Atlanta Turned Grant's Draft Rights Into Hardaway
The Hawks acquired Tim Hardaway Jr. from New York during the 2015 NBA Draft, using the rights to No. 19 Jerian Grant as the outgoing piece. Atlanta had first obtained Grant's rights from Washington after selecting Kelly Oubre Jr. at No. 15. Hardaway was a young guard with NBA scoring experience, making the acquisition more than a speculative draft selection. The Hawks also received a future second-round right from Washington as part of the rights routing.
New York Chose Grant as a Guard Prospect
The Knicks obtained the rights to Grant, a Notre Dame guard with college playmaking credentials, in exchange for Hardaway. New York was evaluating whether Grant's passing and defensive tools could contribute within its developing backcourt. The trade didn't guarantee he would match every aspect of Hardaway's future NBA scoring career. Grant's eventual seasons at other organizations have to be distinguished from his immediate Knicks contributions, which is especially important when a draft-rights transaction gets graded years later.
Washington Received Oubre's Rights, Not an Empty Entry
The Wizards obtained the rights to Oubre from Atlanta, an actual first-round wing prospect. Their later NBA development of Oubre should be attributed to Washington and its subsequent receiving teams, not to the Hawks simply because Atlanta made the initial No. 15 selection. Washington surrendered the No. 19 rights and second-round consideration to obtain the higher pick's player. The old Knicks-centered record had mistakenly left Washington's incoming side blank, obscuring why the franchise took part in the three-team arrangement.
The Inherited Grades Give Atlanta a Large Advantage
Atlanta earns A+ for acquiring Hardaway and an additional future second, New York receives F for surrendering an established young shooter to draft Grant, and Washington gets C for Oubre's rights. The Hawks advantage is the original record's verdict; Washington's actual Oubre acquisition and later career deserve separate recognition. This transaction demonstrates why rights-routing chronology is essential: the player selected by a franchise on draft night may ultimately belong to another team.
Final Verdict
Hawks Win. Atlanta receives A+ for Tim Hardaway Jr. and future second-round rights. New York gets F under the original grading for sending Hardaway away to acquire Jerian Grant. Washington receives C for the rights to Kelly Oubre Jr., which were omitted from the old ledger. Oubre's eventual Wizards games should be credited to Washington, not Atlanta's temporary selection rights.