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The Portland Trail Blazers are trading injured big man Skal Labissiere to the Atlanta Hawks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Athletic’s John Hollinger reports that the Blazers are sending about $1.75 million in cash to Atlanta as well, with Portland receiving back a top-55 protected 2024 second-round pick.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks broke down how the trade impacts Portland financially:
Portland saves $3.8M toward the luxury tax in the Skal Labissiere trade to Atlanta. The tax bill is now $5.9M. The Trail Blazers now have an open roster spot.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 6, 2020
And Blazer’s Edge’s salary cap guru Eric Griffith highlighted further financial details:
Skal's cap hit is $2.34M so Blazers reduce their luxury tax bill from $9.5M to $5.7M -- $3.8M saved.
— Eric Griffith (@EricG_NBA) February 6, 2020
Also get out from under the last 70ish days of Skal's salary (roughly $925k).
Total savings for Blazers in salary/tax: Very roughly $4.7M. pic.twitter.com/z3CXYc3o7N
Labissiere arrived in Portland at last year’s NBA Trade Deadline. He played in 33 games for the Blazers this season before suffering a cartilage lesion in his left knee on Dec. 28. He hasn't appeared in a game since then.
As The Athletic’s John Hollinger said on Wednesday, Portland has been pursuing deadline deals to reduce its luxury tax payment.