The Atlanta Hawks are loading up with talented veterans this offseason, and they continued that trend in the opening hours of NBA free agency on Monday by locking down one of the top wings on the market to a long-term deal.
With Kristaps Porzingis brought into the fold ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh continued to swing big by making use of a trade exception that Atlanta received as part of the deal that sent veteran point guard Dejounte Murray to the San Antonio Spurs in July of 2024.
In doing so, this Hawks offense will be even more dangerous than it ever has been during the Trae Young era.
Hawks' Dejounte Murray Trade Looks Brilliant Now After Alexander-Walker Signing
Atlanta has come to terms on a four-year, $62 million contract with free agent swingman Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a move that steals the veteran away from the Minnesota Timberwolves and brings him to the Hawks. They were able to do this thanks to the $25.3 trade exception created by the Dejounte Murray deal.
When the Hawks sent Murray to New Orleans, they created a traded player exception (TPE) that allows them to trade for a player without matching salaries. They used this exception by designing the Alexander-Walker deal as a sign-and-trade with the Timberwolves, sending them a 2027 second-round pick in return. Doing this as a sign-and-trade allowed the Hawks to pay Alexander-Walker above the mid-level exception, unlike what other suitors were offering.
Free agent Nickeil Alexander-Walker has agreed to a four-year, $62 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks, plus a player option and trade kicker, sources tell ESPN. CAA Co-Heads of Basketball Aaron Mintz/Austin Brown and Steven Heumann reached the contract with the Hawks tonight. pic.twitter.com/G93cmxsHGo
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025
In Alexander-Walker, Atlanta is adding a player who is just now entering his prime at 26 years of age. With the skill set he possesses, moving out of the shadow of Anthony Edwards and into a role where he should be featured in the backcourt alongside Young could lead to a massive jump in production from the former Virginia Tech Hokies standout.
This past season, Alexander-Walker appeared in all 82 games for the Timberwolves, his second straight year playing in every regular-season game, and averaged 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 25.3 minutes per game. His biggest impact on the Hawks will come with his on-ball defense and 3-point shooting, as he has proven himself to be a high-level contributor in those areas.
Landing Alexander-Walker is a sign that Atlanta is serious about winning now with Trae Young at the helm. He was a player coveted by many franchises entering the free agency period, but in the end, the Hawks presented an opportunity he could not pass up.