The Atlanta Hawks have been bad over the past month-plus. The Atlanta Hawks’ defense has been atrocious over the past month-plus.
With this season not going the way any of us had hoped, rumors have begun swirling about a roster shakeup to kickstart the team.
Earlier this month, I walked through scenarios involving Giannis Antetokounmpo trades to both the Knicks and the Hawks.
Now, Anthony Davis is the trade target du jour based on the rumor mill grapevine.
The latest from NBA insider Marc Stein for his
substack late last Sunday has a lot on those ties between ‘AD’ and the Hawks:
The Dallas Mavericks have started this season 12-22 making them a longshot to even make the playoffs in the rough and tumble Western Conference. Davis has yet to play more than five games in a row for his new team, and he’s currently sidelined with a groin injury. He also could be on the salary cap books for over $175 million over the next three years if he decides to pick up a 2027-28 player option.
Still, he remains an All-Star level player when healthy, and upper-level defender and rebounder, and seems to plug the biggest hole in the roster for Atlanta (if someone sprinkles him with fairy dust that causes him to avoid muscle injuries).
The Hawks are a real-deal suitor for Davis. Just how far, though, are they willing to go in terms of a Davis offer?
[Chris] Haynes also reported that Trae Young would not be included in such a swap, but that creates potential financial obstacles for a franchise not exactly known for lavish spending.
Davis is owed $58.5 million next season and is likewise known to be eager to secure an extension in August when he becomes eligible for one … whether that’s with the Mavericks or a team that acquires him.
Young, however, holds a $49 million player option for 2026-27. There is a growing belief leaguewide that the Hawks are more open to trading him away more than they’ve ever been, but what happens to their payroll if no such trade materializes and Young winds up exercising that option? Can the Hawks dare to find out by trading for Davis this winter without Young exiting at the same time?
Hard to imagine that.
The Hawks nonetheless do appear to be the most determined suitor for David at this juncture with just under six weeks to go until the Feb. 5 trade buzzer.
It is also increasingly believed that Atlanta is willing to surrender Zaccharie Risacher in the proverbial right scenario, since the No. 1 overall pick in the draft just 18 months ago has not developed as the Hawks would have hoped this point. Yet even if the Hawks are prepared to package Risacher with the expiring contracts held by Kristaps Porziņģis and Luke Kennard for Davis, it’s unclear how much additional draft compensation they would be willing (or able) to add to the deal to convince the Mavericks part with Davis in-season.
Just to be clear once again: Jalen Johnson and the 2026 unprotected first-round pick that the Hawks acquired from New Orleans to set the Pelicans up to draft Derik Queen are widely presumed to be untouchables from Atlanta’s perspective.
What do you think? Would you part with Zaccharie Risacher to acquire Anthony Davis? Or is he just too injury-prone to trust? Please discuss (responsibly) below.
