NBA Trades: 1 potential last-minute deal to shake up all 30 NBA teams
By Cal Durrett
The beginning of the NBA regular season is right around the corner and teams will soon start whittling down their rosters. However, there is still time for teams to make last-minute deals to bolster their rosters in hopes of either making the playoffs or put themselves in position to end up with the number one overall pick.
But which deal makes sense for each team? Next, we will take a look at one potential trade for every NBA team that could help them before the start of the regular season.
Hawks-Spurs trade
NBA Trades: Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks find themselves in an awkward spot. They aren't expected to make the playoffs or even the play-in tournament, but they also don't own their first-round pick thanks to the Dejounte Murray trade with the San Antonio Spurs back in the summer of 2021.
Not only do they owe the Spurs an unprotected 2025 first but a pick swap in 2026 and another unprotected pick in 2027. That makes it harder for them to rebuild, unless they come to terms with the Spurs on a new deal that could be mutually beneficial.
Atlanta won't bottom out since they don't want to give up a high lottery pick to San Antonio, while San Antonio doesn't want to give up Atlanta's first on the chance that the Hawks are worse than expected. However, there could be middle ground with Atlanta offering San Antonio two 2025 first round picks via the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings in exchange for their own pick-back.
That would give San Antonio two firsts for the price of one, with both the Lakers and Kings having picked in the teens in last year's draft. If they are in a similar spot in the 2025 draft, then giving up the Hawks pick, which may not be a top five pick if the Spurs keep it, makes sense.
On the other hand, for the Hawks, getting their pick back would enable them to take the foot off the gas and potentially tank in 2025 if and when the play-in gets out of reach. Adding another top five pick would not only help them in the short term, given how stacked the 2025 draft is but in the long term if they decide to move star Trae Young and do a full rebuild.