A quick dissection of a recent story regarding the Atlanta Hawks potentially trading up in the 2019 NBA Draft with the Phoenix Suns.
The Atlanta Hawks tumbled down the 2019 NBA Draft board as three teams, the New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers shot up at least six spots to pick first, second and fourth, respectively.
As such, the Hawks were left out in the cold – falling to the 8th overall in a fairly top-heavy draft. However, they were not the only team that dropped three spots in the draft; the Phoenix Suns were slated to land the #3 overall pick, but they also slid three spots to #6 overall.
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Now, in a recent story on Valley of the Suns, our FanSided brethren site that covers the Phoenix Suns, writer Khaleel Abdullah outlines a potential trade of the Hawks’ #8 and #10 picks for the #6 overall pick and Josh Jackson on the Suns.
A scenario like this is extremely unlikely for the Atlanta Hawks – unless they truly are devoted to obtaining Cam Reddish at all costs, which would mean the inclusion of Jackson is unnecessary – as the two players play the same position.
For one thing, on the top end of this deal, giving up two lottery picks for one lottery pick is putrid value – and something cagey Hawks General Manager Travis Schlenk will likely not undertake. Furthermore, it is the Suns – not the Hawks – who are likely in a more “win-now” mode, so the Hawks giving up assets for a potentially more NBA-ready player is just not sensible.
On the Josh Jackson front, though he indeed might be 22, that’s only three years younger than Taurean Prince, who has already proven himself to be better than Jackson.
The 2019 NBA Draft will certainly be an interesting one for the Hawks and Suns, but the two teams transacting with one another seems unlikely.