The first trade of the 2026 NBA offseason is in the books (not officially) with the Oklahoma City Thunder sending Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks. What does the trade mean for the Hawks and Thunder in the future?
NBA Trade Grades: OKC Thunder Trade Aaron Wiggins To Atlanta Hawks
Late last night, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Thunder, who were projected to be over $25 million above the second apron with key upcoming decisions, were sending Wiggins to the Hawks. Meanwhile, the Thunder receive two future second picks: Atlanta’s 2030 and a conditional 2032 (the least favorable of the Hawks/Lakers).
Wiggins — drafted with the No. 55 pick in the 2021 Draft — developed into a championship role player in Oklahoma City’s culture and now moves to an up-and-coming Hawks team. https://t.co/RiqK2FcjiG
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2026
Wiggins has spent his entire five-year career in OKC. Wiggins was a major part of the Thunder rebuild and the 2026 NBA title after being a late second-round pick in 2021. After producing a career season during the Thunder title run, the 27-year-old wing averaged 9.4 points and 1.5 threes on 43.1% shooting from the field and 35.6% from the 3-point line. He scored in double figures in 30 of his 65 appearances, topping the 20-point mark four times, and grabbed 3.1 rebounds in 22 minutes of action.
Wiggins will make $9.2 million in 2026-27. He is under contract through 2028-29, with the last season being a player option.
Atlanta’s acquisition of Aaron Wiggins is the Hawks’ second transaction of the offseason. It comes hours after the team announced that they re-signed CJ McCollum to a one-year, $21 million extension.
McCollum was instrumental in helping the team win 46 games and earn the sixth seed in the East as the Hawks won 27 of the 34-year-old’s 41 appearances. McCollum was fantastic in the Hawks’ first-round loss to the Knicks. He tallied at least 23 points on three occassions and averaged 19.2 points on 46.5% shooting for the series.
While the details of the Hawks-Thunder trade appear to be completed, ESPN’s Bobby Marks doesn’t believe that the trade will go through until July 6. Marks’s reason for the deal not being official until then was that the Hawks are currently $9.1 million under the first apron, where they are hardcapped. July 6 is the beginning of the NBA’s 2026-27 fiscal year.
Hawks Trade Grade: A
Aaron Wiggins immediately improves the Hawks’ depth and defensive versatility. Wiggins figures to back up both Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker at the 2 and 3. His addition fits what the Hawks have been building alongside Daniels, Jonathan Kuminga, and Jalen Johnson, as he can guard four positions, 1-through-4. He is a capable 3-point shooter, knocking down 38% of his attempts from deep for his career, though his best attribute offensively is his ability to keep the ball moving and cutting.
Atlanta was able to make the trade with OKC work for future draft capital thanks to the $11 million trade exception the Hawks received from the Luke Kennard deal to the Los Angeles Lakers at February’s trade deadline. With the additions of McCollum and Wiggins, the Hawks have 12 players under contract with a salary cap hit of about $183 million. That leaves the Hawks $18 million below the luxury tax.
However, the Hawks could save some money by declining Kuminga’s $24.3 million team option and re-signing the 23-year-old to a multi-year deal. Mouhammed Guye ($2.4 million) also has a club option. The Hawks own three draft picks in this week’s draft: No. 8, No. 23, and No. 57, though they are reportedly open to moving No. 23.
Thunder Trade Grade: A
OKC knew they wouldn’t be able to run things back the way they did this past season. While the Thunder probably didn’t want to trade Aaron Wiggins, he had been linked to several teams since their bid to repeat as NBA champions ended at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. The best news for the Thunder is that they didn’t have to take back salary with the trade.
By trading Aaron Wiggins to the Hawks, the Thunder saved $62 million in luxury tax payments. Marks added that the Thunder are expected to keep both of their 2026 first-round draft picks (No. 12 and No. 17). This is news, as the Thunder were reportedly looking to unload at least one of the selections or consolidate both of them to move up in the draft.
Entering the offseason, Oklahoma City had a projected tax penalty of $213M.
The trade reduces that number to $152M.
The Thunder enter the Tuesday Draft with two picks in the top-17 (no. 12 and 17). https://t.co/Oucm1QefBM
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 22, 2026
OKC still has work to do. The Thunder has 14 players on its roster with a salary cap hit of $241. 3 million for 2026-27. However, Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Kenrich Williams have team options. Speaking of that trio of players, NBA Insider Keith Smith said that the Thunder can get under the luxury tax by declining their options.
“The Oklahoma City Thunder will be ~$3.7M under the luxury tax if they decline the team options for Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein and Kenrich Williams,” Smith said on BlueSky. “The Thunder will be ~$11.7M under the first apron and ~$24.7M under the second apron before re-signing Dort, Hartenstein or Williams.”
Obviously, if the Thunder decide not to exercise the options, they will let Williams, Dort, and Hartenstein walk. However, the Thunder could also work out a trade for one or two of them. Hartenstein is probably the most likely of the three to return.
Photo Credit: Daniel Dunn, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
