With the trade deadline only a week away, it’s about time we started getting to the juicy stuff. The Hawks have been linked to numerous players such as Andre Drummond, Dewayne Dedmon, Steven Adams, and others, but out of all those potential deals, only Adams seems like a logical fit. Drummond is a free agent after this season, and if the Hawks wanted Dedmon back, they would have paid him in the offseason. But now things are starting to take a turn, and this could get a little bumpy for some Hawks fans.
In Shams Charania’s most recent report for The Athletic, he mentions Atlanta as one of several teams interested in Rockets’ center Clint Capela. Capela has been instrumental to the Rockets’ success in recent years, blossoming into their anchor down low on both sides of the court. Acquiring him would fix the Hawks’ two primary needs — rebounding and rim protection. Capela is one of the best rebounders in the league, averaging 13.8 boards per game, and an elite defender in the paint, blocking 1.8 shots per contest. He’s also fantastic in the pick and roll and would feast on lobs above the rim from Trae Young. It’s everything the Hawks could dream of, but he’s going to cost much more — in terms of assets — than who Atlanta has been previously linked to, which brings us to the next part of Shams’ report.
Multiple teams are inquiring about Hawks’ power forward, John Collins. Charania did not explicitly list Houston as one of the teams checking in, but if Atlanta were to land Capela, you’d think Collins would be someone of interest. Daryl Morey has never been shy when it comes to pulling the trigger. So although Shams’ sources say it is unlikely Capela is dealt before the February 7th deadline, if the Hawks were to make Collins available, things could move quickly. The report also states the Hawks have resumed interest in other, more traditional centers like Dedmon and Adams.
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