The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to engage the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks on trade talks this offseason as they look to upgrade their lead guard position. 

The Hawks are expected to trade either Trae Young or Dejounte Murray this offseason, while the Cavaliers could also entertain offers on Darius Garland if they sign Donovan Mitchell to an extension. 

The Pelicans engaged both the Cavaliers and Hawks ahead of the February deadline. 

Zion Williamson had interest in joining Trae Young with the Hawks ahead of the lottery in 2019 and there could be mutual interest in playing together now with the Pelicans. 

ESPN has moved Zaccharie Risacher to the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 1 pick in their latest mock draft.

Every team drafting in the top-5 has interest in Risacher, who is not expected to fall out of the top-2.

During the playoffs, Risacher averaged 15.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, shooting 67% from the field and 38% on 3-pointers.

The direction of the Hawks remains unclear as Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are trade candidates and while they will definitively retool their roster, it remains to be seen if their ownership will embrace a rebuild. A further complication of any desire to rebuild stems from their decision to trade away control of their next three drafts to the San Antonio Spurs as part of the Murray deal in 2022.

The New Orleans Pelicans had trade talks with the Atlanta Hawks for both Dejounte Murray and Trae Young ahead of the trade deadline. Those talks are expected to resume this summer.

While New Orleans has interest in both Hawks point guards, sources indicate that the Pelicans prefer to swing a deal for Murray. Murray has a more team-friendly contract, and he's a better defender than Young is.

Some have suggested that New Orleans star Zion Williamson would like to play with Young. The star guard's father even went on social media making a similar suggest that Young and Williamson would like to play together.

While the top of the 2024 NBA draft remains fluid, there is a growing belief among rival teams that Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher have emerged as the probable top-2 selections in some order by the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards.

"Many around the league expect the Hawks to select Sarr with the top pick, as there are compelling reasons to consider him the best prospect in this class with his elite physical tools, mobility, defensive versatility, finishing ability and potential as a perimeter shooter," writes Jonathan Givony in his post-combine mock draft.

Sarr could fit alongside Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu in the frontcourt as the Hawks are expected to largely remake the rest of their roster. 

The Wizards at No. 2 are expected to select Sarr if he is not selected at No. 1, or Risacher. 

The Atlanta Hawks are expected to put center Clint Capela on the trade block this summer. The Hawks have Onyeka Okongwu starting a four-year extension this coming season. Atlanta could also draft big man Alex Sarr with the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Capela has one season remaining on his contract at $22.3 million for 2024-25. He's also just turned 30 years old, which makes him one of the older players on the Hawks roster.

The Switzerland native averaged 11.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks last season. That was Capela's seventh consecutive season averaging a points-rebounds double-double.

The San Antonio Spurs have expressed little interest in trading for Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo.

The Spurs would be a logical trade partner for the Hawks considering their need for a point guard and their possession of multiple first round picks from Atlanta. 

Multiple figures with knowledge of the situation say any plans from the Spurs to acquire Young are "vastly overstated."

While Young is a very talented offensive player, he has obvious flaws, particularly on defense. Victor Wembanyama, however, could theoretically cover for Young's limitations on defense.

The San Antonio Spurs are expected to pursue a point guard this offseason to add alongside Victor Wembanyama, with one potential target believed to be Trae Young. Wembanyama is believed to at least be "intrigued" by the possibility of the Spurs trading for Young.

"I will say I've talked to people who know Wemby who have indicated he is at least intrigued by that idea," said Tim MacMahon on The Hoop Collective podcast. "Now, intrigued by that idea and pounding the table are two very different things. I have no idea whether Gregg Popovich would be intrigued by the idea."

"He's not classically a Popovich player, Trae Young," said Brian Windhorst.

The theory of the Spurs trading for Young is that he would vastly improve their offense, while Wembanyama is a special enough defensive player to help reduce Young's defensive limitations. 

San Antonio is in a unique situation to trade for Young as they own two lottery picks in this year's draft and also control Atlanta's draft for the next three years. 

The Atlanta Hawks are considered more likely to trade Trae Young than Dejounte Murray this offseason. The Hawks shopped Murray at this season's trade deadline, but decided not to make a deal involving him.

"The Atlanta Hawks are candidates to make a trade this offseason," said Brian Windhorst. "With likely Trae Young. I won't rule out Dejounte Murray, but I think they're keeping Dejounte Murray."

Young is believed to have more trade value across the league than Murray and is also on a far more expensive contract as the Hawks look to decrease salary. 

The Hawks won the lottery on Sunday, which allows them to reset their roster but also automatically increases their salary obligations. 

The Atlanta Hawks won the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery, moving from the tenth overall pick up to the first overall pick. That gives the Hawks and GM Landry Fields a lot of options moving forward.

One of those options is pursuing trades for Trae Young. Atlanta had been involved in trade talks involving Dejounte Murray leading up to the trade deadline but may now turn to trading Young instead.

Young is owed nearly $138 million over the next three seasons. The Hawks could net a hefty return in a trade for Young, while significantly clearing up their cap sheet moving forward. They could then build around the first overall pick, Murray and other young talent on the roster.

The NBA held its 2024 draft lottery in Chicago on Sunday with the Atlanta Hawks winning the top overall pick. The Hawks entered the lottery with just a three percent chance of securing the top pick.