2. Ben Simmons

Toward the end of the saga between Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers, the Atlanta Hawks emerged as a potential landing spot. Simmons was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets, but that shouldn’t deter the Hawks from pursuing him.

If the Nets look to flip Simmons this offseason, Atlanta should once again be in the running for his services. The price to acquire him should be affordable as he missed the entire 2021-22 season because of a back injury and improving his mental well-being.

The fit alongside Trae Young could be an awkward one at times, as Ben Simmons needs the ball in his hands to make an impact on offense and Young is one of the most ball-dominant players in the NBA.

If Nate McMillan could convince Ben Simmons to operate as a big man setting screens and rolling to the rim, they could be in business.

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However, the biggest asset that Simmons would bring to the table is his defensive versatility. Atlanta needs help badly on that end of the court and Simmons is elite. He can defend every position on the court with his blend of size and athleticism, stifling guards as easily as he contains big men.

Given the construction of their roster, fitting Ben Simmons shouldn’t be too difficult. This is a team that has shooters all over the court, but a dearth of defenders, which makes Simmons’s strengths and weaknesses easy to add into the mix.