The signing of Nickeil Alexander-Walker will go down in the history books as one of the best in Atlanta Hawks history, and Trae Young is partly to thank. The signing, four years for $60 million, was already a bargain for the Sixth Man of the Year candidate Alexander-Walker was in Minnesota, but he’s taken a clear leap as an offensive player in Atlanta.
Young and Alexander-Walker both said Young had some involvement in the move, whether by convincing the player or management. Alexander-Walker reported this in the preseason, and Young reiterated this in his most recent YouTube video.
The Hawks have one of the best role players and contracts in the NBA
In the 2020s, the new CBA has modified how championship contenders are formed. No longer can teams afford to roster a trio (or even quartet) of perennial All-Stars like the Golden State Warriors or Miami Heat could. Instead, teams are made on the margins. Players like Derrick White and his $17.5 million contract in 2024 are the backbone of successful championship teams, helping overcome weak playoff performances from their star players.
NAW is the next Derrick White. Like White, Alexander-Walker is a defense-first player. Both are known as lockdown perimeter defenders and generate high stock totals. They also embrace team defense by clogging driving lanes, playing passing lanes, and staying alert.
But as their careers have gone on, both White and Alexander-Walker have impressed as three point shooters. White’s improvement first came when he shot a scorching 39.3% from deep on 8 attempts a night during the 2020 NBA Bubble, which first put White on the trade block. Alexander-Walker has been a more consistent shooter over his career, shooting 38.5% from deep over the last three seasons.
But the final addition to White and Alexander-Walker’s game was a late addition nobody thought was possible: self-created offense. Both players have been shoved into major offensive roles this season after injuries to their stars, and both have thoroughly impressed as high-volume offensive creators. Neither White nor Alexander-Walker will be a full-time star, but being able to scale your usage up is an essential trait for surviving injuries to a player like Trae Young.
Alexander-Walker is the type of role player who helps you win a ring, and the Hawks are paying him just $15 million annually. He’s on an absolute steal of a deal and has arguably been Atlanta’s second-best player after Jalen Johnson.
Thank you for recruiting Nickeil, Trae.