The Hawks and Raptors have reportedly agreed to the rare type of trade that appears to be fairly equal on both sides.
Atlanta gets John Salmons, who has a contract for $7 million next season that is only $1 million guaranteed if he is waived by Monday, which was obviously the plan all along.
Toronto gets Lou Williams and the rights to Lucas Nogueira, an intriguing seven-footer who was selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.
It’s win-win because the Hawks will increase their cap space to around $15.5 million after waiving Salmons, which would allow them to add top talent through free agency, provided the team can convince anyone to sign there.
On the Raptors side, they get a nice young prospect in Nogueira, although one who hasn’t yet seemed all that interested in pursuing an NBA career, preferring to stay overseas instead.
Williams has been a backup guard whose production has declined in each of the last two seasons, though he’s proven serviceable at the position, and Toronto may have a need there depending on what happens with Kyle Lowry and Greivis Vasquez in free agency this summer.