The Atlanta Hawks clearly won the 2025 offseason, juicing the team with talent while gaining overall draft capital in a miraculous series of events. The Hawks are in a unique position where this season can still be considered a win, even if the team disappoints on the court.
Everyone is talking about Atlanta's reloaded roster, and for good reason. But the best move they, or any team, made in the offseason was their draft day trade with New Orleans.
The Hawks traded the 13th pick for the 23rd pick and the more favorable of NOP and MIL's 2026 first round pick. This is an unprecedented trade package to move into the late lottery, as the Pelicans' pick next year is perhaps the best draft pick to be traded in history.
New Orleans could hand Atlanta the first overall pick in next year's draft
New Orleans had a truly dreadful 2024-25 season, finishing 14th in the West with a 21-61 record. After trading Brandon Ingram at the trade deadline, it looked like the team was throwing in the towel on the Zion Williamson era. They were in a great spot to begin a tank, holding all of their future first round picks and trade assets to build a bank of picks.
But, for reasons nobody can explain, the Pelicans evidently believe they can turn it around next season with the key additions of... Jordan Poole and Derik Queen.
Poole was traded for CJ McCollum in a trade that is as equal as they come. Both players play the same role, have the same weaknesses, and average the same stat line. While Poole had his best season as a pro last year, the Wizards clearly didn't believe in him, dumping his salary for McCollum's expiring contract. It is ridiculous to think he is capable of turning around the New Orleans.
The Pelicans find themselves with a hopeless roster filled with guys who cannot coexist on a good basketball team. The Dejounte Murray-Poole backcourt is a Walmart version of the failed Trae Young-Murray backcourt. Derik Queen and Zion Williamson make up perhaps the clunkiest frontcourt pairing in the league.
You can't discuss New Orleans without mentioning injuries. Former Pelican Dyson Daniels claimed that there is "something in that water in down there," and he is right. Zion Williamson is, unfortunately, the most injury-prone player in the league, missing over half of the Pelicans' games since being drafted in 2019. Murray tore his Achilles last season and could miss a large part of this season. Even Queen isn't immune, suffering a shoulder injury during summer league.
Considering the lack of talent, major fit concerns, and terrifying injury history, New Orleans could very well land the #1 pick in a loaded 2026 draft class. While we would all prefer the Hawks to capitalize on their slam-dunk offseason immediately, Atlanta has quite the consolation prize if they fall up short.