5:18pm: The Hawks have officially announced the acquisition of Labissiere and cash. They traded their 2024 second-round pick (top-55 protected) in the swap, according to a press release. Meanwhile, Hollinger clarifies (via Twitter) that the exact amount of cash headed to Atlanta is $1,759,795.
12:40pm: The Hawks are accommodating another minor salary dump, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports (via Twitter) that the Trail Blazers are sending big man Skal Labissiere and cash to Atlanta. The Hawks will also receive $1.9MM in cash from Portland to take Labissiere off its hands, John Hollinger of The Athletic tweets.
The Blazers will receive token consideration from Atlanta to legally execute the deal, likely a top-55 protected second round pick, Hollinger adds.
Atlanta is creating two roster spots this week. The Hawks are shipping out Alex Len and Jabari Parker to Sacramento while agreeing to re-acquire center Dewayne Dedmon and also waived Nene after acquiring the veteran big man from Houston as part of a four-team deal.
Labissiere has appeared in 33 games with Portland this season, averaging 5.8 PPG and 5.1 RPG in 17.2 MPG. He hasn’t played since December 28 due to a left knee articular cartilage lesion but the Hawks plan to keep the 23-year-old power forward, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The deal will shave $3.8MM off Portland’s luxury tax bill, Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets. The tax bill is now down to $5.9MM while also opening up a roster spot, Marks adds.
The Hawks agreed to a similar acquisition with the Clippers on Tuesday involving guard Derrick Walton. Atlanta essentially rented out cap space to execute these types of moves before making the Dedmon trade official.
What in the world are the Hawks doing? They already have like 4 centers on their roster. Goodness!
Opposite of Houston. Playing big-ball ♂️
Skal is not a center. He is a SF in a center’s body.
This has nothing to do with playing time. This is just the Hawks picking up some cash. Basically getting paid the players remaining salary plus cash to help another team clear a little room.
It’s a solid move given it really only hurts the Hawks cap-number this year, which is not really an issue.
so they paid the Hawks $1.9 million to make the trade to shave $3.8 million of luxury tax…basically to save $1.9 of their own?!?!…1st world problems at their finest lol….NBA trades are so confusing
but what is Skal’s salary this season?
if its more than $1.9 million than what’s even the point?!…again these NBA trades smh
It’s $2.34MM, but the Hawks only have to pay the prorated portion that’s left. So yeah, both teams will still end up making a little money off the deal.
gotcha…Thanks!
Bingo!
Now who of the new centers pairs with Trae the best.
I know I’m in the minority, but I did have an interest in him going into his draft. So I’m hoping he shows something. For the Hawks its an inexpensive look at a player that has untapped talent. If he doesn’t work our, we didn’t give up much to get him. I like it.
Skal does look good sometimes when he stretches out.
Blazers clearing cap space and a roster spot can now sign a vet for the minimum to help them with a playoff push. Jeff Green, Kennith Faried or Greg Monroe would all be nice bench scorers that have some versatility
It really has to be disheartening for a player to know that not only did your former team acquire basically nothing for you, but they also had to pay the other team to take you off their hands. Confidence is arguably the most important asset for a pro athlete and this can’t be doing him any favors.