The Atlanta Hawks have moved on from Devin Carter, waiving the former lottery pick on Friday, Sept. 11 as teams around the NBA keep tightening up their rosters ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported the decision, ending Carter’s brief stay in Atlanta after he arrived there in a summer trade. Carter, 24, was the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, a selection that came before players such as Jared McCain, Jaylon Tyson, Ajay Mitchell, Jaylen Wells and other rotation pieces.
Carter’s NBA track has been uneven but not empty. In his rookie season in 2024-25, the former Providence standout put up 3.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 37% from the field and 29.5% from 3-point range. He took a step forward in 2025-26, averaging 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 18.4 minutes over 38 games with Sacramento, while shooting 41.4% from the field and 26.3% from deep.
Atlanta acquired Carter after his second NBA season in a deal that also sent a 2033 second-round draft pick from Sacramento to the Hawks in exchange for the draft rights to Alpha Kaba, the No. 60 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
That was one of several offseason swings for Atlanta. The Hawks also traded for Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Ryan Nembhard, while sending out former top pick Zaccharie Risacher.
The timing of Carter’s release makes sense for a Hawks team that looks set to be competitive again in 2026-27 after reaching the postseason last year. There simply may not be many developmental minutes available for a player still trying to sort through his game.
Even so, Carter remains an interesting 24-year-old gamble for a team with more patience and less pressure. After three seasons at Providence, he entered the 2024 NBA Draft lottery off a junior year that saw him average 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals and a block per game.
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Buddy Hield's Hawks Future May Hinge On A Bigger Plan
The Hawks are down to 16 players after waiving Devin Carter, which means one more move is coming soon to get to the 15-man limit. That has put a spotlight on Buddy Hield, whose place on the roster remains unsettled as Atlanta sorts through the final steps of its summer roster build.
Hields value may have less to do with what he does on the floor right now and more to do with what his deal could do later. His contract gives Atlanta another lever if the front office decides to chase a star to put alongside Jalen Johnson, and for the moment the Hawks have not settled on whether Hield is part of the long-term plan or a strategic piece to hold onto. [Read more 🡒]