The NBA offseason is at a standstill and there likely won’t be many trades to be made before next season begins. The next wave of activity we’re likely to see could come at the trade deadline in February.
If there are any trades to be made, the biggest name on the market could be Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram. When the offseason began, it seemed like Ingram was going to leave New Orleans, but he’s still there with one year left on his contract. Could a deal be done before the season starts? Maybe.
One team that has already been mentioned as a contender for Ingram is the Utah Jazz, who just re-signed star player Lauri Markkanen. While there was speculation about his future with the team this summer, the Jazz re-signed him and appear to be building around him. Would this be a good fit for Ingram? They have tradeable pieces and he would make them a better team.
The Hawks already made a big trade with the Pelicans, sending Dejounte Murray to New Orleans for Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance, EJ Liddell, Cody Zeller and two first-round picks. While the Hawks don’t seem to want many players for Ingram, could they build a third team and try to get some players from Utah who might not be as interesting to New Orleans?
It should be noted that this is simply a fun, speculative exercise to see what kind of moves can be made, not what I think the Hawks should or will do. That’s all.
Here is the trade:
Atlanta receives: Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, 2027 1st round pick (via Cleveland)
Utah receives: Bradon Ingram, Clint Capela, Kobe Bufkin, Cody Zeller and a 2025 1st round pick from Atlanta, via Sacramento (Protected 1-12)
New Orleans receives: John Collins, Walker Kessler, Garrison Matthews and a 2028 first-round pick (via Cleveland)
Why Atlanta is making this deal: They shed Capela’s expired contract, which frees up room for Onyeka Okongwu to finally start at center. They would add an extra first-round pick in 2027, which would give them more draft ammunition to make a future trade if they wanted to, and they would add shooting with Clarkson and Sexton. The Hawks’ shooting is one of their question marks heading into the season and while neither Sexton nor Clarkson are great defensively, the Hawks add a veteran backup point guard for when Trae Young is off the court. They could also trade them for more picks if they wanted. They also stay under the luxury tax with this trade.
Why Atlanta is not making this deal: Would the Hawks be willing to part ways with Bufkin? While he’s injured, Bufkin has shown two-way potential as a backup. While Clarkson and Sexton are both solid, they wouldn’t be able to get things going for Atlanta and it would make their bench less effective defensively.
Why Utah is entering into this agreement: They get the best player in the Ingram deal and have a year to evaluate whether he fits with Markkanen and is worthy of an extension. Bufkin is a promising young guard and Capela gives them a veteran option at center. Utah would still have plenty of draft capital after the deal and they would stay under the luxury tax.
Why Utah is not making this deal: The Jazz may have re-signed Lauri, but it’s likely they still want to settle for a higher draft pick and see what they can get out of their young players going forward. Ingram is going to want a big extension and Utah may not want to pay him a lot of money if they’re not a contender. This deal for them would depend on how they view Ingram next to Lauri long-term. If they traded for Ingram, they’d likely be at the bottom of the pile and not at the top.
Why New Orleans would do this deal: They would get rid of Ingram’s contract, get a cheap young player in Kessler (their biggest hole at the position), and get a first-round pick in return. They could see how Collins fits into the team or they could trade him. New Orleans also stays under the luxury tax with this move. Matthews gives them a quality shot for a low price.
Why New Orleans Isn’t Making This Deal:Is that enough for Ingram? With his contract expiring and the lack of market for him, I’d say yes. While Kessler has shown defensive promise and New Orleans needs a center, is he ready to start? Collins may not fit in and may not be tradeable again.
Again, this deal is highly unlikely to come to fruition, but there are benefits for all teams involved.