Trade targets: All 30 teams
Atlanta Hawks
Record: 31-24
4th place in East
Status: Buyers
The Hawks have taken an all-but-inevitbale step back from last season's 60-win bonanza. With more losses (24 and counting) before the All-Star break than they had all of last season, it's becoming increasingly unlikely that the Hawks will differentiate themselves from the quagmire of playoff contenders behind Cleveland and Toronto in the East.
Now, with reports that Atlanta is willing to shake up its core, its looking like a reconfiguration of the Hawks is more likely than a deal to set them up for a big stretch run. With franchise stalwart Al Horford in the last year of his contract, the time for Atlanta to decide on its direction is now.
Potential trade targets
Blake Griffin
There's no concrete sign that the Clippers want to unload Griffin, despite his off-the-court foibles. If they do, a package headlined by Horford creates a fascinating scenario.
Griffin would give the Hawks a star player and the ability to create some unorthodox lineups. They could play Paul Millsap at all three frontcourt positions, in effect turning him into their Draymond Green.
Horford would fill in nicely for Griffin on the win-now Clippers, where he would offer more floor spacing and better defense.
Danilo Gallinari
Gallinari is the perfect player for the Hawks' style of play, but crafting a realistic scenario that gets him from Denver to Atlanta isn't easy. And it's unclear whether whispers that the Nuggets are seeking an impact veteran makes them more or less likely to listen on Gallinari.
One possibility: The Hawks send Horford and Kyle Korver to Denver for Gallinari and Jusuf Nurkic.
Rudy Gay
Gay is another player who has been popular on the rumor mill. It's hard to say what makes sense from the Kings' perspective, but with them that may not matter. Gay is the kind of scoring forward with size who could boost the Atlanta offense, though his lack of 3-point shooting can't thrill the Hawks.
Luol Deng & Hassan Whiteside
Miami might be one team willing to gamble on Horford's expiring deal. His father attended college there, Horford played for the Florida Gators and the family has roots in the Dominican Republic. Those ties, along with the reputations of Pat Riley and the Heat, would seemingly make them a good bet to re-sign Horford this summer. For the Hawks, acquiring Whiteside and Deng is a gamble, as both are on expiring deals. But it would give Atlanta the option to play a conventional lineup as well as a head-start on signing Whiteside.
Through no fault of his own, there is baggage concerning Deng as it pertains to the Hawks. Nevertheless, if they want a two-way player and more size at the 3, this could be the time to nab him from Miami.
Ty Lawson & Clint Capela
This scenario was suggested by ESPN's Kevin Pelton. In Capela, the Hawks would land a young Horford replacement, while Lawson represents the chance to open up cap space.
Most trade value
1. Paul Millsap
The Hawks' lone All-Star plays both ends of the floor and plays inside and out. He's a championship-level player who, if moved, would be the centerpiece of a blockbuster transaction. If Atlanta were to acquire someone like Griffin, Millsap could suddenly become available.
2. Dennis Schroder
If the Hawks want to cash in on their point guard depth -- as ESPN's Zach Lowe wrote, Atlanta is sold on Schroder as a team leader -- they wouldn't have a hard time finding a taker for a player so young, talented and demonstrably productive.
3. Jeff Teague
Teague's name has been hot on the rumor mill of late. He fits well with a win-now team and has a bargain contract. The Hawks have a ready-made replacement for Teague in Dennis Schroder, who has the best raw plus-minus on the Atlanta roster and a markedly higher real plus-minus (plus-0.95) than Teague (minus-1.77).
4. Al Horford
Horford's value is limited by his impending free agency. Still, he'd be a heck of a rent-a-player for a team looking to get over the top -- or more than that in a market with enough allure to keep him on board. Expiring deals mostly have diminishing value in today's marketplace, but that may not apply to a player of Horford's stature.
5. Kyle Korver
Korver hasn't been as sharp as he was in his career season last year, but teams still have to game plan for him. Although his percentages are down, his raw plus-minus leads the Atlanta starters. In a league that values shooting more than ever, Korver and his bargain-basement deal would be easy to move in an Atlanta shake-up.
Most valuable draft pick
2017 first-rounder
It seems unlikely the Hawks will land in the 2016 lottery, but if Horford leaves and an Atlanta shake-up falls flat, the 2017 pick might look pretty attractive.
Toughest contract to trade
Al Horford
The Hawks don't have any anvil contracts, but -- as mentioned -- getting a fair return for Horford is tough because of his expiring deal. Still, he's so good that some team would surely bite if Atlanta is intent on moving him.
Player most likely to be traded
Jeff Teague
There's more than your usual amount of speculative smoke surrounding Teague's name. Schroder is ready to replace Teague, and if the Hawks want to escape their good-but-not-great level, it'll take a bold move.