Reports came out earlier today that the Atlanta Hawks traded for Richard Jefferson and Kay Felder from the Cleveland Cavaliers, along with two second-round picks and cash, in exchange for two European prospects in Dimitrios Agravanis and Sergii Gladyr. Neither Agravanis nor Gladyr are likely to ever come over to the NBA, though Agravanis is just 22. The Hawks will immediately waive Jefferson and Felder, which begs the question: why even do this?
Well, the Hawks are essentially getting those two second-round picks for free. The cash received from Cleveland will presumably cover most, if not all, of the cost of paying Jefferson and Felder the roughly $3 million in guaranteed money they are owed, so the Hawks are no worse for wear there.