TRADE: ATL gets Wiggins | OKC gets 2 2nds

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
The Oklahoma City Thunder are finalizing a trade to send guard Aaron Wiggins to the Atlanta Hawks for two second-round picks (Atlanta's in 2030 and the least favorable of Hawks/Lakers in 2032), sources tell ESPN.

[SleepingHero]

@BobbyMarks42
Entering the offseason, Oklahoma City had a projected tax penalty of $213M.

The trade reduces that number to $152M.

The Thunder enter the Tuesday Draft with two picks in the top-17 (no. 12 and 17).

[Scott41theMavs]

@BobbyMarks42
Entering the offseason, Oklahoma City had a projected tax penalty of $213M.

The trade reduces that number to $152M.

The Thunder enter the Tuesday Draft with two picks in the top-17 (no. 12 and 17).

DON'T HELP PRESTI YOU GEORGIAN FOOLS

[Mavs2021]

What a bunch of morons. That´s why the Wolves and Grizzlies so desperately want to be re-aligned to the East. It´s all a bunch of dumb bambis to feast on. I will never respect East NBA champions, cause that whole conference is full of clowns. You give them two 2nd rounders for a nothing player, when they are up against the 2nd apron.

[Luka77]

Makes no sense. That team is desperate to get out of that contract, and you give them draft capital for doing it. Stupid.

Clay Bennett will be Presti's ballast. This will be the first time that he has to pay luxury tax. Let him feel it.

[omahen]

Some of you are completely wrong on OKC "desperation" and how dire their cap situation is. Yes, they need to reduce salary if they don't want to be in the second apron. But, they have a bunch of flexibility how to do it. I said a month or so ago - worst case for them is letting Dort and Hartenstein walk for nothing. This is start of negotiations, not "pay us assets to take your players".

[Luka77]

Some of you are completely wrong on OKC "desperation" and how dire their cap situation is. Yes, they need to reduce salary if they don't want to be in the second apron. But, they have a bunch of flexibility how to do it. I said a month or so ago - worst case for them is letting Dort and Hartenstein walk for nothing. This is start of negotiations, not "pay us assets to take your players".

I think you are underestimating how cheap Clay Bennett.  He is not one of the deep-pocket owners of the NBA.  

This is the first time he will be paying the luxury tax (forget first or second apron), and that bill at this point is 153 million.  That tax bill will only continue to grow and when he has to pay it multiple years in a row, he will cave.

[omahen]

I think you are underestimating how cheap Clay Bennett is.  He is not one of the deep-pocket owners of the NBA.  

This is the first time he will be paying the luxury tax (forget first or second apron), and that bill at this point is 153 million.  That tax bill will only continue to grow and when he has to pay it multiple years in a row, he will cave.

I understand all of that. I will repeat again - worst case scenario for OKC is to let Dort and Hartenstein walk. They will not be paying to trade their players, as long as they can simply let them go.

[Chicagojk]

Some of you are completely wrong on OKC "desperation" and how dire their cap situation is. Yes, they need to reduce salary if they don't want to be in the second apron. But, they have a bunch of flexibility how to do it. I said a month or so ago - worst case for them is letting Dort and Hartenstein walk for nothing. This is start of negotiations, not "pay us assets to take your players".

I agree.
I think at 12 and 17 they can get two relatively young players with potential.  Although I think there is a real chance they move 17 to a desperate
Team like Sacramento or New Orleans.  Someone who pays $1.20 to move up.  


I am not sure who they like at 12.   It will be interesting to see who they are targeting.

[Chicagojk]

As far as Atlanta goes they can fill a remaining hole at center or point guard. They still have 23 though. That GM has made several good moves in a row. They lack a top 10 player though and that complicated things though.

I assume they want a Wiggins to play. I wonder why this does for Kuminga or Rishacher. Both need minutes and minutes are tight. I think there is a good chance one is not on the roster next year.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

As far as Atlanta goes they can fill a remaining hole at center or point guard.  They still have 23 though.  That GM has made several good moves in a row.  They lack a top 10 player though and that complicated things though.

I assume they want a Wiggins to play.  I wonder why this does for Kuminga or Rishacher.  Both need minutes and minutes are tight.  I think there is a good chance one is not on the roster next year.

You best believe they're not finished.  I agree they need center depth. NY's size gave them problems.

[omahen]

You best believe they're not finished.  I agree they need center depth. NY's size gave them problems.

They have #8 pick and/or MLE to address the center position. Or trade Okongwu for a better player using their other assets they have. Okongwu is imho a borderline center on a contender. Can be good but is a bit undersized. This means he is good in certain situations but in trouble in other. But, if you pare him with a bigger center more or less splitting the minutes between the two, you could have a very good center position and flexibility to adjust based on the opponent.

[mvossman]

What a bunch of morons. That´s why the Wolves and Grizzlies so desperately want to be re-aligned to the East. It´s all a bunch of dumb bambis to feast on. I will never respect East NBA champions, cause that whole conference is full of clowns. You give them two 2nd rounders for a nothing player, when they are up against the 2nd apron.

Roughly half the league can take on that contract.  Its not surprising there was a market and therefore bidding.  That's how the market works.  Its not hard to dump players when other teams want them.

[Mavs2021]

Roughly half the league can take on that contract.  Its not surprising there was a market and therefore bidding.  That's how the market works.  Its not hard to dump players when other teams want them.

That´s true. You just need to find one moron in a bunch of 29. Wiggins for two 2nd round picks is just dumb. But hey if he is worth two 2nds, I might have to adjust my late 1st projections for Marshall, Washington and Gafford. It also means they just weakened their own trade position with regards to Kuminga and/or Risacher, cause if they are willing to invest actual assets (no matter how small), that sends a signal to Kuminga/Risacher regarding their playing time/worth and potential trade partners will react accordingly.

[windjc]

Just a week ago people were saying that second rounders was useless. Now it’s the end of the world that OK got 2 ten years from now.

How many championships has Presti won? Checks notes. As many as Mark Cuban.

[DallasMaverick]

That´s true. You just need to find one moron in a bunch of 29. Wiggins for two 2nd round picks is just dumb. But hey if he is worth two 2nds, I might have to adjust my late 1st projections for Marshall, Washington and Gafford. It also means they just weakened their own trade position with regards to Kuminga and/or Risacher, cause if they are willing to invest actual assets (no matter how small), that sends a signal to Kuminga/Risacher regarding their playing time/worth and potential trade partners will react accordingly.

I'd argue it strengthens their negotiating positions with Kuminga & Risacher.

Why would they pay a premium price to retain either one, when they have a serviceable replacement?