Atlanta Hawks rumors: Pros and cons to trading for James Harden

James Harden’s trade request is the NBA’s worst kept secret. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the Atlanta Hawks making a trade for him.

The Atlanta Hawks have spent the last three seasons organically building a team the fan base can be proud of and one that can compete for a championship for years to come. Hawks fans have been patiently waiting as the Hawks allocated assets and worked the draft to deliver on that promise.

General manager Travis Schlenk used this offseason to bolster the Hawks roster with a mixture of young, hungry players and battle-tested veterans. For the first time since Mike Budenholzer skipped town for Milwaukee, the Hawks have a legit chance to make a postseason appearance.

For years the Houston Rockets have turned away suitors and refused to entertain the notion of trading away James Harden. That is no longer the case after the superstar combo guard requested a trade.

The Hawks didn’t make Harden’s destination wishlist as he’s made it clear he wants to compete for a title, and the Hawks are far from title contention. Although they didn’t make the elite four, the Hawks should still enter their name in the James harden sweepstakes. At the very least, call Rafael Stone and see what kind of package it would take to acquire the eight-time All-Star.

Even after their free-agency spending spree, the Hawks have the assets to get a deal done. This is more of a matter of can the Hawks present the best offer, and with two years left on his contract, is this a deal worth making. At the very least, this is an avenue the Hawks should explore and consider taking.

Without further ado, draw up your t-charts or Venn diagrams, boys and girls, and let’s explore some pros and cons of a potential trade for James Harden.