Report indicates the Hawks are finally looking to spend money

The Hawks have been reluctant to spend money under Tony Ressler, despite having plenty of incentive to do so.

Not only does the club have a star to build around in Trae Young, but the Hawks have had plenty of opportunities to use their mid-level and trade exceptions to upgrade the roster and have chosen not to. Fortunately, that seems to be a thing of the past.

Jake Fischer of the Stein Line wrote in his newsletter on Saturday that Atlanta is “actively exploring ways to capitalize on a $25 million trade exception it still possesses.”

This is an option after the Hawks traded Dejounte Murray, and Fischer noted that it makes the club’s GM Onsi Saleh a threat to execute a sign-and-trade acquisition “once the offseason begins in earnest.”

The Hawks have plenty of capital to improve this roster. Not only do they have the mid-level and trade exceptions at their disposal, but Saleh is also armed with two first-round picks in Wednesday’s NBA Draft, one being in the lottery.

The core of Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, and Onyeka Okongwu is enough to get excited about, but it’ll be all for not if the Hawks don’t improve the roster.

The Eastern Conference is wide open, and if Ressler doesn’t see now as the opportunity to finally get out of the play-in tournament, I’m afraid it’ll never happen.

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