Atlanta Hawks

Tristan Thompson has reportedly been traded for the first time in his career.

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Boston Celtics dealt the big man to the Sacramento Kings as part of a three-team deal that also includes the Atlanta Hawks.  The Hawks will receive Delon Wright from the Kings as part of the trade that also involves Kris Dunn, Bruno Caboclo and a 2023 second-round pick, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Expiring contracts for both players:

Kris Dunn (to BOS)- $5M
Bruno Fernando (to BOS)- $1.8M

Tristan Thompson (to ATL)- $9.7M

Celtics get $3M in additional breathing room below the luxury tax https://t.co/Rs8K3zwV40

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 30, 2021

Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported March 15 that Boston was looking into trading Thompson prior to the March 25 deadline even though he is under contract through the 2021-22 campaign. The trade didn't happen during last season, but the Celtics moved on from him with this deal.

Last season was the 30-year-old's first playing for a team other than the Cleveland Cavaliers, who selected him with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. While he was never the biggest star on teams that featured LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, he was a solid interior presence and double-double threat every time he took the floor.

Thompson averaged a double-double in 2018-19 and 2019-20 while posting 9.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game across his nine seasons with the Cavaliers. He also helped them win the 2016 title as a valuable secondary contributor.

The Texas product averaged 7.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in his first season with Boston.

The Canada native is a playoff-tested veteran who helps control the glass while providing interior defense and scoring on the blocks. If Thompson plays that role effectively, he will be an important piece in Sacramento's rotation as it looks to improve on last season's 31-41 record.

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young may be a fit for the U.S. men's national team in the future, he just wasn't what the Olympic team was looking for in 2021.

Speaking to reporters about Young's snub, Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo defended his decision by saying Young's skill set didn't fit what the team needed to compete in Tokyo.

"I'm happy that he wants to play for USA Basketball," Colangelo said. "He's done really well in the NBA. But predicated on what we felt we needed, he didn't fit the bill this time around. He's a young player, he has a future with USA Basketball, but it was the opinion of our staff that it wasn't now. It's for others to make the declaration you made a mistake."

Those types of comments may come back to haunt Colangelo if Team USA continues to struggle against top competition. The U.S. Olympic team dropped exhibitions to Nigeria and Australia before traveling to Tokyo, then dropped its Olympic opener to France, 83-76.

Roster construction may not be the sole reason for those stumbles, but it is among the first questions to ask about the team's struggles. Colangelo knows this. He's also convinced the United States will make those questions irrelevant by winning gold this summer.

"If we don't win, people will have their opportunity to take shots. I'm the one that has to look in the mirror and know that I did my best," Colangelo said. "I'll tell you in advance the answer is yes. I believe we're going to win."

Young is still just 22 years old, coming off his first postseason run and beginning to reach his prime. He averaged 25.3 points, 9.4 assists and shot 43.8 percent from the field in 63 games last season. 

By the next Olympics in 2024, Young will be 26 and likely an established star on the global stage. As much as Team USA would love to carry every talented American it can, Colangelo said the pandemic changed how he was able to scout for the national team and he was left relying more on his experience as much as anything.

"It's challenging when you can't even go out the door, except to practice or to a game. It's really hard," Colangelo said. "If all things were equal, we all had the same time to practice, we all had our rosters set... I don't think we'd be having this discussion. I don't. But that's not the case. So we are going to do everything we can to overcome it now, and I believe we will."

   

   

 

The Atlanta Hawks selected Auburn star Sharife Cooper with the No. 48 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.

           

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Sharife Cooper

Position: PG

Height: 6'1"

Pro Comparison: Ish Smith/Rajon Rondo

Scouting Report: Cooper is the draft's best playmaker with speed, handles, shiftiness, passing skills and vision that suggest the assists will carry over. He needs to improve his shot, but Cooper will start create scoring opportunities by getting to the rim and drawing fouls.

