The Atlanta Hawks enter the 2025 nba draft period with an $11 million trade exception and three 2026 NBA Draft picks, giving them multiple ways to improve a bench that needs help. After going 20-6 after the All-Star Break, the Hawks finished 6th in the Eastern Conference and still have room to add a rotation piece this offseason.
Atlanta Hawks Offseason Flexibility
That flexibility starts with the exception and the draft capital. Atlanta owns picks at No. 8, No. 23 and No. 57 in the 2026 NBA Draft, a package that gives the front office options if it wants to balance short-term help with longer-term depth.
Quin Snyder’s offense leans on passing and three-point shooting, so the cleanest use of the exception points toward a player who can fit without forcing a broader reset. The Hawks do not have to spend it, but the exception can be used to bring in a bench piece if the right player becomes available.
Sam Hauser Fits The Exception
One name that fits the math is Sam Hauser. He has a $10 million salary for next season, and if the Celtics are looking to move him, he fits into Atlanta’s exception. That makes him a straightforward trade target for a team trying to add shooting without pushing past the number it already has in hand.
Hauser’s profile lines up with the kind of player Atlanta can chase this summer: a shooter on a manageable number who can slide into a reserve role. The Hawks do not need a major roster overhaul after a 20-6 run, but their bench remains the place where one move could matter most.
Gradey Dick Adds Another Path
Gradey Dick gives the Hawks another shooting option if Toronto is willing to deal him. He shot 30% from three this season, but the past two seasons offer better evidence of what he can do from deep, with marks of 36.5% and 35% from three in those years.
“To stick with the theme of adding shooters, the Hawks could take a flier on Gradey Dick if the Raptors are looking to move him.”
That leaves Atlanta with a clear offseason choice: use the exception on a bench upgrade, hold the money for a better fit later, or pair that flexibility with its three draft picks. The roster already proved it could win at a high rate after the break; the next step is turning that run into deeper scoring support behind the top group.
