The Atlanta Hawks’ patience in deal-making has mostly paid off. Some of their most prominent deals – Cam Reddish, John Collins, and Kevin Huerter – have proven prescient. Meanwhile, others that they did not make, such as dealing away Trae Young, also look like smart decisions.
It just so happens that their largest deal (Dejounte Murray) did not pan out, at least not initially.
That is the position the Hawks could face as the trade deadline approaches and teams undoubtedly check their temperature about various players.
One of those players is De’Andre Hunter, a player who has been mired in trade speculation but has also found his stride as the Hawks’ sixth man. The timing is great too, because they have not gotten the production anyone expected from Bogdan Bogdanovic.
So, if a team called for one, would the Hawks seize the opportunity to offload the other?
The trade: De'Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanović to the Golden State Warriors for Jonathan Kuminga, Dennis Schröder, Gary Payton II, Kevon Looney and a 2027 first-round pick (top-five protected)
“Hunter's improved shot diet has him on course for the most productive (and efficient) campaign of his career. It has also made him an intriguing target for any and every win-now shopper,” Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley wrote on January 7.
“The Hawks, meanwhile, might pounce on the opportunity to further brighten their future by adding both Kuminga and the 2027 first. As an added bonus, they could even keep themselves competitive this season—tanking doesn't help since they don't control their first-round pick—as all four incoming players would arrive with plug-and-play ability.”
Dre checks in & splashes a triple from the wing 💦 pic.twitter.com/Er0dgVgACT
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 8, 2025
This trade would not be able to be completed until February 5 when the aggregation restriction on Schroder – who was traded to the Warriors in December – expires.
Schroder began his career with the Hawks, and he would solidify the backup point guard spot.
However, he has been a starter for the past season-plus. Despite his playing alongside Stephen Curry in Golden State, Schroder would not be a good defensive fit alongside Young, who is smaller than the Warriors great. Schroder is also essential to making the money for this work.
Kuminga is the centerpiece from a player perspective, and he would add some explosive athleticism to the Hawks’ lineup.
He does not add much else beyond that, though.
His biggest appeal – given that he does not shoot the ball as well as Hunter – is that the Hawks get a redo on the contract. Hunter is in Year 2 of a four-year, $90 million deal.
But Kuminga is due for a new contract after this season. So instead of helping themselves, the Hawks run the risk of hurting their own goals. It is not like players’ salaries are going down as time passes.
Hunter is averaging 19.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game this season, coming off the bench in all but two games.
He leads all reserves in per-game scoring among players with more than two games in that role.
Kuminga (16.8/5.0/2.2) has clashed with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr about his role and his feeling as though he would be unable to develop in Golden State. Kunminga is also a combo forward.
But the Hawks’ three-point shooting and floor spacing would be abysmal with him, Jalen Johnson, and Zaccharie Risacher all connecting on fewer than 35% of their deep looks.
Looney is a rebounding machine. But he would only add to the Hawks’ big man logjam.
Payton is a strong defender and athletic finisher. But he is not a true distributor of the ball and has been injury-prone in his career. He too is on an expiring deal, so the Hawks would clear the space they needed to re-sign Kuminga.
That would not change the kind of player that he is, though, nor would it replace what the Hawks figure to lose in Bogdanovic, who is in Year 2 of a four-year, $68 million pact.
He has not played as well as in previous years this season, but that can flip at any time.
The first-round pick would be nice. It would give the Hawks two firsts in 2027. They also own the rights to the New Orleans Pelicans’ 2027 first-rounder from the Murray trade. Is that enough to disrupt what they might have and while not making them discernably better?
Grade – C: If the Hawks want out from Bogdanovic and Hunter’s contracts, this would be great. Otherwise, they would be treading water if not regressing, which could cost them in other ways.