The Atlanta Hawks came into the 2021-22 NBA season with some high expectations. After making a run to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals, many people thought we’d see them challenging in the conference for years to come. Thus far, it seems like that performance was a fluke.
Atlanta is currently on the outside looking in of the playoff picture. They are in 12th place, one game behind the 10th place New York Knicks, who they faced in the 4 vs. 5 matchup in the first round last season.
The Hawks’ biggest issue, just as it was last season, is defense. They struggle to slow opponents down from scoring and their transition defense is as big of a culprit as anything. They are good with the ball, turning it over infrequently, but when they do turn it over, they are giving up baskets.
Atlanta gives up the most points per possession off a turnover in the NBA. Their schemes don’t do them any favors, as their offensive sets usually leave an unbalanced court to transition to defense. There are times they are beaten back even after scoring themselves, which just cannot happen.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Trades We’d Love To See For Lakers’ Anthony Davis
Addressing that defense is the only way they will get things back on track. They could go small and make changes on the fringes, but going big is a lot more fun to discuss. How big, exactly? How about pursuing Anthony Davis from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Davis is someone who could eventually be made available by the Lakers, who have a grim long-term outlook. Trading him may be the only way to fix that, and he would also bring in a boatload of help to improve the overall roster right now.
What could a deal that lands Davis in Atlanta look like? Let’s take a look at this hypothetical trade.
