Many believe the Hawks are done making big moves this offseason, and I tend to agree. The only consequential move I could see coming down the pike is a Clint Capela or De’Andre Hunter trade.
That’s not how Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report sees it, though. In a blockbuster trade idea, the Hawks come out as surprise winners of the Lauri Markkanen sweepstakes, sending a three-player package and two first-rounders to Utah in exchange for the forward.
Atlanta Hawks Receive: F Lauri Markkanen
Utah Jazz Receive: F/C Onyeka Okongwu, G/F Dyson Daniels, SG Kobe Bufkin, 2025 first-round pick (unprotected via Los Angeles Lakers), 2025 first-round pick (top-12-protected via Sacramento Kings)
Markkanen is the exact kind of forward that the Hawks should be looking for to build around Jalen Johnson and Trae Young. He’s a 7-foot big man that has enough skill to play the small forward position, a poster child for position-less basketball.
Imagine a starting five of Trae Young, Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson, Markkanen, and Clint Capela. That’s the type of length that Atlanta needs with Trae Young on the court.
He’s coming off a campaign in which he averaged more than 23 points per contest, but more importantly with Young, he shot 41.4% on catch-and-shoot threes. The Hawks would immediately become contenders in the Eastern Conference with a trade like this.
For the Jazz, they’d have five first-round picks in a loaded 2025 draft class, but I’m still not sure this kind of offer gets Utah to move their most valuable trade chip. I actually don’t even think it should get the ball rolling considering what Mikal Bridges was traded for earlier in the offseason.
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Photographer: Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire
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