The Atlanta Hawks traded Kevin Huerter to the Kings in 2022 for Justin Holiday, Mo Harkless, and a protected first-round pick. It didn't convey in 2024, and was top-12 protected in 2025, but it fell at No. 13, giving the Hawks a lottery pick. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Atlanta traded the pick to the Pelicans in a draft-night deal, moving back to No. 23 in the first round and picking up an unprotected 2026 first-round pick in the process.
Atlanta made the Huerter trade a couple of years ago after giving up several first-round picks for Dejounte Murray, re-stocking its draft assets. Ironically, the Spurs have the No. 14 pick in the draft, which they acquired from the Hawks in the Murray trade. Atlanta and San Antonio picked back-to-back.
Huerter spent two-and-a-half seasons in Sacramento before he was traded to Chicago in February as part of the multi-team De'Aaron Fox deal. In Huerter's first season with the Kings, he averaged a career-high 15.2 points per game on 40.2% shooting from three in 75 games (all starts). He played a key role in Sacramento's first playoff appearance since 2006, but the Kings weren't able to build on that success.
The past few years haven't gone the way the Hawks hoped either, hence why they traded Murray last summer. Atlanta still got the better end of the Huerter trade, though, especially after Wednesday's trade.
Essentially, Atlanta has moved back 10 spots -- and picked up a potentially valuable 2026 first-rounder. https://t.co/PnsPnIDzlb
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025
Hawks move back in draft using the pick from Kevin Huerter trade
Nailing the draft is more important than ever, thanks to the collective bargaining agreement. The lottery pick gave the Hawks a cherry on top of the Huerter trade, and even though Atlanta didn't add a new player to the roster at No. 13, it can still draft an impactful player at No. 23. It was one of the first moves from Atlanta's new front office regime.
Sacramento also brought in a new GM after firing Monte McNair at the end of the season. The Kings didn't make it past the Play-In Tournament. Huerter left Sacramento before then, after he averaged only 7.9 points on 41.3% shooting from the field and 30.2% from three. The Kings acquired Zach LaVine as part of the trade, aiming to recreate the success the Bulls had with LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. Oh, wait.
The Hawks are better-positioned for the upcoming season than the Kings, and not just because the East is a weaker conference. The draft is the first part of what should be an eventful summer in Atlanta, and hopefully, it'll be the start of a season that doesn't end without the Hawks securing a playoff berth.