The Kings are sending Devin Carter to the Hawks in a trade that also includes a future second-round pick, a move that points squarely at Sacramento’s push to escape luxury tax territory. The deal was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania and later detailed by Jake Fischer of The Stein Line as involving the Kings’ 2033 second-round selection.
Carter was once viewed as part of Sacramento’s long-term plan after going 13th overall in the 2024 draft, but injuries and uneven production have slowed his early career. The 24-year-old missed time because of left shoulder surgery and dealt with ankle, back and calf issues during his second season, limiting him to 74 regular-season games over two years.
What Atlanta Is Getting
| Player | Pick | Key Contract Note |
|---|---|---|
| Devin Carter | 2033 Kings second-round pick | Guaranteed $5.16MM in 2026/27, with a $7.37MM option for 2027/28 due by October 31, 2026 |
It is still unclear whether Atlanta plans to keep Carter or quickly move on from him after the trade is finalized. His arrival could give the Hawks flexibility, since the team can take on his salary using either the bi-annual exception or the trade exception created last summer when it signed-and-traded Clint Capela to Houston.
That exception is set to expire on July 6, which gives Atlanta a limited window if it wants to use that mechanism. For Sacramento, the transaction looks like a straightforward salary move after Carter’s stock fell from lottery pick to trade piece in a little over two seasons.
Carter’s production never matched his draft billing in Sacramento, as he finished with averages of 6.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 14.8 minutes per game. His shooting line was also underwhelming at .401 from the field, .274 from three-point range and .674 at the line.
The former No. 13 pick had already come up in trade chatter a year ago, when his name surfaced in reports about a possible Kings package to Golden State for Jonathan Kuminga. That deal never happened, but this one does, and it gives Atlanta a chance to add a young guard while Sacramento clears a path toward its financial goals.
