Grading a Hawks Trade Proposal for Devin Booker: Is the Cost Too High?

The Atlanta Hawks' 2026-27 season hasn't quite gone according to plan. At 7-5, they've fallen a bit short of expectations. Perhaps that's why Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus proposed a hypothetical trade for Phoenix Suns star guard Devin Booker.

At face value, that makes sense. The Hawks' half-court offense has suffered from a lack of shot creation. Booker is a prolific shot creator. Acquiring him would make sense:

But in this case, the cost is (arguably) a bit too high.

Here are the details of the proposal:

Phoenix Suns receive:

Atlanta Hawks receive:

That's far from outrageous. If anything, it's sensible.

From the Hawks' perspective, it basically amounts to Flemings and a protected first. McCollum has declined, Finney-Smith is a walking contract at this point, and Kispert, while a knockdown shooter, struggles to play major minutes with his defensive limitations.

So, this deal will get a fairly high grade. It doesn't meet the "this author would personally pull the trigger" threshold, but I'm just one man. Still, in evaluating the deal, I will tell you why I wouldn't make it:

And it's got to do with Booker himself.

Booker is having a solid 2026-27, but his last two seasons have been rough.

In 2024-25, he shot 33.2% from the three-point range. Last year, he hit 33.0% of his triples. Booker has a reputation as a knockdown shooter due to the fact that he can hit difficult shots, but the reality is that he's hitting 35.2% of his threes for his career.

That's not a comprehensive analysis of Booker as a player. If anything, it's reductive. He can hit tough shots, set up teammates, and he does it all without tanking your defense. The question isn't whether Booker is good, or whether he'd make the Hawks better:

The question is whether he moves the needle enough to justify parting with Flemings and a protected first.

If the pick were heavily protected enough, perhaps the answer is yes. Given Booker's status, it's more likely to be a top five-ish protection. Suppose that's true, and suppose the pick (which may come via the Hawks or one of the picks they're owed from other teams) lands seventh. Now, you've traded a promising young guard and the seventh pick for a star guard with real deficiencies.

So, I'll pass. Still, this is interesting. If the Hawks make this deal, they'll be a bigger threat. I would simply be too concerned that the ceiling would still be too low to justify compromising their future.

Even if the present hasn't been as bright as anticipated.

Grade: B+