The Atlanta Hawks are looking to turn a corner in the franchise in what is shaping up to be a weak Eastern Conference next season.
After making an improbable run to the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2020-21 season, the Hawks have been mired in NBA Play-In infamy, appearing in four consecutive tournaments including this season that just concluded.
In the past couple of seasons, the Hawks have made significant strides in acquiring talent to support their franchise star Trae Young, just not enough talent. With the first overall pick this past season, Atlanta selected French forward Zaccharie Risacher. The team has also seen significant leaps from veteran forward Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels, who won the Most Improved Player award.
With the landscape of the East looking pretty wide open due to significant injuries to Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and now Tyrese Haliburton, the Hawks are exploring ways to use the trade exception they received from sending away Dejounte Murray during this offseason, per insider Jake Fischer.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo greets Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young
Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
“Sources say Atlanta, meanwhile, is actively exploring ways to capitalize on a $25 million trade exception it still possesses as a vestige from last summer’s Dejounte Murray trade to New Orleans,” Fischer said on The Stein Line on June 21. “It’s a tool that puts the Hawks in play for some potential sign-and-trade scenarios once the offseason begins in earnest.”
This will make for an interesting summer for the Hawks who will have a chance to make some noise next season. Alongside Young and this young squad, a new star will elevate the team's performance in a conference that will see slippage from teams routinely at the top due to injuries, while other young teams such as the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons are looking to make their run.
Despite the trade exception, the Hawks cannot just sign a free agent from the upcoming class directly, but other options remain to get a big upgrade for the roster such as the sign-and-trade option.
And since the Hawks have been steadfast in keeping Young despite changes to the front office, all eyes will be on what the team in Atlanta does next this summer.