Hawks Rumors: ATL Believed to Be Leaders for Rajon Rondo, Danilo Gallinari

The Atlanta Hawks are a team to watch this offseason.

According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, "There is a growing belief among rival teams that Atlanta will be in pole position for Danilo Gallinari and Rajon Rondo when free agency begins later this week, league sources say."

Stein added that the Los Angeles Clippers are also believed to have eyes for Rondo. Frank Isola of ESPN reported that the Hawks and Clippers are in play for Rondo as well:

It wouldn't be surprising if the Hawks try to transition this season from a rebuilding squad to one attempting to put a winner around young star Trae Young. The Hawks have a nice combination of young, proven players (Young, Clint Capela, John Collins) and wing prospects with upside (De'Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish, Kevin Huerter). 

Rondo, 34, would give them a veteran playmaker to guide the second unit or occasionally allow Young to play off the ball. He was a key component of the Los Angeles Lakers' title run this year, averaging 8.9 points and 6.6 assists in 24.7 minutes off the bench in the postseason. 

As for Gallinari, he would offer the team another solid scorer and a modern stretch-4. He averaged 18.7 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Oklahoma City Thunder this past season, shooting 40.5 percent from three. 

There would be some questions as to Collins' fit, however. Would the Hawks move him to a small-ball 5 and bring Capela off the bench? Would Collins be moved to the second unit? Or is it possible the Hawks could dangle him in a trade? 

Granted, those questions are moot if Gallo signs elsewhere. But it would become an interesting storyline if the veteran were to sign with Atlanta.