This season’s trade deadline is one of the most exciting in NBA history. Big names such as Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, De’Aaron Fox, and Jimmy Butler, just to name a few, were relocated to new teams. Even the Atlanta Hawks, who are usually not active during the trade deadline, were in the mix. 

Acquisitions

De’Andre Hunter to the Cleveland Cavaliers

Hawks receive:

• Caris LeVert
• Georges Niang
• Three second-round picks
• Two pick swaps

Bogdan Bogdanović to the Los Angeles Clippers

Hawks receive:

• Terance Mann
• Bones Hyland
• 2025 second-round pick
• 2026 second-round pick
• 2027 second-round pick

Cody Zeller and 2028 second-round pick to the Houston Rockets

Hawks receive:

• Draft rights to Alpha Kaba

General Thoughts

De’Andre Hunter

Most fan discourse over social media has disliked the general trades, but I disagree. We traded one serviceable player (Hunter) for four. The positive of the Hunter trade is that his timeline did not fit the Hawks. With him being 27 years old, he was the oldest one out of the core. With that, the Hawks are banking on Jalen Johnson being the premier forward and all-star caliber player next to Trae, with Zaccharie Risacher being the second 3-and-D archetype wing. The Hawks also traded him at his highest value. While they did not get a first-round pick back, they did their best to ship him when he had a career year in scoring and staying healthy, which he often struggled with.

The Hawks got some much-needed depth with Caris Levert and Georges Niang. Due to injuries, both backup PG and PF were thin.

Bogdan Bogdanović

Another fan favorite is gone, and Bogie will be greatly missed. But the Hawks shipped him because of his old age, inefficient shooting with the Hawks, and large contract.

Terrance Mann and Bones Hyland are both serviceable players. Mann provides more defense at the guard/forward spot, which the Hawks sorely needed.

Cody Zeller & 2nd Round Pick

This is the yearly trade to stay under the luxury tax, getting Cody Zeller’s contract off the books with a second-round pick. 

While the Hawks may not have gotten a big name at the deadline, they increased their depth, which was sorely lacking due to injuries.