The Atlanta Hawks face a crucial offseason that was made trickier by the NBA’s new CBA. The addition of the second tax apron has thrown a wrench into the plans of multiple teams, including the Hawks, because exceeding it limits roster flexibility. Atlanta is just $4.7 million below the line but must improve their roster after back-to-back first-round playoff exits.
Atlanta’s coaching and front office shakeups lead fans to believe changes are coming this summer. Trae Young is staying put, but the rest of the roster could be available for the right price. The Hawks could look to shed salary as they revamp around the two-time All-Star.
Who would Atlanta trade away? Is anyone else untouchable on their roster? Atlanta is likely searching for defensive help, especially on the wing. Who would the Hawks prefer to send out?
Ranking Atlanta Hawks from least to most likely to be traded to shed salary
Untouchables: Trae Young, A.J. Griffin, Jalen Johnson
Young is obvious. Teams do not trade a 24-year-old two-time All-Star unless they are getting a massive haul in return. Young’s defensive concerns will keep Atlanta from finding that package. He is the team’s offensive engine and a crucial part of their success.
The Hawks are not trading A.J. Griffin or Jalen Johnson as both are on rookie contracts and have multiple years of team control remaining. Atlanta needs those smaller salaries on their books to keep their costs down, and the franchise is hoping both blossom into key contributors moving forward.
Bruno Fernando, Garrison Matthews, Vit Krejci, and Tyrese Martin are all on non-guaranteed deals and could be released this summer to create room or brought back on cheap contracts. The other seven players under contract are all candidates to be traded if the Atlanta Hawks need to shed salary.
7. Onyeka Okongwu
Teams are interested in Okongwu, and the Hawks have an important decision to make this summer. The 22-year-old played just 23.1 minutes per game last season as he is stuck behind Clint Capela at the five, but he is entering the final year of his contract. Okongwu makes $8.1 million next season. He will want a raise in free agency, but the Hawks cannot afford to be paying $40 million to their two centers.
Do they trade Capela and open up more minutes for the 22-year-old or ship out Okongwu before having to reward him with a new contract next summer? It is not an easy decision. Capela is six years older and can become an unrestricted free agent in 2025. Who do the Hawks lock up long-term as their starting center?
Neither is an option. Atlanta is rumored to be interested (subscription required) in Dereck Lively in the 2023 NBA Draft. They could select him and try to trade both Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu over the next year. The Hawks have options, but they need to make a decision fast and run with it.
Okongwu wants more playing time and if the Atlanta Hawks do not want to give it to him, now is the time to move on from the talented 22-year-old.
6. Dejounte Murray
The Hawks gave up three first-round picks and one swap to acquire Murray last summer. It was a hefty price to pay, and Atlanta has no plans of taking a loss on it. If some team blew them away with an offer, the Hawks might do it, but they do not want to part with Murray otherwise.
His contract situation could change things, though. Murray is set to make $18.2 million in the final year of his deal before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer. He is extension-eligible, but can the two sides get a deal done? The new CBA increased what the Hawks can offer, but it still may not be enough.
Murray could become an unrestricted free agent next summer searching for a max deal, and the Atlanta Hawks cannot afford to pay him that much over the next four years without making other moves.
For what it is worth, Murray was quick to shoot down recent trade rumors. He appears happy in Atlanta and prepared to run it back next season, but his contract situation is something to watch closely. If the two sides cannot work out a new deal, Dejounte Murray could be on the trade block before the deadline.
5. Bogdan Bogdanovic
Bogdanovic is on a contract that fans likely will not see a ton moving forward. He is owed $52 million over the next three seasons with a $16.0 million team option in 2026. The 6’6 wing makes more than the mid-level exception, but significantly less than the max. Those contracts will be phased out under the new CBA with the second apron acting as a hard cap for most franchises.
Having a sixth man that spaces the floor, scores 15 points per game, and operates as a secondary creator is valuable. The 30-year-old is the oldest player on their current roster, but he should still be productive in his role by the end of the contract.
There was heavy interest at the trade deadline, but it is unclear how the new CBA will impact that. Teams love his ability to score and create shots, but can Atlanta find a trade that improves their roster without taking on additional money?
