Update: The Vertical now reports clarification on the pick compensation going to Philadelphia, with the Hawks sending a protected second round pick previously acquired from Miami. In addition, Atlanta and Philadelphia will swap 2017 second-round selections, with the Sixers including a previously acquired pick from the Golden State Warriors (and not their own pick) in the swap.
Source: Atlanta's sending a 2017 second-round pick (via Miami) in the Sixers trade. Hawks/Sixers swapping other 2017 second-rounders.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 23, 2017
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The Atlanta Hawks were vocal about being “buyers” in advance of the 2017 trade deadline and, on Wednesday evening, that proclamation came through. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, the Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers have come to an agreement that would send injured center Tiago Splitter and two second-round draft picks to Philadelphia in exchange for veteran forward Ersan Ilyasova.
Sixers are finalizing a trade to Ersan Ilyasova to Atlanta for Tiago Splitter and two second-round picks, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 23, 2017
Splitter’s contract is largely covered by insurance and needed for salary matching purposes in this particular trade. He would depart from Atlanta without appearing on an NBA court this season and Splitter’s full two-year tenure was a virtual wash due to a variety of maladies. In Ilyasova, the Hawks would be acquiring a stretch four that could help Atlanta’s offense with additional spacing. He is a career 37 percent three-point shooter and would greatly aid at a position of need behind Paul Millsap.
With that said, Ilyasova is an expiring contract and it will be interesting to see which of the second-round picks owned by Atlanta are headed to Philly in this trade. The Hawks hold Brooklyn’s 2017 second-round selection and, given the Nets’ struggles, that profiles as the likely No. 31 overall pick.
In the short term, this is an on-court upgrade for the Hawks without giving up a great deal for the future and that is the type of move that can be palatable for those on either side of the rebuilding fence. Stay tuned as additional details emerge.