Aaron Wiggins Traded to the Atlanta Hawks!
Apr 25, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) drives around Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) in the first half during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Two days before the 2026 Draft, the first major trade has dropped. According to ESPN and Shams Charania, Aaron Wiggins is leaving the Thunder to join the Hawks. In return, OKC receives two future second-round picks: Atlanta’s in 2030 and the least favorable of Hawks/Lakers in 2032.
Throwback career night for Aaron Wiggins (Feb 1, 2025): @okcthunder vs @SacramentoKings
Aaron Wiggins vs. Kings (Career Night)
• Points: 41
• Rebounds: 14 (career-high)
• Shooting Splits: 16-of-30 (53.3% FG) | 6-of-14 (42.8% 3PT)
• Game Impact: +31 rating
• Clutch… pic.twitter.com/wzc5rexb3d— BRANDON – HAWKS HOMECOURT 🏀📺 (@Hawks_HomeCourt) June 22, 2026
Primarily a Financial Move for OKC
For the Thunder, this trade is above all a bookkeeping decision. By parting ways with Wiggins, Sam Presti trims roughly sixty million dollars off the books. The guard was set to earn $9.2 million in 2026-2027, $8.3 million in 2027-2028, and a potential additional $8.3 million in 2028-2029 via a team option. A five-year, $45 million contract signed before the 2024-2025 season, whose weight was becoming difficult to carry for a franchise already under threat of the second apron.
The Thunder also free up a roster spot, as two first-round rookies — the 12th and 17th picks — are expected to arrive in the coming days. OKC will also need to handle the situations of Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Kenrich Williams, all of whom have team options for next season. A chapter closes for OKC…
The Oklahoma City Thunder are finalizing a trade to send guard Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks for two second-round picks (Atlanta’s in 2030 and the least favorable of Hawks/Lakers in 2032), sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ypffJ3jMOk
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2026
Atlanta Keeps Being Active on the Market
On the Hawks’ side, the move fits into a broader desire to take this group to the next level and become a serious Eastern Conference contender. Atlanta had already announced a one-year extension for C.J. McCollum before absorbing Wiggins’ contract using a trade exception created in February, when Kennard was sent to L.A.
Aaron Wiggins, a pure product of Oklahoma City’s development program, carries career averages of 8.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, with a solid 38% from three. A classic « 3-and-D » profile, he never managed to crack the starting lineup in a rotation as deep as the Thunder‘s, peaking at 24.2 minutes per game during his rookie season.
Aaron Wiggins’ OKC championship speech will never be topped. pic.twitter.com/5B2RJc3lcj
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) June 22, 2026
In Atlanta, Wiggins could earn a more prominent role. He will notably compete with Zaccharie Risacher on the wing and provide depth behind Dyson Daniels. An opportunity for the guard to prove he can shoulder greater responsibilities when given the right context.
He also brings with him the experience of a championship-winning player to an increasingly ambitious Hawks squad…
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