Why the Hawks Should Target Norman Powell and Jalen Smith

At 7-5, the Atlanta Hawks haven't quite met expectations in 2026-27. Luckily, they have tradeable contracts and assets to spare. One or both of the Chicago Bulls' Norman Powell and Jalen Smith could turn their fortunes around.

It's an interesting situation. The Bulls are 1-9, and just happen to have two players who the Hawks could use.

Which - if either - should they target?

Let's talk about Powell and Smith as players.

Powell is having a bit of a rough season. He's still averaging 19.3 points per game, but he's shooting 39.8% from the field and 30.9% from three-point range. All told, his 57.7% true shooting percentage leaves something to be desired.

Still, it's probably fair to assume that part of Powell's struggles has been the Bulls' poor offensive environment. He's a career 39.4% three-point shooter, and it's likely that he'd somewhat regress to the mean if he landed in Atlanta.

As for Smith, he's the type of role player who's likely to thrive wherever he's playing. He's a stout rim protector who can defend some wings, and a floor-spacing five who's hitting 36.7% of his threes this year.

The Hawks need a half-court scorer, and Powell can get buckets. They need rim protection, and Smith provides it without compromising their tenuous floor spacing.

Could the Hawks go after them both?

It may sound bold, but realistically, why not? Here's a proposal that works financially:

Chicago Bulls receive:

Atlanta Hawks receive:

Some fans will be cautious about moving a first-round pick without receiving a star player. That's fair, but there are justifications.

Firstly, the Hawks would still have a 2028 first-rounder, by way of either the Utah Jazz or the Cleveland Cavaliers, depending on how the swaps shake out. Moreover, the Hawks are hoping to contend, so this pick ought to land somewhere in the 20s anyway.

Neither Powell nor Smith is a star, but both would be strong contributors on this team. Powell may outright replace McCollum, and Smith would surely become Onyeka Okongwu's primary backup.

Following this deal, the Hawks would be perhaps the deepest team in the NBA. They won't be championship favorites, but they'd be dark horses. Given how much future draft capital they own, that's an outcome worth paying a single first-rounder for.

If they do it, they may even exceed expectations.