The Atlanta Hawks have a roster problem to sort out before the regular season, and it’s the kind that forces a front office to make uncomfortable choices.
Right now, Atlanta is carrying 17 players. That works in the offseason, but it won’t once the season begins, when the number has to be cut down to 15. The Hawks still have time, but they’re going to have to trim somewhere, and the options on the table aren’t all clean ones.
One path is moving Buddy Hield or Corey Kispert, though both would be difficult in different ways. Atlanta already guaranteed Hield’s contract for the season rather than waiving him and saving $6 million on its cap sheet. Maybe the Hawks had a trade lined up that never materialized, but that decision looks like the biggest front-office misstep of the summer.
Hield would become a little easier to move later, since his salary drops to $3.1 million guaranteed next season if he is waived by the first day after the 2027 NBA Draft. Kispert is a tougher case.
He is the only player on the roster who really fits the label of a bad contract, with $26 million guaranteed over the next two seasons. For a player whose value comes almost entirely from shooting and who is a very poor defender, that is a heavy number to carry.
Even if he’s still around when training camp opens, there is no guarantee he gets steady minutes.
Atlanta could also try to extract value from Georges Niang, Vit Krejci, and Mouhamed Gueye, since all three have some appeal around the league because of their small cap numbers, expiring deals, and rotation-level ability. But there are timing issues.
Carter cannot be traded until August 30th, and Nembhard cannot be traded until Sept. 19th. Gueye is eligible right now, though he is recovering from a foot injury that is expected to keep him out until at least October or November.
That kind of move would probably be more of a backup plan than a first choice. The Hawks would likely prefer to keep those players if possible, but they also need to get down to 15, and trading them could bring back some value, similar to the two second-round picks Atlanta got for moving Vit Krejci to the Blazers before the trade deadline.
If the Hawks can’t find a trade, then waiving someone becomes the fallback. That would be the least desirable route, but it’s still on the board.
Gueye’s non-guaranteed contract, his latest injury news, and the fact that Asa Newell and Zuby Ejiofor were recently drafted all make his spot less secure. Nembhard, meanwhile, is only set to make $2.1 million this season, so his number would be easy to waive.
Atlanta also has CJ McCollum, just drafted Kingston Flemings with the No. 8 overall pick, and acquired Carter, who could be an expiring contract if the Hawks decline his team option.
The most likely outcome is that some combination of Hield, Kispert, Carter, Nembhard, and Gueye ends up off the roster by the time the Hawks have to make their final cuts. Atlanta has time, but this isn’t a simple cleanup job.
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