Hawks Viewed As Potential Landing Spot For Deandre Ayton, Zach Lavine

The Hawks are expected to be active in free agency and potential trades this summer, as they aim to build around star guard Trae Young.

According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Suns center Deandre Ayton “has been a popular rumored target” of GM Travis Schlenk and the Hawks.

Also, Fischer reported Bulls guard Zach LaVine has been linked to the Hawks by multiple league sources. Both Ayton and LaVine could be on the move summer, per reports.

That said, Ayton and LaVine were both part of playoff teams, and teams that don’t just want to give them away or let them walk for nothing in free agency.

But apparently, the Hawks are ready to deal and perhaps shake up the roster after being eliminated from the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs by the Heat.

“The Hawks hold all their first-round picks plus a 2023 first-rounder from Charlotte, in addition to a series of contracts that can be stacked to match a maximum salary: Clint Capela, John Collins, Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter and Kevin Huerter,” Fischer wrote.

Of that group, it seems Collins, Gallinari and Huerter would be the names floated first, as each was discussed at the February trade deadline.

Granted, at this point it is all speculation, but with the Hawks looking to be aggressive … and Ayton and Lavine perhaps being available this summer … it’s not that far-fetched.