The modern NBA is a game of possessions.
It's simple - the more opportunities you provide your team to put the ball through the hoop, the more likely your team is to emerge victorious.
Unfortunately for the Hawks, Corey Kispert is not only ineffective at keeping or recovering possessions, but he also represents a real threat to an otherwise crystal-clear cap table.
Kispert's on-court struggles with possession generation
Possessions can be won on two fronts - rebounding the basketball, or winning the basketball on the floor (e.g., maintaining possession without turning the ball over, or racking up a steal).
Two of the most impressive players in the NBA today in each facet would be Steven Adams and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
While Adams makes his money through absolutely dominating the offensive glass and shutting down opponents from doing the same on the other end of the floor, Alexander-Walker excels in limiting his turnovers while generating an ample number of steals on defense.
Kispert is effective in neither aspect. As a matter of fact, he ranksantepenultimate in the entire NBA in three-year possession value - only Kevin Durant and Peyton Watson score worse.
Atlanta began its 2025-2026 season looking extremely threatening from a possession standpoint - especially in its ability to limit turnovers.
This should come as no surprise - GM Onsi Saleh has ensured his squad remains on the cutting edge of the NBA frontier. As a result, it's not farfetched to believe the more antiquated Kispert may be on his way out, especially considering his added financial burden.
Kispert's salary hinderance to the Hawks, extending into 2028
Atlanta's cap book is one of the cleanest in the entire league - if not the single most flexible in its ability to acquire a big-name superstar in the near future.
With Jalen Johnson as the most significant contract at a mere $30M/year, Atlanta can rest assured in its ability to add another hefty contract (or two, for that matter) to an otherwise empty book.
Unfortunately, Kispert represents arguably the only negative contract on the entire roster at present - his $13M/year deal that extends (at minimum) through 2027-2028 is a striking blemish on an otherwise beautiful sheet.
Atlanta could knock down two birds with one stone this season - ship Kispert and a few 2nd round picks to a rebuilding team with cap room to spare (e.g., Sacramento, Memphis), and clear the books for a massive splash in the summer of 2027.
While Kispert's sharpshooting would no doubt be missed in the A, it seems overdue that the former Gonzaga product finds a new home better suited to his skillset and contract situation.
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