The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly eyeing a handful of veteran contracts that analysts label as liabilities. The front office could flip a mix of Jonathan Kuminga, Zachary Risacher and Corey Kispert to acquire players whose salaries exceed their on-court value.

A “bad contract” is typically a large deal that a player does not justify through skill, durability or fit. Teams sometimes take on such contracts because the accompanying draft picks can turn into valuable contributors.

One of the most instructive precedents involved the Los Angeles Clippers sending Baron Davis to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011. Davis carried a massive contract that the Clippers deemed unsustainable, and the trade also included an unprotected first-round pick. That pick became the No. 1 overall selection in 2012 and allowed Cleveland to draft Kyrie Irving, a franchise-changing talent.

Onsi Saleh, the Hawks’ president of basketball operations, has repeatedly stressed the importance of future flexibility. Taking on a bad deal certainly reduces cap flexibility, but the attached draft capital provides a chance to land an impact player.

A Sports Illustrated feature lists ten such opportunities that the Hawks might consider. All of these players could be acquired by trading some combination of Kuminga, Risacher and/or Kispert. Each target carries a contract that exceeds its on-court value, yet the draft assets attached to the deals could be leveraged in future trades or used to select high-upside prospects.

The Hawks must weigh the cap hit against the potential upside of the draft capital. If the contracts belong to players unlikely to be core contributors, the team can preserve its core rotation while the picks add a pipeline of talent. Any transaction would need to be completed in the summer before the draft and the start of the season, ensuring the new salaries fit within the Hawks’ long-term plan.