The Atlanta Hawks are entering yet another offseason with a desperate need to pick a direction. Stuck in the play-in limbo for the last several years, the Hawks are in the worst place for an NBA franchise: not good enough to contend, and not bad enough to land a true star prospect through the draft.
Regardless of the direction the new Hawks front office chooses, some obvious moves need to be made. While the free agencies of Caris LeVert, Clint Capela, and Larry Nance Jr. are the most important decisions for new general manager Onsi Saleh, there is one expiring contract the Hawks need to move this offseason.
Georges Niang Is a Prime Trade Candidate for the Hawks
Georges Niang, who was acquired alongside LeVert at the deadline in the De'Andre Hunter deal, is entering the final year of his contract, set to make $8.2 million in the 2025-26 season.
On paper, this is not a terrible contract. Niang is a competent backup power forward who spaces the floor as one of the best three-point shooters at his position, averaging 1.6 threes made on 39.9% shooting in 544 career games. He is limited in other facets of the game, and he has shown signs of decline in his age-32 season, but he could be a part of the rotation for most NBA teams.
The issue is that Niang doesn't fit Atlanta's salary structure.
The Hawks need to pay LeVert near what he was making last season ($16.6 million) and ideally bring back Nance. Considering that Capela is likely leaving this summer, the Hawks also need to replace him with another center in free agency. Jalen Johnson is starting his big extension, making $30 million next season, which will trigger a financial crunch since the Hawks ownership is unlikely to pay the tax for a non-contending team.
This means that Niang is a prime trade candidate.
His expiring salary and shooting should be attractive to teams around the league. The Hawks could get some financial savings immediately for next season, while potentially bringing in a younger player they can evaluate as part of their core.
If Atlanta is making any moves over the next two weeks, it will presumably involve Niang thanks to his ideal salary-matching contract.