Atlanta Hawks countered right before the deadline came down, adding guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker to their roster. They traded for him with the Minnesota Timberwolves, as was reported by Bleachernation among others. This trip comes as the Hawks try to improve their defense and become a more well-rounded team on the perimeter. On defense, Alexander-Walker is an elite ballhawk and disruptor. Since joining the league, he has been deemed one of the most sought after players.
At 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Alexander-Walker is a physical terror for most competition. Offensive limitations aside, he’s proven himself as one of the NBA’s elite perimeter defenders. His defensive skills are a huge part of his teams’ success, and as such, he should be a huge asset for the Hawks. Over the last two years, he has established himself as a high-level shooter. He is knocking down 38.6% of his three-pointers and taking 4.3 shots from deep per game.
Along with great length that provides defensive potential and decent shooting, Alexander-Walker has emerged as a quality ball handler. Last year, he led all qualifiers by bringing the ball up the court a ridiculous 14.5 times per game. This is the best mark of his career on a per-game basis! Additionally, this development speaks to his versatility and ability to help right away in several different roles as a playmaker in the Hawks’ offensive scheme.
Originally selected 17th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, Alexander-Walker proved himself during his four-year career with the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz. Now, he’ll be applying that talent to the Timberwolves. He’s been unbelievably durable the last handful of years. In reality though, he’s acted like an Ironman — playing all 82 games the last two years, a mark only five other players in the league managed to hit.
Fast forward to this past playoff season, and Alexander-Walker accomplished the impossible feat. He became the first player in Timberwolves’ history to score 20-plus points in multiple games off the bench during a single postseason. This recent performance is an example of his burgeoning talent for rising to the occasion when it matters most. He certainly brings a thrilling shot-in-the-arm to Atlanta’s playoff aspirations.
Atlanta traded a 2027 second-round pick, sent via Cleveland, as well as cash to Minnesota. This can be seen further in this move by how serious they are about improving the roster moving forward. Adding Alexander-Walker to their roster would be a great start for the Hawks to build a defensive-oriented core. They’re just as prepared to strengthen their defensive moves.
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