By Sunday 
The NBA free agency window hasn’t even opened yet, but the rumor mill is already spinning into overdrive—especially for one guard who’s quietly become one of the most intriguing names on the market: Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
And if the buzz around the league is to be believed, the Atlanta Hawks aren’t just in the mix—they’re leading the pack.
Why All Eyes Are on NAW
Nickeil Alexander-Walker may not be a household name—yet—but ask any front office exec or NBA insider, and they’ll tell you: this guy is solid gold when it comes to backcourt depth.
Coming off a season where he averaged 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game, while shooting a sharp 38.1% from three, the 25-year-old guard showed exactly the kind of two-way poise and versatility teams crave—especially in a league that just watched stars like Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum go down with Achilles injuries.
Atlanta Hawks: “Pole Position” and Ready to Pounce
Insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer are reporting that the Atlanta Hawks are in “pole position” to land Alexander-Walker in a sign-and-trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Atlanta isn’t playing around this summer. After pulling off a sneaky-good trade to acquire Kristaps Porzingis before the draft and staying a cool $28.9 million under the luxury tax line, they’re perfectly set up to make moves.
The Hawks also have a juicy $25.3 million trade exception from last year’s Dejounte Murray deal, giving them the cap flexibility to seal the deal without breaking a sweat.
Timberwolves’ Trade Logic: Something > Nothing
For Minnesota, this is less about winning a blockbuster trade and more about not walking away empty-handed. With Naz Reid and Julius Randle already locked in, re-signing Alexander-Walker simply wasn’t in the cards. A sign-and-trade gives them a trade exception in return—something they’ll have a year to use for future roster maneuvering.
While the compensation may be minimal, getting something beats losing NAW for nothing.
What About the Pistons & Magic?
Both the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic have reportedly expressed interest, but most league sources agree—Atlanta is the favorite. Their roster flexibility, trade exception, and win-now urgency just make too much sense.
That said, until the ink is dry and Woj tweets it, anything can still happen.
Final Thoughts: A Sneaky Smart Pickup
Adding Nickeil Alexander-Walker won’t dominate headlines like a Damian Lillard or LeBron move might—but this is one of those quietly smart acquisitions that often ends up playing a big role deep into the season.
Atlanta is betting that with their new pieces and the right chemistry, they can rise in a weakened Eastern Conference. And if Nickeil makes the leap many expect, this could end up looking like a steal.