Less than 48 hours ago, it was reported by ESPN and other sources that the Atlanta Hawks made a trade with the New York Knicks involving Cam Reddish. Many NBA fans and insiders saw this as a shock as Reddish has been very solid over the last 2 seasons for Atlanta, averaging around 11 points, a block, and 2 defensive rebounds for the Hawks. Reddish also had a spectacular playoff run in 2021, averaging around 13 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2 assists. He showed up big time against the Bucks in game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals when Trae Young was ruled out with an ankle injury, dropping 21 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal. The Hawks would eventually lose that game but Reddish showcased his star potential that night, making it clear that he was a core piece of the team. Being the #10 overall pick, it would appear that Reddish’s claims are valid. That seemed to be the case until the Hawks realized that changes needed to made due to their performance on the court. Currently, their 17-23 record puts them at #12 in the Eastern Conference, just 2 spots higher than the Detroit Pistons who are currently 9-31 on the season. They got off to a losing streak at the start of the season and have not been able to bring it back ever since then. So, in a puzzling move, the Hawks announced that they would be trading Cam Reddish to the New York Knicks, along with Power Forward Solomon Hill, in exchange for a first round draft pick and……Kevin Knox II?
Reactions to the trade are mixed. While some people think that Cam Reddish being traded allows him to flourish into a better player, while others think that the trade was extremely unfair and unnecessary. However, Reddish doesn’t seem too phased by it as he posted on social media saying “Bing Bong”, which is a New York catchphrase that was adapted to sports media. However, most NBA fans agree that the Hawks should’ve never even considered this trade based on the potential that Reddish has. He is only 22 years old with tons of longevity in his career despite his injuries.
Regarding Solomon Hill and Kevin Knox, we’ll just have to see. Both forwards have their own sets of strengths and weaknesses, some more obvious than others. Knox hasn’t had a real chance to showcase his talent on a deep Knicks roster with Julius Randle and RJ Barrett at the helm. His only good season was in 2018 where he averaged 13 points, 1 assist and 4 rebounds. He could have a huge role in Nate McMillan’s offense but his contribution to the team is unclear at this moment. As for Solomon Hill, he has been lackluster to say the very least. Many Hawks fans don’t like Hill because of his poor offensive ability and his seemingly non-existent defensive ability. In 2021, he didn’t even average a single point per game with only 2 rebounds showing up on the stat sheet. He’ll most likely be a backup or a veteran presence in Madison Square Garden for the foreseeable future.
Now that we’ve discussed the players a little bit, let’s break down the trade for each team and look at the positives and negatives of it. This might be a bit controversial so take all of this with a grain of salt as we explain the trade. Without further ado, let’s talk business.
The Hawks after the trade
It’s safe to say that the Hawks want to gear up for an NBA playoff run within the next couple of years. With the success of the 2021 season on their shoulders, this young team could only grow from last season’s mistakes. At least that’s what everyone thought until they became the 12th seed in the eastern conference. Like we mentioned earlier, there needs to be some serious reworking done within Atlanta’s locker room in order for a playoff run to happen. Unfortunately, the piece that needed to be traded in order to do so, was Cam Reddish. Reddish was a fan favorite among Hawks fans, especially after the 2021 playoffs when Trae Young was out. Reddish and John Collins had to scrounge up and lead that team against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in games 5 and 6 of the eastern conference finals. Despite all of that, the Hawks organization thought that this trade would benefit their team in some way. It turns out that there might be a couple bright spots that could help lead the Hawks to the end of the tunnel.
Pros: Draft Capital, Cap space, Trade wiggle room
Cons: Giving up a star player with loads of potential
There are some key positives for Atlanta if we look close enough at the trade. One of them is the 2022 first-round pick they gained from the Knicks that belongs to the Charlotte Hornets. This gives the Hawks more draft capital that they can use for trades or players in the future. The trade also frees up some cap room due to the fact that they offloaded Solomon Hill’s contract as well as a potential max extension from Cam Reddish. Reddish is still on his rookie deal, so it makes sense that a player of his caliber would want a multi-million dollar extension at the end of his expiring contract. All signs are pointing to something big in the peach state as they may be gearing up for a blockbuster trade involving one of the most polarizing players in the NBA: Ben Simmons. The latest rumors that have circulated across the internet say that the Atlanta Hawks have emerged as the favorite to land Ben Simmons due to the trade value they received from the Knicks.
Now, a lot of people don’t like Ben Simmons as a player after the stunt he pulled at the beginning of this season but, Hawks fans should be slightly optimistic because of what they could potentially get: a Defensive anchor. The Hawks desperately need defense, and with star Forward John Collins being unhappy with the front office, it only makes sense that they did this trade. Simmons could potentially play power forward with his 6’10 frame and 7’0 wingspan which adds some defensive fire power to the team. So, maybe trading a young all star potential player for an experienced all star with a volatile personality could work out in the long run. Experience is always safer than potential in mostly every sports situation.
Yes, Cam Reddish got traded to one of the Hawks’ playoff rivals who kickstarted Trae Young’s “Villan arc”, but the future seems bright in Atlanta and they have the assets to turn their record around. They’ve done it before, why can’t they do it again?
The Knicks After the trade
As for the New York Knicks, what’s not to like? Currently 21-21 on the season, the Knicks are the 11th seed in the East, just one spot ahead of the Hawks. With this trade, RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish are reunited from their days at Duke, and Knicks fans seem to be nothing short of ecstatic. Most of the fans in New York agree that they “fleeced” the Atlanta Hawks in this trade because of the potential Reddish can have in a solid offense. While New York could’ve been the perfect landing spot for Reddish, many Knicks fans are ignoring the future ramifications of this trade. However, the Knicks seem to be the clear short-term winner of this trade.
Pros: Star role player with loads of potential, freeing up some cap space and “deadweight”
Cons: Losing draft capital, potentially losing long-term cap space, less wiggle room for trades
The Knicks clearly got a player that has a clear role on their team and can contribute immediately. Reddish will definitely help issues that have plagued the Knicks for a while like a lack defensive cohesion and an absence of a dynamic player on their roster. Julius Randle could also see a spike in his production because of a new potential trio forming between RJ, Reddish, and himself. New York is in the mindset to win now, and I can’t blame them because of all the talent that they have on this team.
The upside is clear with this trade, but what about the downsides? With Reddish’s rookie deal expiring soon, the Knicks need to free up a bit more cap space if they want to make more trades or pay any of their star players. Reddish is most likely going to get a huge payday once this season up because of his production on both ends of the court. So, the Knicks may need to think of something before they lose Reddish after his contract expires. The Knicks also lost one of their future draft picks, granted not their own. They could’ve used that pick on a bigger deal or saved it and actually draft someone in the upcoming draft even though it is top 18 protected. Yes, they gain a second-rounder but those aren’t that valuable. Kevin Knox is technically a loss in this context but, I think the Knicks knew that. They assumingly had to give up someone young in order to fulfill the Hawks’ demands.
One thing is clear: someone is going to win this trade eventually, we just don’t know who. Cam Reddish is a great asset but is he worth a first-round pick? Should he have been traded in the first place? Patience is needed for these teams’ fanbases in order to see what paid off from this deal. RJ Barrett reunites with an old friend and Trae Young says goodbye to one. We’ll see how the Hawks’ season unfolds with all of this info. As for the Knicks, enjoy Reddish but don’t be upset if he doesn’t turn out the way you want him to be. We’ll check back with these two teams later in the season to see their progress after this trade.
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