Bogdan Bogdanovic could be used to balance out a trade for a third star, but it would be difficult to get value for him otherwise. The Atlanta Hawks would rather dump other contracts from their books, so expect Bogdanovic to return next season.
4. Saddiq Bey
The Hawks gave up five second-round picks to acquire Bey at the trade deadline, but his minutes and production took a dip during his time with Atlanta. They need wing depth, and Bey is set to make just $4.5 million next season, but he will soon be a lot more expensive.
The 24-year-old becomes a restricted free agent in 2025, and he will be searching for a significant raise. At worst, he will settle for the mid-level exception, which is up to $12.2 million next season. The Hawks cannot afford an additional $8 million per year, so it is decision time to what to do with Bey.
Atlanta could extend him, let him play out his rookie contract, and attempt to trade him next summer, but that would be a significant gamble. Multiple teams will be looking to shed salary and cap space is unlikely to be abundant. The Hawks could end up in the second tax apron or having to pay a significant price to shed salary.
Do not be surprised to hear Saddiq Bey’s name on the trade market this summer. The Atlanta Hawks would love to keep him, but that would mean trading off a significant salary this summer. That won’t be easy, but the Hawks have multiple options.
3. Clint Capela
The Mavericks are interested in Capela, but the Hawks are not eager to make the trade. Fans can draw a lot of different conclusions from that if they wish. Dallas may not be giving up enough value for the talented big man or Atlanta might not be ready to move on.
Capela has two years and $42.9 million remaining on his contract. The Hawks clearly want him as the anchor of their defense and a pick-and-roll partner for Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, but he is the easiest player to move on from if Atlanta is looking to duck the second tax apron. Capela is the ideal center for Young, but if they want to keep him then it is time to move on from Onyeka Okongwu.
The Hawks already have an in-house replacement ready to take over. It is why trading Clint Capela makes the most sense for the franchise, and they should move on from one player or the other this summer.
Will they do it? Atlanta would prefer to trade the two remaining players on this list, but it remains to be seen if the Hawks will do anything this summer. With no blockbuster on the table, it could be quiet summer that puts further strain on the front office moving forward.
2. De’Andre Hunter
It is difficult to value Hunter on the trade market. The former fourth-overall pick is a 6’8 wing with the size and length to guard every player on the floor. There is a premium placed on those players, and the Hawks would want a significant return for the 25-year-old.
Hunter’s health and advanced metrics do not paint a pretty picture, though. He played a career-high 67 games last season, but he is averaging just 51.5 per year after completing his rookie contract. Hunter has had a negative value over replacement player (VORP) in three of his first four seasons, and his win shares per 48 minutes is 0.041 for his career with 0.1 being the league average.
Hunter is just beginning a four-year extension worth $90 million. He still has room to grow, but the 6’8 forward has not produced that value so far. Teams would still be interested in acquiring him, but at what price?
The Atlanta Hawks need more production from their wings. De’Andre Hunter improving is one way for it to happen or they could search for an upgrade. The 25-year-old would have value, which makes him the perfect candidate to move if trying to shed salary, but the Hawks would certainly prefer to trade a forward that is constantly in the rumors.
1. John Collins
Collins just finished his sixth NBA season and it feels like he has been mentioned in trade rumors for five of those years. That may be a slight exaggeration, but the talks never stop surrounding the 6’9 forward. He had his worst statistical season since his rookie year and is owed $51.9 million over the next two years with a $26.5 million player option for the 2025-26 season.
Can the Hawks dump his contract and reset their books slightly? There have been more rumors, but no trade has materialized yet. Will it? Who knows at this point? Collins likely has a negative-value contract, so he would have to be traded for another bad deal or the Hawks must add additional compensation to move him.
The 25-year-old has plenty of skills and could blossom in a new environment. The Hawks cannot afford to pay him, especially if they plan on keeping Dejounte Murray and Saddiq Bey long-term. Atlanta should be searching hard for a new home for Collins, but finding one will not be easy after a down season.
Will the Atlanta Hawks look to shed salary this offseason or wait until next summer? Expect them to be active and aggressive in upgrading their roster, and fans must stay tuned to see how it all shakes out.
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