Hawks Could Flip Draft Pick for Pelicans Wing in Active Trade Talks

The Atlanta Hawks are sitting on the eighth pick in Tuesday night’s NBA draft and they might not keep it long. According to multiple reports, the team is having active conversations with the New Orleans Pelicans about sending that pick back to New Orleans in exchange for wing Trey Murphy III.

This wouldn’t be the first time these two teams hashed out a deal. The Hawks and Pelicans have done business each of the last two offseasons. First Atlanta shipped out Dejounte Murray and got back Dyson Daniels, who went on to win Most Improved Player. Then last year they moved a pick to get the eighth selection they’re sitting on now. So there’s a working relationship here, and it seems like both front offices aren’t afraid to pick up the phone.

What Atlanta Gets in Murphy

Murphy is 24 years old and already one of the more versatile two-way wings in the league. He averaged 14.8 points per game last season and shot 38 percent from three. For a Hawks team that’s been trying to build out its wing depth around Trae Young and Jalen Johnson, Murphy fits the profile. He’s big, he can defend multiple positions and he doesn’t need the ball in his hands to be effective.

The tricky part is what this means for Zaccharie Risacher. The Hawks took the French forward first overall last year and he’s had an up and down rookie season. Adding Murphy would crowd the wing rotation even more. Risacher has shown flashes but consistency has been a problem. It’s worth wondering if Atlanta is already thinking about a different long-term fit on the wing.

New Orleans Wants In on the Top 10

On the other side, the Pelicans are trying to jump up from wherever they’re picking to grab one of three prospects: Nate Ament, Morez Johnson Jr. or Brayden Burries. That’s according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, who reported the Pelicans have been trying to get inside the top 10 all week.

New Orleans had a rough 2025-26 season and they’re clearly looking to restock. Zion Williamson’s availability is always a question. Brandon Ingram’s future is uncertain. Even if they like their core on paper, they need younger legs and cheaper contracts. Murphy is still on a rookie-scale deal, but flipping him for a top-10 pick lets them start a new rookie clock and maybe find a guy who fits their timeline better.

The draft starts at 8 pm ET. We should know pretty quickly whether this deal actually happens or if it’s just another round of smoke between two teams that keep finding reasons to trade.