The Atlanta Hawks can't afford to trade Jalen Johnson. Here is why.
Talented forward Jalen Johnson has been named the Atlanta Hawks' most "untouchable trade asset."
NBA analyst Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report believes the Hawks can't afford to trade Johnson.
"The Atlanta Hawks have a 29.3 percent chance at a top-4 pick in this year's draft thanks to last year's Derik Queen trade with the New Orleans Pelicans," Swartz wrote. "Until we find out the results of the lottery, we're going to go with Jalen Johnson here. The 24-year-old is the new face of the franchise who just put up 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The only other player in the NBA to meet or exceed these numbers this season was three-time MVP Nikola Jokić.
"Johnson's contract is also one of the best in the NBA. It stays at a flat $30 million for the next four years, meaning the Hawks will only be paying their All-Star forward between 15.7 and 18.2 percent of the salary cap."
During the regular season, Johnson averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game while shooting 48.9% from the field, 35.2% from beyond the arc and 78.8% from the free-throw line. He's undoubtedly one of the top two-way players in the NBA.
The Hawks went 46-36 and were the sixth seed in the 2026 Eastern Conference playoffs. They faced the New York Knicks in the first round and took a 2-1 lead in the series.
However, the Knicks won Games 4, 5 and 6 to end Atlanta's season. Johnson averaged 19.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game in the six-game series.
The Hawks are building around Johnson in the post-Trae Young era. The 24-year-old is only going to get better, and unless Victor Wembanyama requests a trade from the San Antonio Spurs, makes it known he wants to play for Atlanta and the Spurs ask for Johnson in return, Johnson should spend the rest of his NBA career with the Hawks.
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