The Atlanta Hawks are staring down a roster that’s too bloated and too messy. Right now, the count sits at 17 players, yet the league mandates a strict 15 before the regular season tips off. That creates a brutal math problem for the front office in Atlanta. They can’t keep everyone. Two players have to go, and the choice is getting harder by the day.
The Roster Crunch Reality
Reports confirm the team needs to trim the list before training camp opens. Corey Kispert, Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard, Devin Carter, and Mouhamed Gueye are all part of the existing group. Each brings complications that make a trade sticky. Kispert holds an undesirable contract that might require Atlanta to attach draft picks just to move him. The team hates doing that, but they have no real choice. The math simply doesn’t work otherwise.
Hield is on a deal that expires soon, yet no one wants to pay him nearly $10 million this season. He couldn’t even crack the rotation last year. Carter and Nembhard have trade lockouts lasting until late August and mid-September. Gueye is out with a foot injury that will keep him sidelined until November or later. He’ll miss the entire preseason. Keeping him on the active list makes no sense for a team that needs to win now.
Fixing the Small Forward Spot
There’s a gaping hole at small forward that needs filling. The current depth chart lists Dyson Daniels at the spot, with Aaron Wiggins and Lu Dort behind him. Dort is capable of playing guard or forward, but he was nearly unusable for OKC during the postseason. Injuries hurt his production during the regular season. Relying on him to be the answer is a risky gamble for Atlanta.
The team should look to swap out a non-contributor like Kispert for a short-term solution. This wouldn’t hurt the cap sheet in the long run. A deal with the Denver Nuggets could bring in Cameron Johnson. Johnson gives the Hawks a reliable scorer who can play the position right away. The trade would also include Jericho Sims and a 2028 second-round pick. That move clears the logjam and adds real depth.
Why The Trade Is Necessary
Atlanta can’t afford to keep a player who doesn’t help the team win. Kispert is on a long-term deal that blocks progress. The Hawks need to be active in the trade market to fix their rotation. Smart acquisitions have already secured CJ McCollum and Jock Landale back on one-year contracts. They also added Aaron Wiggins, Lu Dort, and Devin Carter to improve depth. These steps show the front office wants a deeper team for the regular season.
The development of Kingston Flemings is key for the future, but the present needs help. The team is trending toward a three-guard lineup with Flemings, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Dyson Daniels. This supports a frontcourt of Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu. Without a solid small forward, the rotation will break down. The only way to fix it is to make a tough trade now. The roster must be cut down to 15 players before the season starts.
