Hawks pick up unprotected 2026 first-round pick in draft night trade

I had to do a double take because this deal almost seems too good to be true. By moving back just 10 spots in the draft, the Hawks receive an unprotected first round pick next year — most favorable of New Orleans and Milwaukee, two teams that don’t project to be top teams in the league.

The Pelicans won just 21 games this past season, finishing with the fourth-worst record in the league. Of course, injuries played a huge factor in their downfall, but this is a team that hasn’t been able to stay healthy and is in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. Even if most of their guys do avoid the injury bug, there’s a good chance they finish inside the lottery this time next year.

The Bucks are also a team with a lot of question marks. Most expected them to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. That appears to be on the back-burner for now, but with Damian Lillard likely out for the season after suffering a torn Achilles in the playoffs, there’s no guarantee they’ll be very good either.

Additionally, if Milwaukee does start to seriously entertain offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Hawks now have a significant advantage in negotiations, given they can give the Bucks their own first round pick back.

This feels like an absolute home run for Onsi Saleh and the Hawks. Unprotected first round picks don’t get thrown around often, and to get one by just moving back 10 spots in the draft is highway robbery.