{"id":171868,"date":"2026-01-08T10:46:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T15:46:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=171868"},"modified":"2026-01-08T10:46:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T15:46:25","slug":"20-ppg-scorer-tried-to-force-his-way-to-the-hawks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/01\/08\/20-ppg-scorer-tried-to-force-his-way-to-the-hawks\/","title":{"rendered":"20 PPG Scorer Tried To Force His Way To The Hawks"},"content":{"rendered":"

ATLANTA \u2014 The Atlanta Hawks<\/a> have struggled under the weight of expectations. They had a busy offseason. They added six players via the draft, trade, and free agency. The Hawks\u2019 offseason could have been busier if Zach LaVine<\/a> got his way. He tried to engineer a move to Atlanta, according to lead insider Jake L. Fischer.<\/p>\n

Zach LaVine Tried To Force His Way To The Hawks<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A Losing Resume Despite Elite Scoring<\/h3>\n
\"Sacramento
Apr 11, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine (8) during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

LaVine has come under scrutiny during a lost season for Sacramento. The Kings<\/a> sit 14th in the Western Conference with an 8\u201329 record. Sacramento acquired LaVine as the primary return in the trade that sent De\u2019Aaron Fox<\/a> to San Antonio. Unfortunately, LaVine\u2019s arrival in Sacramento has led to significant losing. The team owns a 19\u201338 record all-time with him. During this span, he has averaged over 21 points, three rebounds, and three assists. He has shot 49.9 percent from the field and 42.0 percent from behind the arc. Despite his scoring impact, his awful defense has overshadowed his contributions. LaVine owns the second-worst defensive rating on the team, behind injured Domantas Sabonis.<\/a><\/p>\n

Interest Exists, But Atlanta Looked Elsewhere<\/h3>\n
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Zach LaVine reportedly tried to find his way to Atlanta, but the Kings shut it down, per @JakeLFischer<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u201cLeague sources say that LaVine's Klutch Sports representatives tried during the offseason to build some support for a trade construction that would send their client to\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/t2dg1Nu5hd<\/a><\/p>\n

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n