Latest news with #NickeilAlexanderWalker
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Timberwolves Trade NAW; Former Players Sign Elsewhere
Although contracts can't officially be signed until July 6, NBA free agency kicked off in earnest on Monday night. The Minnesota Timberwolves already have extended Naz Reid and Julius Randle. Then they decided to let a pair of young big men walk. On Monday their only new deal came in the form of a re-up with veteran swingman Joe Ingles. It isn't expected that Tim Connelly will be too aggressive given the luxury tax implications and desire to avoid significant second apron penalties. Advertisement If there was an assumed result, it was that Nickeil Alexander-Walker would sign elsewhere. His market was going to be robust, and a deal came together quickly. Related Headlines Minnesota Timberwolves send NAW to Atlanta for payday Nickeil Alexander-Walker played the 2024-25 season on one of the most team-friendly contracts in the NBA. In his second full season with the Minnesota Timberwolves NAW became a rotation fixture and one of the most under-the-radar stars in the game. Now he gets his payday. The Timberwolves orchestrated a sign-and-trade with Alexander-Walker to facilitate his new deal with Atlanta. They did pick up a second round pick and some cash in the swap. Advertisement The four-year $62 million payday was substantially more than Minnesota would have been able to offer him. Last season NAW made $4.3 million in the second year of a two-year $9 million extension he signed with the Timberwolves. NAW played all 82 games for Minnesota this season. It was the second-straight year he had accomplished that feat. He also made 10 starts for Chris Finch. In 2024-25 NAW averaged 9.4 points per game on 43.8% shooting. He now heads to an Atlanta team with Trae Young at the helm. It should be expected that Alexander-Walker will be given a bit more freedom in the rotation even after averaging 25.3 minutes per game with the Minnesota Timberwolves this past year. Familiar MN Timberwolves faces find new landing spots as well It wasn't just NAW that was on the move Monday night. The free agency frenzy had multiple players with Minnesota Timberwolves ties signing on the dotted line as well. It didn't take long for Luka Garza to find a new home. Minnesota declined his minimal player option for the upcoming season and the former Iowa Hawkeye is headed to the Celtics on a two-year deal worth $5.5 million. He is certainly looking for a bit more opportunity within the rotation. Advertisement It has been a while since Tyus Jones played for the Timberwolves. However, the 'one of us' guard could have potentially been an option to fill the playmaker role Minnesota needs this summer. He won't be back though and is instead signing with the Magic. He joins fellow Minnesotan Jalen Suggs on the Orlando roster. Although he never played for the Timberwolves, Jones' brother Tre also signed a new three-year deal for $24 million with the Chicago Bulls. Related: Minnesota Timberwolves Bring Back Veteran Free Agent The memories of D'Angelo Russell aren't particularly fond in Minnesota. The guard has bounced between Los Angeles and Brooklyn since that time. He now is joining the Dallas Mavericks, and top pick Cooper Flagg. Russell will be on a Mavericks team that is looking to make noise in the post-Luka Doncic era. The Minnesota Timberwolves still have some more moves to make on their own. Who and when they find agreements with remains to be seen. Advertisement Related Headlines
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The role Trae Young played in Hawks' early free agency spree
The post The role Trae Young played in Hawks' early free agency spree appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Atlanta Hawks were busy on the first day of free agency and they picked up two key pieces that should help them a lot when the season starts. First, they were able to sign Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and a few hours later, they signed Luke Kennard to a one-year deal. This was huge for the direction the Hawks are trying to go in, and one of the reasons they were able to seal the deal with the free agents was because of Trae Young, according to Shams Charania. Advertisement 'Hawks star Trae Young reached out to Kennard and Nickeil Alexander-Walker this evening to help recruit them to the franchise, sources said. Two big wing gets for the Hawks,' Charania wrote. Players on teams have always been a help in free agency, trying to recruit others to play with them, and that seemed to be the case with Young. Alexander-Walker is a solid 3-and-D player who the Hawks can bring off the bench, and Kennard has been one of the best 3-point shooters in the league for some time. These two can play on the court with Young, or they can provide him help while he's on the bench. Either way, they picked up two solid rotation players to start free agency, and they may not be done. Hawks pick up two key pieces in free agency Coming into free agency, the Hawks needed some help on the bench, and they made sure to fix that problem immediately. They had already traded for Kristaps Porzingis over a week ago, and days later, they drafted Asa Newell. Those two moves bolstered the frontcourt depth that the Hawks were looking for, but they still needed wing depth. Advertisement Unfortunately, when free agency started, Caris LeVert signed with the Detroit Pistons, and he was an important part of the Hawks' bench in the second half of the season. That meant the Hawks had to get to work, and that's what they did when they signed Alexander-Walker, who has spent the past few seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He's known mostly for his defense, and the Hawks can deploy a backcourt with him and Dyson Daniels that can make it tough for opposing teams. He's also a solid 3-point shooter, which will be key when he's on the court. The Hawks then signed Kennard, who has been one of the most efficient 3-point shooters since he's been in the league. Related: NBA rumors: Shams declares Hawks, Rockets 'cooking' in free agency Related: Grading Nickeil Alexander-Walker's $62 million Hawks contract in 2025 NBA free agency
