Charlotte Purchased Graham's Second-Round Rights
The Hornets acquired the draft rights to Devonte' Graham from Atlanta during the 2018 draft. The Hawks received two future second-round selections, later linked to the 2019 No. 44 and 2023 No. 34 picks. Charlotte identified Graham as an inexpensive guard with strong shooting and playmaking potential despite his second-round status. Atlanta preferred to spread its return over two future drafts rather than sign Graham immediately. The deal exchanged one identifiable prospect for multiple delayed opportunities whose eventual team destinations would depend on later transactions.
Graham Developed Into a Productive Hornets Guard
Graham grew into a leading Charlotte backcourt contributor, most notably during the 2019-20 campaign when he averaged more than eighteen points and seven assists per game. His three-point shooting and ability to organize an offense gave the Hornets direct on-court value far beyond a typical second-round selection. The guard eventually moved to another franchise, but his Charlotte seasons remain a concrete return from this trade. Those achievements distinguish the transaction from speculative moves whose acquired rights never produce meaningful NBA games.
Atlanta's Later Pick Names Belong to Other Chains
The incoming second-round selections became associated with No. 44 in 2019, eventually used on Bol Bol, and No. 34 in 2023, associated with Colby Jones. Atlanta did not simply retain both players as Hawks rotation pieces. The choices passed through other deals, making the eventual drafted names part of the asset history rather than direct NBA production credited to Atlanta. The rights had potential trade value, yet neither delivered anything comparable to the reliable Hornets playmaking Graham provided for Charlotte.
An Outperforming Second-Round Guard Decided the Deal
Charlotte acquired a player whose production became unusually strong for the cost of two later second-round choices. Atlanta gained extra draft flexibility and could redirect those assets as its roster plans changed, but the opportunity to develop Graham was the more valuable result. The trade should not be judged by pretending both 2019 and 2023 selected players played for Atlanta. Its decisive contrast is between the useful Hornets guard and future picks whose realized Hawks return was less direct and less productive.
Final Verdict
Charlotte Win. The Hornets earn B+ for Devonte' Graham's productive seasons as a scoring and playmaking guard. Atlanta gets D+ for two future second-round rights, eventually associated with Bol Bol and Colby Jones but redirected through later transactions rather than producing those players' Hawks careers. Graham's direct Charlotte contribution was the clearest lasting basketball value in this draft-night swap.