Nickeil Alexander-Walker Reportedly Traded to Hawks from Wolves, Signs $62M Contract

Free agent shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the Atlanta Hawks reportedly agreed to a four-year, $62 million deal that features a player option and trade kicker Monday, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

The move was part of a sign-and-trade, as Charania reported Atlanta sent cash and a 2027 second-round draft pick via the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Minnesota Timberwolves to facilitate the deal.

It is another notable move for the Hawks after they also traded for big man Kristaps Porziņģis earlier in the offseason.

NBA insider Chris Haynes noted Trae Young played a role in this development:

The 26-year-old Alexander-Walker has played six NBA seasons for the New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz and Timberwolves.

The Brooklyn Nets originally selected the ex-Virginia Tech star with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft before trading him to the Pels.

The 6'5", 205-pound guard played the last two-plus seasons with the Timberwolves, who acquired Alexander-Walker in a three-team deal with the Jazz and L.A. Lakers and that notably sent Mike Conley from Utah to Minnesota and Russell Westbrook from L.A. to Utah.

Alexander-Walker has been a reserve for most of his career. He most notably played a key role for the 2023-24 Timberwolves, which beat the then-defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals. Alexander-Walker averaged 7.3 points in 23.6 minutes per game over 16 playoff contests.

Last season, Alexander-Walker averaged 9.4 points on 43.8 percent shooting (38.1 percent from three), 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He played all 82 games for the second straight season.

Alexander-Walker became a free agent this offseason after his two-year, $9 million contract with the Timberwolves expired.

Now his time in Minnesota has come to an end. Alexander-Walker now becomes a valued member of the Hawks as they add some key backcourt depth.

The Hawks have been in some disarray ever since a magical run to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. They've regressed since that performance, losing in the first round of the playoffs twice before missing them entirely in the last two.

But this is a good move for the franchise as they get some great depth at guard to build out a rotation that needs more help off the bench. Alexander-Walker can certainly help propel the Hawks back to the playoffs as Atlanta searches for its first winning season since 2021-22.