After a quiet trade deadline in 2024, the Atlanta Hawks made two critical moves on trade deadline day this season. They traded De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanović– two key players in their rotation. Atlanta received Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks, and two pick swaps from the Cleveland Cavaliers for Hunter. The Hawks sent Bogdanović and three second-round picks to the Los Angeles Clippers for Terance Mann and Bones Hyland. They ultimately waived Hyland and David Roddy after the trades were processed. This article breaks down why Atlanta made these moves and how the new players can impact the rotation moving forward.
Atlanta’s Front Office Sold High on Hunter
Hunter was the team’s third-leading scorer on the campaign, averaging a career-high 19 points per game in 28 minutes (career-low). Hunter also registered the highest usage (24%) in his six-year career. He is lining up to be a top Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Why would the Hawks trade the former University of Virginia forward when he was in the midst of a breakout season? The answers lie below the surface.
Hunter has two more years on his contract after this season, where he is owed over $47 million until he hits unrestricted free agency in 2027. The Hawks have more cap space and financial flexibility after this trade. Niang is under contract for the 2025-26 campaign at $8 million, and LeVert’s $16-million deal expires this offseason. This frees up space for Atlanta to explore the free-agent market.
While Hunter’s production off the bench was fantastic, he had not been a consistent offensive threat before this season. Over the last few campaigns, the Hawks have held onto John Collins, Clint Capela, and Bogdanović for too long. All three decreased in trade value as a result. However, General Manager Landry Fields took the opportunity to trade Hunter at his highest peak. The now Cleveland wing turns 28 years old in December. With a core of Trae Young (26), Jalen Johnson (22), Zaccharie Risacher (19) and Dyson Daniels (21), Hunter did not match the timeline well.
Niang and LeVert’s Fit in Atlanta
With Jonson out for the season, Niang has a shot to start at power forward for the rest of this season. He shoots 40% from beyond the arc for his career, giving the Hawks much-needed shooting in the starting lineup. Niang started against the Washington Wizards in his Hawks debut, cashing in four triples for 16 points with three steals. He played four years for Head Coach Quin Snyder on the Utah Jazz, so he knows what Snyder expects. When Johnson comes back next season, Niang moves to a backup power forward role unless Mouhamed Gueye takes his spot.
LeVert can operate as a sixth-man scorer for Atlanta, providing essential ball-handling and scoring for the second unit. However, it is hard to see him returning to the Hawks next season if he seeks a large contract.
Bogdanović Headed to Los Angeles
Bogdanović was a fan-favorite in Atlanta. Both he and Hunter were key contributors in the Hawks’ 2021 Eastern Conference Finals run. However, Bogdanović is struggling this season. He averages 10 points per game and shoots 30% from downtown- both career-worsts. Hunter overtook Bogdanović as the go-to guy off the bench, leaving him in a weird spot. Bogdanović turns 33 years of age in August and is owed over $33 million until the Clippers have a player option for the 2026-27 campaign. As the Hawks got younger, he did not fit what they were trying to do.
Mann comes to Atlanta in his sixth NBA season at 28 years old. He likely slots in behind Daniels and Risacher as a jack-of-all-trades wing off the bench. Mann plays physical defense on the perimeter, pressuring ball handlers to make them uncomfortable. Offensively, he is limited in self-creation but a willing shooter from deep.
Fields spoke on the importance of navigating aprons and how they affect team building after the trade. “For us right now, we have to maintain a lot of different options for the future. So just navigating that has been important.”
While Hunter and Bogdanović were key players for a handful of seasons, Atlanta will have more options moving forward as its core of Young, Johnson, Risacher, Daniels, and Onyeka Okongwu continue to grow.
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