3-Team, 7-Player Proposed Trade Would Send Fred VanVleet To Hawks
There are many teams around the NBA at this time of year that have big playoff hopes, but still need to fill a specific need or two.
With that in mind, Jackson Caudell of Sports Illustrated.com has taken three of those teams and constructed a proposed deal that would shuffle up several notable players, including sending a former NBA champion to the Atlanta Hawks.
The trade would look like this:
Atlanta Hawks receive:
- Fred VanVleet
- Luka Garza
Houston Rockets receive:
- Corey Kispert
- Mouhamed Gueye
- Sam Hauser
- Protected 2027 first-round pick
Boston Celtics receive:
- Buddy Hield
- Clint Capela
The Hawks moved on from Trae Young last season, and have used CJ McCollum at the point ever since. But the latter is more efficient—and lethal—off the ball as an elite floor-spacer and catch-and-shoot threat. He could shift over with the addition of a true floor leader like VanVleet, or even come off the bench. Additionally, the defense that the bulldog FVV would add to the backcourt would be a tremendous boost and fit perfectly in Quin Snyder's system. VanVleet is basically the antithesis of Young when it comes to playing defense.
"His leadership, defensive prowess, three-point shooting, and underrated playmaking would patch some holes for Atlanta. He is on an expiring contract and would give Atlanta another potential trade piece at the deadline if a star became available, or the Hawks could just use it to open up loads of cap room next summer," Caudell wrote.
It remains to be seen how he's recovered, however, as Fred missed the entirety of last season after tearing his ACL and meniscus.
For the Rockets, they would acquire some much-needed shooting, Caudell adds. They would also be able to continue to give a good chunk of minutes to Reed Sheppard and to continue to develop the former 3rd overall pick into a full-time role in the backcourt.
The Celtics "would get off Hauser's contract," he writes, "and while Hield is a downgrade, it saves them money. Capela can be the veteran third center behind Mitchell Robinson and Neemias Queta."