The Toronto Raptors have made their reported trade with the Atlanta Hawks official.
Toronto traded veteran forward John Salmons and a 2015 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Lou Williams, Lucas “Bebe” Nogueira.
Nogueira was the 16th overall pick in last year’s NBA draft, but he spent all of last season in Spain, while Williams is a scoring specialist who is under contract for almost $5.5 million next season.
Salmons has a $1 million buyout of his $7 million salary that will create even more financial flexibility in Atlanta, as they chase some free agents such as Luol Deng and Greg Monroe.
Shedding Williams’ salary helps Hawks GM Danny Ferry enter free agency with plenty of money to spend. There are some big names available on the market, including LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. But it remains to be seen if Ferry wants to try to make a big splash by attempting to lure one of the marquee names, or if that is realistic.
The Hawks have made the playoffs for seven straight years but have been eliminated in the first round in each of the last three. Now Ferry and coach Mike Budenholzer, who brought San Antonio’s ball-moving system with him from the Spurs last season, have the room to make significant upgrades to the roster after drafting Michigan State forward Adreian Payne with the 15th pick on Thursday.
Raptors GM Masai Ujiri used Salmons’ attractive contract to bring in Williams, a natural scorer off the bench who will add some punch to the team’s second unit. He will be two seasons removed from a torn ACL, which could help him resume his form as one of the league’s best sixth men.
But the real intrigue surrounds Nogueira, a defensive-minded 7-footer who had some knee issues last season. He has one year left on his Spanish contract.
The move comes three days after Ujiri made one of the most surprising picks in the draft, selecting Brazilian forward Bruno Caboclo with the 20th overall pick. The Raptors like the long-term potential of the two Brazilians on a team that won the Atlantic Division last season.
— With files from Sportsnet Staff
