NBA: Atlanta Hawks Could Deal Al Horford Before Deadline
The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly shopping for three key players: Al Horford, Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver.
The Hawks are a shadow of their old selves, especially for fans who recall last season. They finished the 2014-15 NBA regular season with an impressive 60-22 mark though they eventually fell to the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers in four games.
With more than half of the season already played, the Hawks have already accumulated two more losses from last season with a 30-24 card. At the rate the boys of head coach Mike Budenholzer are going, it won’t be surprising if they rack up more losses along the way.
Though they are still in the top four, the dip has been glaring. Could trading off some players at this stage be a wise move?
According to a report from ESPN, Teague has been linked to several teams, while Horford has been tied up to rumoured trade talks that include the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic.
Of the trio, Horford is the most interesting case, especially since his contract will be up after this season.
Horford is one of the many free agents expected to be sought after by the end of this season and likely offered a max deal. As per the Bleacher Report, Hawks management doesn’t seem to be excited by the idea of spending a lot on the 6-foot-10 player.
This could be one possible reason why the Hawks are shopping for Horford. However, like most teams that are listening to offers, Atlanta wants to see first what is on the table.
It should be clarified that, though the Hawks are reportedly interested in the three stars, they are not in rebuilding mode. Their current interest is said to be related to trying to hook younger talent, though it could be hard to imagine who the Hawks could get at this point of the season and with the playoffs in sight.
The third player in the mix is also interesting. With most teams in search of a shooter, Korver could easily be a target by teams on the hunt. The Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets have long been looking for someone who could hit it from deep. Aside from those top three teams, there are others quietly looking for shooters.
However, for any of the three players, it all boils down to one thing: What do they get in exchange? It will all eventually depend on what is actually on the table for the Hawks and if these changes can improve their chances in the post-season.
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