National Basketball Association

Two Possible Trade Scenarios for the Atlanta Hawks

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Atlanta Hawks take the floor in one week. Although they made major changes this summer, could more be on the horizon?

The season is just a few days away and the Atlanta Hawks are exited to display the new-look roster that they assembled over the off-season. As satisfied as the front office may be, a team cannot be successful unless they are constantly looking to improve.

The most minuscule detail can throw a whole season away and Atlanta is well aware of that. Basketball is a game of perfection where everything needs to function properly.

With this being said, it would not be of surprise if the Hawks front office makes deals this coming season to patch the holes. I have a pretty good idea of what might be done in these coming months.

Oct 10, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) dribbles the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Cavaliers 99-93. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Dumping Tim Hardaway Jr.

In what was an overall disappointing season for Tim Hardaway Jr. last season, he showed signs of maybe one day developing into a perennial starter in the NBA. However, a surplus of wing player on the roster, along with Hardaway’s overall poor preseason shooting may prove to be the deciding factors of his eventual departure of Atlanta.

There is an unwritten coach’s rule which is that if there are two players of similar talent, the younger one will always get the minutes. In high school basketball, if a freshman is as talented as a junior, the coach will play the freshman more because the freshman has more upside. This type of action is seen in the NBA as well. If DeAndre Bembry and Taurean Prince truly display their value, it is only logical to expect to see Hardaway become a regular on the “inactive” list.

If this happens, don’t expect Hardaway to stay on the Hawks. Teams in the middle of rebuilding or a little bit past that stage would love a player like him. The Nets would play him 36 minutes a game to see if he can develop into that perennial starter that I mentioned earlier. Also, a team like the Milwaukee Bucks, who are in desperate need for a scoring, three-point shooting wing (yes, even after Tony Snell) would easily be willing to give pieces that the Hawks value for Hardaway.

Here are just a few possible deals:

Hawks receive: Chris McCullough

Nets receive: Tim Hardaway Jr.

Hawks receive: Michael Beasley, John Henson

Bucks receive: Tim Hardaway Jr, Thabo Sefolosha, Tiago Splitter

I’d say that both front offices would agree with the Hawks dumping Sefolosha and Splitter because of their expiring contracts and because it benefits both teams. The Bucks get veteran experience at the forward and center positions: something they are in desperate need of, especially if they expect to make a postseason run. Dumping Sefolosha and Splitter opens up minutes for Bembry, Prince, Muscala, and Tavares.

Oct 16, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) shoots the ball against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. The Hawks won 105-98. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Getting Value for Paul Millsap

In just three seasons,Paul Millsap is already undoubtedly one of the greatest players in Hawks history. He has been an All-Star every season that he has worn an Atlanta jersey and has made plenty memorable plays for the fans. However, he possesses the option to become an unrestricted free-agent next summer and will be the primary interest of many teams. With his skill set, it is not hard to see why.

Of course, it is always possible that he will resign, as he did two off-seasons ago. This is when, however, you must take his age into consideration. He will be 32 by the playoffs and will likely look for a 3-5 year max contract in the summer, which teams are bound to offer him. Do the Hawks really want to give a long-term max contract for a player whose ability will soon start to decline? This is especially important when considering that Kent Bazemore and Dwight Howard take up almost half of the cap space, and Dennis Schroder will most likely has for close to max money.

With this being said, it is reasonable to imagine that the front office will at least listen in on trade offers for Millsap. If they feel uncertain, then they are better off dumping him off for some sort of value, whether it be draft picks or players. Teams in contention would most likely be Here are a couple of deals that can work:

Hawks Trade: Paul Millsap, Walter Tavares 2018 2nd round pick

Suns Trade: Alex Len, PJ Tucker, Archie Goodwin, 20171st round draft pick

In this trade, the Hawks receive an excellent young center with high potential, a solid backup to Kent Bazemore (which is key with an aging Thabo Sefolosha) and a shooting guard who also has high potential. The Suns have tried to get Millsap before and will again this time. Tucker and Goodwin are disposable to them, especially with Devin Booker on the come-up. Swapping young centers benefits both teams as well. The key is that Atlanta wins this deal by securing a 1st round draft pick, which can be flipped to another team for a solid piece or be used to actually draft someone.

Hawks Trade: Paul Millsap

Timberwolves Trade: Shabazz Muhammed, Tyus Jones, Gorgui Dieng

I have confidence that the Timberwolves will at least be in the hunt for a playoff spot, and Paul Millsap is the man they need to fill their gaps. A starting line-up with Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, and maybe Kris Dunn could use a veteran to calm them down. Paul Millsap is the most qualified man for this job. Not only does he have the leadership gene, but he is an amazing player with a lot left in him, and would likely re-sign with a team with explosive potential like Minnesota. For the Hawks, they receive three excellent young players who will prove to be extremely valuable in the long-run. Dieng is a guaranteed future starter in this league and Muhammed is a spark plug of the bench. Jones has some rough spots but has shown tremendous upside.