Five scenarios for the Hawks’ star guards and their No. 1 pick

Between the 2024 NBA Draft and any potential trades, the Atlanta Hawks have more options this summer than 29 other teams. Already facing the decision of whether to trade one of their starting guards, Dejounte Murray or Trae Young, the Hawks unexpectedly climbed to the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft lottery last month.

In addition to giving Atlanta its choice of prospects in the draft on Wednesday and Thursday (both nights on ABC, ESPN and ESPN+), this progression also created financial complications for the Hawks. The No. 1 pick’s salary is enough to push Atlanta over the projected 2024-25 luxury tax line with 10 other players under guaranteed contracts.

As a result, a Hawks team that hasn’t made a trade since agreeing to send John Collins to the Utah Jazz nearly a year ago is all but forced to do so. something over the next few weeks, given that paying the tax is untenable for a team that finished 10 games under .500 last season.

Let’s take a look at five possible directions Atlanta could take, from most conservative to most aggressive, with hypothetical trades for each scenario and an explanation of what they would mean for the franchise next season and beyond. of the.

Scenario 1: Draft a wing, keep both guards in Murray and Young