Hawks players may not know it but there is a little extra on the line in tonight’s game against the Nets.
One of the remaining two pieces of the Joe Johnson trade is the Hawks’ right to swap first-round selections (not lottery protected) with the Nets in the 2015 NBA draft. The Hawks currently lead the Eastern Conference by 6-1/2 games and the Nets by 18-1/2 games. The Nets are ½-game behind the Hornets for the eighth and final playoff spot and, as it stands, NBA draft lottery bound. Not only are the Hawks on track to drastically improve their draft standing, they could even get a lottery pick next June.
The Hawks also have the Nets’ second-round pick in 2017 from the Johnson deal.
The Joe Johnson trade: The gift that keeps on giving.
“We don’t pay that close attention to it,” coach Mike Budenholzer said Wednesday. “Obviously we are aware of it. It’s a different compartment. So, it’s something that every team tracks, when and where they might be picking, if they have (picks) or they don’t. We aren’t any different than any other team. We are aware.”
Several players were asked about the possibility of swapping draft picks with the Nets and none was aware of the trade stipulation. However, if a win over the Nets can help the cause, so be it. They will certainly take the conference’s best record and a lottery pick.
“Yeah, any time you can get another talented player that fits our style of basketball, it’s great,” Jeff Teague said.
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