PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION FOR FULL TRADE DETAILS
MAKE SURE TO LIKE AND FOLLOW! 🔥
Financial Situation — Pre Moves
Total Salary: $153,088,971
Cap Space: $22,645,758
1st Apron: $52,645,758
2nd Apron: $117,645,758
Pre-Draft Trades
Trade 1
Atlanta Hawks Receive:
Daniel Gafford
AJ Johnson
Dallas Mavericks Receive:
Onyeka Okongwu
Asa Newell
2029 CLE SRP
2030 NYK SRP
Pre-Draft Moves
Accept Jonathan Kuminga T0
Accept Zaccharie Risacher T0
Decline Mohammed Gueye T0
2026 NBA Draft — Order
1st Round
Indiana
Washington
Brooklyn
Sacramento
Utah
Dallas
Atlanta (from NOP)
Memphis
Milwaukee
Chicago
Portland
Golden State
Miami
Oklahoma City (from PHI)
Oklahoma City (from LAC)
Charlotte
San Antonio (from ATL)
Memphis (from ORL)
Charlotte (from PHX)
Toronto
Denver
Atlanta (from CLE)
Detroit (from MIN)
Philadelphia (from HOU)
Los Angeles (LAL)
New York
Boston
Minnesota (from DET)
Cleveland (from SAS)
Dallas (from OKC)
Draft Selections
#7: Keaton Wagler
#22: Meleek Thomas
#57: Mouhammed Faye
Post-Draft Trades
Trade 1 (3-Team Deal)
Atlanta Hawks Receive:
Quentin Grimes (S&T)
DaRon Holmes II
2026 DEN FRP (Koa Peat)
2032 SRP
Philadelphia 76ers Receive:
CJ McCollum
Jonas Valanciunas
2030 FRP Swap (Best of ATL)
Denver Nuggets Receive:
Corey Kispert
Buddy Hield
Adem Boner
Free Agency Moves
Sign Dean Wade — $27M / 3 Years (MLE)
Sign Thomas Bryant — $19.1M / 3 Years (MLE)
Re-sign Jock Landale — $24.1M / 3 Years (Bird)
Re-sign Keaton Wallace — $Two-Way / 1 Year (RFA)
S&T Quentin Grimes — $106M / 4 Years (Bird)
S&T CJ McCollum — $48M / 3 Years (Traded to PHI)
Financial Situation — Post Moves
Total Salary: $196,948,356
Cap Space: -$21,213,627
1st Apron: $8,786,373
2nd Apron: $73,786,373
Team Depth Chart
PG: Dyson Daniels, Keaton Wallace SG: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Quentin Grimes, Meleek Thomas SF: Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, Aj Johnson PF: Jonathan Kuminga, Dean Wade, Zeke Nnaji C: Daniel Gafford, Jock Landale, Thomas Bryant, DaRon Holmes II
Reasonings
Atlanta Hawks
After the push, late in the season, getting 10 wins and a row, Atlanta’s entire offseason is about retooling around a younger, longer, more versatile core while staying competitive in the East. The Hawks trade Onyeka Okongwu in favor of Daniel Gafford, who offers much needed rim protection, and fits better next to ball dominant wings such as Jalen Johnson and Jonathan Kuminga.
Drafting Keaton Wagler (#7) and acquiring Meleek Thomas (#22) from the Denver trade, boosts the wing and guard spots and creates potential for a future with good depth. Mean while Mouhammed Faye is a low risk developmental big. They bring back Zaccharie Risacher and accepting Kuminga’s T0 signals keeping him as an athletic big who can be utilized in the P&R.
Atlanta offer Philadelphia veteran leadship in return for Quentin Grimes who the 76ers can't bring back realistically. Alongside the draft capital, they also bring in DaRon Holmes and Zeke for Kispert and Hield who both are fringe players for Atlanta. Grimes gives the Hawks a true two way guard who fits modern playoff basketball.
Financially, Atlanta does go over the cap but avoids the first and second apron, keeping the team safe, and having long term flexibility. There squad is now built with: defense, athleticism, and versatility across all five positions.
Dallas Mavericks
Dallas will get frontcourt skill and defensive versatility by acquiring Onyeka Okongwu. OO is a modern day big with the ability to shoot the three. Pairing him with their existing stars gives the Mavericks a switchable big who can guard in space, rebound, and finish efficiently without needing high usage.
Getting rid of Gafford isn't to big of an issue as by Okongwu’s higher defensive ceiling and him being younger, the Mavs also have Derick Lively. Asa Newell adds a developmental forward, while the second round picks help Dallas maintain draft capital after previous failed win now moves. This trade helps make Dallas a tad bit more competitive but more importantly make there squad fit there timeline better and fix area's which need improvement.
76ers
Philadelphia have no leverage. There financial situation makes it near impossible to bring Quetin back on a realistic contract. Due to this Atlanta take advantage and make a clear win now push adding Grimes. For Philly CJ McCollum gives the Sixers a proven shot creator who can ease offensive pressure in the playoffs, while Jonas Valanciunas provides much needed security in the center rotation with physicality, rebounding, interior scoring and the potential to take his game to the 3rd level aka the 3 point line.
The FRP swap is a low risk gamble and can only benefit Philly. Philly sacrifices some youth for immediate reliability, depth, and veterans that can guide the young squad in the post season, as it's much needed as their recent playoff exits have exposed.
Nuggets
Denver needs spacing, shooting, and rotation depth around Nikola Jokic. Corey Kispert and Buddy Hield dramatically improve their ability in making 3's, making life easier for their offense and reducing the burden on Jokic and Murray.
While losing a first rounder in the 2026 class hurts, Denver is prioritizing in maximizing their championship window. The incoming shooters fit right into their system and address one of the few weaknesses that has shown up in high level playoff matchups.
Atlanta Hawks Season Goals:
Top 6 Seed
Push For Conference Finals
Have young players develop as they build for a future dynasty
Get Dyson Daniels a 3pt shooting coach
Make Jalen Johnson an All Nba level player
Final Note
Overall these moves, set the Atlanta Hawks in a great position post Trae Young. They know reposition themselves as a younger, more athletic, and defensively flexible team without entering a full rebuild. The trades ensured a depthy squad ready for the playoffs fixing issues such as rim protection, and the squad now have long term control of there future. The deals have pushed the Hawks over the cap space, but they remain below the first and second aprons. Dallas Mavericks lean into a new era, by upgrading their frontcourt with a younger, switchable big, to better support their star driven offense. Philly manage to get something for Grimes, who may as well have left them anyway in getting a proven veteran who can score and big depth. Finally, the Denver Nuggets focus on optimizing their championship window by enhancing spacing, shooting, and rotation depth. They also gain A.Boner who is a potential long term big for there squad at the cost of a first and second round pick.
Follow ✅, Like👍 & Flame🔥 for weekly detailed content and stay locked in for what’s coming next.
Posted by, your Fanspo Creator 👋
