Boston Celtics: an offseason trade target from each Southeast team

Atlanta Hawks target: Kevin Huerter

The Atlanta Hawks are a team in the middle of a rebuild that looks like it could have promise but has failed to deliver any evidence based on the on-court product. Trae Young is obviously a transcendent talent, but beyond him, there are no guarantees.

John Collins wants superstar money within the next year, but that may not a worthy investment, especially in what could be trying economic times for all of the NBA’s 30 franchises. De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish lack polish despite their pedigrees.

Kevin Huerter seems to be the most ready-made role player in Atlanta that could take on a role on a contender’s bench. His 38 percent 3-point shooting could make him and Marcus Smart a handful for opposing bench backcourt. Meanwhile, he may have a ceiling of a starter if Gordon Hayward moves on from Boston.

Orlando Magic target: Mo Bamba

The Orlando Magic are a playoff team based on talent…it’s certainly not based on any sort of brilliant roster fit. In fact, the frontcourt situation in Orlando is of the overcrowded variety, and several young talents are being held back in the process.

Jonathan Isaac is a budding superstar who unfortunately plays the same position as the Magic’s best player in Nikola Vucevic. He is going to be miscast as a forward, though, and has been during his time in O-town.

Another player–who we frequently write about–is Mo Bamba. Bamba was a lightning rod at the University of Texas who came onto the scene with a hit song bearing his name in the title, but the Magic didn’t capture lightning in a bottle. His impact has been largely muffled.

In Boston, he’d be an instant legend. The positional fit would be perfect, but just imagine the heights he can reach on a legendary franchise that could use his defensive chops. Plus, the marketing potential of a Bamba-Tacko Fall rotation would be off the charts.