Kings trade Devin Carter and 2033 pick to Hawks in cap move
The Sacramento Kings have agreed to trade guard Devin Carter and a 2033 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks, ESPN's Shams Charania reported on June 29, 2026. Sacramento is attaching future draft capital to move its 2024 lottery pick, while Atlanta adds a young guard as both teams reshape their rosters before free agency opens.
Key Takeaways
- Devin Carter and Sacramento's 2033 second-rounder are headed to Atlanta in a deal first reported by Shams Charania.
- The Kings are treating the move as a salary dump aimed at escaping luxury-tax territory under GM Scott Perry.
- What the Hawks send back to Sacramento has not yet been reported.
- Carter was the 13th overall pick in 2024 but played just 74 games across two injury-marred seasons.
- Atlanta may keep Carter for backcourt depth or flip him again once the trade is finalized.
What did the Kings send to the Hawks?
Per Hoops Rumors, the Kings and Hawks agreed to send Carter to Atlanta along with a future second-round selection. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line identified that pick as Sacramento's 2033 second-rounder, matching the RealGM report.
Charania broke the news on X, writing that Sacramento is trading Carter and a future second-round pick to Atlanta. Heavy.com noted that what Atlanta returns to Sacramento remains unknown, leaving the full framework of the deal incomplete for now.
Why are the Kings moving on from Devin Carter?
Carter, 24, was Sacramento's lottery pick just two years ago after going 13th overall out of Providence in the 2024 NBA Draft. His NBA debut was delayed by left shoulder surgery, and he later dealt with ankle, back, and calf issues during the 2025-26 season.
In 74 regular-season appearances across two years with the Kings, Carter averaged 6.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 14.8 minutes per game on .401/.274/.674 shooting. Heavy.com reported he missed the first 38 games of his rookie year and showed flashes — including a 20-point, eight-rebound, five-assist start — but never found steady minutes as Sacramento's rebuild took shape around younger players.
His name surfaced in prior trade talks, including packages Sacramento reportedly offered Golden State for Jonathan Kuminga. That deal never materialized. Hoops Rumors described this swap as essentially a salary dump for a team looking to get out of luxury-tax territory. With Zach LaVine opting into a $49 million deal and DeMar DeRozan still on the books, cap clarity has become a priority for Perry, who replaced Monte McNair as general manager and has moved on from several holdovers from the previous regime.
What does Atlanta get out of the Devin Carter trade?
For the Hawks, the appeal is a defensively engaged young guard with remaining upside at minimal acquisition cost beyond absorbing salary. Heavy.com noted Atlanta is reshaping its roster after trading Trae Young midseason and kept all three of its 2026 draft picks without moving any of them.
It remains unclear whether Atlanta intends to keep Carter long term or prioritize the second-round pick and potentially trade or release him after the deal closes. His contract carries a guaranteed $5.16 million salary in 2026-27, with a $7.37 million team option for 2027-28 that must be decided by October 31, 2026.
Hoops Rumors reported the Hawks could absorb Carter's salary using either the bi-annual exception or a trade exception created last summer when Atlanta sign-and-traded Clint Capela to Houston. That exception expires on July 6, adding a narrow timeline if Atlanta uses it to complete the move.
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