Who would have expected the Hawks to get involved in yet another sweepstakes?
This is something fans need to get used to, as General Manager Onsi Saleh has shown no signs of slowing down. In fact, a Tuesday morning report from ESPN's Shams Charania outlined that the Hawks will be among the suitors for 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis.
Bringing in a guy like Davis would go against everything Atlanta's front office had prioritized in the offseason, which makes this report so out of the ordinary. They put major emphasis on building a contender without handicapping the organization financially.
While this was a smart approach, it led to some controversy. Trae Young, the roster's longest tenured player and face of the franchise, was eligible to sign a contract extension this past summer. Saleh stood on his initial approach and was unwilling to hand out a max contract before seeing what Young could do with this talented, new-look roster.
Why would the Hawks feel comfortable paying AD but not Trae Young?
Not many could give a solid answer. Unless, that is, he is coming around to the idea of giving Young his well-deserved bag and going all-in on a championship run. A move for Davis would signify that they are looking to separate themselves from everyone else in the Eastern Conference.
AD would come at a steep price. Not only does he still have quality value on the trade market, but his contract is one of the league's most expensive. For at least the next two seasons, the 32-year-old Davis will be making over $54 million annually. He has a $62 million player option at the end of those two years that he would be foolish not to accept.
Four things to consider:
— Zach Langley (@langleyatl) December 9, 2025
- Anthony Davis IS an upgrade over KP.
- Both AD and KP are injury-prone.
- The Hawks were only comfortable bringing in KP because he had one year, $30M left on his deal.
- Anthony Davis is making over $54M for the next three seasons.
If the Hawks were to bring in Davis, they would be doing so for the sole reason of pairing him up with their generational playmaker. A Trae Young-Anthony Davis pick-and-roll game would be unstoppable. Atlanta would have no interest in bringing him in if Young was not in the long-term plans.
A move like this would almost assure that Young will receive a contract extension. It may not be imminent, but know that the organization's top decision-makers will have it in the back of their minds.
Having Young and Davis' contracts add up to around $100M annually would not be ideal, but it would not cause the Hawks to lose their depth, as the rest of their core is locked up on team-friendly, long-term deals.