Grade the trade: Heat land polarizing star from playoff contender
By Wes Goldberg
Why the Hawks do it
As Bailey wrote, Jaquez is more valuable than any first-round pick the Hawks might get in exchange for Young, and future draft capital isn’t as important to a team looking to remain in the playoff picture.
“A rotation with Dejounte Murray, Herro, Jaquez, Jalen Johnson and Clint Capela, with Rozier, Onyeka Okongwu and Bogdan Bogdanović coming off the bench would remain in the hunt for a playoff spot without having the bad fit between Murray and Young.” Bailey writes.
Murray, who averaged 24.5 points on 45% shooting, 8.7 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals after February’s trade deadline, would get to run the show. Herro and Jaquez would add secondary playmaking and Jalen Johnson, who was Atlanta’s brightest silver lining last season, would get to take on a bigger role. The Hawks would also have Rozier and Bogdanovic to anchor their second unit.