The Atlanta Hawks have backed themselves into a good kind of problem: there are simply too many players and not enough roster spots.
After using three picks in the NBA Draft, trading for Aaron Wiggins and Devin Carter, and bringing back CJ McCollum and Jock Landale in free agency, Atlanta is sitting on 16 players. NBA rules allow teams to carry 15 standard contracts and three two-way deals, and while clubs can go up to 20 in the summer, that number has to come down before the regular season arrives.
That leaves the Hawks with work to do, even if they’ve got time to sort it out. The cleanest path is a consolidation trade, and Atlanta has enough depth to make that happen. The starting five is already set for next season, so the front office can afford to turn some of that surplus into a tighter, more efficient roster.
One obvious package would be Zaccharie Risacher and Corey Kispert, who combine for $27.7 million in tradeable salary. With draft capital attached, that kind of deal could draw interest from rebuilding teams looking for a longer-term swing.
One of the most intriguing possibilities would send that Risacher-Kispert package to Milwaukee for Myles Turner. The Bucks have already traded Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Turner is due $26.5 million in 2026-27, which would make the money work for Atlanta while shaving $1.2 million off its books.
Turner isn’t a perfect fit, but he does bring shot blocking and three-point range, and that gives the Hawks options. He could let them go five-out with Onyeka Okongwu, or even build a bigger look with Jalen Johnson.
At 30, Turner also doesn’t line up with a Bucks team that wants to develop Ke'el Ware as its center of the future. Atlanta, meanwhile, can’t lean on Landale alone as the only proven backup big behind OO.
Johnson’s own season also makes the Hawks’ frontcourt picture worth watching. He took major steps forward as a primary option, but his defense slipped badly.
His off-ball issues were already a concern, and this year they became more visible. He had trouble getting through screens, struggled on switches, and was late getting into help at the rim.
His rebounding remains a strength, but the defensive end still needs real growth.
Another route would be Sacramento, where Keon Ellis is the kind of player who checks a lot of boxes for Atlanta. The source notes that Murray may be the only good player left on the Kings, even though they’d have no interest in moving him.
Still, he played only 22 games last season, just signed a $140 million deal that runs through the next five seasons, and his three-point percentage has dropped every year. His perimeter defense and rim protection matter, but Sacramento’s broader situation makes the fit complicated.
If the Kings were open to the Risacher-Kispert package plus a first-round pick, Atlanta could land the long-term small forward it has been searching for. The Hawks’ spacing could also help Murray bounce back from the 27.7% he shot from deep last season.
Portland presents a different kind of option with Jrue Holiday. Atlanta already re-signed McCollum and drafted Kingston Flemings with the eighth overall pick, so another backcourt addition isn’t a major need.
Even so, Holiday would deepen the team for 2026-27, whether he came off the bench or started occasionally. He still defends at a high level, his basketball IQ remains a weapon, and he’s been a key piece on two Finals teams.
Portland’s spacing was rough last season, but Holiday still hit 37.8% of his threes on 6.8 attempts per game and posted a 32.1% AST%. Pairing him with Dyson Daniels would be a problem for opponents, and he only has two years left on his contract.
If the Hawks wanted to make a Holiday deal work, Buddy Hield’s salary could be folded in as well, which might make the Risacher-Kispert package more appealing. Kispert and Hield have both built their careers on shooting, and Portland could also see upside in Risacher as a young wing entering his age-21 season, especially if it believes it can turn him into a better shooter than he showed as a sophomore.
Atlanta doesn’t have to choose any of these paths, but it does have to solve the roster math. Carrying a spot open during the season is smart for deadline flexibility and injury insurance, and the Hawks can’t head into the year with 16 contracts. The trimming starts now.
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Hawks Are Running Out Of Room For What Could Come Next
The Hawks have spent the offseason stacking the board in ways that usually make life easier later, not harder. After re-signing several free agents and making additional trades and draft picks, Atlanta has put itself in a near-full roster situation with a salary cap sheet sitting just below the luxury tax line, a setup that reflects how aggressively the front office has tried to keep options open while still adding depth.
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That choice looks even more deliberate after the Lakers swung a deal for Walker Kessler, one of the big names circulating on the market. Atlanta could have joined the chase, but staying put means the Hawks avoid forcing a reshuffle of the roster and the cap picture, leaving Onyeka Okongwu, Henri Veesaar and Landale as the group tasked with holding the middle for now. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Kumingas Next Landing Spot Could Say Plenty About Atlanta
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Milwaukee has emerged as one of the places to monitor, especially as the Bucks work through a rebuilding stretch and look for upside plays that fit a broader reset. They have the kind of financial flexibility that could make a pursuit possible, and the conversation around Kuminga only gets more interesting if other roster moves open additional room, leaving Atlantas original call looking even more consequential in hindsight. [Read more 🡒]