Atlanta’s draft situation has been messy for a while, but the picture finally starts to clear after the 2027 season.
The Hawks spent the summer of 2022 making a massive move with San Antonio, sending four first-round picks to the Spurs in exchange for Dejounte Murray. The fit with Trae Young never clicked, and two years later Atlanta moved Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans. That deal carried more draft pain with it: the Hawks sent out a 2023 pick, a first-round swap in 2025, a pick swap in 2026, and San Antonio owns Atlanta’s 2027 draft choice.
That debt, though, is almost done. After the upcoming draft, Atlanta will be back in full control of its picks going forward, and that matters if the franchise wants the flexibility to chase a major upgrade and push toward championship contention.
For 2027, the Hawks won’t have their own pick, but they still have a shot at landing a useful one. Atlanta will receive the least favorable of New Orleans’ and Milwaukee’s picks, with the catch that it is top-four protected.
If both the Bucks and the Pelicans land inside the top four, Atlanta gets nothing in that draft. The best-case outcome for the Hawks is that the pick lands at No.
There is a downside beyond the protection. This is not expected to be a draft loaded with star-level talent at the top, which makes the selection less valuable than a typical high pick.
Atlanta could still find a player who helps, but the combination of top-four protection and a weaker class means this is not one of the league’s premium draft assets. If the Hawks need to improve the roster during the season, it could also be a piece they use in a trade.
The 2028 situation is cleaner. Atlanta will get the more favorable of its own first-round pick and the least favorable of Utah’s and Cleveland’s selections.
After that, the Hawks own all of their tradeable picks beyond 2028.
With so many expiring contracts on the books, Atlanta has the kind of flexibility that can fuel a star trade if the right opportunity appears. That does not guarantee anything this season, but the Hawks are positioned to make a move if the chance comes along.
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