Ranking the Atlanta Hawks' best trade assets from picks to players
With training camp around the corner, there are still some questions about the long-term viability of the Atlanta Hawks’ roster.
Trade speculation surrounds most of the players, and Hawks general manager Landry Fields has left the door open for future moves, though he also backed the current group. Still, it can be prudent to take stock of the perceived value the Hawks’ players have.
Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz IDed the Hawks’ untouchables.
That group consisted of two players: Jalen Johnson and rookie No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher, whom the Hawks have big plans for.
Their “most desirable trade assets” also included two players – Trae Young and Onyeka Okongwu – as well as the 2025 first-round pick they received from the Los Angeles Lakers via the New Orleans Pelicans in the Dejounte Murray trade.
What is less clear, though, is just where the assets should rank in value.
Swartz’s order – Young, Okongwu, 2025 FRP – appears to suggest the three-time All-Star guard has the most value (Swartz does not specify if order indicates value).
However, the current theme of recent trade rumors around Young is that his value is down and that the Hawks retooled around him over the 2024 offseason as a result of being unable to move him via trade.
Given that Okongwu is also on a big contract, his trade value could also look much different.
Draft picks dominate Hawks’ Tier 1 trade assets
1) 2025 first-round pick (via LAL)
“The Hawks received the Lakers' unprotected first-round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans in the Murray trade, a selection that could turn out to be extremely valuable if LeBron James and/or Anthony Davis were to miss time due to injury,” Swartz wrote on September 14.
It is difficult to rank an asset this high when the Hawks cannot control the outcome in the 2025 draft. However, Swartz believes the Lakers’ pick could swing the Murray trade for the Hawks.
“Don't be surprised if the Hawks come away as the winners in the deal,” Swartz wrote on September 7. “The most important part of the trade for the Hawks was the inclusion of a 2025 first-round pick from New Orleans, one that's actually coming from the Los Angeles Lakers that was originally sent to the Pelicans in the Anthony Davis trade.”
“This is a potential gold mine of a pick for Atlanta.”
2) 2027 first-round pick (top-4 protected via NOP)
This pick could easily be flipped with the next slot. But the potential for a top-five pick is too tempting to bury too far down our list.
Both teams have the stars to be competitive in 2027. But there are questions about the overall rosters and outlooks for both teams to make this a worthwhile No. 2 choice. It is also important to note how teams feel about trading for picks versus players.
Certain teams need certain players. Every team needs draft capital.
3) 2028 first-round pick
The Hawks owe first-round picks to the San Antonio Spurs in 2025 and 2027. The Spurs can also swap picks in 2026, meaning 2028 is the next pick the Hawks own of theirs that is clean and clear.
It could also come in the first year post-Young (more on that shortly).
Johnson and Risacher will still be around and just approaching their prime years. But it is unclear what the duo as the team’s centerpieces would yield.
4) 2025 first-round pick (top-12 protected via SAC, 2 second-round picks in 2026 & 2027)
This pick loses out because of the looming expiration date in 2026 that will see the pick turn into a pair of second-round picks.
Still, it continues the trend of picks over players in the top tier.