New York Pursued Thomas and Mohammed
The Knicks acquired Tim Thomas and Nazr Mohammed in February 2004 through an arrangement with Atlanta and Milwaukee. Thomas offered perimeter scoring from the forward position, while Mohammed gave New York an interior presence. The Knicks were seeking greater balance among their veteran pieces in an attempt to remain competitive in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta received Michael Doleac and a future second-round selection; Milwaukee acquired Keith Van Horn. All three teams accepted actual basketball or draft assets.
Atlanta Received a Veteran Center and a Future Pick
Doleac provided the Hawks an experienced frontcourt option, though his Atlanta tenure didn't create a lasting team centerpiece. The incoming second-round right later became linked to No. 37 Ronny Turiaf in 2005. Turiaf built an NBA career through later rights and signing arrangements, so his eventual playing totals shouldn't simply be assigned to Atlanta. The club nevertheless gained a usable future selection alongside Doleac, making the package more varied than a cash-only or single-expiring-contract trade.
Milwaukee Received Van Horn's Scoring Experience
Van Horn had already spent several seasons as a starting-level NBA scorer and brought shooting from a larger forward spot. The Bucks could seek offensive production from him without developing another young prospect. His value was real but had to be judged in Milwaukee's receiving-team context rather than by his earlier New Jersey or Knicks seasons. Van Horn was a familiar name, but the inherited B grade reflects a practical veteran acquisition instead of a franchise-changing star.
Each Club Took a Different Kind of Return
The Hawks received a center and another draft opportunity, Milwaukee added a recognizable scorer, and New York chose two active veterans. The inherited slight Atlanta edge grades the future flexibility of its pick along with Doleac, although Thomas and Mohammed supplied genuine Knicks minutes. None of the three participants should be erased when reviewing the trade. The long-term rights path of the incoming selection should also be kept distinct from the eventual teams on which Turiaf played.
Final Verdict
Slight Hawks Edge. Atlanta gets B+ for Michael Doleac and the second-round right later associated with Ronny Turiaf. Milwaukee earns B for Keith Van Horn, an experienced perimeter scorer. New York receives B- for Tim Thomas and Nazr Mohammed, who gave the Knicks immediate rotation options. The inherited advantage rewards Atlanta's additional draft flexibility without claiming Turiaf's later games as Hawks production.