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The offseason started last Friday night for the Atlanta Hawks after their loss to the Miami Heat in the NBA's Play-In Tournament and it has already been an eventful couple of weeks.
Just two days after he gave an exit interview and met with the media, Atlanta fired former GM Landry Fields and promoted Onsi Saleh to the position while also announcing they were beginning a search for a president of basketball operations. This is a big offseason for the Hawks and Saleh is going to play a big part in shaping it, along with the new president of basketball operations (if one is hired).
So how will the Hawks try and manage this offseason? A lot of questions about the Hawks are going to surround Trae Young and his status, but it looks like he is going to stay put for now.
Per @TheSteinLine:
— Hawks Lead (@HawksLead) April 27, 2025
"The clearest possible read on Young's future with the Hawks will be easier to pinpoint with certainty once they secure a new lead decision-maker in the front office to replace the ousted Landry Fields, but talk of potential Young trades has undeniably faded… pic.twitter.com/ieZGIXmklS
Could there be other Hawks on the move? A recent trade proposal from Bleacher Report analyst Andy Bailey has the Hawks moving center Onyeka Okongwu to Golden State:
Kevon Looney and Jonathan Kuminga for Onyeka Okongwu
"Despite averaging 15.8 points over the last two seasons, Jonathan Kuminga had been completely excised from the Golden State Warriors' playoff rotation before Jimmy Butler's injury put him back in the mix.
Even if the 22-year-old plays well in this new opportunity, it seems clear he's not a part of Golden State's future plans. So, if the Warriors could just dodge his restricted free agency altogether and get a starting-caliber center on a reasonable deal in the process, they should probably do it.
Onyeka Okongwu would make lineups with Draymond Green and Butler a nightmare to score on. And though he's not prime Andrew Bogut or anything, Okongwu is a solid and willing passer who could fit Golden State's offensive philosophy, too.
It might be hard to pry him from the Hawks without giving up draft consideration, but Kuminga still has a ton of potential as a multi-positional forward with top-tier athleticism. And he's somehow two years younger than Okongwu.
A forward/wing platoon with Kuminga, Risacher, Johnson and Daniels could be one of the most intriguing in the league.
To put it nicely, this would be an awful trade for the Hawks.
Okongwu finally got a chance to step into the starting role for the Hawks in January and played really well. Both defensively and offensively, Okongwu looked like the center for the Hawks going into the future along with the core of Dyson Daniels, Trae Young, Zaccharie Risacher, and Jalen Johnson. Okongwu is also on a great contract, with three years and $47.8M left on it. For a good starting center, that is an incredible contract that the Hawks would be foolish to give up.
Kuminga is an interesting player, who fell out of the rotation until the recent Jimmy Butler injury. He averaged 15.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 2.2 APG on 45% shooting from the field and 31% from three, both down from the previous years. Atlanta would have to give Kuminga a big extenion, one that I don't think he is worth, while also not having a starting caliber center. Kuminga would be an interesting addition to the Hawks supporting cast around Trae Young, but for what his future contract would be plus giving up a great value in Okongwu, this would be a terrible trade for the Hawks that they should not conisder.
Additional Links
New Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Kevin Durant to the Heat, Hawks Land Versatile Defender
2024-2025 Atlanta Hawks Season Grades: Clint Capela
2024-2025 Atlanta Hawks Season Grades: Dyson Daniels
More must-reads:
- Celtics' ownership move should concern Lakers governor Jeanie Buss
- Four-time All-Star's contract status puts pressure on Hawks in 2025-26
- The 'NBA minutes leaders by season' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Kings Predicted to Send Malik Monk to Lakers for $66 Million Duo in Offseason Trade
As the 2025-26 NBA season nears, one team that continues to be the subject of trade rumors is the Sacramento Kings. Of course, the Kings elected to keep their core of Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVien together this offseason despite many around the league expecting them to begin a rebuild. Sacramento also made some notable additions to their roster this summer as they selected Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud in the 2025 draft and added Dennis Schroder in free agency. While the Kings have upgraded their roster this offseason, some of their players continue to be in trade rumors, primarily for Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga who Sacramento is reportedly targeting. For the Kings, multiple players have come up in trad rumors this summer but none more than Malik Monk who is coming off the best season of his NBA career. Despite this, the Kings have elected to keep Monk thus far but that could change as they continue to look for ways to upgrade their roster even more this offseason to chase a playoff spot next season. Kings predicted to trade Malik Monk to Lakers With this in mind, SB Nations’ Jacob Rude recently released a mock trade that would send Malik Monk to the Los Angeles Lakers for two players. In the trade, the Kings would land Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and a lottery protected 2031 first-round pick from the Lakers in return for Monk. This trade does not make a ton of sense for the Kings as they would swap one of the best scorers on their roster for two veterans who struggled last season and a lottery protected first-round pick. Both Vincent and Kleber would be solid additions to the Kings’ roster as they would fill two glaring holes in their rotation, but Sacramento would likely want more in return for Monk, especially with him coming off the best season of his career. Because of this, it is highly unlikely that the Kings would agree to this trade as they could possibly receive a larger return for their veteran guard from another team this offseason.
