The Atlanta Hawks added Thunder forward Luguentz Dort and rookie guard Ryan Nembhard from the Dallas Mavericks, pushing the roster to 17 players. Both players arrived on modest contracts, but their addition immediately forced the front office to confront the league’s roster limit as the regular season looms.
NBA rules permit 15 players on a regular-season roster and up to 21 during the offseason. With 17 names on the list, the Hawks must cut two players before the season begins. The decision will likely come from the group of contract-flexible pieces that were signed in the offseason, as the organization looks to preserve the core that propelled the team to a Southeast Division title.
Complicating the calculus is the status of forward Jonathan Kuminga. Atlanta declined his $24.3 million team option, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Lakers, Cavaliers and Bucks have all been mentioned as potential destinations. If Kuminga signs a standard contract with Atlanta, the Hawks would need to shed at least three roster spots to stay under the 15-player limit , a scenario that demands careful selection of expendable contracts.
Should Kuminga depart elsewhere, the Hawks avoid the immediate three-player squeeze, but they still must decide which two players to move. Likely candidates include non-guaranteed deals or two-way contracts that can be waived without significant cap impact. A trade of a bench-depth forward for a draft pick would also satisfy the roster requirement while adding future value. The front office’s recent pattern of favoring younger, high-energy pieces suggests that any outgoing player will be viewed through the lens of defensive versatility and cost efficiency.
The next two weeks will reveal how the Hawks balance roster compliance with the desire to maintain their defensive identity. Whether they retain Kuminga, waive a marginal contract, or execute a minor trade, the final roster shape will determine if Atlanta remains a contender in the Eastern Conference or shifts toward a rebuilding trajectory.
