NBA free agency is set to begin at 6:00 PM ET on Monday, with Minnesota Timberwolves’ guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker emerging as one of the most coveted players available. While signings can’t even happen yet, a heavy favorite has emerged to land him.
According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Atlanta Hawks are viewed around the league as being in the “pole position” to acquire Alexander-Walker from Minnesota as part of a sign-and-trade agreement.
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- Nickeil Alexander-Walker stats: 9.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.7 APG, 43.8% FG, 1.7 3PM per game, 38.1% 3PT, .099 Win Shares per 48 Minutes
Atlanta is going for it in an Eastern Conference that has seen the Indiana Pacers (Tyrese Haliburton) and Boston Celtics (Jayson Tatum) lose their top players for next season due to Achilles injuries. The Hawks acquired Kristaps Porzingis ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft, a deal that added talent and kept the club $28.9 million below the NBA luxury tax line.
In doing so, Atlanta positioned itself perfectly to be a major player in NBA free agency. Alexander-Walker is also being targeted by the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic, but the Hawks are widely viewed as the favorites around the league.
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While Minnesota likely won’t receive much compensation back in a sign-and-trade deal moving Walker, it will still receive some compensation rather than losing him for nothing. The Timberwolves weren’t going to be able to re-sign Alexander-Walker after agreeing to terms with Naz Reid and Julius Randle.
Atlanta will likely use its $25.3 million trade exception from the Dejounte Murray trade last offseason with the New Orleans Pelicans. A deal would also provide the Timberwolves with a trade exception, which they would have a year to use.
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