The Atlanta Hawks have gone all-in on a win-now roster after they traded for Dejounte Murray. They gave up several first-round draft picks which will have an impact on their chance to rebuild if the moves of the offseason do not bear fruit.
However, if the season does not go the way that the Hawks expect, the other problem is that they are over the luxury tax. If the Hawks stay there at the end of the season then this has the potential of limiting them in the next few seasons thanks to the repeater tax.
With this hypothetical in mind, the Hawks will be looking to get under the line which will only take one contract to be moved. However, they will be looking to get something back in that deal and as a result, need to give something to get something.
Which new Atlanta Hawks player is most likely to be traded during the season?
There are two new players who fit the bill. One of these is Maurice Harkless who has a salary of just over $4.5 million. This is a decent number but only gives the Hawks about $3.5 million in returning players. It also does not allow the Hawks to waive players and sign others without staying below the line.
This means that of the new players the Hawks secured over the offseason, Justin Holiday is the most likely to be traded. His contract is worth just under $6.3 million which is $1.8 million more than Harkless. While this may not seem like much, it is a veteran’s minimum deal that could be important.
Holiday might also be a player which interests a contender given his skills at both ends of the floor. He has developed into a strong 3-and-D player which is something that a contender trying to stop Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum, or Devin Booker may be interested in.
The Hawks could get a young player and a draft pick in return for Holiday which would go a long way to developing their team for future runs at the playoffs.