On Thursday afternoon, theNew York Knicks executed a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, acquiring third-year guard Cam Reddish, formerly a Duke stand out.
Reddish is still dealing with an injury, so the Knicks will have to wait a few days before they can feature their brand new small forward, a position they don’t necessarily have on the roster at this point in time. While Evan Fournier is capable of playing the small, he’s primarily a shooting guard this season, utilizing his three-point efficiency as a result of the analytics department.
Over the next few days, the team’s front office will evaluate Reddish and identify the different ways he can impact with different play combinations. Coincidentally, the Knicks will play the Hawks on Saturday night, but they have a slight advantage whether Cam plays or not.
This season, Reddish is averaging 11.9 points and connecting on 38% of his shots from 3-PT range. Negating those numbers from Atlanta’s averages gives New York a competitive advantage.
“It gives us an opportunity to look at Cam,” Thibodeau said, via Greg Joyce of the NY Post. “We’ll see when he gets here, see how he fits in and then we’ll go from there. … Size, athleticism, wing position, that sort of thing. Sometimes a change of scenery is good for people. So we’ll see how it unfolds.”
In the deal, the Knicks gave up Kevin Knox and a 2022 protected 1st round pick via Charlotte. Overall, New York walks away with more immediate value, given they gain a player with versatility who can fill different roles. In fact, former Duke teammate RJ Barrett spoke of Reddish’s capabilities.
“It’s great to play with my Duke brother again,” Barrett said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m happy, can’t wait till he gets here. … I mean, he’s 6-8, very skilled, [can] shoot the ball, finish with both hands, plays great defense. So you’re getting a good, talented player.”