What Does It Mean?: Brooklyn-Atlanta Trade

There are a lot of things to break down with the recent trade in the NBA.  The Brooklyn Nets are determined to build their own big three, and the Atlanta Hawks suddenly become a destination for free agents in 2013.  The Hawks weren't done, and made another trade with the Utah Jazz for Devin Harris while dealing Marvin Williams. Here was the trades from yesterday

Brooklyn gets Joe Johnson
Atlanta gets Jordan Farmer, Johan Petro, Anthony Morrow, Jordan Williams, DeShawn Stevenson, and a future first round pick.

 Let's break down with our new segment, what does it all mean?



For Brooklyn, it means Billy King is either going to look like a genius or a dunce; bet on the latter.   The Nets are feverishly trying to move to get Dwight Howard from the Magic, but the offer is Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, and three picks.  That's like someone trying to trade you a filet mignon for 12 McChickens.  The Nets do not have enough to convince the Magic to make the trade.  They are perfectly okay with letting Howard stay put, and  be the unhappiest person in Orlando.

Even if Howard doesn't come this year, the Nets, as a team, have a pretty decent squad if Deron Williams comes back, which is expected. Williams-Johnson-Wallace-Humphries-Lopez is a pretty solid team.  Sure, their bench will not be great after Brooks, but in the Eastern Conference, that's a lower tier playoff team.  Additionally, Avery Johnson is a better coach than people give him credit for.  The Nets will be playoff team with or without Howard.

For Atlanta, Danny Ferry might be the real life Harry Potter.  People like to remember the new Hawks GM as 'The Guy Who Couldn't Keep LeBron in Cleveland,' but Ferry did do some magical things to get Cleveland enough to contend yearly.  Sure, LeBron James had a ton to do with it, but Ferry assisted in that process.  Ferry got rid of the most untradeable contract in basketball, and a complete bust draft pick.  Additionally, two players that were not well-liked by Atlanta's fan base. They now have a team of expiring contracts, and two buddies of Howard meaning yes, they are in the running for D12.

It did not register with King that the Hawks are now contenders for Howard even without Josh Smith who might get moved as well even though Howard and him are boys.  A team with Al Horford, Howard, and another piece could be really special and legit contender.  The Hawks have a ton of moving parts that makes them a very intriguing team to watch in the coming months.  Also worth nothing, a rumor got flow out there about the Hawks moving back to St. Louis. I have no idea if this has any legs or not.

I have a feeling some big Dwight Howard story will break at 3 pm on the Fourth of July because the sports gods do not allow bloggers and others to have holidays.

Charlie.