The Clippers’ summer just got a lot more complicated, and that opens the door for Atlanta to solve two problems at once.
Los Angeles is staring at a stripped-down future after the league handed down one of the harshest punishments in NBA history tied to the Kawhi Leonard/Aspiration scandal. Owner Steve Ballmer and members of the front office were fined and suspended, and the part that stings most is the loss of five future draft picks from 2029 through 2033.
The Clippers do have first-rounders in 2027 and 2028, but they do not control them, and those picks are not expected to be very strong. If they want to restock the cabinet, they may have to trade for draft capital.
That’s where the Hawks fit.
Atlanta has stayed quieter than most teams in the Eastern Conference this offseason, but the roster math is now impossible to ignore. The Jonathan Kuminga situation is over - he’s in Minnesota, not Atlanta - and the Hawks have 17 players on the roster. They need to get down to 15 before the season starts, which means someone has to go.
So here’s a deal that helps both sides:
Clippers receive: Corey Kispert, Buddy Hield, Mouhamed Gueye, and a 2027 first-round pick (least favorable of New Orleans and Milwaukee, top-four protected).
At first glance, it looks steep for Atlanta to send out a first-rounder for two players on expiring contracts. But the bigger picture matters here.
The Hawks are positioned to have significant cap space next summer, and that opens the door to bigger swings. Their list of expiring contracts already includes CJ McCollum, Jock Landale, Lu Dort, and possibly Hield, whose deal is non-guaranteed next season. Gueye could be in that mix too, along with Devin Carter if Atlanta declines his team option in October, which appears to be the likeliest move.
That setup would leave Atlanta anchored by Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, and Kingston Flemings, with room to chase major talent. Moving Kispert, who has $27 million guaranteed over the next two seasons, would only create more flexibility.
On the court, the pieces coming back would also make sense for Atlanta right away. Jones Jr and Lopez would both fill needs for a team trying to get back to the playoffs.
The Hawks already have strong perimeter defense from Daniels, Dort, and NAW, and Jones Jr would add even more length and versatility on the wing. Lopez, meanwhile, is no longer the player he once was, but he could still serve as a reliable third center behind Okongwu and Landale.
Atlanta took a hit late last season when Landale got hurt and there was nobody to soak up those minutes. Lopez would give them depth and a veteran presence.
The pick itself is not as valuable as it might first appear, either. It is the least favorable of the Pelicans’ and Bucks’ picks, it is top-four protected, and the new lottery rules plus a weak 2027 class make it easier for Atlanta to part with.
For the Clippers, the appeal is simple: they get draft capital for players who are not part of the long-term picture, and they get a look at Gueye as a possible piece for the future. He has offensive limitations, but he already brings high-level defense and comes on a cheap contract. The pick could turn into the No. 5 selection in the upcoming draft at best, and even if this class is as rough as expected, Los Angeles badly needs young talent and has to start taking swings.
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Rim protection and three-point shooting remain the familiar pressure points, though, and they loom large enough to shape how the year is judged. If the returning players do not take the expected step forward and the newcomers do not steady those weak spots, Atlanta could find itself back in the same uncomfortable middle ground it has been trying to escape. [Read more 🡒]