The Atlanta Hawks didn’t chase the loudest offseason headline, and that’s the point. After a 46-win season and their first playoff appearance since 2023, they chose patience over a splashy reset, sticking with the idea that this group still has room to grow without skipping steps.
That approach produced a mixed bag of moves, but some clearly stand out more than others. At the top of the list is the trade for Aaron Wiggins from Oklahoma City, a deal that cost two first-round picks.
For Atlanta, the price was worth it. Wiggins brings wing defense, three-point shooting, and the kind of bench help the Hawks needed.
He should matter right away.
The draft haul also fits the same theme. Atlanta came away with three rookies after holding the No.
8, No. 23, and No. 57 picks, and the early signs from Summer League suggest Flemings and Ejiofor may be closer to contributing than expected. The Hawks want Flemings to become a key piece for the future, but that future may not be far off.
CJ McCollum, acquired from the Washington Wizards in the Trae Young trade, was another important addition. He gave the Hawks exactly what a young team needs: a steady veteran presence, halfcourt shot creation, and a real playoff presence. He was a hero for Atlanta in the postseason, and while $21 million is a lot for a guard who is soon to be 35, the Hawks should get value from his one-year deal.
Jock Landale comes next, even if the contract looks a little rich at $14 million. The center market was thin, and Atlanta didn’t have many clean options.
Landale had already fit well with the group after the trade deadline last season, and he offers floor spacing, physical play, and rebounding. He is not the long-term answer, but as Onyeka Okongwu’s backup, he should hold up fine this year.
Picking up the $2.4 million team option for Mouhamed Gueye was an easy decision. He still needs a more reliable three-point shot, or really a more complete offensive game, but his athleticism and defensive versatility make him useful at that price. He has improved every season in Atlanta, and the former second-round pick could end up with a much bigger role in 2026-2027.
Devin Carter is the swing-for-upside move. Sacramento had to shed money and sent him to Atlanta with a second-round pick attached.
Carter was once a lottery pick and has shown defensive potential, but injuries have been a problem and his offense has been close to nonexistent. Still, the Hawks gave up nothing to take the shot, so there’s real upside if they can unlock something.
The one move that looks the shakiest is the decision to guarantee Buddy Hield’s contract. The expectation was that Atlanta would waive him, clear $6 million in cap space, and create a roster spot.
Instead, the Hawks guaranteed his deal, and now Hield is set to make nearly $10 million next season despite not being part of the rotation after being traded to Atlanta. He could still be moved before the season starts, and with Atlanta needing to open a roster spot, he is the most obvious candidate.
If not, the Hawks are paying for a player who likely won’t see much time on the floor.
In Other News...
What The Hawks Really Preserved In The Jock Landale Deal
The Hawks move for Jock Landale came with more than just a new big man on the roster. As part of the broader contract picture around the deal, Landale, Jordan Clarkson and Charles Bassey all agreed to waive the implicit no-trade protection in their contracts, a small but meaningful detail that gives teams more flexibility down the road. For Atlanta, that kind of cleanup matters almost as much as the player acquisition itself, especially when every roster move has to be weighed against future cap maneuvering.
Landales agreement also fits into a wider league-wide run of contract housekeeping, with details emerging on players such as Trey Lyles, Jaylen Clark, Marcus Smart, Norman Powell, Ousmane Dieng, Jaxson Hayes, Josh Okogie and Jusuf Nurkic. One of the more interesting side notes for the Hawks is how little room the deal leaves in their non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which is the sort of constraint that can shape the rest of a teams offseason just as much as the headline move. [Read more 🡒]
Mouhamed Gueye Suddenly Faces A Real Hawks Rotation Threat
Mouhamed Gueye has given the Hawks something to like on the defensive end, where his length and activity have helped him carve out a place on the roster conversation. Atlanta also recently picked up his one-year team option, a sign that the organization still sees value in keeping him around, even as the bigger question remains whether his game can grow enough on the other side of the floor to make him more than a situational piece.
Now the pressure is coming from a different direction, with rookies Zuby Ejiofor and Henri Veesaar turning heads in summer league and adding more bodies to a frontcourt mix that is starting to feel crowded. For Gueye, the path forward is pretty clear: keep defending, cut down the mistakes, and show enough offensive progress to stay ahead of the newcomers, because if that part of his game stalls, Atlanta may start looking at its options sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]