The Atlanta Hawks have a difficult decision to make after a blockbuster trade with the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets that brought Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta. It is an answer to the obvious issue of needing another scoring source and adding much-needed size to the Hawks' roster. However, there are concerns with the stretch five not having spent much of the last two years consistently healthy.
There is also a list of failed tenures outweighing the help Porzingis provided in Boston's championship run a season ago. With this in mind, how the move will be graded depends entirely on whether the new Hawk can stay healthy.
One big fallout of the move is the fact that Clint Capela will now be released in free agency. You simply cannot afford to re-sign the aging center while paying Porzingis and having Onyeka Okongwu on the current roster. Atlanta's next move is to turn the page on what hasn't worked since the 2021 season and let Capela walk away. While it is a painful decision, it is the right choice for a franchise attempting to make meaningful changes.
Hawks' Trade for Porzingis Makes Clint Capela's Future Clear
For the addition of Porzingis to work, it has to help the Hawks spread the floor and take the pressure off Trae Young. It provides a rim threat and protection when opposing teams attempt to target the Atlanta point guard. Capela no longer fits the team's direction as they add long defenders around Young and attempt to find secondary scoring from Porzingis and Jalen Johnson. If things go as expected, this is a team not ready to take a step forward in the 2025-26 season.
However, the one potential roadblock is the lack of current bench depth. An issue the team has plenty of time to remedy both in tonight's NBA draft and throughout free agency. The Hawks simply need to find a player capable of running to offense for a handful of minutes, allowing Trae to rest without the offense completely collapsing.
For Capela, the veteran center shouldn't have any issues finding work despite the struggles at the free-throw line. The veteran is still a capable rim protector and rebounder in the right system.