The Hawks have been active on the trade market and may use these moves to strengthen their team. It should be remembered that Young still has three years left on his contract.
The financial value of the deal can be difficult for teams to match; the Hawks aim to get as much for him as possible.
Trae Young
Trae Young could be looking to leave Atlanta Hawks after struggling this season and has been linked with various teams in trade discussions. One team that could potentially acquire Young is Los Angeles Lakers; Young would provide much-needed scoring punch and defensive potential on the wing.
Young has expressed displeasure with his role in the Hawks organization and under new general manager and head coach Quin Snyder’s direction, having had an antagonistic relationship with former coach Nate McMillan and not being satisfied with how things have progressed since Snyder took charge.
Young’s decision on whether or not he stays with the Hawks will depend on what compensation they can obtain for him from other teams. He still has four years and $178.1 million remaining on his contract. He could still prove valuable as an individual player, but he may not become the cornerstone the organization hoped for when drafting him.
If they fail to qualify for the playoffs this season, the Hawks may consider trading him off. While it would likely be difficult for them to obtain much in return, they might try their luck anyway, as the team has access to multiple draft picks – including a top-14 protected first-rounder in 2024 and 2025 second-rounders – as potential trading chips.
An alternative possibility would be trading Young for an experienced guard. The Hawks currently have Dejounte Murray and Luol Deng available; alternatively, they could look for someone to back up Clint Capela as a center backup. With Toronto also showing interest in Young, perhaps they would offer him in return for one of their significant pieces.
Even if they did trade Young, the Hawks would still boast an impressive roster if this deal went through. Dejounte Murray, Kyle Korver, and the 12th pick in the 2023 NBA draft would remain on their team; Keldon Johnson would provide floor spacing with star severe and potential scoring upside – perfect for their up-tempo style and offers backup protection to Young.
John Collins
John Collins was once considered one of Atlanta’s brightest rising stars. The young power forward showed All-Star potential during his rookie campaign and was expected to play an integral part in the Hawks’ future. Unfortunately, this season he struggled to find his footing on the court – especially about shooting 3-pointers which was once his forte. This played an enormous part in his decline.
After much consideration, it became apparent that the Hawks would need to trade him. His contract no longer fit his future goals, and it limited their options. Luckily, Jazz was willing to accept him for an affordable price tag.
This deal gives the Hawks much-needed salary relief while adding another young player. While much still needs to be done on this team, this move should give them enough flexibility to make more significant changes later.
Collins’ departure will allow the Hawks to sign a top free agent next summer and use their available cap space to upgrade their interior defense. De’Andre Hunter and Saddiq Bay should help improve their defensive rating; however, to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference, they also require improved offensive performance.
The Jazz aren’t in any rush to return to the playoffs but have an impressive core of young players and ample cap space. Their recent trades of Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell have given them more flexibility on offense.
The main goal for the Jazz this season is to improve their overall offensive efficiency, which has been an issue in previous seasons. They will need more scoring from their guards but have talented playmakers such as Kobe Bufkin and Seth Lundy on their bench who could provide depth as they help compete in the Eastern Conference.
TyTy Washington
The Hawks continued their offseason trade activity by sending TyTy Washington, Usman Garuba, Rudy Gay, and a second-round draft pick to Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Patty Mills – saving Atlanta over $4.5 million in salary costs while clearing roster space for younger players.
Last season, former Kentucky guard Ryan Anderson made 31 appearances for the Rockets, averaging 4.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists on average. Additionally, Anderson appeared in 18 games for Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League, averaging 23.1 points with nearly eight assists per game.
Despite limited playing time, Washington has shown immense potential as a young point guard with the Rockets, showing an ability to switch between either one- or two-guard positions. He earned all-SEC Freshman Team honors at Kentucky while becoming a Jerry West Award semifinalist.
Washington recently broke John Wall’s school single-season assists record and is a highly versatile shooter who can play either two-guard position. Hailing from Phoenix, he currently ranks No. 15 overall player among 2021 recruiting classes according to 247Sports Composite rankings.
Over the summer, Arizona native and point guard prospect Erick Ruggiero signed a four-year scholarship deal with the Wildcats. Ruggiero stood out at the combine with his speed and scoring prowess, showing he could become one of their premier point guard prospects.
The 2022 first-round pick ranked third among point guards at the draft combine and was considered a consensus top-four prospect. He boasts an exquisite signature jumper while remaining comfortable navigating the fast-paced style of NBA play.
He is also an outstanding defender and reliable three-point shooter, providing matchup threats against larger opponents with his size and strength. The Rockets hope he can find his way into their starting lineup and serve as Paul George’s backup during training camp, which begins September 14.
Usman Garuba
The Atlanta Hawks have announced they have agreed to trade TyTy Washington, Usman Garuba, and Rudy Gay to Oklahoma City Thunder for guard Patty Mills, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. In doing so, they hope to save approximately $4.5 million. Mills has played 15 NBA seasons averaging 6.2 points per game last season – currently serving as their sixth man and having team option options on his contract.
The Atlanta Hawks are interested in trading Pascal Siakam from Toronto Raptors. Although Toronto is willing to part ways with him, a trade would likely require significant compensation from Atlanta – likely including veteran players such as Clint Capela, who must be shipped off. Furthermore, Los Angeles Clippers big man Jodie Meeks may also be considered.
Garuba averaged 4.7 points and 2.0 rebounds per game with Rio Grande Valley Vipers before being selected by Houston Rockets with the 23rd overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Garuba possesses a powerful shooting stroke and can play both power forward and center positions. He also excels at rebounding and defensive play – being recognized on EuroLeague Rising Stars and ACB Best Young Player lists.
Garuba is anticipated to make an immediate impression upon his arrival in Atlanta, utilizing his versatile skills and defensive expertise to help the Hawks improve their current standing in the league. Offensive improvements may still need to be addressed, but Garuba should also help facilitate that.