The Atlanta Hawks have become the most dangerous team on the NBA trade market. In a span of roughly 10 months, Atlanta has completed four different trades that have improved the team's short-term and long-term outlook.
With the 2026 NBA Playoffs now revealing the impact of the short-term gains, the Hawks have quite a claim for being the King of the Trade.
Atlanta's run of brilliant moves began when it swapped the No. 13 overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft for the No. 23 pick and a 2026 first-round choice. Atlanta has already added Asa Newell and will now get the more favorable pick between two lottery selections.
Either the Milwaukee Bucks or New Orleans Pelicans will send their lottery pick to the Hawks this coming June, and both franchises have top-10 odds to land the No. 1 overall selection.
That would've been enough for the Hawks to gain praise that lasts years on end. What's taken them over the top, however, is how they completed three in-season trades that bolstered their rotation and strengthened their draft pool even further.
That includes moves for Jonathan Kuminga and CJ McCollum, who were arguably the Hawks' two best players during their Game 2 win over the New York Knicks in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
Hawks continue to make brilliant trades to improve present and future
Atlanta received mixed reviews for its Jan. 9 trade that sent former franchise player Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. Though Young's market value had been depleted over the years, many argued the Hawks should've gotten more than Corey Kispert and McCollum.
McCollum has proven to be a perfect fit in Atlanta, however, and has opened the 2026 NBA Playoffs by scoring 26 points in Game 1 and 32 in Game 2.
The Hawks continued their trade activity by sending Vit Krejci to the Portland Trail Blazers for Duop Reath and two future second-round draft picks. Fast forward barely two months and Krejci is now on the outside looking in of Portland's postseason rotation.
Atlanta put the finishing touches on its year of remarkable moves by trading Kristaps Porzingis for Kuminga and Buddy Hield.
Kuminga was a breath of fresh air during Game 2 against the Knicks, posting 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting and playing every minute of the fourth quarter. He now represents a potentail future at the small forward position, which was left in flux when Zaccharie Risacher experienced a regression during the 2025-26 regular season.
It's been a brilliant year for Onsi Saleh, and if his past four trades are a sign of things to come, then the Hawks will be a consistent contender as the decade progresses.
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