It wasn't long ago that the Atlanta Hawks' future seemed completely derailed by the Dejounte Murray trade. The first-round picks they gave up to get him, in particular, were viewed as some of the most valuable around the league. After this offseason, though, the Hawks have completely turned the tables on their entire outlook.
Look no further than Sam Quinn'sdive into dealt-away first-round picks for CBS Sports. He ranked 63 selections owed to other teams based on current value. This is where Atlanta's remaining obligations to San Antonio ranked:
No. 44: 2026 first-round swap
No. 25: 2027 first-round pick
Think about where both of these draft obligations would have been placed last year. At least one would’ve cracked the top 10. Having neither ranked higher than No. 25 overall is a caps-lock FEAT.
This isn’t to say the Hawks have emerged from this move unscathed. Those picks retain plenty of upside for the Spurs when you consider the uncertainty surrounding Trae Young’s future.
Atlanta has nevertheless succeeded in reversing most of the potential damage inflicted by a trade from 2022 that was supposed to be hanging over their heads to this day—and beyond.
Atlanta’s offseason has diminished the value of its future draft picks
Not everyone is high on the offseason moves made by the Hawks. Most are. Even when factoring in health concerns for Kristaps Porzingis, Atlanta has increased the spacing and defensive versatility around its Trae Young-Jalen Johnson duo with KP, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard.
Secondary ball-handling and playmaking remains a potential issue, particularly if Kobe Bufkin isn’t ready to sponge up regular minutes. But Kennard, NAW, and Johnson provide just enough for the offense to get by. We can’t discount improvement or expanded usage for Dyson Daniels or Zaccharie Risacher, either.
So long as Atlanta remains relatively healthy, it should be a force in the borderline-barren Eastern Conference. That torpedoes the value of its 2026 first-rounder by default. What once looked like a lottery pick now seems destined to land in the late-teens, if not inside the bottom 10.
Things could get thornier in 2027 if this Young situation continues to play out awkwardly. For all his flaws, the Hawks cannot trade him or lose him for nothing in 2026 free agency (player option), and get better. Thanks to a series of other moves, though, they have protected themselves against the worst-possible scenario.
The Hawks have draft picks more valuable than what they initially traded
For argument’s sake, let’s assume both this year and next year go sideways, and Atlanta ends up shipping out lottery picks to San Antonio. That is equal parts not ideal, and no longer a big deal.
Bagging the most favorable first-round pick from the New Orleans Pelicans or Milwaukee Bucks in 2027 as part of the second Murray trade now looks like a stroke of brilliance. Between the Pelicans’ questionable direction and the Giannis Antetokounmpo noise, the Hawks are probably getting a lottery pick in that draft anyway.
They were also just able to use the other first-rounder acquired in the Murray-to-New Orleans deal to net a pick from the Pelicans or Bucks next summer, too. This selection will once again be the more favorable of both, and will almost certainly be in the lottery, courtesy of New Orleans’ awful offseason.
Scenarios still exist in which the Hawks forfeit a high first or two when closing out the first Murray trade. It would be a stretch to say that doesn’t matter. But it matters a whole lot less than this time last year.