Just less than two weeks from the start of the NBA preseason, an offseason of moves has not ended yet in Atlanta. In looking to solidify their starting and reserve rotation for the coming 2022-23 season, the Atlanta Hawks front office has made another trade.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Atlanta Hawks are shipping forward Moe Harkless and a second-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for young Czech international forward Vít Krejčí.
Sources: Oklahoma City is trading Vit Krejci to Atlanta for Moe Harkless and a second-round pick.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 27, 2022
Krejčí, only 22 years old, was drafted with the 7th pick in the 2nd round of the 2020 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards and was traded to the Thunder the next day. He later made his debut in 2021.
Since then, he has played in 30 games for the Thunder, starting in eight of those.
In those games, where he averaged 23 minutes of play, Krejčí generated 6.2 points, 1.9 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game on 41 percent shooting from the field and 33 percent from three-point range. His defensive stats, which come out to about half a steal and block per game, certainly leave a lot to be desired on that end. The advanced statistics do not suggest that there is some hidden defender in him either.
However, the Hawks will have known of these shortcomings before acquiring Krejčí. He is fairly lightweight given his size and position at 6’8″ and 195 pounds, so defensive matchups against his counterparts, if they decide to drive to the basket on him, will be difficult. His shooting, at the moment, is below league-average standard.
Given his age, he projects as a developing piece with the potential to be a solid role player in the future.
Thus, the consensus among the fanbase at the moment appears to be that this trade was primarily used as a vehicle for the Atlanta Hawks to rid themselves of Harkless’ $4.5 million dollar expiring contract. As a reminder, they acquired him from the Sacramento Kings in the Kevin Heurter trade.
What impact does the trade for Vit Krejci have on the Atlanta Hawks’ rotation?
Krejčí figures to see a few of the minutes at backup forward that Harkless is leaving behind, but the Hawks simply do not have the luxury of playing Krejčí 23 minutes per game like the rebuilding OKC Thunder.
Perhaps the most impactful result of this trade is the bode of confidence that the Hawks have given to young backup power forward Jalen Johnson.
Drafted with the Hawks’ 20th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, Johnson was seen as the potential successor to Collins if he were to be traded, injured, or leave in free agency. After spending most of his 2021 with the G-League College Park Skyhawks and without many legitimate backup options for the power forward slot, the Hawks have clearly seen something in Johnson’s development that they like.
Johnson figures to see most of the minutes that Harkless is leaving behind. Harkless is experienced, athletic, and has the size to be successful at the four, so sending him away is certainly evidence that the Hawks are comfortable with their power forward depth.
Inevitably, the small forward and power forward positions will be interchanged between players with similar builds vying for minutes. Jalen Johnson, Vít Krejčí, Justin Holiday, and Chris Silva will have the potential to play both the backup three and four positions. Onyeka Okonwgu, who is typically the Hawks’ backup center, could potentially get some time as the backup power forward as well.
However, there is no doubt that Johnson is currently the favorite to open the season as the second-choice power forward. The Atlanta Hawks will need to see a significant boost in his development in order to get the most out of the team this year.