Trade season in the NBA is heating up as the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaches.
On Sunday, the Atlanta Hawks sent Vit Krejci to the Portland Trail Blazers for Duop Reath and two future second-round picks. The initial reaction to this trade is confusion from the Hawks’ perspective. However, if you really think about it, this trade makes sense for all parties involved.
Trail Blazers Get an Upgrade
For the Trail Blazers, Krejci solves a big problem and is on a cheap deal. They rank dead last in the NBA in three-point percentage (33.6%) despite ranking third in the league in attempts per game (41.7 3PA). On the season, Krejci is shooting 42.3% from three on a career-high 5.2 attempts per game.
The best part of the trade for Portland is the fact that Krejci is on a league-minimum salary ($2.3 million). He is also under contract next season ($2.6 million) and has a club option worth $3 million for the 2027-2028 season.
Simply put, the Trail Blazers are getting a very usable player at a very reasonable price. Krejci had an incredible stretch for Atlanta earlier in the season. During a four-game road trip from Nov. 10 to Nov. 16, Krejci shot 18-28 from three-point range (64.3%) and averaged 16.5 points per game.
The best game Krejci played this season was against the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 10. He scored 28 points and made eight threes in 10 attempts to lead the Hawks to a win.
Hawks Had No Room
With how well Krejci was playing this season for the Hawks, it may come as a surprise that Atlanta moved him. The addition of Corey Kispert congested the wing rotation for the Hawks. Combine that with Zaccharie Risacher returning to the lineup recently, and Head Coach Quin Snyder was becoming unable to find minutes for Krejci. Luke Kennard has also been playing well as of late, so Snyder has preferred to play him more.
The reality is that Krejci, Kennard, and Kispert all have similar archetypes—great shooters who aren’t great at defense. Unlike Portland, the Hawks haven’t had a problem with shooting this season. Atlanta ranks seventh in three-point percentage (37.2%) and eighth in three-pointers made per game (14.5).
Over his last five games, Krejci has played just 11.2 minutes per game compared to his season average of 22.3 minutes per game. He has also been struggling to shoot the basketball. Over his last 10 games, Krejci is shooting 37% from the field and 25% from three.
The problem is that Krejci doesn’t provide much value on the court outside of his three-point shooting. When he has a cold stretch, it is hard to find him minutes—especially when there are two other players at his position with similar archetypes.
Building For the Future
Hawks General Manager Onsi Saleh has been very big on “optionality.” While this trade doesn’t save the Hawks money, they are already under the luxury tax. In the trade, Atlanta gained their own 2027 second-round pick back, along with a New York Knicks 2030 second-round pick, per Jake Fischer.
Although it hasn’t happened yet, the Hawks could waive Reath. Unfortunately, he suffered a foot injury and required season-ending surgery. Given that he is already on an expiring deal, Atlanta can free up a roster spot by waiving him.
With this trade, the Hawks now possess seven second-round picks. Atlanta is also in a great position financially, with plenty of roster flexibility. Ever since the Dejounte Murray trade in 2022, the Hawks have been able to recoup assets and reset the future of the franchise.
Everyone is Happy
In the end, both organizations will walk away from this deal as winners. Portland gets a wing shooter they desperately need, and Atlanta gets two draft picks to stack assets. Krejci also goes to a team where he is needed and will see plenty of playing time. The unfortunate part of the deal is that Reath will likely never contribute to the Hawks.
It may not be the biggest trade ever, but it makes sense for both teams. Atlanta is making deals with their future beyond this season in mind. While they feel strong about their core, the Hawks’ roster is not in a position to be a championship-caliber team in the Eastern Conference. As for the Trail Blazers, shooting will always carry value in the NBA, and they got a great one for cheap that will have an immediate impact.
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