While Hield would be useful to this team, I can't imagine Hawks fans would be satisfied if he was thew primary addition to this team.
Levert would be appealing. But I think either player would be part of a larger trade, likely re-routing them to Philly for Simmons.
Eric Pincus wrote:If a team doesn't project to have cap space next summer, can it get there by trade?
An alternative approach includes a relatively short list of players who may have especially desirable contracts this season either with team options or partially/non-guaranteed salary for 2022-23. It's a trick that only works by the deadline, as the NBA has rules in place to prevent teams from similarly benefiting in the summer.
Forward Danillo Gallinari is a perfect example, with $20.5 million fully guaranteed with the Atlanta Hawks this season, but only $5 million of his $21.5 million promised for 2022-23. The Hawks can take on a player earning as much as $25.6 million for Gallinari (more if they include other outgoing players like Cam Reddish). The incoming team can waive Gallinari's final year at just $5 million (with the option to stretch it for $1.7 million over three seasons).
Just by way of an example, the Sacramento Kings could send Buddy Hield to the Hawks for Gallinari. If the Kings then stretched Gallinari's $5 million, the team could near $28 million in cap space next season.
Or suppose the Indiana Pacers agreed to send Caris LeVert and Jeremy Lamb to Atlanta for Gallinari and Reddish. Indiana could get to about $13 million in cap room next season (while adding Reddish via trade).
Bleacher Report