Rumors link the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards' No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Here's why a deal is unlikely — and why the Hawks will be fine at No. 8.
It is often said that history repeats itself. That's unquestionably true in the NBA. History repeats itself, yet somehow, so does the rumor mill. Every year around this time, we hear rumors about draft day deals that, historically speaking, almost certainly will not happen.
This year is no exception. There's no shortage of rumors that the Washington Wizards could trade the number one pick.
Historically speaking, that almost never happens. Whenever it has, the team has either traded down no further than third or recently signed the best player in the NBA (LeBron James). The team with the top pick never trades down as far as eighth.
So, even though the Atlanta Hawks are in rumors, fans should not get their hopes up.
Wizards unlikely to send Hawks top pick
In basketball, more than any other sport, your best player can change the outcome of a game. Having the best player in a given game is the first advantage a team would want:
So, having the first pick in a given draft is the first asset any team would covet.
Think about it. How does the package look? What would the Hawks have to offer to be more valuable than the rights to select whoever the Wizards think is best between AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darryn Peterson?
Two unprotected future firsts, along with the eighth overall pick, won't cut it. Three? It's doubtful. Perhaps four gets it done:
Can the Hawks spare four unprotected future firsts?
Even then, would the Wizards accept? They're in a position to net their franchise player. The Wizards did make a pair of buy-low trades on veterans last year in Trae Young and Anthony Davis. They could reason that a surplus of assets would help them bring in another star....
Only, so would the first overall pick.
If the Wizards prefer to bring in a superstar, they'll trade the pick directly. Alternatively, they'll draft the player they like best and trade him for an MVP candidate in a couple of years. No matter how you slice it, the Wizards have the most valuable asset here, and they have no incentive to send it to a Conference rival.
Luckily, the Hawks will be fine without it.
Hawks in a great future position
They already have their young franchise player in Jalen Johnson. They have a great young core around him.
Of course they'd love AJ Dybantsa. Who wouldn't? Still, they don't need him. The Hawks will use the 8th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to select another potential building block and quite possibly compete with the Wizards for conference supremacy for years to come:
Historically, that's not a position either franchise is used to.
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