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The Atlanta Hawks have been (very) quiet in early July but, on Wednesday morning, the silence broke with a reported trade involving the Memphis Grizzlies. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski brings word that the Hawks will acquire Chandler Parsons, with Solomon Hill and Miles Plumlee heading to Memphis.
Memphis has agreed to trade Chandler Parsons to Atlanta for Solomon Hill and Miles Plumlee, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2019
In addition, Wojnarowski brings word that the Grizzlies and Parsons were working on a buyout which could, in theory, carry over to a similar discussion upon arrival in Atlanta. However, ESPN’s reporting indicates that the Hawks “are open to giving Parsons an opportunity to earn a role in his final year under contract,” even if a buyout “always remains a possibility.
This move is interesting on a number of levels. First, it involves a trio of players that are all operating on expiring contracts that are less than appetizing. Hill is scheduled to make $12.758 million for the 2019-20 season, with Plumlee set to make $12.5 million. Combining the two approximates the incoming salary of Parsons ($25.1 million) but, in the process, the Hawks create a roster spot that could be exceedingly useful.
After this trade, the Hawks will have 11 players on guaranteed contracts, with Jaylen Adams on a non-guaranteed deal and No. 34 overall pick Bruno Fernando assured to sign in the near future. As such, Atlanta will have two, and potentially three, roster spots to work with but, at the same time, the Hawks lose a bit of center depth in Plumlee.
At present, the Hawks employ only four players — Alex Len, John Collins, Omari Spellman and Fernando — who can function at the center position. That could shed light on a potential need in the coming days, with the Hawks still possessing considerably salary cap flexibililty.
As for Parsons, the 30-year-old forward has battled all kinds of injury concerns in recent years, appearing in only 95 games combined over the last three seasons in Memphis. If healthy, he could present intriguing skill on the offensive end but the Hawks do have other options at the forward spots and it will be interesting to see how Parsons fits, if at all.
Stay tuned.