The Atlanta Hawks seem set to ensure a veteran presence for the rookie backcourt they esteem so highly.
Per multiple reports, the Hawks have a deal in place to acquire veteran guard Jeremy Lin from the Brooklyn Nets. It was one of two moves for the Nets on Thursday, who also reportedly sent Isaiah Whitehead to the Denver Nuggets for Darrell Arthur, Kenneth Faried and a 2019 first-round pick.
Here’s more from Greg Logan of Newsday on the deal between the Hawks and Nets:
The Nets’ news bomb dropped just after midnight ET Friday morning when ESPN first reported that general manager Sean Marks had traded point guard Jeremy Lin to the Hawks and had taken a major salary dump from the Nuggets and received a protected 2019 first-round pick in exchange for Isaiah Whitehead in a separate but related deal. An NBA source confirmed the details of both deals to Newsday.
The two deals represented a sort of give and take for Nets fans. On the one hand, Lin was a popular figure who played only 37 games in the past two seasons after signing a three-year deal worth $38 million. He had done everything in his power to recover from a season-ending patella tendon injury suffered in the opener last season.
On the other hand, the Nets acquired Denver’s 2019 first-round pick, which is protected from 1-12, according to the NBA source. The Nets also will get Nuggets power forwards Kenneth Faried and Darrell Arthur. Denver is expected to waive Whitehead, who is coming off wrist surgery, according to ESPN, which also reported that the deal will save the Nuggets a total of $43 million in salary and luxury tax.
The Nets could have two first-round picks next June, but if the Nuggets’ pick falls into the 1-12 range, it’s certain a contingency plan is in place that will determine when the Nets would get Denver’s first-round pick in the future, another NBA source said.
In the deal for Lin, ESPN reported that the Nets will get Isaia Cordinier of France, who is not expected to play for them, and a 2020 second-round pick. The Hawks will get the right to swap 2023 second-round picks and will get the Nets’ 2025 second-round pick.
Lin suffered a torn patellar tendon on opening night last season, forcing him to miss the entire 2017-18 campaign. The undrafted Harvard guard averaged 14.5 points, 5.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 2016-17, his first season with the Nets.
The move comes weeks after Atlanta traded down to acquire fifth overall pick Trae Young in the 2018 NBA Draft, then took Kevin Huerter at No. 19. The Hawks now add Lin, who has one year remaining on his contract, to that guard mix. Atlanta must also consider the future of starting point guard Dennis Schroder, who hinted heavily to German media in May that he would prefer to be traded.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that as part of the deal, Atlanta and Brooklyn will exchange future second-round picks.
