The Atlanta Hawks have been one of the most active teams in the trade market this offseason. After making some noteworthy signings, the Hawks have quickly emerged as one of the best teams in the East heading into next season.
Led by an All-Star guard in Trae Young, Atlanta surrounded him with solid talent. With additions like Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kennard, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the Hawks added star power and necessary roster depth.
The Hawks will benefit from a mix of youth and veteran leadership. However, they remain one step short of being the title favorites in the East.
To help them cement their status as a title contender, we explore a potential trade idea with the New Orleans Pelicans. We examine a trade proposal centered around acquiring Trey Murphy III.
Proposed Trade Details
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Trey Murphy III, 2028 first-round pick
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Zaccharie Risacher, Kobe Bufkin, 2026 first-round pick
A trade of this magnitude involves both teams parting ways with first-round picks, although the 2028 first-rounder for the Hawks would be a top-15 protected one. With talented young players being traded, both teams stand to benefit from their development in the future.
Even if not favorites, the Hawks would undoubtedly be a top 5 team in the Eastern Conference next season. The addition of Trey Murphy III boosts both their roster strength and their offensive ceiling.
Murphy displayed significant growth over the past season. He was always a capable perimeter shooter, but injuries to key players on the roster forced him into a larger offensive role, which he embraced.
As a starter last season, the 25-year-old put up an average of 21.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 45.4% from the field and 36.1% from three-point range.
The young forward also showcased marked improvement on the defensive end, implementing his length and athleticism to guard multiple positions. He ended the season with an average of 1.1 steals per game as well. Unfortunately, his season was cut short after he sustained a shoulder injury in March.
On the Hawks, Murphy would likely join the starting lineup, potentially playing alongside Jalen Johnson in the frontcourt. With his versatility as a scorer and wing defender, the 25-year-old could develop into a more complete player alongside a point guard like Trae Young.
With capable players in virtually every position, the Hawks could go toe-to-toe with any team in the league.
Meanwhile, this trade has merit from a developmental outlook for the Pelicans.
New Orleans reportedly placed a very high asking price on Murphy. But considering what they get in return in this deal, they would be satisfied. The additions of Zaccharie Risacher and Kobe Bufkin, along with a first-round pick, would be meaningful to a rebuilding squad.
Risacher may find himself in a familiar position in New Orleans. His skill set is very similar to Murphy’s. Given the potential he presents, the Pelicans may consider developing him into their starting wing, allowing Herb Jones to contribute off the bench.
With an average of 12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds, he showed that although he was still raw, there was enough potential to become a key rotation player in due time.
Slotting in next to Zion Williamson and Yves Missi, Risacher joins a fairly young squad. His versatility on defense may be his biggest asset in this scenario, as the scoring opportunities will be limited.
Meanwhile, Kobe Bufkin also presents some upside as a young shooting guard. In his two seasons with the Hawks, he has displayed some potential as a scorer. Unfortunately, his repeated run-ins with injury have prevented him from establishing a consistent rhythm.
The sample size for Bufkin is too small for him to be considered an impact player. But considering Risacher’s development over the last season, the Pelicans could gain a lot of value from having him develop as a solid rotation piece.
Can The Hawks Win It All?
The East isn’t going to be as deep next season, especially with teams like the Celtics and the Pacers having depleted rosters due to injury woes. Only a handful of teams have what it takes to make it out of the East. If they remain healthy, the Hawks could be among them.
However, Atlanta is in an ideal situation at this stage primarily because they aren’t in a “win now” space. Although they can be competitive, the approach isn’t a championship-or-bust mentality, as pointed out by Porzingis.
This could be beneficial for the franchise over the long term, as the development of their young players could eventually pay dividends.
