When the OKC Thunder traded Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks just a few short weeks ago, it was thought that the wing could have a shot to earn a significant role on his new team.
The only potential roadblock toward doing so was that Atlanta had a bit of a logjam on the wings.
Fortunately, these teams weren't done with each other following the initial transaction, as Lu Dort was also sent south on Sunday to join his former OKC running mate.
Now, while Dort may be the bigger, more accomplished talent among the two, it's Wiggins who might have been the winner of this latest deal, as the Hawks seemingly made their opinion of him crystal clear.
Dort was the centerpiece of Atlanta's recent trade, but it is equally notable that Atlanta sent former number-one overall pick Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks. In doing so, they officially cleared the path for Aaron Wiggins to be the clear offensive focal point of the second unit.
Before Dort was traded, it was thought that Risacher and Wiggins would be vying for similar roles in the rotation. With talented starters like C.J. McCollum, Jalen Johnson, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Risacher was destined to come off the bench in 2026-27, likely alongside Wiggins.
Both being tall, lanky, and competent perimeter shooters, it was more than likely that only one would be able to consume ample minutes on a regular basis.
Fortunately for Wiggins, the Hawks have officially ended this particular position battle before it even started.
Thunder trade just gave Aaron Wiggins an inside track at sixth-man role
As it currently stands, ESPN has both Dort and Wiggins coming off the bench for the revamped Atlanta squad.
With Dort seemingly on the offensive decline, Wiggins now has an inside track to become the team's number-one scorer off the bench. He has already gained valuable experience at three to four positions playing for the championship-winning Thunder, and he has played every role in their offense from ball-handler to spot-up shooter.
Wiggins' perimeter numbers declined slightly in 2025-26, when he shot just 35.6 percent from distance. Before that, however, he had a three-year run in which he shot at least 38.3 percent from deep.
With Risacher gone, he immediately slots in as the Hawks' best deep threat on the second unit. Especially with the team drafting Houston point guard Kingston Flemmings, it's easy to think Wiggins will wind up playing off the ball more often than not, which would warrant him more of a scoring role than a facilitating one.
Such a role fits the sixth-year man perfectly, and it appears as though Atlanta agrees.
When all is said and done, it wouldn't come as a shock to anyone if Wiggins experiences a breakout campaign in his first season with his new team.
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