The Hawks landed Aaron Wiggins from the Thunder for two second-round picks. Here's why the low-cost move fits Atlanta's timeline better than a blockbuster would have.
There was a feeling that the Atlanta Hawks would make a blockbuster trade this year. They've been linked to a lot of big names. The Hawks have had a rumored interest in Jaylen Brown, Trey Murphy III, and at some points, even Giannis Antetokounmpo.
So, Aaron Wiggins wasn't exactly what some fans had in mind.
Yet, the Hawks aren't strictly looking to appease star-hungry fans. They want to do what's best for the team long-term. Arguably, adding a solid rotation player was wiser than surrendering valuable assets for a superstar.
Besides, Wiggins should give Hawks fans plenty to be excited about.
So, who is Wiggins?
Let's start with measurables. Wiggins is a 6-foot-5 guard/wing with a 6-foot-10 wingspan. He's got the size to play the 3, and he gives Atlanta a substantial length advantage against most assignments at the 2.
In 2025-26, Wiggins shot 35.6% from three-point range. That's a mediocre number, but he's a career 38.0% shooter. Wiggins is a legitimate 3-and-D player.
He doesn't have a ton of on-ball juice. Wiggins doesn't look to isolate often, and he's not an exceptional run-and-jump athlete. This is a complementary player. That's perfect for a Hawks team that wants the ball in the hands of other players. Wiggins will complement Jalen Johnson, CJ McCollum, Dyson Daniels, and Kingston Flemings.
Is he the missing piece for this Hawks team?
Hawks Don't Need to Rush to Make Major Acquisitions
They already checked the other box. Atlanta agreed to bring Jock Landale back on a one-year, $14 million deal, giving the Hawks a reliable backup 5 without breaking the bank.
Otherwise, this team's rotation should be more or less set. The Hawks' depth chart is impressive after the addition of Wiggins. He should be able to find 15-20 minutes per game between the 2 and 3 positions. Wiggins' positional versatility will allow the Hawks to continue to play the type of wing-heavy lineups they relied on in 2025-26.
Now, the idea should be to set a bar. Perhaps the Hawks enter the season knowing that if they don't win a playoff series, they'll make more substantial changes. They may even make the Conference Finals the standard.
Whatever they do, expect Wiggins to be part of it. He's a valuable complementary player. At the cost of two second-round picks, he was a no-brainer acquisition for the Hawks, even if he isn't the superstar some fans hoped to land this summer.
