The NBA Trade Deadline is a little over 24 hours away, and the rumors are swirling around the Atlanta Hawks. Essentially every player not named Trae Young or Jalen Johnson appears to be on the table, even De’Andre Hunter, who is amid a breakout campaign.
“The Hawks have explored the trade market on veterans Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic, as previously reported by HoopsHype. Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter has also drawn trade interest from the Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources told HoopsHype.”
Hunter is averaging a career-high 18.9 points per game on 45.9% shooting, including 38.6% from behind the arc. He’s transitioned into a bench role for the Hawks this year, making a fantastic case for the Sixth Man of the Year award. However, with Jalen Johnson out for the season, Quin Snyder hasn’t had much of a choice but to insert him back into the starting lineup.
While nobody outside of Trae Young and Jalen Johnson should be totally off limits, Hunter’s improved play and team-friendly contract make him extremely valuable. He’s finally tapping into the potential the Hawks saw in him when he was drafted 4th overall and is in the second year of a four-year, $90 million contract. By NBA standards, that’s pennies.
There could be a scenario where the Hawks view this as a perfect opportunity to sell high on a player that’s had trouble staying healthy. De’Andre Hunter has only played more than 60 games twice in the previous five seasons, but it would still have to be an incredible package for the Hawks to consider moving him ahead of the trade deadline.
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Photographer: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire
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