Over the last two seasons, Atlanta’s front office righted the ship after the failed Dejounte Murray and Trae Young backcourt experiment. It secured two first-round picks and Dyson Daniels, the 2024-25 Most Improved Player, in return for Murray. The Hawks also traded the 13th pick in this year’s draft exchange for pick 23 and an unprotected 2026 first-round selection (most favorable of the Pelicans/Milwaukee Bucks).
This transaction shocked the NBA world. One Eastern Conference executive even said, “That is the worst draft trade I have seen in over a decade,” emphasizing how poorly the Pelicans mismanaged the deal. Here is why this move could result in a potential Hawks’ lottery pick in 2026.
Can The Hawks Get a Lottery Pick Gift From The Pelicans?
New Orleans Finished Near the Bottom of a Loaded Western Conference Last Season
The Pelicans head into the 2025-26 campaign after a 21-61 record last season. A Plethora of injuries to their key contributors—Murray, Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Brandon Ingram, Trey Murphy, and CJ McCollum—derailed their season. New Orleans had a 12.5 % chance—the fourth-best odds—to land the first-overall selection this summer but fell to seven, selecting Jeremiah Fears. However, if the franchise finds itself back in the lottery in a stacked 2026 draft class, that pick will head to the Hawks.
It does not look good for the Pelicans, as the West Conference improved even more this summer. Only the Utah Jazz had a worse record in the West than New Orleans. To make matters worse, Murray, who tore his Achilles tendon on Jan. 31, is unlikely to return until the 2026 portion of next season. Rookie Derik Queen underwent ligament surgery in his left wrist on July 18 and is also expected to miss a chunk of games to start the campaign.
Will the Pelicans improve on last year’s win total? Probably. They bolstered their roster, and they are unlikely to endure the same stretch of brutal injury luck. However, Williamson and Murphy must stay healthy for them to crawl out of the depths of the West. If they go down, Atlanta likely has a chance to land the number one pick next summer.
The Bucks Still Have Unanswered Questions Heading into Next Season
Drama followed the Bucks to begin this summer after Damian Lillard suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the playoffs. Could Giannis Antetokounmpo request a trade and shake up the NBA landscape? For now, the Bucks’ superstar figures to start the campaign in Milwaukee, but that situation could change as the season unfolds.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo is signing a guaranteed one-year, $2.9 million deal to return to the Milwaukee Bucks, sources tell ESPN. Antetokounmpo played for Bucks from 2019-24. This also means after a summer of exploring options, Giannis is staying in Milwaukee to start the season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 31, 2025
Milwaukee surprised NBA fans when it waived Lillard to sign Myles Turner in free agency, but Antetokounmpo and Turner fit seamlessly in the frontcourt due to the latter’s strong 3-point shot. Kyle Kuzma certainly had a rough showing in Milwaukee last season, but he is better than his poor playoff performance. The questions arise when discussing the Bucks’ backcourt. Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. likely start, and Ryan Rollins operates as the backup point guard.
Opposing teams commonly mention forming “a wall” to stop Antetokounmpo from bullying his way to the rim.
This strategy might be easier to execute without a dangerous backcourt star to take advantage of the nine-time All-Star’s gravity. If the Bucks reach the middle of the season with an underwhelming record, Antetokounmpo could change his mind before the deadline and request a trade, sending Milwaukee into freefall.
While the Pelicans have a better chance of landing Atlanta a lottery pick next summer, Hawks fans should certainly keep an eye on the Bucks’ situation as well.
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