Atlanta Hawks Receive: F/C Jalen Smith, PHX 2022 First-Round Pick
Phoenix Suns Receive: F Cam Reddish
This is a straightforward trade between the Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns. They are swapping two young players that could use a change of scenery to help their development and unlock their immense potential.
The Suns will be acquiring Cam Reddish, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Duke, in this deal. He will provide insurance on the wing and could benefit from being around some of the veterans Phoenix has on its roster.
The Hawks will be receiving Jalen Smith, who was also a No. 10 overall pick. He was taken in that spot in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Maryland. Coming along with Smith is a 2022 second-round pick via the Suns.
For the Hawks, this trade makes some sense. If they want to move Reddish, this deal would kick a potential contract extension down the line for at least one more year.
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Atlanta has to figure out which players they want as part of their core going forward, and if Reddish isn’t in those plans, acquiring another high-upside player would be smart.
Smith hasn’t had a chance to develop his skills as the Suns went from a lottery team to contending so quickly. Atlanta is in a similar position, but he could carve out a role early in the season as Oneyka Okongwu, the team’s first-round pick from 2020, recovers from shoulder surgery.
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Smith has the potential to be a difference-maker on both ends of the court as a rim protector defensively and floor-stretching big man on offense. He showed those skills during college but needs some more time to develop them.
With the draft pick coming along with him, the Atlanta Hawks are happy to make this swap. Are the Suns as happy to do so? Let’s take a look at it from their perspective.
