairing Towns and Young would be a disastrous duo on the defensive end and I don’t think they’ll make the move for that reason. Still, maybe the Hawks become enamored with his talent and decide to pull the trigger and surround them with defenders in another way.

There are other players the Hawks could pursue if they become available, but these are the seven most realistic targets in my opinion. Other names to watch if they become available would be (in no particular order): Jimmy Butler, Michael Porter Jr, Kevin Durant, Herb Jones, Lou Dort and Trey Murphy III. I don’t expect any of these players to be available, but you can convince yourself that they’re all a good fit for the Hawks if they were.