NBA analyst proposes Jalen Williams-to-Hawks trade scenario

The Atlanta Hawks almost certainly are not trading for Jalen Williams this summer.

The Oklahoma City Thunder almost certainly are not trading him, either.

But in today’s NBA, “almost certainly” suddenly feels a lot less absolute than it used to.

That’s what made a recent idea floated by Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale at least worth discussing. Favale suggested the Hawks should explore a blockbuster pursuit of Williams if Oklahoma City ever became willing to entertain the possibility.

Again, probably not happening.

But Favale also laid out actual basketball and salary-cap logic behind the thought experiment instead of simply throwing a random superstar into a fake trade machine.

“The Thunder’s payroll is about to balloon,” Favale wrote. “Perhaps the emergence of Ajay Mitchell and the team’s success without J-Dub gets executive vice president Sam Presti prioritizing depth and optionality over a three-max-star model.”

That part is what makes this conversation interesting.

A year ago, nobody seriously believed the Dallas Mavericks would trade Luka Doncic. Then they did exactly that.

Now? Fans and analysts are at least willing to ask uncomfortable questions about roster costs, second-apron restrictions and long-term flexibility.

Williams, 25, is one of the NBA’s best two-way wings and remains a foundational piece in Oklahoma City. The All-Star averaged 17.1 points, 5.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds this season while continuing to grow alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.

Meanwhile, the Hawks do have assets, draft picks and young players that could theoretically interest Oklahoma City.

That doesn’t mean it’s likely.

It just means NBA front offices now operate in a world where almost nothing feels untouchable anymore.