3 Hawks trade targets Raptors need to consider acquiring
By Mike Luciano
The Toronto Raptors were one of the teams able to leap past the Atlanta Hawks, as a regression from Trae Young’s supporting cast and Toronto’s own steps forward were one of the reasons the Raptors won 48 games. The Hawks can’t view their 2021-22 season as successfully.
The Hawks finished eighth in the Eastern Conference before being dispatched by the top-seeded Heat. Considering that they were in the conference finals just a year before, Nate McMillan likely didn’t have the results that he wanted. This has prompted some rumors that a retooling is coming.
Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reported that league executives believe Atlanta is willing to make wholesale changes to the roster outside of Young. Even though Toronto is in the same conference, they could look to take Atlanta up on their offer to do some rejiggering of the roster.
Toronto could pick up a pair of quality interior presences and an experienced shooter to make their attack even more potent. These 3 Hawks could be on the move, and Toronto will need to put in a call for each one of them now that the winds of change are seeing through Atlanta.
3. Danilo Gallinari
At the deadline, Gallinari was considered a Raptors trade target before the Goran Dragic/Thad Young trade with San Antonio. With Toronto in dire need of bench shooters and scorers at the time, it’s easy to see why Masai Ujrii wanted to reunite with one of his former Nuggets.
Gallinari, who will turn 34 before next season starts, averaged 11.7 points per game while making 43% of his shots and 38% of his 3-pointers. While he will be a negative defender at this stage of his career, Gallinari is also at the point where he can be an excellent veteran addition for a Raptors team looking to get better from 3-point range.
The Toronto Raptors could use Danilo Gallinari.
With $21 million on the books next year, sending so many quality assets to Atlanta could be very risky. Perhaps a Chris Boucher sign-and-trade will be in the cards? No matter how Toronto gets a deal done, Gallinari should be an immediate contributor with a green light off the bench.
The Raptors could look elsewhere for shooting talent, but adding Gallinari would help them retain the financial flexibility they need to lock up many of the stars who are about to hit free agency. Imagine a player like the Italian veteran on the wing instead of Khem Birch plodding in the paint.