Johnson, star point guard Trae Young, defensive-minded swingman (and NBA steals leader) Dyson Daniels and rookie wing Zaccharie Risacher are Atlanta’s core players. For the rest of this season, however, the Hawks must soldier on without one of those four names.

Atlanta forward Jalen Johnson plans to have shoulder surgery and miss the remainder of the season, a major blow to the struggling Hawks' efforts to remain in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Hawks have a protected first-round pick from the Sacramento Kings, an unprotected pick from the Los Angeles Lakers and a $23.5 million trade exception from Murray’s subsequent trade to the New Orleans Pelicans. However, the Hawks are also just $1.3 million from the luxury tax line and historically haven’t been willing to go over.