The Atlanta Hawks' overcrowded roster has been a huge topic throughout the 2026 offseason. For months, Atlanta operated with 17 players on guaranteed NBA contracts, but the latest reporting reveals the team made a move today to get one step closer to finalizing its roster.
Hawks waive Devin Carter after trading for him this summer
The Hawks acquired Devin Carter and a future second-round pick from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for salary cap relief on June 29. Three months later, according to insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, Atlanta is releasing the 24-year-old guard.
The Atlanta Hawks are waiving former lottery pick Devin Carter, according to league sources.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) September 11, 2026
Carter was set to make $5.2 million this upcoming season. He had a $7.4 million team option for the 2027-28 campaign, but the Hawks no longer have to make that decision. Why would Atlanta release the No. 13 pick in the 2024 draft after trading for him a few short months ago? Two big reasons come to mind: the crowded guard room and Carter's offensive limitations.
Carter has not received consistent playing time over his two-year career, despite Sacramento's struggles. He averaged 8.9 points, 2.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.9 steals in 28 games last season. He mostly played toward the end of the 2025-26 campaign, when Russell Westbrook, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis were not playing.
Carter's calling card comes on the defensive end. He hounds ball handlers, getting in their faces and doing everything he can to make their jobs uncomfortable. The Hawks certainly value this skill, as they rely on generating on-ball steals to turn them into easy transition points. However, Atlanta already has a plethora of lockdown perimeter defenders with higher offensive ceilings on the roster.
Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luguentz Dort arguably form the best perimeter defensive trio in the NBA. Kingston Flemings, the No. 8 pick in this year's draft, also projects to be a great point-of-attack defender. These four players have the same, or even better, defensive prowess as Carter, while giving the Hawks more on offense.
Carter's offensive limitations limit his ceiling
Carter has struggled to find his stroke in his professional career. He shoots 40.1% from the field, 27.4% from beyond the arc, and 67.4% from the charity stripe. The 6-foot-2 guard can make basic reads in the pick-and-roll, but he cannot consistently run an NBA half-court offense.
In contrast, Ryan Nembhard showed exceptional promise as a table setter and offensive organizer in his rookie campaign with the Dallas Mavericks. Atlanta acquired him in the Zaccharie Risacher trade to bolster its guard depth. Nembhard averaged 5.3 assists to just 1.4 turnovers in 60 games. He even had a 23-assist performance on the final day of the 2025-26 season.
Flemings showed off his playmaking expertise at the Summer League. Most rookie point guards come into the league with turnover concerns, and they often have trouble adjusting to the NBA's pace. However, this does not seem to be the case for Flemings and Nembhard, as they likely battle for backup point guard minutes.
The Hawks valued Nembhard and Flemings' playmaking upside over Carter's limited offensive game.
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