Back in 2022, the Atlanta Hawks made a strong effort to give Trae Young a co-star, and then General Manager Landry Fields believed Dejounte Murray was the right choice. Fields traded three first-round picks, including an unprotected 2025 first-round pick, to the San Antonio Spurs, who used this pick to draft defensive standout Carter Bryant 14th overall.
This gamble backfired, with Atlanta notching a mediocre 77-87 record over the two seasons the two guards led the team. Fields made amends with the fans by trading Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for a generational defender in Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., and two first-round picks (2025 & 2027).
The Hawks traded with New Orleans again this draft, dropping 10 spots in the draft to select Asa Newell, which helped reduce the loss of their 2025 and 2027 picks to the Spurs. In this deal, Onsi Saleh managed to secure the most favorable draft pick between the Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks in the loaded 2026 NBA Draft. This pick has been lauded as perhaps the best pick ever to be traded.
The Hawks are the true winners of the deal
With the front office's efforts to rebuild the franchise, a high draft pick in 2027 is unlikely as the Hawks become contenders in the Eastern Conference. Their improvements will result in the Spurs having a late first-round pick.
Giving the Spurs another top-15 pick would have been problematic for the league, including the Hawks. The Spurs already have one of the league's youngest rosters, and their supporting cast is developing at a moderate pace. Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, and Stephon Castle are all finding their roles around Victor Wembanyama, securing their roster spots for the future.
Newly extended De’Aaron Fox will also take the French phenom to another level, and Dylan Harper is expected to have a tremendous impact in his rookie year. It’s fair to say both franchises were successful during the 2025 free agency cycle, but for the Hawks, this season will be an excellent opportunity to redeem their brutal trade of 2022.
It’s only a matter of time before the Spurs join the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder as the top-3 perennial young contenders in the future. For Atlanta, this season is about proving themselves after years of struggling. The media believes the Hawks will finally break through, while the Spurs remain a Play-In Team.
ESPN predicts the Hawks will finish with a 47-35 record, earning the 4th seed. The Spurs are expected to finish 44-38 as the 9th seed in a stacked Western Conference. Both teams could exceed expectations, but the Hawks have a much easier path to championship contention in the injury-riddled Eastern Conference.
Their newfound success will offset the negative effects of the 2022 trade, but only time will tell who truly benefited from the deal. As of right now, the Hawks appear to be in the better position moving forward, especially after replacing Murray with Daniels for the future.