The Atlanta Hawks are not a team that many follow closely. Over the last few years, they have not been contenders in the Eastern Conference, but they have been slowly building the right way and are close to turning things around. In order to do that, they need to make a move or two this offseason.
While there aren’t any splashes to be had for the Hawks in free agency, they could look to make a trade. One player who fans should keep an eye on is Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo.
One NBA general manager, who asked to remain anonymous, believes Oladipo could end up being shipped to the Hawks this offseason.
“Atlanta is going to look to make a move, everyone knows that. They want a dynamic back-court running mate to pair with Trae Young. I think (Victor) Oladipo is a name they could target. His value is down, but the Hawks could figure out a way to entice Indiana.”
Oladipo would be a very intriguing name for the Hawks. His value is absolutely low after a slow comeback from a rough quad rupture. He did not look close to his former self after returning to the court with the Pacers.
During the 2019-20 NBA season in 19 games and 16 starts, Oladipo ended up averaging 14.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. He shot just 39.4 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from the three-point line.
In the bubble, Oladipo did show some flashes of his former self. He looked more aggressive getting to the rim. However, the explosiveness that made him so dangerous before his injury simply wasn’t there.
At 28 years old, trading for Oladipo could be worth the risk for the Hawks. He has time to turn things around. The only issue could be the fact that he is in the final year of his contract and has made it clear that he wants to compete for a championship.
Perhaps the Hawks believe they could convince Oladipo to stick around and play with Young. If that is the case, pulling the trigger on a deal makes sense. Depending on the price, it would be worth a shot.
Expect to see the Hawks look to be active this offseason. They aren’t going to overpay for a guy like Victor Oladipo, but if the Pacers have a reasonable price in mind, Atlanta should check in.