            

Hawks Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

Danilo Gallinari, PF: $20.5M (2023)

Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG: $18M (2024)

Clint Capela, C: $18M (2023)

De'Andre Hunter, SF: $7.4M (2023)

Trae Young, PG: $6.6M (2022)

Onyeka Okongwu, PF: $6.0M (2024)

Kris Dunn, PG: $5M (Picked up player option)

Cam Reddish, SF: $4.5M (2023)

Kevin Huerter, SG: $3.0M (2022)

Jalen Johnson, PF: $2.2M (projected first-year salary, per RealGM)

Bruno Fernando, PF: $1.6M (2022)

Sharife Cooper, PG (No. 48 overall pick)

          

Free Agents

Tony Snell, SG: UFA

Lou Williams, SG: UFA

John Collins, PF: RFA

Solomon Hill, SF: UFA

Brandon Goodwin, PG: RFA

Skylar Mays, SG: RFA

Nathan Knight, PF: RFA

               

The 20-year-old's only season with the Tigers was interrupted first by an NCAA investigation into his eligibility and then an ankle injury. As a result, he made just 12 appearances for the team before deciding to move on to the next level.

However, the 6'1" guard made his time at Auburn count. He averaged 20.2 points, 8.1 assists and 4.3 rebounds. He wasn't a great shooter, though, hitting 39.1 percent of his total attempts and 22.8 percent of his three-pointers.

Those numbers can be easy to dismiss somewhat given the hurdles he had to face throughout the year. He didn't have much time to find a grove on the court.

Especially if his efficiency improves, Cooper can make a noticeable impact for Atlanta on the offensive end of the floor.

The Hawks, who made the Eastern Conference Finals last year, also added Duke's Jalen Johnson at No. 20 overall.

The Atlanta Hawks and John Collins share a mutual level of optimism about hammering out a new contract this offseason, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported July 22 the Hawks extended Collins the $7.7 million qualifying offer, which makes him a restricted free agent.

According to Charania, the Hawks could have some stiff competition for the 23-year-old. He reported Thursday there will be "several aggressive suitors" beyond Atlanta once the negotiating period begins. 

Charania had previously listed the Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs as potentially in the hunt.

The Athletic's Chris Kirschner and Sam Amick reported in January that Collins turned down a $90 million deal from the Hawks prior to the rookie extension deadline. He had previously indicated a desire to sign a max contract.

In the event he fails to reach that goal, Collins is still poised to significantly pad his bank account. John Hollinger of The Athletic projected him to earn as much as $110 million.

In 2020-21, Collins' production ticked downward slightly, which was to be expected after the Hawks added Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic. He averaged 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds and shot 39.9 percent from beyond the arc.

The 6'9" forward also played well in the playoffs, averaging 13.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 0.6 blocks as Atlanta reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

It's easy to see why the Hawks would want to keep him around.

However, Collins is an obvious target for a team with salary cap flexibility that isn't typically a major player when the elite stars are available. The situation isn't too dissimilar from Gordon Hayward getting $120 million over four years from the Charlotte Hornets.

After ownership saw such an immediate return from last offseason's financial outlay, the front office may have an easier time selling the merits of a massive extension for Collins get ahead of the market.

After an abbreviated season at Duke, Jalen Johnson will take the next step in his basketball career with the Atlanta Hawks.  

The 19-year-old was selected with the No. 20 overall pick by the Hawks in the 2021 NBA draft. 

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Jalen Johnson

Position: PF

Height: 6'9"

Pro Comparison: Aaron Gordon

Scouting Report: Johnson's decision to leave Duke midseason shouldn't distract from his physical profile, athleticism and versatility to handle the ball, pass and guard multiple positions. Even without a reliable jumper, he''ll threat to score around the basket and play-make.

 

Hawks Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

Danilo Gallinari, PF: $20.5M (2023)

Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG: $18M (2024)

Clint Capela, C: $18M (2023)

De'Andre Hunter, SF: $7.4M (2023)

Trae Young, PG: $6.6M (2022)

Onyeka Okongwu, PF: $6.0M (2024)

Kris Dunn, PG: $5M (Picked up player option)

Cam Reddish, SF: $4.5M (2023)

Kevin Huerter, SG: $3.0M (2022)

Jalen Johnson, PF: $2.15M (2025)

Bruno Fernando, PF: $1.6M (2022)

Sharife Cooper, G (No. 48 overall pick)

   

Free Agents

Tony Snell, SG: UFA

Lou Williams, SG: UFA

John Collins, PF: RFA

Solomon Hill, SF: UFA

Brandon Goodwin, PG: RFA

Skylar Mays, SG: RFA

Nathan Knight, PF: RFA

Expectations were extremely high for Johnson with the Blue Devils. He was a 5-star recruit and No. 13 overall player in the 2020 college class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

Things didn't go as planned for the team or the player in 2020-21, though. He only played in 13 games before opting out of the remainder of the season in February to prepare for the NBA draft. 

