It isn't a secret that the 2024-25 NBA season was a disappointing experience for the Atlanta Hawks. An underwhelming 40-42 regular-season performance saw the Hawks miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year, leaving first-time general manager Onsi Saleh to figure out which offseason moves will help the team get back into the postseason next year.
There's a good chance the Hawks' frontcourt will look quite different when all is said and done this summer. Veteran big men Clint Capela and Larry Nance Jr. are both slated to become unrestricted free agents in July, and Atlanta will need to find a way to replace their presence if either or both pending UFAs leave town.
Judging by the latest NBA buzz, the Hawks aren't wasting any time seeking out potential replacements.
Hawks Reported Eyeing Potential Sign-and-Trade for Pacers C Myles Turner
On Wednesday, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Hawks are indeed interested in acquiring Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner this summer. Fischer's report comes a few days after Dallas Hoops Journal's Grant Afseth hinted that Atlanta was "expected to show interest" in the veteran big man.
With Turner likely looking for a massive pay raise after reaching this year's NBA Finals, Fischer notes that a sign-and-trade route is what most interests the Hawks. Having said that, the basketball insider added that the Pacers likely won't be too eager to part ways with Turner, which supports ESPN's Shams Charania's report from over the weekend.
"(Turner) is the longest-tenured Pacer currently, and Indiana wants to keep it that way," Charania said before Game 2. "The Pacers know they cannot afford to lose him as a free agent. There's mutual interest in getting a deal done."
While the chances of a sign-and-trade might appear bleak, anything can change between now and July.
It's hard not to imagine how nicely Turner would fit into the Hawks' rotation. The former two-time NBA blocking champion is one of the league's most well-rounded centers, having averaged 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and 1.3 assists in 642 games (609 starts) throughout his 10-year Pacers tenure, all while shooting 49.9% from the field and 36.2% from deep.
That's without mentioning how he consistently steps up in the postseason. In 62 playoff outings, Turner has averaged 14.1 points with a 50.8 FG% and 39.3 3P%, also adding 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game to the mix. He's the type of needle-moving player who'd make Capela and Nance's potential departures easier to swallow.
Assuming Turner is no longer an option, the Hawks will head back to the drawing board to solve their frontcourt needs. They'll have a few opportunities to solve that issue in the coming weeks, as the 2025 NBA draft is set to begin on Wednesday, June 25, before free agency begins on Sunday, July 6.