Hawks, Kings Make Key Roster Moves
Atlanta Hawks Acquire Promising Guard Devin Carter from Sacramento Kings in Cap-Clearing Trade
Key Points
Devin Carter is listed at 6'2", 195 lbs and produced 8.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG and 2.7 APG in 38 games last season for Sacramento, shooting 41.4% from the field and 26.3% from three with 12 starts, showing notable development from his rookie year but ongoing shooting efficiency concerns.
Sacramento is reportedly using Carter as part of a salary-dump to clear cap space under the luxury-tax threshold, including a 2033 second-round pick, a move tied to the Kings’ broader roster overhaul and cap-management strategies.
Beyond Carter, the Hawks’ offseason reshaping includes re-signing veteran guard C.J. McCollum, drafting Kingston Flemings at No. 8, and retaining Nickeil Alexander-Walker to strengthen the guard rotation for the 2026-27 season.
Carter’s college pedigree is highlighted by Providence’s Big East Player of the Year honor as a junior, with season averages of 19.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG and 3.6 APG, plus solid shooting numbers that suggest untapped NBA potential.
The Atlanta Hawks are acquiring guard Devin Carter and a 2033 second-round pick from the Sacramento Kings, according to ESPN. Carter, the 13th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, averaged 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 38 games last season for Sacramento.
The deal is a salary dump for Sacramento, which shed Carter's $5.1 million contract to get under the NBA luxury-tax threshold, KCRA reported. For Atlanta, it is a low-risk bet on a 24-year-old defender with upside — and it cost them nothing.
Kings Dump Carter's Contract to Cut Luxury-Tax Bill
Sacramento's move is simple math. With De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis on massive deals, the Kings were staring down a luxury-tax bill they did not want to pay. Trading Carter's $5.1 million salary — and sweetening the deal with a future pick — was the cheapest way out, according to The Kings Herald.
Sports Illustrated called the trade an admission that the Carter pick "did not fit the team's current window." Carter was reportedly absent from Sacramento's end-of-season exit interviews, a sign the relationship had already broken down. Kings GM Scott Perry, who replaced Monte McNair, has been under pressure to clean up the books.
Carter Brings Defense and Athleticism to Hawks' Backcourt
Carter is not a scorer first. He is valued for his perimeter defense, his ability to drive to the basket, and his athleticism. His shooting, though, is a real problem. He hit just 26.3% of his three-point attempts last season and 41.4% from the field overall, Atlanta News First reported.
Before the NBA, Carter was dominant at Providence. He won Big East Player of the Year as a junior and averaged 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. Atlanta hopes that college form is a preview of what he can become — not just a memory.
Atlanta Builds One of the Youngest Backcourts in the League
The Hawks have been busy. On June 21, veteran guard C.J. McCollum signed a one-year, $21 million extension, ESPN reported. Three days later, Atlanta drafted Kingston Flemings eighth overall. Now Carter joins the mix, giving the Hawks three guards under 25 — plus a 34-year-old mentor.
Draft analyst Will Gottlieb noted that Atlanta's backcourt is now "one of the youngest and most athletic in the league." Flemings and Carter — both former lottery picks — will compete for backup minutes behind McCollum. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the reigning Most Improved Player at 20.8 points per game, rounds out the group, per NBA on Prime.
Hawks' Playoff Blowout Loss Drove the Guard Depth Push
Atlanta's offseason urgency traces back to one night. On May 1, the New York Knicks beat the Hawks 140-89 in a Game 6 playoff blowout — a 51-point loss that exposed a lack of physical, two-way guards, AJC reported. Carter, built to defend and attack the rim, is a direct response to that failure.
Carter's $7.37 million team option in 2027-28 will be the real test. If he cannot fix his three-point shooting by then, he risks falling out of the rotation entirely, according to Hoops Rumors. For now, Atlanta sees him as cheap insurance — a former top-14 pick with two years of pro experience and nothing to lose.
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