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Trade grades: What the Nets-Hawks deal means for free agency

The Nets and Kyrie Irving reportedly share mutual interest in free agency. Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

If it hadn't already, 2019 NBA free agency has now started in earnest.

Yes, players and teams can't negotiate until June 30, still three and a half weeks away. But Thursday's cap-clearing trade by the Brooklyn Nets with the Atlanta Hawks is the first salvo of the offseason as teams begin positioning themselves to best attract the top players on the market.

The deal

Nets get: Taurean Prince, 2021 second-round pick

Hawks get: Allen Crabbe, No. 17 pick in 2019, lottery-protected 2020 first-round pick