Hawks adjusted their cap space after the initial round of free agency
After the Atlanta Hawks’ two most important summer assignments, the dust has cleared.
The NBA Draft began almost a week ago, following the dramatic period during which Alex Sarr effectively declared his disinterest in playing in Atlanta. After selecting Zaccharie Risacher, Landry Fields immediately shifted his attention to the biggest offseason domino.
Fields, an inexperienced general manager, had to decide between two All-Stars to base his roster on with the No. 1 overall pick. Trae Young or Dejounte Murray have to be traded by the Hawks.
It was impossible for even the most pessimistic supporters to have expected how miserably the pair performed. The sophisticated stats and the eye test both support the notion that the Hawks were a bad basketball team when Young and Murray were together.
Despite the fact that both are excellent players individually and have the ability to guide a strong team to the postseason, the Hawks were unable to come back. In the end, Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., E.J. Liddell, a 2025 first-round selection (via Lakers), and a 2027 first-round pick (least favorable of Milwaukee/New Orleans) were acquired by Landry Fields in return for sending Murray to New Orleans.
The team has already over the salary cap for 2024–2025, however this is usual in a league with a soft or flex cap. The tax and the first and second aprons are the figures to watch, since they determine roster flexibility.
The Hawks may be subject to the luxury tax, but this ownership group has made every effort to avoid having to pay the tax. I wouldn’t expect it to alter overnight because the Hawks have a history of using the tax-paying teams to slip under the tax line in order to obtain luxury tax redistribute money.
Though it’s a pipe dream, the Hawks might sign a free agent under the mid-level exception.
