Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks have quickly learned that they need to upgrade the roster around superstar point guard Trae Young. In 2020-21, Young’s individual excellence led the Hawks to shatter preseason expectations, not only making a playoff appearance but winning their way into the Eastern Conference Finals.
They followed that up by clawing their way past the Play-In Tournament to earn a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the Miami Heat.
Now, Atlanta Hawks President Travis Schlenk has to find a way to improve the supporting cast around Young. The Heat exposed Atlanta’s lack of secondary playmaking around Ice Trae and the lack of defensive stalwarts behind him.
Trading for OG Anunoby would provide a boon in both departments. Anunoby is the player that the Atlanta Hawks hoped De’Andre Hunter would become one day. Instead of banking on that promise, Atlanta could deploy both of them on the wings and field a fearsome two-way lineup around Trae.
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Landing Anunoby won’t be cheap, but the Hawks happen to have the perfect trove of assets to convince Raptors President Masai Ujiri to bite. Toronto displayed an egregious lack of size in their first-round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in these playoffs.
The Atlanta Hawks could help shore up their front line by sending John Collins their way. A package around Collins, Jalen Johnson — a 6’9 super athlete that fits right into the Raptors’ team building profile —, and some of the Hawks’ future draft capital should get the deal done and would be beneficial for both teams involved.
