The impact of the increased salary cap for the Atlanta Hawks
The NBA released the updated salary-cap figure for next season and they could have a huge impact on the Atlanta Hawks. The salary cap goes from $109 million this season to $121 million next season. The luxury tax goes from $121 million this season to $147 million next season.
To put things into perspective, the Hawks are into the luxury tax this season, paying out $131.5 million in salaries this season. Being so far in the luxury tax was difficult to swallow this season with the poor start that they had. However, despite two losses to the Toronto Raptors, the Hawks are 8-2 in their last ten games.
The thing is for the Hawks that next season if they guaranteed Danilo Gallinari‘s contract, they were going to have $144.2 million of salary on their books with only nine players under contract. Now with the luxury tax going up to $147 million, they have options. As discussed earlier in the season, the Hawks are in a really good position to take advantage of a salary cap increase.
The Atlanta Hawks are in a great place to move forward
Instead of having to tinker around the edges next preseason, or having the trade Gallinari, the Hawks now have options. They can do what is best for the team depending on how their season ends. Thanks to John Collins getting the bag Trae Young and Kevin Huerter signing their rookie-max extensions, the Hawks had a financial pinch point in the 2022-23 season.
Now they have time to assess how successful they are with Gallinari as one of the main weapons off the bench when they can field their full team. This has not happened very often in the one and a half seasons that Gallinari has been a member of the franchise.
Next. The Hawks are showing the tradional pivot still has a place. dark
They can also put to bed trade rumors regarding John Collins who is having his best season yet, really settling in to his role with this team. While the Hawks are rolling now, if they are not back in the playoffs at the end of the season, they can keep their core and make trades as required without too many financial implications.