Lakers Trade Prospects: Atlanta Hawks’ Tim Hardaway Jr Breakdown

Why It Makes Sense For the Hawks

Looking down Atlanta’s bench, one of the things they lack is an established scoring threat, something the Lakers have an over abundance of. Correction, scoring threat might be too strong of a phrase, willing shooters who often find success is more like it.

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Dennis Schroder is often relied on to be the primary option in the second unit and though he’s proven himself as a capable back up point guard, he’s still a long way off from being an elite scorer.

Further, with Kyle Korver struggling this year, in comparison to his recent years, the Hawks could benefit from some additional scoring.

Enter Lou Williams or Nick Young.

For the Hawks, this makes sense for various reasons. In Young/Williams, Atlanta gains a proven second unit shot creator something that Atlanta sorely missed in the playoffs last year as they got demolished by the Cavaliers despite having the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Further, the system that Coach Mike Budenholzer has established in Atalanta caters to Young and William’s quick triggers, just look at what he’s done for Korver. On the Lakers, Young and Williams are degraded to getting open shots through isolation basketball, but in Bud’s system they’d have actual sets ran for them specifically.

To throw in added incentive, the Lakers would likely have to part with either Tarik Black or Brandon Bass.

Seeing that the Hawks have a “real emphasis on player development” and the Lakers ineptitude at even using Black at all, it would be likely that the Hawks would want him back in the trade. Doing so only makes sense if Byron Scott remains the Lakers head coach next year.

Meaning, if and when the Lakers get an actual coach, they will surely find a way to properly utilize Black’s vast skill set.

At this point Brandon Bass and Tarik Black are basically interchangeable. Both do nearly the same things, the one difference is that one is only 23 and has a tremendous amount more upside.

Keeping Black should be a priority considering LA’s current youth initiative, but Byron Scott has signed off on crazier things. On Atlanta, Bass/Black can play behind both Paul Milsap and Al Horford providing additional depth to the front court.

Next: Why It Makes Sense for LA