Every team in the NBA will enter the upcoming trade deadline with their own goals. Some teams are good, and they’d like to get better. Others are mediocre. Those teams may prioritize collecting assets or saving money over improvement.
Take the Atlanta Hawks. This team has no chance of winning an NBA title. The Hawks need to retool. With that in mind, they’re expected to be sellers leading up to the trade deadline.
By contrast, the Sacramento Kings are ready to go. They’re darkhorse contenders, and they’d like to improve their roster to bolster their title odds. Could they do so by acquiring De’Andre Hunter from the Hawks?
The Trade Proposal
Atlanta Hawks receive: F Harrison Barnes, C JaVale McGee, 2026 First-Round Pick (Top 10 Protected – SAC)
Sacramento Kings receive: F De’Andre Hunter
How did the Hawks get here? It wasn’t long ago that this team had one of the brightest futures in the NBA. The Hawks are allegedly trying to build the Golden State Warriors of the Eastern Conference. So far, it hasn’t worked out that way.
They have their star point guard. Trae Young has his flaws. His defense has improved, but he remains a liability. He’s also ball-dominant – for better or for worse. Still, there’s no denying that Young is among the most gifted playmakers in the NBA.
Dejounte Murray is no slouch in that department either. Still, it’s felt that the fit between these two ball-dominant playmakers isn’t there. Perhaps that’s why Murray is one of the hottest names in NBA trade rumors at the moment. Could the Hawks move Hunter as well?
Why The Atlanta Hawks Do The Deal
When a team is mediocre, they don’t want to have an expensive roster. They also want to have draft capital. This is a problem for the Hawks. They’re mediocre, expensive, and low on draft capital.
This deal aims to solve those problems. Barnes makes a bit less than Hunter, and his deal is a year shorter. He’s also a player who should be easy to move for further savings. After all, the Hawks wouldn’t do this deal for financial reasons alone – they aren’t saving enough money.
They’re also doing it to land a protected pick. The Kings aren’t likely to keep this pick – they’re a good team and they’re relatively young. Having moved three first-round picks for Murray, the Hawks would do well to collect some draft capital. Should the Kings part with assets for Hunter?
Why The Sacramento Kings Do The Deal
Hunter and Barnes are similar players. Hunter is better. This isn’t a complicated deal for the Kings. They’re upgrading a spot in their rotation.
Specifically, Hunter is a far stronger defender. That’s critical for the Kings. With Domantas Sabonis in the middle, this team is light on rim protection. Surrounding him and De’Aaron Fox with 3-and-D wings is their safest bet toward title contention.
Hunter is a strong 3-and-D wing. With the Kings this close to title contention, they shouldn’t hesitate to part with a lightly protected pick for him. Improvement should be this only organization’s goal.
