Evaluating the Atlanta Hawks Trade Deadline

Grading the Atlanta Hawks roster moves at the NBA trade deadline.

Following last night's win over the Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks general manager Landry Fields was all smiles. Clearly exhausted from what he described as three long days, Fields had successfully pulled off his first NBA trade deadline at the helm of the Hawks organization.

Fields and assistant general manager Kyle Korver took over the reins in December and knew all eyes were on them as the team struggled through the first two-thirds of the season. Below are our grades for yesterday's last-second trades.

Detroit Pistons

Saddiq Bey celebrates a shot / Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Hawks Lose: Five future second-round draft picks.

Hawks Receive: Shooting guard/small forward Saddiq Bey.

Analysis: Saddiq Bey will not transform Atlanta into a title contender. However, he reinforces Atlanta's shaky bench unit. Plus, the 6'7" wing serves as insurance should Bogdan Bogdanovic or De'Andre Hunter miss time with an injury.

Bey is only 23 years old and less than two years removed from being named NBA All-Rookie First Team. After a slight drop-off during his sophomore campaign, Bey is averaging 14.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game this season. His defense is average, but he can stretch the floor with his 34.5% three-point shooting.

Five second-round draft picks might seem like a lot until you realize how rare it is for a late-draft selection to make a dent in the NBA. The College Park Skyhawks can easily fill out their roster by other means; Atlanta needs Bey now.

Grade: A

Chicago Bulls

Bruno Fernando passes the ball / Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Hawks Lose: Shooting guard Justin Holiday and center Frank Kaminsky.

Hawks Receive: Center Bruno Fernando and shooting guard Garrison Matthews.

Analysis: Shortly after breaking the news, ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski went out of his way to tweet that Atlanta's trade was a cost-cutting move. We know, Woj. It always comes down to the bottom line with this ownership group.

But just because it was a deal aimed at shedding salary doesn't automatically mean it's a bad move. Justin Holiday and Frank Kaminsky were well outside of Nate McMillan's rotation. Holiday's $6.2 million contract and Kaminsky's $2.4 million contract were too expensive for players collecting dust on the bench.

Even better, Atlanta gets a fan-favorite in Bruno Fernando back. Since leaving Atlanta in 2021, Fernando has proven capable of being a reliable second or third-string center in the NBA. Meanwhile, Matthews can stretch the floor in the unlikely scenario he sees the court during McMillan's tenure.

Grade: A