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Three Star Trade Targets For Atlanta Hawks To Pair With Jalen Johnson

James PierceyJanuary 19, 2026January 19, 2026

Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks, NBA Trade Rumors

Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images

Find an Atlanta Hawks fan, and console them. Chances are, they are still coming to terms with the return the franchise received for Trae Young — and what it says about Atlanta’s place in the Eastern Conference hierarchy.

There was an understanding that change was inevitable. Young’s defensive limitations had been a long-running concern, and the relationship between player and organization appeared strained. Many around the league assumed the Hawks would lean fully into a reset, flipping Young for draft capital and long-term flexibility.

Instead, Atlanta sent Young to Washington for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, a move that brought rotation stability but no first-round picks. That decision looks even starker when viewed through the current standings. At 20–22, the Hawks sit 10th in the Eastern Conference, hovering near the Play-In line while the top of the conference continues to separate itself.

Saturday’s 132-106 loss to the Boston Celtics at State Farm Arena illustrated the gap. Atlanta trailed by 43 points entering the fourth quarter, and Boston’s 52-point second quarter marked the most points the Hawks have allowed in any quarter during the play-by-play era. The Celtics repeatedly collapsed Atlanta’s defense, spraying the ball out to shooters as the Hawks struggled to recover.

For the second straight game, Onyeka Okongwu led Atlanta in scoring with 21 points and seven rebounds. Jaylen Brown erupted for 41 points, while Sam Hauser attempted a career-high 21 three-pointers and made 10, punishing every late rotation.

“They were too comfortable. We got to be more physical the point of contact. They can close out to touch on some guys. They got going,” McCollum said afterward.

Head coach Quin Snyder made it clear the loss was not one to simply discard.

“Some of those games you say, ‘flush it.’ … I don’t think this is one of those games,” Snyder said. “We need to understand why it happened. That’s part of where we are,” Snyder said.

Where the Hawks are is now evident. This is a team without a superstar margin for error, trying to compete in a conference where Detroit, Boston, New York, and Toronto have created real separation. The next phase of Atlanta’s direction centers on Jalen Johnson — and whether the front office can find him a co-star capable of lifting the Hawks out of Play-In purgatory.

Here are three players who fit that conversation.

Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets

Zaccharie Risacher remains a long-term piece, but the Hawks cannot afford to rely solely on internal growth if they intend to climb the standings. Risacher’s uneven production has left Atlanta searching for more consistent scoring on the wing.

Michael Porter Jr. would instantly change the team’s offensive ceiling. Now in Brooklyn, Porter Jr. is averaging 25.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while shooting 40.5% from three across 32 games. He has been one of the league’s most efficient high-volume scorers, capable of stretching defenses well beyond the arc.

For Atlanta, that gravity would matter. It would open driving lanes for Johnson and reduce the pressure on a backcourt that is now built more around defense than shot creation. The cost would be significant — likely most of Atlanta’s remaining future draft capital — but if the Hawks want to accelerate their climb rather than accept life around the 10-seed, this is the type of swing that accomplishes it.

Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks

Anthony Davis represents a different kind of bet. He has played just 20 games this season, and his injury history continues to shape his market. Even so, Davis is averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, numbers that still reflect his impact when available.

From a structural standpoint, the fit is obvious. Davis remains one of the league’s premier defensive anchors. Pairing him with Johnson and Okongwu would allow Atlanta to fully reorient its identity toward defense, rim protection, and physicality — qualities that were glaringly absent as Boston carved up the Hawks on Saturday.

This would not be a short-term fix. Atlanta would likely be thinking beyond the current season, betting that a healthier version of Davis could anchor a more competitive roster in 2026–27. Given the Hawks’ current standing outside the East’s top tier, the appeal of making a defensive statement is easy to understand.

Anfernee Simons, Boston Celtics

The Hawks could also respond in a more measured way by replacing lost offense rather than chasing a defensive overhaul. Since moving Young, Atlanta is thin on perimeter shot creation. Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker provide length and defensive versatility, but neither profiles as a primary scorer. That has left the Hawks vulnerable when games bog down into half-court possessions.

Anfernee Simons fits that need. In 41 games this season, he is averaging 14.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 40.7% from three in a reduced role. He would not replicate Young’s offensive burden, but he would not need to.

Simons could start or operate as a sixth man, supplying scoring punch when lineups stagnate. He is not a franchise-altering star, but at the right price, he would address a clear roster imbalance — and potentially stabilize a team stuck between contention and transition.

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