Vikings WR gets brutal injury news for second straight season
A Minnesota Vikings wide receiver's season is already over. The Minnesota Vikings announced on Tuesday that wide receiver Rondale Moore is being placed on season-ending injured reserve due to a leg injury that he suffered in the team's first preseason game against the Houston Texans this past weekend. It is a devastating blow for Moore who is now being sidelined for an entire season, before it even begins, for the second year in a row. Moore signed a one-year, $2 million contract in free agency with the Vikings this offseason in the hopes he could return from a different injury that cost him the entirety of the 2024 season. Moore was a member of the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 after being acquired in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals for backup quarterback Desmond Ridder. This is now two different teams that Moore has been a part of but will never play a game for them due to injuries. Moore was injured while returning a punt. He began his career with the Arizona Cardinals, catching 135 passes for 1,201 yards over three seasons before being traded. He was never going to be counted on to be a key contributor for the Vikings offense this season, especially given the superstars they already have at wide receiver in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but he still had a chance to be an interesting depth player. Now it is fair to wonder what the rest of his career might even look like. Missing two full seasons due to two different leg injuries is going to be a brutal thing to try to come back from. Missing two seasons for any reason is difficult, but when you add the leg injuries to the equation, it makes the obstacle even steeper.
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Makes Direct Statement About Mason Rudolph's Spot On QB Depth Chart
The Pittsburgh Steelers have quite an interesting quarterback room for the 2025 season. Of course, all the focus is truly on Aaron Rodgers and what he can bring to the team at this stage in his career. Behind him, the Steelers have Mason Rudolph serving as the primary backup. Skylar Thompson and Will Howard are competing for the third spot on the depth chart, but unfortunately for Howard, an injury has slowed his progress. Thompson took advantage of the opportunity, performing well in the first preseason game and possibly reclaiming the QB3 role. Before his injury, Howard had previously moved ahead of Thompson in the competition. Former teammate of Rudolph, Ben Roethlisberger, recently shared his honest thoughts about the veteran quarterback’s performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Roethlisberger, who spent years with Rudolph during his time in Pittsburgh, had a unique perspective on how his former understudy handled the game. While Roethlisberger acknowledged there were some areas where Rudolph could improve, he also praised his composure, decision-making, and ability to move the offense when needed. Roethlisberger discussed Rudolph’s performance on his Footbahlin podcast, noting that the veteran looked confident and in control despite limited opportunities. "You know I thought Mason [Rudolph] played really well," Roethlisberger said on his podcast. "I thought he did exactly what you would hope to see from your backup quarterback. He went out there I think, he solidified himself… as the two." He pointed out that Rudolph’s familiarity with the Steelers’ system allows him to step in without disrupting the flow of the offense. With Rodgers leading the way, Rudolph providing a steady backup presence, and the QB3 competition between Thompson and Howard continuing, the Steelers’ quarterback depth will be a storyline worth following as the 2025 season approaches. "Let’s see how he does this week and the next week," Roethlisberger said. "I thought he played really well. I thought he was efficient with the ball. He threw the ball down the field. As a team, you like seeing that because that gives you confidence going into the season that if something were to happen one game for Aaron… you have a guy that you feel confident who could go in there. Same thing when we had Charlie Batch, you had Bruce Gradkowski, you had Byron Leftwich, you had Dennis Dixon and Josh Dobbs. Any of those guys. You just feel confident he can go in and just get it done for you." Roethlisberger had high praise for Rudolph, and hearing him mention him alongside names like Charlie Batch shows he has faith in Rudolph’s ability to be a reliable backup in Pittsburgh. There is a strong argument that Rudolph is one of the most dependable backup quarterbacks in the NFL, which is a significant asset for the Steelers in the 2025 season. Steelers' Mason Rudolph Has Great Preseason Game Versus Jaguars Rudolph only attempted 10 passes on Saturday night against the Jaguars, but completed 90 percent of them. He threw for 84 yards and one touchdown. While preseason football can be difficult to evaluate, he performed well in roughly a quarter and some change of action. His efficiency and composure reinforced the notion that the Steelers have one of the league’s most steady and trustworthy backup quarterbacks heading into the regular season. Roethlisberger is confident Rudolph has now locked up his spot as QB2 for the 2025 season. Steelers fans are now super eager to get updates on when Howard will be back from his injury. Howard and Thompson will fight for the QB3 spot. What grade would you give Rudolph for his preseason outing against the Jaguars?
Najee Harris may have role reduced after fireworks accident
Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris still has yet to return to action after a July 4 fireworks accident, and it sounds like he does not necessarily have a job guaranteed to him when he does. Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman admitted Tuesday that the team is planning a steady rotation at running back whether or not Harris is available to play in Week 1. First-round draft pick Omarion Hampton, however, is the player who has part of the rotation locked down, not Harris. The Chargers likely intended to use Harris as a part-time back no matter what. However, he certainly cannot have helped himself with his eye injury. The issue was described as superficial after it happened and Harris was expected to be ready for the season, but he is still on the non-football injury list and has yet to participate in a full practice. Harris, 27, is entering his first season with the Chargers after signing with them in March. He can earn up to $9.25 million on his one-year deal, but that will require him to remain part of the rotation with Hampton.
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