Draft considerations – a footnote to the details of the Hawks’ trade of Joe Johnson in 2012 – could change the fortunes of the franchise.
In general manager Danny Ferry’s first move with the Hawks, he sent the six-time All-Star and his salary to the Nets for Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar, DeShawn Stevenson, Johan Petro, Jordan Williams, a first- and second-round draft pick and considerations. Those considerations were the right to swap first-round picks, unprotected, in the 2014 and 2015 NBA Drafts.
On Saturday, the Nets announced that Brook Lopez is out with a broken right foot. It’s more bad news in what has already been a miserable season for the team. Lopez, the 7-foot center and team’s leading scorer, is likely done for the season. The All-Star also averaged 6.0 rebounds for the Nets before another injury to a foot that has plagued him in recent years.
The Nets are currently 9-17 and 11th in the Eastern Conference. If their fortunes do not change in the final two-thirds of the regular season they are headed for a lottery pick. The Hawks would have that selection in a draft many consider the deepest in years. Experts contend this year’s college class could yield up to eight significant players.
All this for a Hawks team that is currently third in the East behind the Pacers and Heat. All this for a Nets team many considered would be a title contender with the offseason additions of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
Hawks officials have been reluctant to talk about the possibility of moving into the lottery for fear of jinxing something that could be franchise altering. Adding a lottery pick would be a boost to a roster that has undergone significant changes each of the past two offseasons.
The Nets have 56 games to turn around their season or face another dose of bad news.
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