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Grading Nickeil Alexander-Walker's $62 million Hawks contract in 2025 NBA free agency
The post Grading Nickeil Alexander-Walker's $62 million Hawks contract in 2025 NBA free agency appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Atlanta Hawks wasted no time making moves this offseason. They just struck a deal that will send shockwaves across the league's middle class. In a sign-and-trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta acquired Nickeil Alexander-Walker on a four-year, $62 million contract, complete with a player option and trade kicker. The price may raise eyebrows, but the fit makes plenty of sense for a Hawks team searching for the right pieces around franchise cornerstone Trae Young. Advertisement This deal isn't about flash. It's about function. Atlanta might've just found the kind of two-way glue guy that transforms a middling roster into a playoff threat. A Season That Reinforced the Ceiling Brett Davis-Imagn Images The Hawks landed right where most expected in 2024-25: stuck in play-in territory, if not a mild disappointment. A team built around Young hopes for more than league-average offense. However, the road was rough. Young's shooting dipped, Jalen Johnson got hurt again, and both De'Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanović were moved, the latter after another inconsistent stretch. Still, Atlanta saw Dyson Daniels emerge as an All-Defense and Most Improved candidate. They also gave rookie Zaccharie Risacher meaningful reps and expanded Onyeka Okongwu's role. The team isn't bad, and they finally seem to have a clear plan around Young. Advertisement Note that the Hawks already made a major move by landing Kristaps Porziņģis in a three-team deal with Boston. Next up: extend four-time All-Star Trae Young on a team-friendly deal and add a reliable veteran backup to strengthen a rotation built to compete in a wide-open, injury-hit East. Of course, adding Alexander-Walker was another major coup. Here we will hand out our grade for Nickeil Alexander-Walker's $62 million Hawks contract in 2025 NBA free agency. The Case for Alexander-Walker Make no mistake that this was a need-based acquisition. Alexander-Walker is precisely the sort of versatile player Atlanta has lacked in recent years. He can defend multiple positions, make spot threes, and occasionally function as a secondary creator. Advertisement In Minnesota, he was never the star but always the steady contributor. He averaged 9.4 points on 43.8 percent shooting (38.1 percent from three), 3.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 82 games last season. It was his second consecutive campaign playing every contest. That's an increasingly rare feat in today's NBA. He carved out real playoff equity, too, starting and closing games for a Timberwolves team that stunned the defending-champion Denver Nuggets in the second round. His postseason averages of 7.3 points in 23.6 minutes across 16 games won't dazzle casual fans. Still, his effort on the defensive end and ability to keep the ball moving helped Minnesota operate with lineup flexibility. That versatility now transfers to an Atlanta roster that needs exactly that. Contract Value and Flexibility At first glance, $62 million over four years, with bonuses built in, may seem steep for a career reserve. That said, Alexander-Walker's salary, roughly $15.5 million annually, slots him into the NBA's sweet spot for premium role players. Consider as well that Atlanta only had to surrender a 2027 second-rounder and cash considerations to complete the sign-and-trade. With that, the value becomes more apparent. Advertisement This isn't an overpay. It's a market-rate bet on continuity, culture, and health. For a team trying to pivot from the fringes of contention toward a sustainable identity, that's a bet worth making. Fit in Atlanta's Rotation Note that the Hawks have often been one-dimensional when Young leaves the floor. Alexander-Walker gives head coach Quin Snyder an option who can either relieve Young or play alongside him as a low-usage connector. His size (6'5″, 205 pounds) and wingspan allow him to guard opposing guards and wings. That should free up more offensive freedom for Daniels, Johnson, or Risacher. More importantly, he brings the kind of defensive mindset Atlanta has long lacked on the perimeter. He won't erase the need for elite rim protection, but he will take pressure off players like Porziņģis and Okongwu to clean up breakdowns. Advertisement Rebuilding with Purpose The Hawks have been in some disarray ever since their magical run to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. They've regressed since that performance. They have lost in the first round of the playoffs twice before missing them entirely in the last two. Now, this move feels like part of a bigger, more coherent plan. Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports With Porziņģis in the frontcourt, Alexander-Walker now bolstering the backcourt, and young players like Daniels, Johnson, and Risacher developing on the wings, Atlanta has a framework that doesn't just rely on Young to do everything. That's a blueprint worth investing in. Advertisement Final Grade: A Nickeil Alexander-Walker won't headline this summer's free agency class. Still, what Atlanta pulled off is the kind of move that winning organizations make. They have added smart, tough, and reliable role players who raise the floor and give the stars a chance to thrive. For a modest price, the Hawks added shooting, defense, playoff experience, and lineup flexibility. In a conference full of teams stuck in the middle, Atlanta just found a way to stand out. Related: Hawks add former Grizzlies sharpshooter after Nickeil-Alexander Walker contract Related: Nickeil Alexander-Walker gets $62 million from Hawks in Timberwolves sign-and-trade
