The Atlanta Hawks are celebrating on Tuesday night after drafting Houston point guard Kingston Flemings in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, a pick they received from the New Orleans Pelicans in a trade at last year's draft.
At the same time, they are nursing regret for a different trade involving a point guard. Four years ago, in July of 2022, the Hawks sought to find the ideal backcourt partner for All-Star point guard Trae Young. They did so by trading for San Antonio Spurs star Dejounte Murray.
Hawks paid a lot for Dejounte Murray
The cost was steep: Danilo Gallinari, three first-round picks and one first-round swap. It got a little better when one of those firsts -- the only protected one -- disappeared. But it still meant two firsts and a swap heading to the Spurs.
2025 was the first painful payment for the trade, and the Spurs landed defensive ace Carter Bryant. He would be a huge boon to the Hawks' roster, but instead he plays for the contending Spurs.
2026 brought more pain, as the Hawks finished with a significantly worse record than the Spurs and had to swap places, falling all the way to pick No. 29. To their credit, they also roped in the Cleveland Cavaliers and were able to swap back up to 23. But it's another loss.
They had to stand there and watch as the Spurs used the No. 20 pick on Jayden Quaintance, a player with massive defensive upside who could be a game-breaking teammate alongside Victor Wembanyama. Would the Hawks love to add such a player? Of course they would.
2027 will bring a final draft pick out the door; the Hawks strongly hope it will be a late pick because they have taken a step forward. Flemings will help them do that. Jalen Johnson will try to lead them there. Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker and others will play their part.
Dejounte Murray didn't last long
Murray won't, as he is long gone. His fit with Trae Young was a disaster from the start, with the Hawks significantly better when one and not both were on the court. Murray wasn't bad himself, but Atlanta was a disaster because of hos poorly he fit with Young. That was probably more on Young than Murray, but it was still a terrible trade for the Hawks.
They flipped Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, and he subsequently tore his ACL and has missed significant time. It has been a painful slide down the hill for a player who once made an All-Star Game.
Trading Murray to the Pelicans brought back some good assets. Dyson Daniels has been a phenomenal fit. The Hawks' new front office is making good moves to improve the team.
But losing those picks hurts, and Tuesday was the twisting of the knife. Next year will bring more pain. Murray has been gone for two years; Trae Young is gone as well. The roster has almost entirely turned over. And yet the Hawks continue making payments.
It is a steep price to pay. Soon they will be done paying it.
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