Did Nets miss out on favorable opportunity to trade for Cam Reddish after Knicks deal?

Dec 10, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Patty Mills (8) shoots over Atlanta Hawks forward Cam Reddish (22) during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Patty Mills (8) shoots over Atlanta Hawks forward Cam Reddish (22) during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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There’s less than a month left until the NBA’s Feb. 10 trade deadline, and on Thursday, a team in New York made a big move. No, that team wasn’t the Brooklyn Nets, but instead the Knicks.

Atlanta agreed to send 2019 No. 10 draft pick Cam Reddish to New York, along with Solomon Hill and a 2025 second-round pick (via the Nets). The Knicks gave up a protected 2022 first-round draft pick (via the Hornets) and 2018 No. 9 draft pick Kevin Knox.

So, to sum that trade up, the Knicks got an absolute steal, perhaps in revenge for losing to the Hawks in the first round of the playoffs last year.

Atlanta sits at No. 12 in the East with a 17-23 record, and essentially gifted Reddish to New York. Since the trade was made that easy, is Brooklyn going to regret not going after the 22-year-old?

The Brooklyn Nets missed out on trading for forward Cam Reddish.

Reddish didn’t play in the Hawks game on Wednesday due to a right ankle sprain and is currently listed as day-to-day. He’s averaging career-highs in points per game (11.9), field-goal percentage (40.2%), three-point percentage (37.9), and free throw percentage (90%).

According to Wojnarowski:

"“Reddish, the 10th pick in the 2019 draft, was the victim of an overpopulated Hawks roster of talented young wing players. That ultimately left him without the role or pathway to a contract extension — and the Hawks made it a priority to move him ahead of the Feb. 10 trade deadline.”"

Reddish is a scorer, but simply wasn’t a fit in Atlanta’s rotation. He’ll be able to come off the bench for regular minutes with New York, and depending on how he performs, his role could grow beyond that.

The Nets could use the forward’s scoring abilities, but he’s also a good defender, which is what helped the Hawks advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Bucks.

Knox has contributed essentially nothing to the Knicks this season and is averaging 3.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in the 13 games that he’s played in. And in exchange for him and a first-round pick, New York is receiving two first-round players and a second-round pick.

For reference, Brooklyn has a first-round pick in 2028, as well as second-round picks in 2025, 2026, and 2028.

Although the Nets weren’t actively pursuing Reddish, the team should feel a bit snubbed. Reddish would’ve been a solid off the bench player for Brooklyn. Not to mention, the Nets need depth at forward/center, and Reddish would’ve helped the team in that category.

Now that Kyrie Irving’s back with the team in a part-time role, there isn’t as big of a need for Brooklyn to make a move ahead of the trade deadline. Nonetheless, we know that the Nets have been active on the trade market.

We’ll have to wait a few more weeks (at the most) to see if Sean Marks and the Nets decide to make a trade.