Will they or won’t they? That seems to be the big question around the Atlanta Hawks and a potential blockbuster trade this offseason.
Regardless of the outcome, the Hawks are well-positioned to make a splash.
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie wondered if the Hawks could be a “dumping ground” for another team this offseason, creating a “very advantageous” situation Atlanta could capitalize on to continue building out their roster, preferably with a backup point guard or center.
“Look, they have their non-taxpayer mid-level, they have a massive, enormous trade exception, they have a $25 million trade exception for DeJonte Murray that I believe expires in August or something. That, and then they also have a big trade exception from the Bogdan Bogdanovich deal that they did earlier this year, too,” Vecenie told Motor City Hoops’ Bryce Simon on the “Game Theory” podcast on June 11.
“Their cap guys have done really well creating options. They are $48 million away from the first apron without their draft picks. So, it’ll be, probably, right around $40-ish [million] away from the first apron. So, in theory, they could do their non-taxpayer and take like a massive deal from somebody else that wants to like dump salary and get picks.”
The Hawks have picks No. 13 and 22 in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, courtesy of the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers (via the New Orleans Pelicans).
Their draft outlook grows far more convoluted in future seasons, but they have some flexibility.
Hawks can go in any number of different directions this offseason
This offseason could be the one for the Hawks to cash in on, with few teams having the outright cap space to make noise in free agency, and the expectation that others could look to actively shed salary.
The key, of course, is what exactly the Hawks want to do. That is largely unknown with a change in leadership and questions along the entire roster.
From Trae Young to Clint Capela, the Hawks have decisions to make, some easier than others.
They have also squandered trade exceptions before, letting the $25-plus million iteration they had from trading John Collins to the Utah Jazz come and go, though Murray’s essentially replaced it.
How this new regime, helmed by general manager Onsi Saleh, views the current roster’s chances of competing in a weakened Eastern Conference will speak volumes.
If they still believe the group is a few years away, chatter about Young’s future will increase.
The possibilities for the Hawks have led to increasing intrigue around the franchise and their plans for the future. This offseason is expected to be one of the more active in recent memory (a common refrain every summer, to be sure), and the Hawks could be players.