Atlanta, GA
New Blockbuster Three-Team Trade Proposal Sends Dorian Finney-Smith to Atlanta, Warriors Land Cam Johnson
The Atlanta Hawks just pulled off one of their best and most complete wins of the year. They took down the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup Quarterfinals with a convincing 108-100 win largely fueled by their defense and interior scoring. Their perimeter defense played a major role in slowing down Jalen Brunson (14 points on 5-15 shooting) and keeping Karl-Anthony Towns quiet from three-point range (2-6 from deep). Per Cleaning the Glass, the Hawks are currently 14th in the NBA in opponent points per possession and 6th in turnover percentage forced.
While this upwards trajectory is good to see, Atlanta should think about building upon it even more. There are multiple pieces available for trade that could upgrade the Hawks’ defense without cripping their limited pool of assets. Although a player like Herb Jones may prove to be too expensive for Atlanta to acquire, could the Hawks turn to the Brooklyn Nets for a solution?
The Nets have three obvious trade candidates on their roster in Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith (DFS) and Dennis Schroder. While the Hawks may not be able to land Johnson due to his excellent two-way abilities (18.8 points on a true shooting percentage of 65.9 to go with standout defense), Finney-Smith might be a more realistic acquistion for Atlanta. That isn’t to say Johnson cannot be moved in the same deal. A three-team deal where the Nets send Johnson to a team desperately in need of his services could also result in the Hawks adding DFS to their rotation.
One logical destination for Johnson is the Warriors. While he fits on practically any team, the Warriors are sorely in need of more offensive creation and two-way ability around Steph Curry. They are 14th in three-point shooting and currently struggle to generate offense when Curry is not carrying the load. Those issues became particularly evident down the stretch of their recent loss in the NBA Cup Quarterfinals to the Houston Rockets. Their 91-90 loss was marked by a turnover-filled stretch in the fourth quarter that essentially eliminated all hopes of a comeback.
How would a three-team deal between these teams look?
It should be noted that this is just a speculative and fun exercise to see what kind of moves can be made, not what I think the Hawks should do or will do. That is all.
Here is what a possible framework could look like:
Atlanta Hawks get: Dorian Finney-Smith
Brooklyn Nets get: Larry Nance Jr, Gary Payton II, Kyle Anderson, Jonathan Kuminga, 2025 1st round pick (via GSW), 2025 1st round pick (via Sacramento, from Atlanta, top-12 protected) and 2027 1st round pick (via GSW, top-5 protected)
Golden State Warriors get: Cameron Johnson, David Roddy
Why the Hawks would do this trade: DFS’s abilities as a 3&D wing who can provide spacing would fit very well into Atlanta’s rotation. He is shooting 43.2% on 5.5 attempts from deep and has the size/agility to guard wings on the perimeter. While he has slowed down on defense, he can still contribute to the Hawks’ solid defensive infrastructure. He would also be a good fill-in for a Jalen Johnson injury and the 2025 1st round pick from Sacramento likely won’t convey to Atlanta.
Why the Hawks would not do this trade: DFS’s health has to be questioned. He’s relatively durable, but he still missed 14 games last season. At 31 years of age, it’d be reasonable to expect 14-20 missed games for this year as well. Furthermore, his percentage from deep should regress to somewhere closer to the 35.8% he has for his career. That regression could severely compromise his effectiveness in Atlanta. His skillset is also somewhat redundant with DeAndre Hunter, but I would argue that you can never have enough skilled wings in the modern NBA.
Why the Nets would do this trade: Three first-round picks and Jonathan Kuminga for Johnson and Finney-Smith is a pretty good return for two players that are not part of Brooklyn’s long-term future. This deal would also put them in prime position to snag practically any 2025 NBA Draft prospect they are interested in. Considering the depth of the class, this move could accelerate Brooklyn’s rebuild significantly. They also get a veteran presence to build up their culture and improve the overall cohesion of their lineups in Larry Nance Jr. Nance’s ability as a shooter also gives the Nets a different look at center when Nic Claxton is on the bench.
Why the Nets would not do this trade: The Sacramento pick likely will not convey to Brooklyn, so the return for Brooklyn is more realistically two first-round picks and some second rounders. Nance likely will not be part of the roster’s long-term future and it’s possible that a more desparate team would give them more pick equity for Finney-Smith.
Why the Warriors would do this trade: Johnson is a volume shooter who can make quick decisions with the ball and holds up on defense. In short, he’s a perfect fit for the Warriors system and he would improve their spacing significantly. He has showed growth as a primary offensive option for Brooklyn, so there should be limited concern about how he would handle a big offensive role for the Warriors. Roddy has not made a huge impact in his time with Atlanta, but his size (6’4, 256 lbs) make him an intriguing option at power forward if the Warriors can improve his shooting.
Why the Warriors would not do this trade: Golden State might be concerned over giving up significant draft capital to add a player who is below All-Star level. While Johnson is an excellent fit for their system, he is 28 and likely cannot elevate his game beyond elite role player status. The Warriors might want to spend those picks on a player who can deliver a more significant impact as a scorer.
Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -5.5; over/under is 216.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Knicks lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference first round with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 113-102 on Saturday, led by 28 points from Jalen Brunson. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 26.
The Knicks are 35-17 in Eastern Conference games. New York has a 9-4 record in one-possession games.
The Hawks are 27-25 in Eastern Conference play. Atlanta is third in the league scoring 18.1 fast break points per game. McCollum leads the Hawks averaging 5.0.
The Knicks are shooting 47.8% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 47.4% the Hawks allow to opponents. The Hawks are shooting 47.4% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks’ opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 19.9 points over the last 10 games.
Dyson Daniels is scoring 11.9 points per game and averaging 6.8 rebounds for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 21.3 points and 2.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 110.4 points, 40.7 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points per game.
Hawks: 5-5, averaging 117.2 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Tyler Kolek: day to day (oblique), Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (elbow).
Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks prediction, pick for Game 1 of 2026 NBA Playoffs first round
Sean Barnard details his preview and prediction for Saturday’s Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks matchup in the NBA Playoffs.
The NBA playoffs are officially underway with a loaded opening round. Taking place in the No. 3 vs. No. 6 matchup in the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks will take on the New York Knicks.
You can check out the full series preview on DraftKings Network here.
Looking at the odds for the series opener, the Knicks enter as 6.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Hawks are +205 underdogs with the game total set at O/U 218.5 points.
This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Eastern Conference series opener.
Hawks vs. Knicks prediction, preview
The Atlanta Hawks went through a midseason transition, moving on from Trae Young after he headlined the production for the franchise for the past eight years. The Hawks have not missed a beat amid the major midseason shakeup, finishing as the sixth seed in the conference with a 46-36 overall record. On the season, Atlanta has gone 44-38 against the spread, and the game total has gone 41-41 to the over/under.
Jock Landale is the only player set to miss the matchup tonight. Jalen Johnson headlines the production, posting averages of 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has had a breakout season in a new location, adding 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. CJ McCollum adds 18.7 points and 4.1 assists across his first 41 games with the organization, while Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, Jonathan Kuminga, and Zaccharie Risacher also play notable roles.
Quin Snyder’s group scores 118.5 points per game, which ranks sixth in the NBA. The Hawks also rank 14th in offensive rating, 13th in field goal percentage, and fifth in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 116.0 points per game against Atlanta, which ranks 18th in the league. They also rank ninth in defensive rating, 18th in opponent field goal percentage, and 12th in opponent three-point percentage.
The New York Knicks entered the season with legitimate title aspirations. They have had some notable ups and downs, but now face this opportunity. New York finished the regular season with a 53-29 record and sit in third place in the East. The Knicks have gone 44-39 against the spread, and the game total has gone 38-45 to the over/under.
The Knicks enter this matchup with a clear injury report and a large sample size of the team playing together. Jalen Brunson headlines the production with 26.0 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.3 rebounds, while Karl-Anthony Towns pitches in 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists of his own. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are responsible for the production at the wing positions, while Josh Hart sets the tone for this team from a hustle standpoint. New York also did an impressive job building out the bench unit this season, with players like Jordan Clarkson, Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, and Tyler Kolek capable of serving as X-factors off the bench.
As a team, the Knicks are scoring 116.5 points per game, which ranks 10th in the NBA. New York also ranks third in offense rating, 11th in field goal percentage, and fourth in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 110.1 points per game against the Knicks, which ranks fifth in the league. They also rank seventh in defensive rating, fifth in opponent field goal percentage, and 20th in opponent three-point percentage.
Hawks vs. Knicks pick, best bet
These are two teams at different stages of their timeline, but neither will be afraid of this playoff spotlight. The Knicks pushed their chips in around this core and are hoping to be rewarded for it. They fell to the Indiana Pacers in the Conference Finals last year and have made the postseason in four consecutive seasons. Atlanta missed out on the playoffs in back-to-back years and turned a new page direction with Jalen Johnson now leading the charge. Without Trae Young, the Hawks now lean on more of a defensive-minded identity and have a roster loaded with athleticism.
During the regular season, these teams faced off three times. They split the first two matchups, which took place on December 27th and January 2nd. New York picked up a narrow 108-105 victory in the most recent game, which took place on April 6th. Both sides were aware that this was a potential postseason matchup, and this game had some major seeding implications. It was an evenly matched game in which neither team was able to extend a lead beyond 10 points, and the rebounding battle was separated by just one board. The biggest discrepancy came with the Knicks shooting 50% compared to the Hawks shooting 40%, and New York outscoring Atlanta 52-34 in the paint.
While there are higher expectations for this Knicks team in the postseason outlook, the Hawks stack up fairly well in this matchup. Jalen Brunson will be at the heart of the offensive attack for New York. But his biggest weakness is when he is guarded by high-level athletes with a size advantage over him. The Hawks have built out a roster loaded with this archetype of player, and there is not a clear matchup for Brunson to hunt in most lineup combinations.
Brunson has enough experience and savvy to will settle in over the course of the series. But expect some growing pains in the early parts of this matchup, and for this to be a huge hurdle for this Knicks team. I am backing the Hawks to cover the 5.5-point spread and would not be shocked if they steal the opening game. This is a series in which neither side should be expected to pull away by major margins throughout. Count on Atlanta to have defense success and have a clear gameplan for limiting the impact of Brunson. Expect this matchup to come down to the wire and take the points in the series opener.
Best Bet: Hawks +6.5 (-112)
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