The Atlanta Hawks have not yet been able to find the magic they utilized during their spectacular 2021 playoff run. Despite All-NBA play from Trae Young, iffy defense, sub-par play from veterans (namely Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic), and a slew of injuries have derailed their promising season.
Luckily, the trade deadline is full of intriguing names they can acquire to turn things around. If they want to go big in regard to NBA trades, they should look no further than Domantas Sabonis.
NBA Trades: Domantas Sabonis is Hawks home-run trade target
The All-Star forward is expected to be one of, if not the biggest names on the block this deadline, with the Pacers looking to refresh their roster. Despite the trade rumors, he’s put up another strong season, averaging close to 20 points and 10 boards per contest.
Most expect him to put up even better numbers when he’s not next to another star big man (Myles Turner) in Indiana. Yet, that probably wouldn’t be true in Atlanta, unless John Collins is part of the deal (Clint Capela can’t be traded after his recent extension).
Still, if the Hawks want to go all-in this season, Sabonis makes sense. They can use a three-headed frontcourt duo, solving the issue of Gallinari’s mighty struggles. He’d space the floor, giving Trae Young even more room to operate his lobs and floaters.
The investment would likely be rich, but the Hawks have plenty of assets. Both young talents like Cam Reddish and Onyeka Okongwu, and enough draft picks to get the deal done.
General manager Travis Schlenk has candidly discussed making deals, and a major move seems to be a when not an if.
Just now listening to Hawks GM Travis Schlenk's interview with @929TheGame, and he certainly didn't hold back.
— Sarah K. Spencer (@sarah_k_spence) January 4, 2022
"... Maybe I need to lower my expectations for this team. Ultimately, all this falls on my shoulders. I put this group together and they’re not responding." pic.twitter.com/DrDGb96tOC
There will be more complimentary pieces available for a lower price, but Domantas Sabonis fits and would make their already scary offense even better. If the price is right, Schlenk should pull the trigger on the superstar big man.