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The Atlanta Hawks turned their season around in impressive fashion following the Feb. 5 deadline.
While some probably weren’t thrilled when Atlanta traded Trae Young to the Washington Wizards for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert, it was a move that ultimately helped the franchise accelerate up the Eastern Conference standings and secure a postseason bid.
Are the Hawks prepared to take the next step in 2026-27 by adding the best win-now asset on the trade market? Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus thinks so, suggesting that Atlanta could swap an ex-Golden State Warriors splash brother (Buddy Hield, for a short period) for a 31-year-old Milwaukee Bucks superstar in a sleeper trade.
“The price for (Giannis) Antetokounmpo may be steep, including No. 8 in the upcoming draft and an unprotected 2029 selection, but Atlanta needs to beat out several competing offers,” Pincus wrote Monday. “Fighting for top-11 pick protection in 2029 might be wise, but not if it scuttles a deal.”
“As for players, the Hawks give up the 2024 No. 1 overall pick in (Zaccharie) Risacher, a key deadline acquisition in (Jonathan) Kuminga, a shooting reserve in (Corey) Kispert, and (Buddy) Hield's flexible contract with only $3 million guaranteed for 2026-27. The deal must be agreed to before the draft so that the Hawks can pick on the Bucks' behalf.
“After the NBA's moratorium on July 6, the trade is completed, with the Hawks triggering a first-apron hard cap of about $200.5 million by using the expanded traded-player exception involving Kuminga, Kispert, and Risacher to acquire Antetokounmpo and Jackson. The franchise receives a new standard traded player exception for the guaranteed portion of Hield's contract.”
Pincus’ trade concept would work out perfectly for the Hawks, as it would land them a physically imposing, do-it-all 6-foot-11 forward while allowing them to retain an elite defender in Dyson Daniels, an evolving wing in Jalen Johnson, and a dependable low-post weapon in Onyeka Okongwu.
Would a core consisting of Johnson, Daniels, McCollum (if he re-signs with the Hawks), Okongwu, and Antetokounmpo be enough to help Atlanta make a serious title push next season?
It would certainly increase their odds of doing so. However, the NBA champion New York Knicks aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, and the Detroit Pistons (who finished the regular season with the best record in the Eastern Conference) are expected to come back strong after a disappointing second-round playoff exit.
Still, adding Antetokounmpo would go a long way toward contending for the Larry O’Brien trophy.
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