8 Players the Atlanta Hawks gave up on too soon

7. Kevin Huerter

The most recent addition to this list, Kevin Huerter was traded from Atlanta to the Sacramento Kings in July 2022. Ironically, the Hawks got back a former player in Justin Holiday, along with Maurice Harkless and a first-round pick in the deal.

It was a difficult trade for Hawks fans to accept, as Huerter had become beloved in Atlanta and had formed a lethal one-two punch next to Trae Young. Together, they formed one of the most dangerous backcourts in the NBA from three-point range.

But with the Hawks’ huge acquisition of Dejounte Murray last June, Huerter suddenly made less sense on Atlanta’s roster. In their eyes, they were better served replacing Huerter’s knock-down outside shooting with a premier defender that could get his own shot as well. So far, Murray has been good, but he has not been all that the Hawks had hoped for.

Meanwhile, Huerter has been putting up career numbers in his first season with the Kings, to the tune of 15 points per game on 48% shooting, and a scorching 40% from three. He has done it while helping lead Sacramento to the third-best record in the Western Conference, and what will almost certainly be the Kings’ first playoff appearance since 2005-06.

There is still the chance the Young-Murray backcourt reaches its full potential and Hawks fans no longer need to think about Huerter. But for now, letting him go is looking like a missed opportunity.