The Atlanta Hawks made a move Sunday that didn’t get nearly the attention it probably deserved. They traded the No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team deal that landed them Lu Dort from the Oklahoma City Thunder. And now? They’ve got 17 players on the roster, which is two more than the NBA allows for the regular season.
So someone’s getting cut. Or traded. Or waived. And the Hawks front office has some decisions to make before the season tips off.
NBA insider John Hollinger of The Athletic broke down the likely casualties. Buddy Hield is the obvious name — he’s still on the books for $9 million but doesn’t seem to be part of Atlanta’s plans at all. Then there’s Devin Carter, who came over in a salary dump from the Sacramento Kings, and forward Mo Gueye, who’s on a non-guaranteed deal but just had foot surgery and is out three to four months.
Who Actually Stays?
Gueye is interesting here. The Hawks aren’t going to move on from him just because he’s hurt. That’d be weird given he played rotation minutes last season and is supposed to be part of their future. You don’t cut a guy you invested development time in over a broken foot. So he’s probably safe, even if his paycheck isn’t locked in.
Hield and Carter though? That’s where it gets dicey. Hield’s $9 million salary makes him a potential trade chip or a waiver candidate if no one bites. But finding a trade partner for a guy making that much who isn’t in your rotation isn’t simple. Carter might be more likely to get moved in a smaller deal or just released.
Atlanta didn’t make huge splashes this summer, but they quietly loaded up on wings. They got Dort, they added Aaron Wiggins from the Thunder in a separate deal, and they drafted Kingston Flemings with the No. 8 pick last month. That’s three more bodies to fit into a roster that already had too many guys.
The Hawks made the playoffs last year but nobody’s acting like they’re contenders. This roster feels like it’s in flux — a bunch of versatile players who can guard multiple positions but not a lot of star power outside of Trae Young. The front office clearly thinks flexibility matters more than getting attached to any one guy.
By the time opening night rolls around, this team could look pretty different. Someone’s getting shown the door. The only question is who.
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