UPDATE: According to additional reporting the Clippers are the ones sending cash to the Atlanta Hawks for them to absorb Walton, not the other way around. The Hawks are sending the Clippers a top-55 protected future 2nd round pick that will likely convey in return.

Walton had played sparingly in recent weeks for the Clippers. He was originally a Summer League player who earned a training camp invite and then secured the Clippers’ final roster spot on a non-guaranteed contract. His contract was fully guaranteed in January.

This move is likely a precursor to other moves for the Clippers, as the primary function of this deal is to clear a roster spot. The team could use that roster spot either to take back an additional player in a trade, or to sign a player during buyout season–including, potentially, former Clipper and free agent point guard Darren Collison.

Report: Clippers Trade Derrick Walton Jr. to Hawks
Lucas Hann

According to The Athletic’s David Aldridge, the Clippers will not keep veteran point guard Isaiah Thomas following his acquisition today from the Washington Wizards.

The rationale for this deal, then, must have been as follows: the Clippers wanted to move Jerome Robinson in order to make salaries work for Marcus Morris, and the Knicks did not want Robinson’s guaranteed salary for next season.

The Wizards, then, who coveted Robinson in the 2018 NBA Draft, were willing to take on Robinson for free in order to see if he can thrive more in Washington than he did in Los Angeles.

Now, the Clippers will look elsewhere to fill their need for an emergency point guard–possibly the much-discussed Darren Collison, or newly-waived Trey Burke or Tim Frazier.

Report: Clippers to release Isaiah Thomas
Lucas Hann