The Hawks don’t need a perfect answer in the middle to know they need help.
Atlanta has had real trouble down low early this season, and the rim protection issues have been hard to ignore. There aren’t many available centers around the league who would clean that up in a major way, but Domantas Sabonis is one name that would at least move the needle.
Sabonis and the rebuilding Sacramento Kings are not exactly aligned right now, and that could put Atlanta on alert if its frontcourt problems keep hanging around. He’s not a top-tier defender, but he would address a major weakness the Hawks have been dealing with.
What Atlanta needs most is better protection at the rim. Rebounding is part of that equation, too, and the Hawks have already been burned by giving up offensive boards several times this season. Sabonis brings one of the strongest rebounding profiles in the league, and that alone makes him worth a serious look.
If the reports about him wanting out of Sacramento turn out to be true, the Kings would lose a lot of leverage. With the team already in a rebuild, a player in his prime asking out would likely push them toward a deal that works for everyone, even if the return falls short of his full value.
The Hawks also have the kind of contract flexibility that could make a move easier. They have plenty of expiring deals, which means they could make the money work without much trouble. If they decide Sabonis is the answer, there’s a path to getting it done.
That said, Atlanta doesn’t need to jump at the first opportunity. If Sabonis becomes available, plenty of teams will call. And if the price turns into a bidding war, the Hawks probably won’t want to stick around.
For now, the smarter play is to watch how the paint holds up over the next few weeks. If the same problems keep showing up, Atlanta shouldn’t be shy about making the call.
In Other News...
Hawks Suddenly Face A Bigger Lineup Test Than Fans Expected
The Hawks are having to juggle their rotation again as they try to build on a win and stack a second straight victory. Jalen Johnson is sidelined with an ankle injury for the second game in a row, forcing Atlanta to reshuffle the lineup and lean on some unexpected combinations at a time when consistency would help most.
Lu Dort will step into Johnsons spot, while rookie guard Kingston Flemings is set for his first career NBA start in place of CJ McCollum. For a team already trying to settle into a rhythm, the changes add another layer of uncertainty, and the Hawks will have to see how quickly the new look can hold up under game pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Get An Early Chance To Silence The Trae Young Debate
The Hawks get an early look at life after Trae Young when they meet Washington, a matchup that already carries a little extra weight because of the trade that sent Young to the Wizards. Atlanta has reason to feel good about the roster it has built around the deal, with CJ McCollum among the pieces helping reshape the backcourt and give the team a different kind of balance as the season gets going.
Young has fit quickly in Washington as a playmaker, and the Wizards are showing enough early competitiveness to make this more than just a reunion game. Both teams enter the season with playoff ambitions in the Eastern Conference, which gives this meeting a sharper edge than a typical early-season crossover and makes Atlanta's first chance to answer the debate around the move feel especially important. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Face A Familiar Problem In Road Trip Finale At Washington
The Hawks head into the finale of their three-game road trip in Washington still trying to solve a problem that has followed them away from home: what happens when opponents get comfortable attacking the paint. Atlanta has already spent enough time this season dealing with interior breakdowns, and the Wizards bring a style that can test that weakness again, with key players on both sides expected to shape the night.
Dyson Daniels is one of the names to watch as Atlanta looks for steadier production from its perimeter pieces, while the Hawks will also need cleaner work around the rim if they want to leave Washington with a better feeling than they arrived with. The matchup has the feel of one where shooting and shot selection could decide the tone early, and for Atlanta, the bigger question is whether the defensive issues that have lingered on the road show up again when the game gets into the half-court. [Read more 🡒]