As the Atlanta Hawks’ premier offseason pickup, Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s signing with the team keeps looking smarter. Thanks to some key terms in his contract with Atlanta, the 26-year-old swingman provides the team with more than just value on the court.
Per a recent report by Hoops Rumors, Alexander-Walker’s yearly salary will not be flat.
“Reported to be worth $62MM over four years, Nickeil Alexander-Walker‘s new contract with the Hawks came in at $60,647,200,” Hoops Rumors said. “It includes a fourth-year player option and a 7.5% trade kicker. It also declines in year two (from $15,161,800 to $14,403,710) before ascending again in year three ($15,161,800) and four ($15,919,890).”
This small difference in the contract is stark. The drop from $15.1 million to $14.4 million after this season gives Atlanta additional flexibility against the salary cap. That flexibility could serve a great purpose in an offseason where newly-acquired big man Kristaps Porzingis, Trae Young, and Dyson Daniels are all free agents.
The Hawks’ cap flexibility can be used as a weapon
Even though it’s a marginal change in salary for “NAW”, fans should have confidence in new general manager Onsi Saleh and his ability to use that flexibility properly. Optionality has been the word of the offseason for the Hawks (from the Clint Capela trade, to the Luke Kennard signing) and this can only continue that trend.
Plugging in a piece like Alexander-Walker can only help on the court as well. He’s a connective player who serves two purposes. He doesn’t need a high usage rate to be successful on offense, and can fit no matter what his team’s roster looks like. A pesky defender and more-than-capable option from deep, he fits what the Hawks want to be: a forward-thinking organization that prioritizes both ends of the floor.
Alexander-Walker was an important piece of the Timberwolves’ back-to-back Western Conference Finals runs, providing elite defense and spacing as a bench piece. In Game 4 of the 2025 West Finals, Alexander-Walker went off from three, dropping a much-needed 23 points and nearly lifting the team to victory in a game where Wolves’ star Anthony Edwards struggled to score.
The former Virginia Tech Hokie shot 43.8% from the field a season ago, including a sharp 38.1% from downtown. He’s a career 8.6 point-per-game scorer who will be joining his fourth NBA team in seven seasons.
Looking ahead for Atlanta, they take the court for NBA Summer League this week. The team’s opener will pit them against a fellow Southeast Division member in the Miami Heat on Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET. Games against Phoenix, Houston, and Memphis will conclude their slate.