The Atlanta Hawks will open training camp with 20 players on the roster.
They will only be allowed to enter the 2024-25 regular season with 15 players, and most if not all of those slots are already spoken for.
However, there is at least a decent chance the Hawks take a step back this season after trading an All-Star-caliber talent and not getting another to replace him. If that happens, more changes could be in order and the Hawks have several potential trade candidates on the roster.
So which ones are most likely to be donning different uniforms after the trade deadline?
Larry Nance Jr.’s trade value could outweigh potential on-court contributions for Hawks
First up on our list is Larry Nance Jr., and the reasons for his inclusion are fairly obvious. Nance is a versatile big man capable of playing the 4 and 5 spots and has moonlighted as a 3 when the situation called for it.
He is also on a manageable contract, carrying an $11.2 million cap charge in 2024-25.
However, Nance is also 31 years old and in the final year of a two-year, $21.5 million contract with unrestricted free agency on the horizon barring a long-term deal.
An extension with the Hawks seems unlikely for reasons other than his age and contract too. He spoke candidly about having pre-existing ties to every team but the Hawks during an appearance on “The Hoop Collective.”
Nance has also been open about wanting to return to Cleveland when his playing days end.
He did not say that was coming soon. But the writing appears to be on the wall for the Hawks already, and being proactive could benefit them more than what they would get from Nance.
To be clear: Nance would be a useful contributor. He averaged 5.7 points, 5.0 boards, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game for the New Orleans Pelicans, connecting on a career-high 41.5% of his looks from beyond the arc in 2023-24.
But he can only help raise the floor so much and does not elevate the team’s ceiling.
Nance is bought in, knowing that some teams in the Eastern Conference would rather focus on the 2025 NBA Draft and saying the Hawks are not among them.
It still makes plenty of business sense for the Hawks to find a new home for Nance by the February trade deadline. Otherwise, they might get similar modest contributions from Nance only to lose him for nothing in free agency next summer.