The Atlanta Hawks received mixed reviews for their trades at the 2025 deadline, with both deals appearing more like salary dumps than potential improvements for this season. Those moves provided some additional depth that has proven critical amid an injury-marred season.
However, a new report form NBA insider Jake Fischer sheds light on those dealings, particularly when it comes to the Hawks’ trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Hawks traded De’Andre Hunter, a candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, to the Cavs.
In return, they received Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, and two protected future first-round pick swaps. LeVert is an unrestricted free agent after the season. Niang has become a valuable member of the Hawks’ rotation. Still, the Cavs’ decision speaks volumes about how they viewed him.
“Niang wasn't anticipating any trade action until the final hours of the deadline. Neither was LeVert,” Fischer wrote on April 5.
“Cleveland officials, sources say, only moved forward with the deal for Hunter when the Hawks dropped their original asking price of multiple first-round picks,” Fischer wrote on April 5. “If the draft compensation demands hadn't dropped and if the ultimate trade framework didn't help both Atlanta and Cleveland get under the tax threshold, it's unlikely that the trade would have gotten done.”
The Hawks were 23-28 before the trade deadline. They have gone 13-12 since, and they are 9-11 with LeVert and Niang in the rotation. Of course, their trajectory appeared to be trending up before this current rough stretch in which the Hawks went 1-1 versus the East but 0-3 against the West.
Just one of the Hawks’ final six games is against the West.
That includes Saturday, with a big Eastern Conference showdown against the New York Knicks. And that opponent is the Utah Jazz, who entered play on April 5 with the NBA’s worst record.
Cavaliers leery of Caris LeVert’s free agency
LeVert and Niang rank fifth and sixth, respectively, on the Hawks in net on-off efficiency differential, per Cleaning The Glass.
LeVert was sixth on the Cavaliers in minutes per game before the trade (Niang was eighth and is under contract through next season), but his contract status weighed into the Cavaliers’ decision to move on from him at the deadline.
“Both teams ultimately felt they improved their long-term circumstances,” Fischer wrote. “The Cavaliers, sources say, were wary of losing LeVert in free agency this coming offseason.”
Fortunately for the Hawks, LeVert is open to re-signing with them in free agency.
“I didn’t really think about it [the trade] negatively at all, honestly. It was more so an opportunity for me. In Cleveland, I was playing a certain role. Here, I can play more like myself. I looked at it like that,” LeVert told HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto in comments published on March 28.
“We’ll see. I love this situation that I’m in right now. I love this team. The staff has welcomed me with open arms. I didn’t really know Quin (Snyder) previously before coming here. Obviously, I’ve admired his style from afar for a long time. Antonio (Lang), Ekpe Udoh, and Ron Nored on the staff I’ve had relationships with, so I feel pretty comfortable here. Like I always tell them, I’d love to re-sign here. My focus right now is the rest of the season and making the playoffs. It’s definitely something I’d want.”
With Dyson Daniels due an extension, and players like Niang, Clint Capela, and Larry Nance Jr. all hitting free agency, the Hawks have multiple items to address before the 2025-26 season.