The Atlanta Hawks should absolutely be exploring every option to move up from pick 8 in this year’s draft if they believe a franchise-altering talent is within reach. They’re close enough to contention to justify that kind of move, and they’re armed with movable assets — both future picks and players — that would intrigue teams picking ahead of them.

That said, taking a page out of last year’s book and moving down shouldn’t be off the table either. And the Thunder, who own picks 12 and 17, are reportedly looking to move up the board.

This feels like an intriguing opportunity for the Hawks. They currently have five or six quality young players, but there’s no real commitment beyond that core. A move like this with the Thunder would give Atlanta picks 12, 17, 23, 37, and 57 in this year’s draft — and in a class this deep, that’s potentially four players who could contribute as early as next season.

Understandably, a lot of Hawks fans are ready for the big swing. Atlanta has made the playoffs frequently over the past two decades but has never had the star power to seriously contend for a championship. After this team showed the ability to compete down the stretch, people are ready for Onsi Saleh to make some noise this offseason.

But the quickest way to kill any momentum in this league is to take that big swing and miss. The Hawks have been building the right way — continuously adding to their core and prioritizing development from within. That’s the blueprint for a sustainable winner, and it’s exactly what we’re watching play out in Oklahoma City right now. Adding four or five more young players from a loaded draft class, guys who fit the timeline of this current core, is an especially compelling reason to stay the course.