Landry Fields has been wheeling and dealing following the opening bell of the offseason, making several notable moves including a blockbuster Hawks trade.
Atlanta’s GM began by selecting Zaccharie Risacher in last week’s draft, then moved AJ Griffin for a second-round pick, but the biggest move of the offseason was the Dejounte Murray trade.
Everyone knew one of Atlanta’s All-Star point guards was going to be traded this offseason, and it ended up being Murray in a deal with the Pelicans. The club got a pair of first-round picks, Larry Nance Jr., E.J. Liddell and Dyson Daniels in return.
Another Hawks trade could be on the horizon, though. Nobody should expect Trae Young to be dangled on the market, especially with the Spurs signing Chris Paul, but there are a couple of other trade candidates.
Clint Capela and De’Andre Hunter have been rumored to be available for trade, but the Hawks may end up resisting because of the reported return. According to John Hollinger of The Athletic, the Hawks can’t get anything meaningful in return for either player.
“Clint Capela and De’Andre Hunter rumors have subsisted for ages, but the general consensus from league sources is that the Hawks can’t get any meaningful return for them,” Hollinger wrote.
Capela’s departure seems much more likely than Hunter’s, in my opinion. Hunter hasn’t lived up to the lofty draft status of the No. 4 overall pick by any means, but Hawks fans aren’t considering the kind of impact he makes for a club that is building around Trae Young.
Hunter gives the Hawks good defense and occasional offensive spurts, while Capela is completely disposable with Onyeka Okongwu under contract. The Hawks should be stockpiling versatile wings, not trading them away. On the other hand, Okongwu can give the Hawks more than Capela offensively.
I don’t think the Hawks should trade Capela away for nothing, but an addition-by-subtraction situation may still benefit Atlanta. Hunter shouldn’t even be on the trade block to begin with.
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Photographer: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire
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