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After exceeding all expectations during the 2021 season, the Hawks took a major step back this year. The franchise ultimately ended the regular season with a record of 43-39 which gave them the 8th seed in the East. They were knocked out of the playoffs by the Miami Heat in a gentlemen's sweep which left many questions heading into the offseason.
The Hawks were very open about wanting to find a true co-star for Trae Young and put their money where their mouth was. In the largest move of the offseason so far, Atlanta managed to trade for Dejounte Murray. For the price of Danillo Gallinari, three first-round picks, and a 2026 pick swap- the Hawks got their guy. Atlanta also made news by flipping Kevin Huerter in a trade. The four-year starter was traded to the Kings in exchange for Mo Harkless, Justin Holiday, and a first-round pick. They also signed Aaron Holiday in free agency and selected AJ Griffin in the draft.
While the franchise has already been busy offseason the work is not over. Here are two moves to watch following the frenzy of opening transactions.
2 moves Hawks still must make after first weekend of 2022 NBA free agency
Trade John Collins
Hawks Get: Gordon Hayward, 2024 and 2027 first-round pick
Hornets Get: John Collins, Skylar Mays, two 2023 second-round picks
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The Hawks have been searching for a trade partner for John Collins for quite some time. While the high-flyer is not perfect, there is still a lot to like about his game. The franchise has been wise to be selective while sifting through trade offers. The trade for Murray changes the situation for Atlanta a great deal. Following the deal, the Hawks are without a first-round pick in 2025 and 2027. Making this deal with Charlotte would allow one of them to reload on assets and still sit in a good place moving forward. Gordon Hayward would also be a solid win-now addition who would be a more clean fit in the starting lineup.
While there have been issues with Gordon's availability, the veteran has still been fairly effective when on the court. During his time with the Hornets, he has averaged 17.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals. He also has connected on 40.2% of his three-point attempts while launching 4.6 per game. Playing Hayward at power forward would provide optimal spacing for Young and Murray. The 32-year-old still has some productive years ahead of him and does not need a great deal of the ball to be effective. It also is worth noting that Skylar Mays would need to sign on to make this deal possible, but the Hawks could find another bench player to make the money work if Mays is unwilling.
Sign Dwight Howard
As the roster is currently constructed, Clint Capela is the only true center on the roster. Onyeka Okongwu also remains a part of the long-term plans but likely projects as a power forward. Okongwu has exciting potential, but still has some development to do. Atlanta will need to add a backup big man and Dwight Howard is a solid available option. He may not be the Superman he once was, but Howard is arguably a better fit now for what the Hawks need. The 2020 champion deserves a ton of credit for reinventing himself throughout his career. The 36-year-old has abandoned his post dominance in favor of a rim-running style that is more prevalent in the modern NBA.
Playing alongside Young makes life easy for any big man and Howard would be no different. In limited minutes he can still be very effective. The two-time block champ would be a seamless replacement for Capela in limited minutes. His ability to rebound at a high level, anchor the defense, and catch lobs is all he will need to do. The eight-time all-star averaged 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in his 16.2 minutes of play last season. He has embraced the backup role and extended his NBA career as a result.
In addition to his on-court ability, Howard has been spoken about glowingly by his teammates over the past few years. Adding a good locker room presence is a win-win for the Hawks. There are few players who have the amount of experience as Howard and adding him to this Hawks team could help steer them in the right direction. The veteran has spent a great deal of time with the young players he played alongside the past few seasons and could help accelerate the development of Okongwu and the other future pieces. Howard has played on a minimum deal over the past three seasons and is unlikely to demand more. Taking advantage of this type of low-cost and high impact signing is important to a team's success. Howard would be a perfect fit for what the Hawks currently need.
