Oklahoma City sent Aaron Wiggins to Atlanta in a move that cost the Thunder two second-round picks and saved the team an estimated $61 million. The Hawks gain another guard who can score and handle multiple perimeter roles.
Wiggins averaged 9.4 points per game this season and shot 35.6% from three-point range. He started 21 games for Oklahoma City this year, after starting 26 games last season during the Thunder's championship run.
His role shrank sharply in the playoffs, where he played only 5.8 minutes per game. Although he was on a relatively modest contract and was set to earn $9.2 million next season, the tax implications made the trade far more significant financially.
Instead of a projected $213 million tax bill for next season, Oklahoma City is now expected to pay about $152 million. The deal was described as a smart financial move by the Thunder.