Column: If the Hawks want to become contenders, Trey Murphy III should be at the top of their wish list
The Atlanta Hawks are closer than they’ve been in years.
Not to making the playoffs. They’ve already checked that box.
They’re closer to becoming a legitimate Eastern Conference contender. After all, they were the only team to get more than a game off the NBA Champion New York Knicks.
That’s why this offseason can’t be about adding another intriguing piece. It has to be about finding the right piece.
If the New Orleans Pelicans are willing to discuss Trey Murphy III, Hawks president of basketball operations Onsi Saleh should be one of the first executives on the phone. Reports have already linked Atlanta to Murphy, and for good reason.
Murphy is exactly the type of player every contender covets.
Last season, the 6-foot-8 wing averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 47% from the field, 37% from 3-point range and nearly 89% at the free-throw line. He’s a high-volume shooter who doesn’t need the ball in his hands every possession, can defend multiple positions and has developed into one of the NBA’s premier two-way wings.
That’s precisely what Atlanta needs.
The Hawks have already built one of the league’s better defensive identities. Dyson Daniels has emerged as one of basketball’s elite perimeter defenders. Nickeil Alexander-Walker brings toughness and versatility on the wing. Jonathan Kuminga gives Atlanta downhill athleticism and transition scoring after arriving from Golden State last season.
But when the game slows down in April and May, playoff basketball always comes back to two questions:
Can you score efficiently?
Can you space the floor?
Murphy answers both.
He would immediately give Atlanta another elite perimeter threat capable of punishing defenses that collapse into the paint. His shooting would create driving lanes for Kuminga and Brandon Miller while giving Dyson Daniels and Alexander-Walker cleaner looks without forcing either player into an offensive role they’re not built to carry.
The Hawks, however, still have another obvious need.
Center.
Atlanta drafted a promising big man in the second round, but expecting a rookie to anchor a playoff defense is asking a lot. Championship teams almost always have a proven interior presence who protects the rim, controls the glass and provides stability over an 82-game season.
Finding that veteran center should remain Saleh’s top priority.
Finding Murphy should be right behind it.
What makes this especially intriguing is Saleh’s familiarity with New Orleans. Before taking over basketball operations in Atlanta, he spent years helping build the Pelicans’ front office. He understands the organization, knows how it values talent and already has established relationships throughout the building. Those connections don’t guarantee a deal, but they certainly don’t hurt.
And if New Orleans asks for more?
Atlanta has options.
Kuminga remains one of the league’s most fascinating young forwards. At 23, he still possesses All-Star upside despite never fully finding consistency. If the Pelicans believe a larger offensive role unlocks another level of his game, he could headline a package.
Would the Hawks even consider including Zaccharie Risacher?
That’s the harder question.
The former No. 1 overall pick still carries enormous value because of his age, size and long-term ceiling. Atlanta certainly doesn’t need to move him. But championship windows sometimes require uncomfortable decisions. If New Orleans values Risacher’s upside enough to part with Murphy, Saleh at least has to listen.
Great front offices don’t become emotionally attached to every young prospect.
They identify the players who best fit the roster they’re trying to build.
Atlanta has already taken meaningful steps toward becoming one of the East’s deepest teams. Another proven shooter like Murphy and a reliable veteran center would address the two biggest remaining weaknesses on the roster.
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