Could Jimmy Butler be the spark the Atlanta Hawks need?

Could Jimmy Butler be the spark the Atlanta Hawks need? The six-time All-Star was criticized by Miami Heat president Pat Riley for making comments about teams still playing in the playoffs when his team was eliminated in the first round. Riley also said that Butler is currently unpurchased, but we all know things can change at the drop of a hat.

Butler is currently set to make $48 million next season with a player option the following year. The combination of Butler and Young could be the formula the Hawks have been looking for since their run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Most importantly, Butler has the mentality and leadership the team desperately needs.

Butler obviously wouldn’t be cheap in terms of having to match his salary and what Miami would demand in a trade package. But the Hawks are at a point in their franchise where they need an overhaul of this magnitude to put them back in playoff contention.