Coming off their run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, there was a lot of hype surrounding the Atlanta Hawks this NBA season. So far though, the Hawks have not lived up to the expectations placed on them and they have seemed to take a major step backwards through the first-half of the 2021-22 season.
Trae Young looks like an All-Star once again and both Clint Capela and John Collins have been impactful players, but the rest of this roster just has not lived up to expectations. Overall, their success on offense masks their problems on defense, but at 17-22 on the season, the Hawks are going to have to make a drastic change at the NBA trade deadline if they are to have a chance of making the playoffs at this rate.
The Eastern Conference is so much better this season compared to last season, which is why the Hawks will have to be willing to sacrifice assets in order to improve right now. Moving either Danilo Gallinari or Bogdan Bogdanovic remains a real possibility, but so does trading away Cam Reddish.
Drafted 10th overall in 2019, Cam Reddish has been having a career-year for Atlanta and has been one of their more consistent weapons on offense, but his long-term future is definitely in doubt because of the Atlanta Hawks cap problems.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Knicks-Hawks Trade Features Cam Reddish To New York
After extending the contracts of Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, John Collins and Clint Capela in the offseason, Atlanta does not have much room financially to give out more long-term deals. Both De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish are going to be extension-eligible following this season and right now, they will not be able to keep either player without going over the luxury tax line.
Atlanta has always tried to operate below the luxury tax and they will once again look to do so if possible, which is why feeling out the market for Reddish right now is something that management will be doing.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: This Knicks-Hawks Trade Features Cam Reddish To New York
With the need for “3-and-D” type players on the wing, Cam Reddish is expected to receive quite a bit of trade interest. Not only will playoff contenders in both conferences try to trade for Reddish, but a rebuilding franchise like the Oklahoma City Thunder may also show a level of interest.
The Thunder are just 13-26 on the season, but they have been a very competitive young group and the future is definitely bright for the organization.
With Shia Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort and Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City already has a strong foundation of youthful talents and adding another player like Cam Reddish could go a long way in them finding success in the near future.
Could the Oklahoma City Thunder actually pull off a trade for the former Top-10 pick? Let’s take a look at what this trade could wind up looking like.
