Breaking News:
Earlier today, the Atlanta Hawks were involved in a trade that sent Cam Reddish, Solomon Hill and a 2025 second-round pick via the Brooklyn Nets to the Knicks. In return, the Hawks received Kevin Knox and a 2022 1st-round pick via Charlotte per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
ESPN Sources: The Atlanta Hawks are trading forward Cam Reddish to the New York Knicks for a deal that includes a protected 2022 first-round pick via Charlotte. Knicks also acquire Solomon Hill and a 2025 second-round pick via Brooklyn in trade.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2022
Reddish, a young wing drafted 10th overall in 2019 has shown flashes of great ability throughout his first couple of seasons in the NBA. The former Duke one-and-done prospect has seen career highs in points, field goal percentage and a huge jump in 3-point percentage. However, with Atlanta having an excess of wing players, Reddish was seeing the floor minimally.
Knox, drafted by NY with the 9th pick in 2018, has similarly struggled to see the floor in the previous 2 seasons. Usually, the Kentucky marksman can be seen in garbage time blowouts. Tom Thibodeau plays his rotational players longer than most coaches during those situations. Rumors were swirling that Indiana had interest in the young wing but a deal never came to fruition.
As for the draft picks involved in the trade, Tommy Beer breaks down how the Charlotte 1st-round pick protections work.
Here are the protections on that Charlotte pick:
1-18 in 2022,
1-16 in 2023,
1-14 in 2024,
1-14 in 2025,
if Charlotte has not conveyed by 2025, it becomes a pair of 2nd round picks (2026 and 2027). https://t.co/Z1pemAvMUr— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) January 13, 2022
Knicks: Moving Forward
While Reddish may see more playing time, the Knicks have a rotation of wings in Barrett, Fournier, Grimes and Alec Burks when he’s not playing the point. It will be interesting to see if Grimes’ minutes decrease when Derrick Rose returns from his ankle injury. Grimes, the 25th pick of the 2021 draft, has worked his way into the rotation. His pesky defense and excellent shooting have made him another draft steal. According to Ian Begley of SNY, Atlanta wanted Grimes in the trade, but the front office led by Leon Rose wouldn’t give him up.
The Knicks and the Hawks had talks earlier this week about a Cam Reddish deal that included Quentin Grimes, but some decision-makers were opposed to parting with him.
Grimes was not included in the deal.
Full details from @IanBegley, including a possible Cam Reddish extension: pic.twitter.com/qDMqmnVx0N
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) January 13, 2022
For Solomon Hill, the Knicks will probably waive him. The veteran forward may not find a place on the roster that has so much depth. If NY doesn’t, it would be very interesting to see if he’s involved in another trade. The only way he could receive playing time is if Obi Toppin or Julius Randle suffer an injury and Thibodeau doesn’t go with his right hand man Taj Gibson.