Johnson showed promise in his brief college career with 11.2 points on 52.3 percent shooting and 6.1 rebounds per game. 

Given his combination of size and shooting prowess, he has the potential to be a difference-maker for the Hawks. He will just need time to develop after limited experience at the college level. 

After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last season, the Hawks have newfound expectations heading into 2021-22. Johnson will likely play behind John Collins, assuming he re-signs as a free agent, and that will give him the time to develop his game and refine his skills after cutting his college career short.

Johnson is part of a two-player Hawks draft class that also includes guard Sharife Cooper of Auburn (No. 48).

The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly shopping the No. 20 pick in the 2021 NBA draft and small forward Cam Reddish in an effort to move up.

According to The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor, the Hawks have been gauging the interest of teams picking late in the lottery during Thursday night's event.

O'Connor noted the Hawks might target North Carolina big man Day'Ron Sharpe if they can get into the lottery.

Atlanta is coming off a surprise playoff run that saw it go all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals before it lost to the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.

Core players such as Trae Young, Clint Capela, Kevin Huerter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari and De'Andre Hunter should all be back next season, plus restricted free agent John Collins could return as well.

The Hawks are poised to potentially evolve in 2021-22, although it wouldn't hurt to make some tweaks.

Reddish, who was the 10th pick in 2019, did some good things last year. Injury limited him to 26 regular-season games, but when healthy, he averaged 11.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 three-pointers made, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 36.5 percent from the field and 26.2 percent from deep.

In the four playoff games Reddish appeared in, he put up 12.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 three-pointers made, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals. He also shot 52.8 percent from the floor and a remarkable 64.3 percent from beyond the arc.

While Reddish can be a good piece, especially off the bench, the Hawks already have a similar player in Hunter.

A knee injury limited Hunter to 23 regular-season games in 2020-21, but he played well when he was in the lineup, averaging 15.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 three-pointers, plus shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 32.6 percent from long range.

Since a healthy Hunter figures to play big minutes in 2021-22, dangling Reddish in an effort to nab a good fit in the draft is a logical move.

In his one season at UNC, the 6'11" Sharpe averaged 9.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. He also shot 51.9 percent from the field and displayed an impressive offensive skill set.

O'Connor noted the Hawks believe Sharpe could be a quality center in a small-ball lineup. He could also be a complement to Capela at times, which would give the Hawks plenty of size and versatility.

Onyeka Okongwu, the No. 6 pick in the 2020 NBA draft, showed flashes of brilliance for the Hawks at center in 2020-21 but had shoulder surgery last week and is facing a six-month recovery timeline.

Regardless of whether the Hawks can strike a deal on draft night, they have a deep roster that is well equipped to put them back in contention next season.

On the heels of their surprise playoff run, the Atlanta Hawks have taken the first step toward retaining John Collins for at least one more season. 

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Hawks extended a qualifying offer to their starting power forward. 

Per Spotrac, Collins' qualifying offer for the 2021-22 season is valued $7.71 million. 

Collins established himself as a building block for Atlanta after his first two seasons. He was a first-round draft pick by the organization in 2017 and worked his way into the starting lineup by the end of his rookie campaign. 

The 2018-19 season was his breakout with 19.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. He also shot 56 percent from the field. 

Five games into the 2019-20 campaign, Collins received a 25-game suspension by the NBA for violating the league's anti-drug program when he tested positive for a growth hormone. He played well upon returning, finishing the year with 21.6 points per game and shooting 40.1 percent from three-point range. 

The Wake Forest alum was eligible for a contract extension last offseason, but his camp wasn't able to come to an agreement with the Hawks. He continued to play well with 17.6 points on 55.6 percent shooting and 7.4 rebounds per game in 63 starts. 

