The Atlanta Hawks snagged the 13th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft from the Sacramento Kings in the Kevin Huerter trade. The 6’7 wing played a key role in the Hawks reaching the conference finals in 2021, but Atlanta looked to move on as their spending rose. Huerter had some key moments in the ATL. It was impossible to pass up getting a protected first-round pick, Justin Holiday, and Moe Harkless in the deal after acquiring Dejounte Murray.
Holiday played just 28 games before the Hawks traded him ahead of the 2023 deadline. Harkless did not survive the offseason in Atlanta. The Hawks wanted that first-round draft pick, and it worked out brilliantly.
Monday’s draft lottery confirmed Sacramento will send the highest possible pick to Atlanta. The Kings missed the playoffs and owe the Hawks the 13th overall selection. They had just a 3.8 percent chance of moving into the top four to keep the pick, and it did not happen.
Hawks absolutely fleeced the Kings in the Kevin Huerter trade
Huerter had the best year of his career and helped the Kings make the playoffs in his first season in Sacramento. The Kings were lighting the beam as the 6’7 wing averaged over 15 points per game. It was the first season of a four-year $65 million extension he signed with the Hawks. It looked like a strong long-term partnership forming, but things quickly went south.
Huerter’s minutes and production slipped in year two and cratered this season. The Kings wisely traded him to the Bulls in the three-team De’Aaron Fox deal that brought Zach LaVine to Sacramento.
The Kings are wishing they never acquired Huerter. He helped them reach the playoffs once, but Sacramento was bounced in the first round. The 6'7 wing was a key salary in the Fox trade, but bringing back LaVine did little to improve the franchise’s chances of contending. Now, they owe the Hawks a lottery pick and face an uncertain future.
The Hawks lucked out. They owe the 14th pick to the Spurs from the Dejounte Murray trade, so this deal puts Atlanta in a better position than they would have been otherwise. They can add a young talent ahead of an uncertain offseason.
The Atlanta Hawks need to upgrade their roster. They have missed the playoffs two straight years, but have a solid young core. Jalen Johnson returning from injury will be massive, but more talent is needed to be a serious contender. This could be the first step in adding it, and Hawks fans are thankful Travis Schlenk wisely traded Kevin Huerter when he did.