Aaron Wiggins Embraces Fresh Start With Hawks After Thunder Trade

Aaron Wiggins went through his first training camp with the Atlanta Hawks this week in Nashville, Tennessee, less than three months after the trade that brought him from the Oklahoma City Thunder became official. The 27-year-old wing spoke Wednesday in an availability reported by Lauren Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Atlanta agreed to the deal June 21, two days before the 2026 NBA Draft, and ESPN first reported it. The Hawks sent the Thunder their own 2030 second-round pick and the less favorable of their own and the Los Angeles Lakers' 2032 second-rounders. The trade became official July 6, when the league's offseason moratorium on transactions ended.

Wiggins has three years left on the five-year contract he signed with Oklahoma City in 2024. ESPN's Bobby Marks reported that the deal pays $9.2 million this season and declines after that. Atlanta absorbed the salary into the $11 million trade exception it created by sending Luke Kennard to the Lakers in February.

Wiggins won a championship with Oklahoma City in 2025. That run, and the rest of his Thunder résumé, sits in the past as far as he is concerned.

"Everybody here, obviously, with the way the season ended last year amongst this crew, there's a hunger from these guys," Wiggins said.

"So, coming here, regardless of my experiences, it's obviously in the past, but there's a lot that I can bring and I can take from my experiences," Wiggins continued.

"So, there's going to be a lot of ups and downs that come with the season," Wiggins added. "But in the same sense, this team is hungry and ready to learn, so we're excited to grow with each other and face the season."

The New York Knicks closed out Atlanta's season April 30. Their 140-89 win in Game 6 ended a first-round series the Hawks had led 2-1 after one-point wins in Games 2 and 3. Atlanta finished the regular season 46-36 as the Eastern Conference's No. 6 seed.

Wiggins appeared in 65 games for Oklahoma City last season and started 21. He averaged 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 21.8 minutes and shot 35.6 percent from 3-point range. Over five seasons and 339 games, all with the Thunder, he has averaged 8.7 points and shot 38.0 percent from deep. Oklahoma City drafted him 55th overall in 2021.

Through the first two days of camp, Wiggins said everybody has been locked in on getting better individually and on putting the pieces together as a team.

"I expect there to be just more of an opportunity for me, consistently," Wiggins explained. "But in the same sense, things will carve out themselves, and you'll see, just amongst the team, roles kind of fill out. So, guys [will] understand each other's play style and are continuing to learn each other, and you'll start to see the camaraderie and chemistry on the court."

Luguentz Dort also came over from Oklahoma City this summer. On Sept. 22, Atlanta agreed to acquire Dorian Finney-Smith from the Charlotte Hornets. Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley ranked the Hawks' projected starting lineup of CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu 10th in the league.

Two of those guards have won Most Improved Player in Atlanta. Daniels took the award for 2024-25, and Alexander-Walker won it for 2025-26.

Wiggins said the topic is going to come up regardless.

"Players definitely see it," Wiggins said. "I obviously see it, but my ultimate goal isn't chasing that. My ultimate goal is to fit into this team and help this team be better.

"And there's a goal at the end of the road that we're all trying to have," Wiggins detailed. "So, I can't get distracted by the little things on the side. In the same sense, it's obviously existent and it's something that's going to be talked about. But my focus is on this team."

Atlanta hosts the Memphis Grizzlies in its preseason opener Monday at 7 p.m. ET. The Thunder visit State Farm Arena on Oct. 12.