Aaron Wiggins looking like key acquisition for Hawks after hot start

It only cost the Atlanta Hawks a pair of second-round picks to acquire Aaron Wiggins from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Two games into the season, Wiggins is looking like a massive bargain.

Wiggins scored 16 points and played the second-most minutes on the team in their 132-125 win over the Orlando Magic in the season opener. Friday, Wiggins put up 15 points before halftime and finished with 19 as the Hawks trounced the Charlotte Hornets, 128-81.

Aaron Wiggins was a shrewd pickup for Atlanta Hawks

The Thunder's roster crunch was a boon to the Hawks this summer. With the Thunder adding two first-round picks at No. 12 and No. 16, and big-money extensions for Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren starting this year, OKC needed to dump players and salaries.

First, the Hawks took on the three years and $25.9M remaining on Wiggins' deal, getting a solid backup guard. A career 38.1 percent three-point shooter, Wiggins averaged over 20 minutes per game for very good Thunder teams the last two seasons. Later in the summer, Atlanta traded for his Thunder teammate, Lu Dort, sacrificing three more second-rounders and 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher.

The moves were a huge upgrade for a Hawks team that had a very solid starting  five last season but struggled in bench minutes. Last season, they had to rely on players like Mouhamed Gueye, Gabe Vincent and Corey Kispert in the playoffs. Dort and Wiggins are both better players and better fits with Atlanta's fast-paced style, with Dort operating as the backup power forward so far this season.

Atlanta Hawks coach trusts reserves more this season

Taking Risacher first overall was a misfire, one that was compounded when the Hawks became far more competitive last year with a late-season run. The team arrived earlier than expected, and their top prospect wasn't playable in big games.

Now the Hawks have a deeper team, with this year's lottery pick, Kingston Flemings, able to come along more slowly as the ninth or 10th man. Wiggins has already won the trust of Hawks coach Quin Snyder, who has had success during his career using wing-heavy lineups that shoot a lot of threes.

The loaded Thunder should be able to do just fine without Wiggins. But their loss is a huge gain for the Hawks.