The Atlanta Hawks are one of the biggest winners of the offseason so far. Entering the NBA Draft with the Nos. 13 and 22 picks, the Hawks turned those into Kristaps Porzingis, talented rookie Asa Newell, and an unprotected first-round pick by the Pelicans. They only had to give up Georges Niang and Terance Mann in the process.
While that sets Atlanta up to be a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference next season, it also puts a few players on notice. The Hawks now have an accelerated timeline after the Porzingis trade, and they can't waste their time trying to develop players who haven't shown anything so far in their NBA careers.
Hawks Must Trade Kobe Bufkin This Offseason
That doesn't bode well for Kobe Bufkin. Despite Atlanta's desperate need for more shot creation and playmaking over the last two years, Bufkin wasn't able to step up and establish himself as a role player. The former 15th-overall pick has spent most of his time in the G League and didn't look ready to contribute in the NBA in his short stints in Atlanta.
This means that the Hawks will likely look to move on from him this summer. Atlanta still needs another guard who can play next to Trae Young and also run the offense when Young is on the bench. Bufkin is clearly not that player, and the Hawks would be wise to try to find one in free agency or the trade market.
If Atlanta can find any team in the league willing to give up any draft capital for Bufkin, they should be parting ways with the former Michigan standout. A second-round pick, or another player looking for a fresh start who could help the Hawks right away, should be more than enough for GM Onsi Saleh to let the 21-year-old combo guard walk.