The Deal
Hawks get: Guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (from Knicks), two future second-round picks (from Wizards)
Knicks get: Rights to No. 19 pick (Jerian Grant)
Wizards get: Rights to No. 15 pick (Kelly Oubre)
Atlanta Hawks: D
The Hawks could use more shooting on the wing off the bench, and as an Eastern Conference contender, it makes sense for Atlanta to add an older player capable of competing immediately. I just don't think Hardaway is that player. After a solid rookie season, Hardaway regressed badly in Year 2, making just 34.3 percent of his 3-pointers and posting a below-average true shooting percentage.
Hardaway needs to be a knockdown shooter because he's such a liability at the other end of the floor. ESPN's real plus-minus rated him 94th out of 100 qualifying shooting guards in defensive impact, a big reason Hardaway rated 3.4 points per 100 possessions -- worse than the league average overall.
Perhaps the Hawks believe that in their system they can develop Hardaway into a capable defender. If so, he should get more open looks in Atlanta than he did with the makeshift lineup he played with in New York. Consider me skeptical, but Mike Budenholzer and company can pull that off.
New York Knicks: A
Trading the 24th pick of the 2013 draft for the 19th pick in 2015 is almost always a good deal, since the Knicks have added two years of cost-controlled salary on the rookie contract. Add in the questions about Hardaway's ability to contribute defensively, and this deal was a no-brainer to me.
Washington Wizards: C
I made the case against trading up this morning, and by that chart, the Wizards' surrendering a pair of future second-round picks to go up just five spots will probably score as a slight overpay. Washington can make the case that Oubre is a little more valuable than the 15th overall pick -- he was 12th on Chad Ford's big board -- and the second-round picks are replaceable using cash, so no complaint here.