The Portland Trail Blazers Should Consider Trading with the Atlanta Hawks
By Doug Patrick
Several players from the Atlanta Hawks are on the trading block. The Portland Trail Blazers should consider doing business with them.
As the February 7 NBA Trade Deadline approaches, the Atlanta Hawks have emerged as clear sellers. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the club is currently gauging the league’s interest in three of their players: Taurean Prince, Kent Bazemore, and Dewayne Dedmon. The Portland Trail Blazers should consider dealing with them to add some much-needed depth and versatility.
Hawks have talked with multiple teams about Kent Bazemore, Dewayne Dedmon and Taurean Prince ahead of Feb. 7 trade deadline, per @ShamsCharania https://t.co/YNPvRI4pLk pic.twitter.com/IYV2zRGOWd
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) January 23, 2019
Taurean Prince is the most intriguing name listed. In his third-year, Prince is establishing himself as a dynamic wing who can get to the rim, shoot the three, and defend. Just last season the Baylor product seemed like a key component in Atlanta’s future. However, with new GM Travis Schlenk in place and questions bubbling over Prince’s fit in the Hawks’ developing offense, the club looks to be selling high on their promising forward.
Averaging 14 points, 4.1 rebounds, two assists, and 1.1 steals per game on a rookie contract, Prince would be a welcomed addition to many teams.
Kent Bazemore plays similarly to Prince. Less physically imposing, Bazemore can play both the shooting guard and small forward positions as a 3-and-D guy, or one who pushes the ball and makes the occasional move to the basket. He is a proven nine-year veteran who began his stint with the Hawks during their Eastern Conference Finals run in 2014-15. Now, as the team bottoms out, they will look to sell his services for future assets.
Bazemore averages 14 points, four rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
Dewayne Dedmon is in the final year of his contract and playing some of the best basketball of his career. A seven-footer with a seven-foot-four wingspan, Dedmon entered the league as a shot disrupter down low. Since, he has developed a three-point shot, become a threat on the roll, and improved his defensive instincts.
Dedmon currently averages career-highs in points (10.2), blocks (1.0), and steals (1.0), while adding 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists.