NBA Star From Clifton Park Gets Traded

The NBA's Atlanta Hawks have been busy making trades this week. Friday, after adding All-Star guard Dejounte Murray from the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, Atlanta sent a Capital Region favorite out west in a puzzling trade.

Thursday on The Drive with Charlie & Dan, Kevin Huerter's father, Tom, said to keep an eye on the busy NBA trade market. Little did we know that in less than 24-hours the Hawks would deal Huerter to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Justin Holiday, Maurice Harkless and a future first-round draft pick, as reported on Friday by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The report says that the future draft pick is lottery protected in 2024, and it becomes top-12 protected in 2025 and top-10 protected in 2026.

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This move is a surprise because with the addition of Murray, Atlanta looked like a strong playoff contender with Huerter on the roster. However, it looks like the Hawks were trying to save money by trading the Shenendahowa grad. Huerter signed a four-year, $65 million deal in October 2021 that takes effect at the start of this season. By sending Kevin to Sacramento, the Hawks will drop $1.1 million below the luxury tax this year, per Bobby Marks, NBA insider for ESPN. In the return for Huerter, the Hawks Holiday and Harkless, who own contracts that are expiring. They'll make a combined $10.7 million next season before becoming unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2023.

The Kings have upgraded by landing Huerter, adding free agent Malik Monk and drafting Keegan Murray with the No. 4 pick in the draft. Kevin Huerter averaged over 12 points, three rebounds and two assists in 74 games for the Hawks last season, 59 of them starts. Best of luck to Kevin in Sacramento! The Capital Region is rooting for you!