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on the Hoop Collective Podcast (h/t Reddit.com) in December that Collins turned down Atlanta's offer that was "in excess of $90 million" because he was "seeking something at or near the max and he stuck to his guns."

The Atlanta front office added to the roster by signing Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic in free agency last offseason.

Both players were hampered by injuries early in the season, but their returns—combined with the switch to Nate McMillan as interim head coach in March—propelled the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Atlanta has several key roster decisions coming up, starting with Young when he becomes eligible for an extension next offseason.

Keeping Collins will solve one question mark for the Hawks, though he will be able to receive offers from other teams as a restricted free agent. Atlanta will have the right to match any offer if it decides to keep him. 

Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu will miss about six months after undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair a torn right shoulder labrum, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The 2020 No. 6 overall draft pick saw limited action during his rookie year, averaging 12.0 minutes per game in 50 appearances, mostly off the bench.

Okongwu still earned his way onto the court during the playoffs, seeing action in all 18 games during the Hawks' surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals. He was especially valued in the final series against the Milwaukee Bucks as the squad tried to figure out ways to stop Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The 20-year-old showed promise when on the court, averaging 13.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.4 steals per 36 minutes during the regular season.

He finished fourth on the team in win shares per 48 minutes, per Basketball Reference.

With more playing time, Okongwu has a chance to make a major impact for a team looking to take the next step toward title contention in 2021-22.

The latest injury could represent a significant setback, however, with the regular season set to begin in October. The latest timeline will keep the center out until about mid-January.

With John Collins a restricted free agent this offseason, the Hawks now have limited frontcourt depth behind Clint Capela. It could force the team to add another center this summer.

The Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves are expected to be among the teams to pursue restricted free agent John Collins this summer.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported those four teams could target Collins with an offer sheet to lure him from Atlanta. The Hawks will have the opportunity to match any offer given to Collins, but it remains to be seen if they're willing to meet open-market prices.

Charania reported Collins may have played his way into max-contract status, which would be $125.9 million over four years for a non-Hawks team. Collins has been open about his desire for a max deal, saying the Hawks especially should reward him for his improvement. 

"When we're talking max numbers and money, I feel like I definitely [am in] the conversation to have earned that money with the Hawks specifically, but obviously I know there's business and we don't always get exactly what we want," Collins said in May, per Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "But I want to be a Hawk. I want to stay with the Hawks.

The conversation regarding Atlanta's willingness to pay Collins the max may have changed after the Hawks' surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals. It would not be a surprise if management emphasized talent retention no matter the cost. The Hawks would also likely struggle to replace Collins if they allowed him to walk, so this may be a matter of the team having to match any offer sheet he receives.

It's unlikely that Collins is a top priority for any of the teams mentioned in free agency; he's almost certainly a backup in case they miss out on bigger stars on the open market. Collins' free agency may wind up lasting well past the first week of August as he tries to maximize his value. 

Veteran guard Lou Williams would like to return to the Atlanta Hawks next season, but he is reportedly looking for a multi-year deal this offseason.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported Williams is seeking a two-year deal in free agency and possibly a three-year deal for the right fit. Scotto added there is interest in a return to Atlanta and the feeling appears to be mutual.

Williams played 24 regular-season games with the Hawks after a midseason trade from the Los Angeles Clippers. He appeared in all 18 postseason games as well as Atlanta made a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Final.

The 34-year-old, who went to high school in Georgia, indicated he would return to the Hawks next year with an Instagram post ending with "#thinkimcomingback."

It represented a major change after he said he considered retirement when he was first traded to Atlanta.

Williams saw a major decline in numbers during the 2020-21 season, averaging 11.3 points and 3.4 assists per game between the Hawks and Clippers. It was a significant change after averaging 20.4 points and 5.4 assists over the previous three years in Los Angeles.

The guard has been known as one of the top bench players in the league, especially during this stretch, winning two of his three Sixth Man of the Year awards.

While his production fell last year, he remained a valuable backup to Trae Young with the Hawks and showed flashes of elite play when given the opportunity. When Young suffered an injury in the Eastern Conference Final, Williams started in his place and totaled a combined 38 points and 13 assists in two games against the Milwaukee Bucks.

With Atlanta entering 2021-22 with even higher expectations, keeping veteran depth like this could be key to achieving the team's goals.