Brad Rowland here, the host of the daily Locked On Hawks podcast, with your daily Locked On Hawks newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Hawks and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
One Month to the NBA Trade Deadline
Oct 16, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Vit Krejci (27) fouls Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) in the first half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol/Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
As the NBA trade deadline approaches on February 6th, the Atlanta Hawks find themselves in an intriguing position. Currently sitting at 18-18, the team is ahead of preseason projections and within striking distance of the top five in the Eastern Conference. This puts the Hawks in a unique situation as potential buyers at the deadline, but with some important caveats to consider.
The Hawks’ primary focus this season has been on evaluating their roster for the long term. While winning now is certainly a priority, the team is also looking to set themselves up for future success. This means carefully considering any potential trades and how they might impact the team’s core of Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, and Dyson Daniels.
One of the most pressing needs for the Hawks is a backup point guard. The team has struggled mightily when Young is off the court, with turnovers skyrocketing and the offense losing its rhythm. Finding a competent ball-handler who can run the offense for 10-15 minutes a game could significantly raise the team’s floor and provide much-needed stability.
Another area of concern is depth at the power forward position. The Hawks have struggled when Jalen Johnson is not on the court, highlighting the need for a reliable backup. While De’Andre Hunter can slide to the four in certain lineups, having a true power forward to spell Johnson would give the team more flexibility and consistency.
From a salary cap perspective, the Hawks have some room to maneuver but are operating close to the luxury tax line. With about $1.28 million in room under the tax, any significant moves would likely require careful salary matching. The team has historically been reluctant to cross the tax threshold, so any potential trades will need to be weighed against this financial consideration.
As the deadline approaches, it’s clear that the Hawks are more likely to be buyers than sellers. However, any moves made should be with an eye toward the future, rather than short-term rentals. The goal should be to find players who can contribute both now and in the coming years, fitting alongside the team’s young core.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Hawks’ trade deadline strategy, tune into the Locked On Hawks podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Hawks Podcast:
• Jimmy Butler doesn’t make sense as a potential Hawks target
Have we already seen a Finals preview to start 2025?
Jan 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots the ball over Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the fourth quarter at Paycom Center. | Alonzo Adams/Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
It’s just one game, I whisper to myself, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander launches a three with lofty clearance over Jrue Holiday.
It’s just one game, I say, shaking my head as if to clear it when Isaiah Joe on a fastbreak flings the ball around Sam Hauser in hot pursuit, giving Hauser a ring of Saturn in basketball form for a split second, to Aaron Wiggins, shadowing them, for a tidy pop-up shot.
It’s just one game, I say, voice rising, whenGilgeous-Alexander pins the ball, barely out of Tatum’s hand, against the backboard for a block and then, immediately at the other end, lobs it to Isaiah Hartenstein for a dunk.
Sunday’s match between the Thunder and Celtics was just one game, and it’s only just January, but the contest showed what could very believably be a Finals preview. It also showed how OKC can aim to beat Boston in a series.
The Celtics are a machine, and like a machine, they are mechanical. Their dominance comes through the intuitive, expert understanding of what they are good at and how to deploy it, and what they are good at is launching threes. In Sunday’s game, the Celtics took 46 3-pointers. While they only made nine of them (for comparison, the Thunder were 16-of-38 from three), Boston is still shooting the most from deep in the league — sometimes as any as 20 more than their opponents over the course of a game.
The teams that are seeing success in recent wins over the Celtics aren’t necessarily attempting to limit Boston’s three-point attempts. With so many players capable of shooting the three ball it’s a futile effort and expends a lot of wasted energy. What they are doing, and what the Thunder did, is find ways to momentarily jam the machines.
The Thunder moved the ball more, they pressured Boston in the midrange and under the basket, they looked for any gap in the machine’s cogs they could wedge themselves into. Boston used to be way more susceptible to flustering, they abhorred a team that played a messy, gritty, or in any way abrasive style. It’s why the Heat have been so good at beating them in the postseason, because those Miami teams stopped at nothing to make things miserable and didn’t mind playing knee deep in the muck.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Trade Key statistics reveal potential targets and strategies for the Hawks as the trade deadline approaches, emphasizing the importance of aligning moves with Quin Snyder’s vision and Trae Young’s leadership. (Soaring Down South)
Rumor Rumors swirl around the NBA trade block, with the Hawks potentially eyeing new deals for top trade targets to strengthen their lineup and address strategic needs. (Bleacher Report)
Preview The Atlanta Hawks will challenge the Utah Jazz at the Vivint Arena at 9:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Jan 5, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Utah Jazz guard Brice Sensabaugh (28) is interviewed by Seg Media reporter, Lauren Green following a game against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images | Russell Lansford/Russell Lansford-Imagn Images
One of the most intriguing developments on Sunday came from the Utah Jazz, where rookie Brice Sensabaugh has suddenly burst onto the scene with a scoring explosion.
Sensabaugh dropped 27 points against the Orlando Magic, following up a 34-point performance in his previous outing. That’s a staggering 61 points over two games for a player who had been largely off the fantasy radar. His usage rate has skyrocketed to over 30% in these contests, and he’s been scorching hot from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 17 three-point attempts.
However, before we rush to add Sensabaugh in all leagues, it’s crucial to examine the context of his breakout. The Jazz were missing several key players, including Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Jordan Clarkson. This opened up a significant opportunity for Sensabaugh to showcase his scoring prowess.
The sustainability of Sensabaugh’s production is questionable. His three-point shooting percentage is bound to regress, and when the Jazz get healthier, his minutes and usage are likely to decrease. That said, he’s shown enough to warrant consideration as a streaming option in deeper leagues, particularly when Utah is shorthanded.
Click the button below for more insights, including another Thunder player to keep an eye on for your fantasy roster.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Hawks podcasts.
One month to the NBA Trade Deadline Episode 1881 takes stock of Atlanta’s biggest needs, players on the roster who could be dealt, Jimmy Butler’s trade request in Miami, the salary cap situation for the Hawks, Tuesday’s game in Utah, and much more.
Undermanned Hawks blasted by Clippers for third straight loss Episode 1880 focuses on Saturday’s game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Los Angeles Clippers. Topics include the absences of Jalen Johnson and Bogdan Bogdanovic, the crazy on-off splits for Trae Young, a total offensive collapse, transition issues, and much more.
Worst shooting night of season sinks Hawks against Lakers Topics include the worst shooting night of the season for Atlanta, strong ball security, a hiccup for De’Andre Hunter, the return of Bogdan Bogdanovic and Jalen Johnson, and much more.
