The Atlanta Hawks came into the 2021-22 NBA season with lofty expectations. Their success one year earlier set the bar high.
Ultimately, Atlanta failed to deliver on the promise that the team showed in 2020-21. The squad finished 43-39 and couldn’t make it out of the first round.
Understandably the front office wants to make some significant changes.
Everyone but Trae Young seems to be on the block in order to facilitate those changes.
According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Deandre Ayton and Zach LaVine are two players currently on Atlanta’s radar.
“Would a package surrounding Clint Capela help facilitate a sign-and-trade to bring Deandre Ayton to Atlanta?” the report noted.
“Ayton has been a popular rumored target for [Travis] Schlenk’s front office, but multiple league sources with knowledge of the Hawks’ thinking have also pointed to various wing scorers as Atlanta’s prioritized endgame.”
One such wing scorer?
“Atlanta has also been mentioned by multiple league sources as a potential destination for Zach LaVine,” Fischer added.
Aside from the Hawks, there are three other potential suitors out there for LaVine. Time will tell what will eventually happen on that front.
Atlanta has also previously been linked to Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell.
This is shaping up to be a big summer for the Hawks. What happens this offseason will impact the franchise for many years to come.
Will they be able to right the ship come 2022-23 and make some legitimate playoff noise in the East? Time will tell.
More must-reads: