After the Atlanta Hawks traded for Kristaps Porzingis and drafted Asa Newell, they backed it up with two above average signings in free agency. First, they secured Nickeil Alexander-Walker via sign-and-trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Atlanta sent Minnesota a 2027 second-rounder, cash and a trade exception, which eases their ability to make salaries work in future deals. Secondly, Atlanta signed Luke Kennard, a free agent after a season with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Alexander-Walker and the Hawks agreed to a four-year, $62 million contract. Nickeil averaged 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game on 43.8/38.1/78.0 shooting splits last season for the Timberwolves. Also, he played in all 82 games for Minnesota last season. Alexander-Walker was expendable after the Wolves signed Naz Reid and Julius Randle over the weekend. Keeping Alexander-Walker would have landed Minnesota in the dreaded second apron of the luxury tax for the second straight season. Teams residing in the second apron are prevented from combining salaries in trades and freezing draft picks in future trades.
Meanwhile, Kennard and the Hawks agreed to a one-year, $11 million contract for this season. Kennard is one of the deadlier sharpshooters in the Association. He has made over 43 percent of his threes every year since 2020. The former Duke Blue Devil will be reunited with his college teammate, Jalen Johnson, who the Hawks are going to rely upon as they have plans to make noise in the 2025-2026 Playoffs.
The Outs
After Clint Capela lost his starting job to Onyeka Okongwu, it was clear he was leaving Atlanta. He landed with the Houston Rockets, signing a three-year, $21.5 million contract. He will join a front court which includes Steven Adams and Jabari Smith. Capela started 41 of 55 games and averaged 8.9 points and 8.5 rebounds in 21.4 minutes.
Swingman Caris LeVert signed a two-year, $29 million contract with the Detroit Pistons. LeVert joined the Hawks after Atlanta sent De’Andre Hunter to the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeVert averaged 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 64 games last season. LeVert’s signing in Detroit seemingly coincides with the impending federal investigation in a gambling probe involving Malik Beasley.
The Hawks declined forward Dominick Barlow’s team option for $2.2 million, making him a free agent.
Potential Rotations
The front office overhaul shows Atlanta’s commitment to building a balanced roster around Trae Young. Kennard’s presence will space the floor and allow Young to continue to be a floor general. The number one overall pick in 2024, Zaccharie Rishacher, may be the sixth man this year or will start, depending on matchups. If the Hawks keep this roster as-is, they will be much improved on the defensive end of the floor. Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 170 total deflections last season, ranking him top 30 in the NBA. Dyson Daniels led the league with 448.
Season-ending Achillies’ injuries to Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, and Damian Lillard have seen three prominent teams take humongous steps back. Meanwhile, a starting line-up of Young, Daniels, Alexander-Walker, Okongwu and Porzingis, plus the added depth of Kennard and Rishacher, the Hawks are contenders in the East.
