Report: Atlanta Hawks far from done making moves

The Atlanta Hawks swung big last night for the first time in several offseasons, acquiring Kristaps Porzingis from the Boston Celtics in a three-team trade. However, several reports are suggesting this is only the beginning.

According to The Stein Line, the Hawks are still trying to aggressively add following the Porzingis trade, hoping to use their $25.3 million trade exception to land another big fish.

“Remember when The Stein Line reported last week that the Hawks were determined to make use of their $25 million trade exception that still linger’s from last summer’s Dejounte Murray trade? That doesn’t change with the Porziņģis trade.”

“Word is that the Hawks, at roughly $30 million below the luxury-tax line, are expected to register interest in a sign-and-trade deal with Minnesota to try to acquire Nickeil Alexander-Walker — among various options that Atlanta is exploring with its trade and financial flexibility — in the event that the Timberwolves, in their quests to re-sign Julius Randle and Naz Reid, run out of the flexibility needed to re-sign Alexander-Walker.”

Among the many things the Hawks lacked as a team last season, a backup ball-handling guard that could score in bunches off the bench was one of them, especially after the season-ending injury to Kobe Bufkin, who really hasn’t amounted to much since the Hawks drafted him in the first round a couple of years ago.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker would be a perfect fit in that role, coming off a season in which he recorded 9.4 points and 2.7 assists on 43.8% shooting from the field and 38.1% from deep for the Timberwolves.

It’s possible the Hawks don’t stop there either, as they also have a $13.1 million trade exception and $14.1 million mid-level exception at their disposal.