20 PPG Scorer Tried To Force His Way To The Hawks

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks have struggled under the weight of expectations. They had a busy offseason. They added six players via the draft, trade, and free agency. The Hawks’ offseason could have been busier if Zach LaVine got his way. He tried to engineer a move to Atlanta, according to lead insider Jake L. Fischer.

Zach LaVine Tried To Force His Way To The Hawks

A Losing Resume Despite Elite Scoring

Apr 11, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine (8) during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

LaVine has come under scrutiny during a lost season for Sacramento. The Kings sit 14th in the Western Conference with an 8–29 record. Sacramento acquired LaVine as the primary return in the trade that sent De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio. Unfortunately, LaVine’s arrival in Sacramento has led to significant losing. The team owns a 19–38 record all-time with him. During this span, he has averaged over 21 points, three rebounds, and three assists. He has shot 49.9 percent from the field and 42.0 percent from behind the arc. Despite his scoring impact, his awful defense has overshadowed his contributions. LaVine owns the second-worst defensive rating on the team, behind injured Domantas Sabonis.

Interest Exists, But Atlanta Looked Elsewhere

Zach LaVine reportedly tried to find his way to Atlanta, but the Kings shut it down, per @JakeLFischer

“League sources say that LaVine’s Klutch Sports representatives tried during the offseason to build some support for a trade construction that would send their client to… pic.twitter.com/t2dg1Nu5hd

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 7, 2026

Still, teams see a market for him due to his scoring ability and expiring contract next season. The Bucks have inquired multiple times about his availability. Fischer wrote, “League sources say that LaVine’s Klutch Sports representatives tried during the offseason to build support for a trade construction. That deal would have sent their client to Atlanta for Young, but the Kings squashed the idea.”

It remains unclear if the Hawks wanted LaVine, given his defensive struggles. General manager Onsi Saleh has built this team on length and defense. That mold does not fit LaVine well. Still, his presence might have helped Atlanta, who sit ninth with an 18–21 record. On Wednesday night, the Hawks announced they had traded Trae Young for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. That move shut the door on any LaVine trade.