The Atlanta Hawks have failed to build on the strong 2020-21 NBA campaign that ended with an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. Currently, they find themselves 17-25 and are outside of the final play-in tournament spot by 4.5 games as the trade deadline approaches.
There may not be a team more primed to make changes than the Hawks as the trade deadline approaches. In fact, the team already moved on from Cam Reddish after it was later revealed he requested a trade in the offseason.
A consistent theme for the Hawks has been poor defensive play. Atlanta is giving up 1.033 points per possession (PPP) and that ranks 29th in the NBA. Keep in mind, the team trails only the Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls in points per possession on the other end.
The lack of defensive effort and impact from the Hawks was recently called out by general manager Travis Schlenk. He made it clear that keeping the team together may have been a mistake given the results they’ve failed to achieve since the Eastern Conference Finals.
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“We’re seeing the same thing every game,” Schlenk told 92.9 The Game. “Again last night, we had the lead going into the fourth quarter then we can’t keep it. I sound like a broken record here, but it’s the same thing every game.”
“Again, ultimately this all falls on me. So we’ve got to take a long look at this and see if this group is the group we saw last year in the second half of the season of if it’s the group we’re seeing this year. And that’s what we have to determine and we have to make adjustments off those. Obviously, you can tell I’m a little frustrated.”
The Atlanta Hawks are not going to receive more than a defensive liability level of impact from Trae Young at the point guard position. Atlanta is going to need to surround him with high-level defensive talents to overcome for that lack of production and right now, they simply do not have that type of personnel.
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According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the only players the Hawks view as ‘untouchables’ as the NBA trade deadline nears are Trae Young and Clint Capela.
Now that the Cam Reddish situation has been resolved, thanks to a trade to the Knicks, will Atlanta’s front office continue to look for upgrade opportunities? “Everyone but Trae Young and Clint Capela are available,” one assistant general manager told B/R earlier this week before the Reddish trade. The Hawks had been looking to move Solomon Hill, out for the season with a hamstring tear, in order to open a roster spot.
While some may be questioning why Clint Capela would receive such a designation, it’s important to take into consideration that not many teams actually need a center right now. Keep in mind, his defensive impact has dropped off this season since receiving a PRP injection in the offseason.
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One option the Hawks have recently been linked to quite significantly as of late has been Ben Simmons in part of a blockbuster deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. Given the Sixers’ lack of need to acquire John Collins, the outlook for a deal has become complicated; requiring a third or fourth team to balance things out.
It remains to be seen what the Atlanta Hawks will decide to do at the NBA trade deadline when it comes to revamping the supporting cast around Trae Young. Regardless, something is needed as the team is in the midst of a five-game losing streak.
