Flashback to the 2021 offseason and there was nothing but excitement surrounding the Atlanta Hawks. The youthful squad had over-performed in a major way. They made it to the conference finals before losing to the eventual champions, the Milwaukee Bucks. With the same roster core intact this season, the Hawks did not see the same success. They ended with a record of 43-39. Atlanta was unable to pull the upset over the top-seeded Miami Heat. Now they will reevaluate their roster this offseason.

There should still be a great deal of optimism surrounding this Hawks team. Despite the disappointing playoff performance of Trae Young, Atlanta should remain confident he is a key part of their future. The focus should be on surrounding him with talent that maximizes his skillset. Atlanta holds the 16th pick in the draft. That pick is unlikely to be enough of an impact player to satisfy all their offseason needs. Expect the Hawks to hit the trade block in search of building a true contender.

2 trades Atlanta Hawks must make in the 2022 NBA offseason

Hawks get Rudy Gobert

The Hawks trade John Collins and DeAndre Hunter to the Jazz. In exchange, the Hawks land Rudy Gobert and a first-round pick. This trade makes total sense for both sides. Tensions have continued to rise between Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. They appear on the verge of a breakup. The Hawks have been reportedly trying to trade John Collins for quite some time. Adding in DeAndre Hunter should be more than enough to get a deal done.

The addition of Rudy Gobert would provide the Hawks with the defensive anchor they need. Atlanta was 26th in the NBA in defensive efficiency this season and has failed to get stops when the team needs them. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year should be a great solution to this and Atlanta would be able to adopt a scheme that translates. The Hawks have more impressive perimeter defenders than the Jazz, so adding Gobert as the anchor could produce some impressive results.

This also is a deal that could help maximize Rudy Gobert's ability. The main source of offense for Gobert is found on putbacks, but the passing ability of Trae Young could unlock much more. Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley lacked the playmaking to utilize Gobert as a lob threat, but this would change with Atlanta. There is no reason Gobert cannot fill the offensive role of Clint Capela with much more added value on the defensive end.

Ben Simmons on the move again?

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Hawks star Trae Young could be traded to the Lakers, Spurs, Pelicans or Nets

Sonny Giuliano ·

Trae Young on one side, a bunch of Atlanta Hawks fans on the other side with a speech bubble that says "Trade him!"

Owen Crisafulli ·

Coby White with Michael Jordan and Zach LaVine amid Bulls win over Hawks

Jay Postrado ·

Oh, how poetic it would be if Ben Simmons returns to the place where his issues seemingly began. The last 5-on-5 basketball that Simmons has played was with the 76ers in the 2021 playoffs where the Hawks knocked the franchise out of the playoff in a disappointing fashion. Simmons was unable to make his return with the Nets this offseason which has frustrated the organization. The first-round sweep has the Brooklyn franchise reevaluating their entire roster and they would likely would at least listen to offers for Simmons.

The Hawks were rumored to be interested in Simmons earlier in the season. They could have a second chance this offseason. Adding the 6'10” playmaker would provide a unique look to the Atlanta offense which just might work. Utilizing Simmons as a screener could open things up for Trae Young. Similar to how Draymond Green is used alongside Steph Curry, Simmons could be paired with Trae Young. Simmons would also provide the necessary defensive boost to Atlanta's roster.

While Ben Simmons certainly holds his flaws as a basketball player, he can still be very effective in the right system. His ability to handle the ball would become an added threat in transition and his advanced passing would allow the Hawks to use Young off the ball more frequently. The addition of Simmons would give the Hawks the greatest lineup flexibility they have had in quite some time and would be worth taking a chance on with his value at an all-time low.

The Hawks are back to the drawing board to upgrade their team this offseason. The current roster does not compliment Young to the extent it needs to. Keeping your superstar happy is a major priority in the NBA. The Hawks must prove this in the offseason. Atlanta should be determined to upgrade the team's defense in their offseason transactions as this has been the downfall of the team. Their defensive deficiencies were put on display in the playoffs this season. Fixing this should rejuvenate the Hawks' playoff chances.