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nickeil Alexander-Walker gets SGA's approval after major Hawks contract
The post Nickeil Alexander-Walker gets SGA's approval after major Hawks contract appeared first on ClutchPoints. On Monday evening, the Atlanta Hawks made a free agency splash by acquiring guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a sign-and-trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The move sends Alexander-Walker to Atlanta on a new four-year, $62 million contract that figures to take him through the prime years of his career. Advertisement Alexander-Walker, as ESPN loved to remind viewers during their presentation of the 2025 Western Conference Finals, is the cousin of Oklahoma City Thunder MVP point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and later Monday evening, the reigning NBA Finals MVP took to his Instagram story with a congratulatory message. 'Earned it twizzzz,' wrote Gilgeous-Alexander alongside an ESPN report of the signing. Alexander-Walker later reposted the message on his own story. A big night for the Hawks Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images The Atlanta Hawks had already been one of the big winners of this NBA offseason by acquiring Kristaps Porzingis for a relatively low price at the Boston Celtics' firesale and then swindling the New Orleans Pelicans at a potentially valuable 2026 first round pick while still drafting one of the players they were targeting, Asa Newell, with their own selection. Advertisement Then came the Alexander-Walker signing, which gives the Hawks another rangy defender and capable jumpshooter to put along Trae Young, along with someone who can handle some occassional playmaking duties when Young is on the bench. Later in the evening, the Hawks signed free agent sharpshooter Luke Kennard to a one year, $11 million deal. While it may be difficult to find time for Kennard and Young to share the floor together because of their defensive shortcomings, Kennard still figures to provide a valuable role off the Hawks' bench as the league's career leader in three-point percentage among all active players. It's been a swift 180 of an offseason for a Hawks team that has been mired in NBA purgatory for the last several years but now suddenly looks poised to make a potential run at one of the East's top seeds considering the current injury-riddled state of the conference. While the heavy lifting has mostly been done, the Hawks still have some additional moves to make in order to fill out their 15-man roster ahead of the season. Related: Luke Kennard hypes up Hawks contract with heartwarming picture of son Related: NBA rumors: Shams declares Hawks, Rockets 'cooking' in free agency
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Luke Kennard hypes up Hawks contract with heartwarming picture of son
The post Luke Kennard hypes up Hawks contract with heartwarming picture of son appeared first on ClutchPoints. On Monday evening, the Atlanta Hawks made two free agency splashes by signing guards Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard, each of whom figures to provide Atlanta with some much-needed bench depth. It was just the latest in a frenzy of moves the Hawks have made this offseason to try to bolster themselves into contention in a suddenly wide-open Eastern Conference landscape. Advertisement On Tuesday morning, Kennard took to his Instagram story with an adorable picture of his son, along with the caption 'Go Hawks!' Kennard is the current career leader in three-point shooting percentage among active players at over 43%, and will help shore up that area of the Hawks' bench after the team lost shooters like Georges Niang and Caris LeVert earlier this summer. Kennard's defensive limitations mean it might be hard for head coach Quinn Snyder to find many minutes to play alongside Trae Young, but he will provide some significant floor-spacing during the non-Trae minutes to help put pressure on opposing defenses. A big summer for the Hawks Petre Thomas-Imagn Images It was just over a year ago that the Hawks appeared to have one of the bleakest future outlooks of any team in the NBA thanks to the fact that they didn't own many of their future draft picks due to the disastrous Dejounte Murray trade. Advertisement However, fast forward to 2025, and the Hawks now have an impressive stable of young rising players like Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and Zaccharie Risacher, along with established veterans like Kristaps Porzingis who can help the team win now, especially considering how wide open the Eastern Conference currently is. The architect behind these moves has been newly signed general manager Onsi Saleh, who has quickly earned the trust of Hawks fans with a series of savvy moves to open up this offseason. On paper, the 2025-26 Hawks will be the ideal roster of players with which to surround Young, able to cover for his shortcomings on defense and space the floor to give him maximum space to operate on offense. Of course, the game isn't played on paper, but Hawks fans have as much reason to be excited right now as they have in a very long time. Related: Nickeil Alexander-Walker gets SGA's approval after major Hawks contract Related: NBA rumors: Shams declares Hawks, Rockets 'cooking' in free agency
