Trae Young is currently in limbo with a $49 million player option for next season, over which the Hawks have some indirect control.
No, they don't control this option, but their reluctance to give him a reprieve allows them to switch to budding star Jalen Johnson, who has emerged as the team's best player.
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Essentially, the Hawks have to question whether Young is worthy of his salary or if they can make better use of it by committing to Johnson and Dyson Daniels, who was the most improved player last season.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker's evolution hasn't made things any easier, as he has broken out this season, averaging 20.3 points while serving as a defensive playmaker alongside Daniels.
So what should the Hawks do? Let's figure it out:
Forward Jalen Johnson has changed the Hawks' priorities. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
(Associated Press)
Identifying needs and building a plan
So what type of player should the Hawks target if Young were to leave? And apparently, the Hawks are ready to facilitate this process on their own.
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The need for a point guard will still be there, but the player will need significant off-ball opportunities to optimize the space around Johnson.
Given the big contract, it also allows Atlanta to push for more bench depth, preferably prioritizing wing depth and 3-point shooting.
Could the Hawks play Chicago's Ayo Dosunmu as a third guard or rely on Dallas Mavericks' Najee Marshall?
Both would be improvements that could help them reach the postseason. It may seem like the Hawks are thinking small, and it's clear that the compensation level should be well beyond both Dosunmu and Marshall, but the message that Atlanta doesn't need a heliocentric leader remains firmly in place.
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Perhaps then it will become a matter of direction rather than identifying specific players.
Assuming Johnson, Alexander-Walker and Daniels are the current core and the asset from the Pelicans' pick is added to that pool, the Hawks can focus on the summer of 2026 and beyond rather than chasing a playoff spot this year.
Would they instead be willing to trade Young for a few expiring contracts and draft picks, throwing the can down the road for next year?
It's a difficult balance, especially considering how well Johnson and Alexander-Walker have performed this season.
But this is where the potential sacrifice lies.
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While there is no guarantee that Alexander-Walker will ever have a season like this again, Johnson is confident he will develop even further. If the Hawks view the summer of 2026 as a turning point, they may be willing to risk the Alexander-Walker season being a one-off and not capitalizing on it for the sake of the long term.
Of course, this leaves some open questions regarding one of their children.
Zakkari Risaheru's idea of ​​leaving is strange.
It was reported that the Hawks were willing to move on from Zakkari Risaker, the top pick in last year's draft, due to his lack of development.
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Firstly, there is no doubt that the 6ft 9in wing has not been further developed. If anything, he has regressed and is showing some troubling signs of being an NBA enigma.
(Riesacher averages just 2.9 rebounds per game, isn't a playmaker and has only modest scoring ability, but has the physical tools to carry teams for what could be a decade.)
Risacher leaving makes sense if the Hawks are trying to win now. But in reality, any attempt to do so would be awkward if Young felt his departure was imminent.
It would be even more awkward if they acquired a player like Anthony Davis, who they are clearly interested in, and he becomes unavailable due to immediate injuries – something they need to take into account given his history.
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Finally, passing up Risaker in a deal when his value is arguably minimal is never a smart business move.
You don't buy at $9, sell at $4.25 and consider yourself a winner.
His situation may be disappointing for the Hawks, but if they decide to go the long-term route, they will have much more incentive to hang on to him until at least the summer.
Risaker can work with Johnson, and he should be able to work with the new super rookie if Atlanta ends up getting a high pick through New Orleans.
There's just no rush to push Risacher out the door.
Which direction should they choose?
It's easy to stand outside the window and make calls on behalf of others, but logic requires patience.
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Johnson turned 24 just 11 days ago, so there's little room here to build without wasting his prime years.
Leaving Young and dealing him to teams in dire need of a star could be the right move, as Atlanta secures either young players who have several years left on their rookie deals or draft equity as part of their compensation package.
Given that Atlanta enjoys big value on the contracts of Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu (the duo is making just $30.1 million this year while combining for over 36 points and 10 rebounds per game), they're also in no rush to move on from them.
In reality, the Hawks have a fairly clean record, a stable young player situation, and valuable picks in a strong draft.
If that's not enough to at least explore the long-term prospects this summer, nothing will.
