Danilo Gallinari signing shows the Hawks want to build around Trae Young now

With their signing of Danilo Gallinari, the Atlanta Hawks have signaled their intent to build around Trae Young and compete right away.

With rumored interest in Gordon Hayward via a possible sign-and-trade, the Atlanta Hawks signaled they might mean business this offseason. On Friday night ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported they pivoted to forward Danilo Gallinari, agreeing to a three-year, $61.5 million deal. Wojnarowski added that it’s the most expensive deal ever given to a player over 30 who has never made an All-Star team.

Gallinari averaged 18.7 points per game with the Oklahoma City Thunder last season, as he shot 43.8 percent from the floor and 40.5 percent from 3-point range. He can play both forward spots, and he has become one of the best shooters in the NBA (True Shooting Percentage north of 60 percent in three of the last four seasons).

With the notable signing of Galinari and a couple other smaller moves, here’s a look at the Hawks’ depth chart right now.

SF: Danilo Gallinari, De’Andre Hunter, Tony Snell
PF: John Collins, Onyeka Okongwu
C: Clint Capela, Bruno Fernando
SG: Kevin Huerter, Cam Reddish, DeAndre’ Bembry
PG: Trae Young, Kris Dunn, Brandon Goodwin

Snell was acquired in a trade (pending it becoming official), and Okongwu was the sixth overall pick in the draft. Capela never suited up for the Hawks after being acquired from the Houston Rockets last season because of a right foot injury. But all indications are he’ll be good to go for the start of the new season.

The Hawks might not be done adding pieces

The Hawks still have a fair chunk of cap space for 2020-21, and they might not be done adding. Rajon Rondo and Bogdan Bogdanovic are rumored targets, with The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reporting they are the front runner for Bogdanovic.

Coming off the best season of his career (21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game; 40.1 percent from 3-point range), Collins is eligible for a rookie extension. But the additions of Capela, Okongwu and now Gallinari has invited speculation about his future in Atlanta.

The Hawks have a young star in Young, with an increasingly interesting mix of talent around him. The addition of Kris Dunn (reported Saturday morning) does not necessarily mean they won’t try to sign Rondo. A steadying veteran presence like Rondo would help mitigate Atlanta’s offensive drop-off when Young’s not on the floor to drive the action.

The Hawks have won less than 30 games and missed the playoffs in three straight seasons, with a .299 win percentage last season (20-47). But in a still thin Eastern Conference, they are unveiling intent to up a rebuild timeline and get back to the playoffs in 2021. At the very least, the Hawks are very interesting again.