Any time an NBA team is rebuilding, their primary goal is to draft well. The Atlanta Hawks, in a rare turn of events, may have drafted too well. Between Trae Young, John Collins, De’Andre Hunter, Kevin Huerter, and Cam Reddish, the Hawks have made a habit of drafting impact players over the last several years. There’s only one problem with that: eventually, they’ll all need to be paid.
Reports have recently surfaced suggesting that the Atlanta Hawks are looking to consolidate some of that talent to acquire an impactful veteran. There’s sound logic in that desire. After reaching last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, the Hawks are a disappointing 17-20 in 2021-22 so far. It is widely assumed that Reddish and Danilo Gallinari are the available players. The former has struggled to find his footing in Atlanta relative to similar 3-and-D archetype Hunter, while the latter’s oversized contract is convenient for salary matching purposes. Here are 3 trades that find Reddish a new home, and the Hawks a win-now upgrade.
NBA Rumors: 3 Cam Reddish Trades for the Atlanta Hawks
Three Team Blockbuster
The trade: Atlanta Hawks receive Kelly Oubre Jr and Eric Gordon, Charlotte Hornets receive Christian Wood, Houston Rockets receive Cam Reddish, Danilo Gallinari, and Delon Wright
We’re starting with the most complicated trade of the bunch. It certainly appears to satisfy the Hawks’ desires. Both Kelly Oubre Jr and Eric Gordon can contribute immediately to a winning club. The former is averaging 16.6 points per game while knocking down 38% of his 7.7 three-pointers per contest. He’d replace a large portion of the floor spacing and athleticism Reddish provides the Hawks. Meanwhile, Gordon is shooting a scorching 45.6% on 5.2 three-point attempts per game. He’d dramatically improve the Hawks floor spacing alongside supernova point guard Trae Young and provide an injection of from-scratch creation in the process.
The Charlotte Hornets may hesitate to part with Kelly Oubre Jr during his career season. They shouldn’t. They need a center too badly to hesitate in acquiring Christian Wood. Some may argue that the Hornets would do better to make an aggressive play for allegedly available Pacers big man Myles Turner. Undeniably, he offers more rim protection than Wood. With the third-best Offensive Rating in the NBA (112.9), the Hornets need more help on that end.
Hornets Double-Down on Offense
To those people, we say: lighten up. Let your hair down and have some fun. Wood’s ability to both roll and pop out of pick-and-roll sets should be unstoppable in tandem with LaMelo Ball. He’s also faster than Turner, which should suit Charlotte’s transition-driven attack well. Plus, they’d likely have to part with more than just Oubre Jr. to acquire Turner.
As for the Rockets, they’re one of the worst teams in the NBA. They’d do well to flip two veterans for Cam Reddish (and Galinari’s contract). That’s to say nothing of Wood’s recent refusal to sub into a game after being benched for disciplinary reasons. The writing appears to be on the wall regarding his time in Houston. It’s also worth noting that he was brought to the Rockets in the first place as a complement to James Harden. Wood seemed poised to accept his role as a play finisher alongside a playmaker when he arrived in Space City. This trade allows him to get back on that course.
Atlanta Hawks Land Bigger Fish
The Trade: Atlanta Hawks receive Jerami Grant, Corey Joseph, Detroit Pistons receive Cam Reddish, Danilo Gallinari
At first glance, the Hawks may seem like unlikely suitors for Jerami Grant‘s services. After all, they already roster John Collins at the 4. Also relevant: the year is 2022. Positionless basketball reigns supreme in the National Basketball Association.
Collins has already seen plenty of reps at the 5, while Grant is plenty comfortable at the 3. The Hawks could stick with starting center Clint Capela in a jumbo frontcourt featuring Collins and Grant. They could also bump Collins up a position and play Grant at the 4. As a matter of fact, they’d absolutely do both.
As for the Pistons, rumors involving their pending divorce with Grant are probably louder than the ones surrounding Cam Reddish’s employment as a Hawk. There’s a good reason for that. At 27, Grant doesn’t project as part of a future that centers around Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, and Isaiah Stewart. Cam Reddish, on the other hand, could be a perfect fit with that young core.
The Atlanta Hawks may balk at the complications of inserting Grant into their lineup. They may also see an opportunity to field one of the most versatile frontcourts in the entire National Basketball Association.
Nuggets Punt on 2021-22 Season
The Trade: Atlanta Hawks receive Will Barton, Monte Morris, 2022 First Round Pick (Top 5 Protected), Denver Nuggets receive Cam Reddish, Danilo Gallinari
It wasn’t long ago that the Denver Nuggets would have had a difficult time imagining themselves making future-focused moves during the 2021-22 season. With an exciting core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr, they would have been more likely to be buyers than sellers.
A saying about the best-laid plans comes to mind here. Murray and Porter Jr. both find themselves on the Nuggets’ injury report for the foreseeable future. As a result, the Nuggets find themselves just 7th in the Western Conference at 18-18. If there’s any positive in their plight, it may be the opportunity to start planning for 2022-23.
Nuggets Turn an Eye to the Future
They should look to include Cam Reddish in those plans. As a potential 3-and-D wing with secondary ball-handling abilities, he could be a perfect fit alongside the dynamic offensive talents of Jokic, Murray, and Porter Jr. Acquiring Reddish could be the best blueprint towards building a future dynasty in Denver.
He won’t come cheap. Will Barton and Monte Morris are probably a downgraded package compared to the other two we’re proposing for the Hawks here. Denver would have to attach some additional draft capital to sweeten the pot. The top 5 protection is insurance against surrendering a lottery pick in the catastrophic event of a Nikola J0kic injury.
The Hawks could do worse for Reddish’s services. The draft pick makes this an attractive package, but the veterans they’re receiving aren’t scrubs either. Barton is a well-rounded veteran who can play the 2 or 3. He’s averaging 15.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.4 assists on the season. Meanwhile, Morris offers a sturdier hand than current Hawks backup point guard Delon Wright. The former is averaging 15.9 points and 5.2 assists per 75 possessions to the latter’s 8.8 and 4.9.
The Atlanta Hawks have been dreadfully disappointing this season, but it isn’t too late to turn it around. Packaging Cam Reddish and Danilo Gallinari (‘s contract) for an impactful veteran should be a solid means towards doing exactly that.
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