The Jaylen Brown sweepstakes turned into one of the offseason’s biggest shocks, but Atlanta still made the right call by staying out of it.
Boston’s decision to send Brown to Philadelphia for Paul George and two first-round picks stunned the league, especially after reports that the Celtics wanted blue-chip talent plus 3-4 draft picks. Brown had been in Boston since 2016, won the 2024 Finals MVP, and finished sixth in MVP voting this past season, so this was no minor shake-up.
The Hawks had been floated as a possible landing spot because Brown is an Atlanta native, but the fit never really made much basketball sense. Atlanta has made it clear it wants to keep building organically and lean on internal development, and a move like this would have gone against that approach.
Even with the price coming in lower than expected, the Hawks were never in a position to make the kind of offer Boston accepted. They do not have a high-salary piece they’d be eager to move, which would have left them cobbling together a package built around Buddy Hield, Corey Kispert, Zaccharie Risacher, and possibly a sign-and-trade involving Jonathan Kuminga, along with draft picks.
That kind of deal would have been a swing, but not necessarily a transformational one. As Onsi Saleh has said repeatedly this offseason, Atlanta is not one player away. And even if the Hawks had kept their “core four” of Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, and Onyeka Okongwu intact, adding Brown still would not have pushed them into the same tier as the Knicks, Spurs, or Thunder, the teams viewed as title favorites next season.
There is no question the Eastern Conference has changed fast. The Knicks are the defending champs, even with Mitchell Robinson leaving for Boston, and New York is expected to remain the favorite.
Boston will still be good, just not as good. Toronto brought in Kawhi Leonard.
Miami landed Giannis Antetokounmpo. Brown is now in Philadelphia.
The Pacers will get Tyrese Haliburton back, along with Ivica Zubac.
So yes, there is an argument that Atlanta could have taken a cheaper swing just to keep from slipping too far behind. But even with that reality hanging over the conference, the Hawks were right to pass.
Instead, Atlanta has stuck to its plan: keep its own free agents, make three draft picks, and add around the edges with trades for Aaron Wiggins and Devin Carter.
That might not generate much noise, and the Hawks may end up as the forgotten team in the East next season. But forgotten is not the same as finished. With the right jumps from their top players and better production from the bench, they still have a path to the top six.
There will be some frustration that Atlanta has not made a splashier move yet. Still, the bigger picture is clear: the Hawks are handling this the right way, and even at a lower-than-expected price, Brown was not the move to make.
In Other News...
Hawks Linked To A Pelicans Wing Fans Have Been Waiting For
The Hawks have spent much of the offseason on the quieter side, focusing on keeping their own free agents in place and making smaller moves while still keeping an eye on the trade market. One name tied to that search is a Pelicans wing who has drawn interest around the league, with Hoopshypes Michael Scotto reporting Atlanta is among several teams monitoring the situation as New Orleans weighs a player who has become one of its more valuable trade assets.
For Atlanta, the appeal is obvious. The Hawks could still use another impact wing, and the league-wide interest only adds to the challenge of striking on a deal before another team gets there first. Nothing has materialized yet, and New Orleans has not moved the player despite the attention, but the Hawks remain in the conversation as they continue to balance present needs with a roster that may force some decisions down the road. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Kumingas Next Landing Spot Could Say Plenty About Atlanta
Jonathan Kumingas market is already starting to take shape, and the way it develops could reflect plenty on what Atlanta decided by passing on his team option. Once that option was declined, Kuminga entered unrestricted free agency and became one of the more interesting young names on the board, a player whose athleticism and upside still give teams plenty to weigh even if the fit has to be sorted out carefully.
Milwaukee has emerged as one place to watch, with its rebuilding posture leaving room to chase talent that might still be on the rise rather than fully established. The Bucks also have possible financial flexibility through a traded player exception from an earlier deal, which gives them a path to explore if they decide Kuminga is worth the effort, though nothing has been finalized and the rest of the market could still shift his next stop. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers May Have One Last Path To Former Hawks Wing
Jonathan Kuminga is back on the market again after Atlanta declined his $24.3 million team option, and the former Hawks wing is still looking for the kind of opportunity that can give him a clearer path forward. The latest team tied to him is the Lakers, who have shown interest in adding another athletic forward but do not currently have the cap space to make a straightforward move.
Los Angeles could open room if it chooses to get creative with Jarred Vanderbilt's contract, which would create enough flexibility to chase Kuminga. Even then, the fit is far from simple, and the market around him is not expected to be quiet for long, with several other teams likely to linger if the Lakers cannot clear the space they need. [Read more 🡒]