The Atlanta Hawks did as good of a job revamping their roster as any team in the NBA this offseason. Despite looking like they will be stuck in Play-In purgatory for the foreseeable future, the Hawks made savvy moves thanks to new GM Onsi Saleh to turn themselves into a potential home-court advantage team in the playoffs.
The additions of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard, and Kristaps Porzingis will surely improve the overall talent around Trae Young, but the team needs one more rotation piece to be a really dangerous team. That piece has to come at center, and the Hawks could find what they are looking for in the Brooklyn Nets.
One projected trade scenario has the Hawks land Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe in exchange for Kobe Bufkin and a second-round pick. This gives Atlanta more depth in the frontcourt and insurance for when Porzingis misses time.
Sharpe is a different type of center than the ones currently on the Hawks roster. The 23-year-old is a traditional, bruiser-type big who is an excellent rebounder and physical presence in the paint. At six-foot-11 and 265 pounds, Sharpe dominates around the basket and on the boards, something Onyeka Okongwu and Porzingis don't necessarily do.
Trading for a player like Sharpe would also allow the Hawks to deploy more two-big lineups, a trend that is taking over in the NBA.
The Nets should have some interest in making this deal since they have a big hole at point guard. They have three rookies in Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, and Ben Saraf, who will get minutes at PG, but having Bufkin in there would give them another option that they can try to develop. The lack of proven shot creation and playmaking on the team could give Bufkin a chance to finally get consistent minutes and prove his worth.
Giving up on Bufkin this early may not be ideal for some Hawks fans, but Atlanta is trying to win now, and getting a quality backup center is more important than giving Bufkin unearned developmental minutes.