The Atlanta Hawks have been busy ahead of the NBA trade deadline. The team already moved Cam Reddish, a recent lottery pick, to the New York Knicks ahead of the need to offer him a contract extension. The focus remains to add more talent around Trae Young.
One of the options for the Hawks to add another contributor would be to move on from NBA veteran Danilo Gallinari. He is earning roughly $20.5 million this season and could be helpful for Atlanta when it comes to matching salary in a trade scenario without having to give up a younger option.
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Toronto Raptors have expressed interest in making a trade with the Atlanta Hawks in order to acquire Danilo Gallinari, as have a ‘handful of teams.’
The Toronto Raptors have also expressed interest in trading for Atlanta Hawks forward Danilo Gallinari, HoopsHype has learned. Toronto is one of a handful of teams who’ve inquired about Gallinari.
The 2021-22 season has been an underwhelming one for Gallinari, who is averaging 10.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 38.8% from beyond the arc. His production has declined over each of his last four seasons since he averaged 19.8 points per game in his final season with the LA Clippers.
Gallinari, 33, can still convert on catch-and-shoot attempts at a high-clip and offers some post-up elements as a 6-foot-10 wing with soft touch in the paint. However, perhaps the main appeal of him as a trade target is that only $5 million is guaranteed of the $21.45 million salary he is set to earn in 2022-23.
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A team that is looking to move on from a hefty to contract and clear space for beyond this season could view Gallinari as an ideal mechanism to achieve that. The Atlanta Hawks face a situation where they could net value for taking on a less favorable contract, too. Of course, if they were interested in doing so.
The Toronto Raptors do not have a large contract signed beyond this season that is in need of being dumped, however. Instead, the team could move on from the expiring $19.4 million salary of Goran Dragic in order to add help at a different position, if the Hawks sought to add a backup point guard that does not come with a long-term commitment in terms of salary obligations.
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There will be other options for the Atlanta Hawks to negotiate trade conversations with teams regarding Danilo Gallinari beyond the Toronto Raptors as the NBA trade deadline approaches.
