Luke Kennard was traded for Gabe Vincent and a second round pick – a move Atlanta Hawks fans did not like, to say the least. This move is a stroke of genius by GM Onsi Saleh, however, and it’s not because of the return package.
Kennard for Vincent and a second is fair value. Both players are on essentially equivalent one-year deals; the Hawks aren’t trying to win this season, while the Lakers are. Los Angeles paid a second round pick for a half-year rental on a bench upgrade, while Atlanta received minor draft capital for a player who was gone next season regardless.
Fans were upset that the team downgraded for this season, but in truth, this season doesn’t matter. They already traded Kristaps Porzingis and Trae Young for pennies on the dollar; there is no harm in liquidating minor assets like Kennard and Vit Krejci (outside the emotional turmoil of losing a player as beloved as Krejci).
But the second round pick isn’t the real draw – the trade exception generated by this move was.
Atlanta extended the Bogdan Bogdanovic trade exception by one season
When Atlanta traded former fan favorite Bogdan Bogdanovic for Terance Mann last offseason, the team generated a $13.1 million trade exception that expired this trade deadline.
As the deadline approached, it appeared this exception would vanish into thin air. As mentioned earlier, the Hawks aren’t trying to win it all this season; it wouldn’t make much sense for the team to use this exception after blatantly dumping Young – their former franchise player – earlier this year.
Saleh, shrewd as ever, found a workaround. He traded for Vincent by using the Bogdanovic trade exception, then generated a new exception worth $11 million – Kennard’s salary.
To reframe the trade, Atlanta didn’t just earn a second round pick for Kennard (who, as any Hawks fan could tell you, has been overrated this season despite a recent hot streak). They earned a second round pick and the opportunity to acquire an $11 million man next trade deadline.
Saleh’s goal this trade deadline was clear as day. He’s not planning on being a contender this season, nor next – he’s planning for the future.
Considering his goal, Saleh hit a home run with this move. Sure, Kennard is a better player than Vincent, but it seemed quite clear that Cool Hand Luke was on the way out. After all, he makes more sense on a contender where his role is as small as possible. By earning a trade exception and second rounder in return, Atlanta gave itself two shots to add a player who could be a fixture on the next great Hawks squad. Dare I say this is a win-win trade?