For the last few NBA seasons, the Atlanta Hawks have been seemingly stuck in the middle — good enough to make the playoffs but not good enough to do much there.
They made an unexpected trip to the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2020-21 season, but they got beat pretty convincingly there in six games by the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.
While they’re off to a 4-2 start this season after blowing out the New Orleans Pelicans 123-105 on Saturday, hardly anyone outside of the state of Georgia is expecting an extended playoff run from them this spring.
But one big trade could change that a bit. Fran Leiva feels the Hawks should go after Toronto Raptors star forward Pascal Siakam in exchange for De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and a 2028 first-round pick.
“… Siakam’s addition, with his improved outside shooting, would perfectly complement an alignment featuring Clint Capela in the interior and perimeter players like Trae Young and Dejounte Murray,” wrote Leiva. “Prospects such as Saddiq Bey, AJ Griffin, or Jalen Johnson could fill the small forward void, empowering Atlanta significantly with Siakam’s arrival. His prowess would be invaluable on both offensive and defensive fronts, showcasing his ability to defend one-on-one and contribute to interior help defense.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks Updates
If this proposed trade ever saw the light of day, it would give Atlanta an interesting roster that may be able to do some damage in the months to come. Siakam, 29, is a borderline All-Star talent who put up a career-high 24.2 points a game last season, and he is a strong finisher around the hoop.
Perhaps he would make a nice target and outlet for Young, who is currently second in the NBA in assists per game. Siakam could also help make life easier for Young offensively by drawing some defensive attention away.
Young’s biggest problem is his inefficiency — he is averaging 21.7 points a game but is shooting a frigid 34.6 percent from the field and 28.2 percent from 3-point range. Having another legitimate scorer in Siakam next to him could alleviate his need to jack up risky shots from the perimeter frantically.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks Updates
Siakam will be a free agent at the end of this season, and there is speculation the Raptors will not come up with the dough needed for him to agree to a new contract. If the Hawks are willing to pay him whatever he demands, he could be a very nice get for them.
