The front offices of the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans Pelicans are more than familiar with each other.
For better or for worse, they've partnered on several transactions over the last several years, and while no trade has happened between the two yet this summer, they've been often linked.
Of course, two sides who have competed many trades with one another are rightfully rumored to engage once more.
Well, the Pelicans recently brought in three former Hawks, but not in the way those around the league have grown to expect. They clearly liked what they saw out of each free agent, whether it was because of their time in Atlanta or not.
Pelicans filled out roster with names Hawks fans haven't forgotten
Kobe Bufkin, Christian Koloko and most recently Caleb Houstan, are all heading to New Orleans for the 2026-27 season.
The Pelicans - who finished a disappointing 26-56 last season, landing Atlanta the eighth-overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft - have received plenty of pushback for their overall inactivity this summer.
A team who drastically underwhelms often undergoes massive changes. Especially in today's NBA, there's no incentive to running it back with an incapable roster. It's even worse when said team doesn't have complete control of their future draft capital.
Aside from the three new additions, for the most part, the Pelicans have elected to run it back under their new head coach, Jamahl Mosley.
Each of their new guys provide something different, and it could either end up benefitting them down the road or making their immediate outlook much worse. The contracts they signed them to are low-commitment, of course, so even if none of them can find their footing, they should be able to recover nicely.
Koloko and Houstan were on Atlanta's roster - in some capacity - last season, but Bufkin is over a year removed from his Hawks tenure. He may be the most intriguing of the bunch, too.
Bufkin has bounced around since being dealt ahead of last season
It hasn't been anything short of a bumpy road for Kobe Bufkin since being traded to the Brooklyn Nets just before the beginning of last season, but there's a chance he'll be able to lock in a home with the Pelicans.
Joining a guard room that features Jordan Poole, Jeremiah Fears and another former Hawk, Dejounte Murray, the path to minutes isn't immediately clear.
If recent years are any indicator, however, two of the three ahead of him are always at risk of injury. If there ever comes an opportunity, Bufkin should take full advantage.
Also, who knows? If the Pelicans are about as successful as they're currently projected to be, they may not have much to lose by seeing what the former Hawk can do.
Atlanta and New Orleans may just be connected for the rest of the NBA's existence.
Hawks fans should be over the moon about that.
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