The Atlanta Hawks hold three picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, which is less than three weeks away, but rumors continue to link a hometown All-Star to the franchise as a potential trade target.

During Jake Fischer's show, he responded to a fan's comment that Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown should go to the Houston Rockets. Fischer explained that Brown is an Alpha dog and that the guard wants to remain in Boston. 

Fischer linked Brown to the Hawks because of his connection to his hometown. "Atlanta is Jaylen Brown's hometown," Fischer said on Bleacher Report's NBA Insider Notebook livestream. 

"I think that's a spot that he would potentially have interest in going to," he added. Fischer explained that Boston has not expressed wanting to move on from their All-Star guard, but there are places that he could fit.  Fischer explained that the Hawks do not want to be a part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. 

Needless to say, if Atlanta did have an opportunity to land Brown, would it make sense, and would they be willing to move on from a roster of young talent?

Last season, the Atlanta Hawks traded Trae Young to the Washington Wizards to focus on developing their younger talent and received CJ McCollum. The franchise acquired Jonathan Kuminga from the Golden State Warriors. 

With their young roster, the Hawks finished the season 46-36 and clinched a playoff berth for the first time since the 2022-23 season. The roster's nucleus includes Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels.  

While Atlanta would have the salary cap to land Brown, it most likely would require them to give up a young player with some draft capital. After trading Young, the roster doesn't have a strong playmaking point guard who can set the offense, score, or ensure players are in the right position. 

Acquiring Brown would force the team to part with their first round picks in the 2026 draft, which could be their best way to land a point guard. Mock drafts have tied the Hawks to Houston's Kingston Flemings, Keaton Wagler out of Illinois, Darius Acuff Jr, from Arkansas, and Mikel Brown Jr. out of Louisville. 

Most mock drafts have Flemings or Wagler being Atlanta's top two options if they are not selected earlier.

Recently, the league has witnessed small and mid-level markets revamp their rosters and make deep playoff runs. This year, the San Antonio Spurs returned to their first finals appearance since the 2013-14 season. 

Last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder captured its first title against the Indiana Pacers. The three teams built their rosters through the draft, trades, and free agency signings. While Atlanta is a slightly bigger basketball market than the other three franchises, building a roster without trading everything away for a franchise player may be the best thing.

The Detroit Pistons are another example of a team building its roster through the draft, trade, and free agency. The question the Hawks have to examine is whether Brown will place them as a championship contender. 

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