The Hawks will look to add an offensive threat at the NBA trade deadline.
Well, as long as he plays defense, too.
The Hawks are considered buyers with the deadline at 3 p.m. Thursday. They have had many conversations with many teams. The area with most room for improvement would be the offense, which currently ranks 26th in the NBA in offensive efficiency at 102.9. The staple of the team is its defense, which ranks fifth in the league in efficiency at 103.3.
Hawks coach and president of basketball operations Mike Budenholzer was asked Wednesday whether the struggling offense would be the area the team would most look to improve at the deadline.
“I think that is a fair generalization,” Budenholzer said. “I think we always do because our bread and butter is defense. We don’t like to have guys who aren’t willing to commit to that end and make playing defense a priority. But I think if you do get them with our guys, with our locker room, with our players, hopefully if they can be a part of a good defensive team and makes us a better offensive team, that is ideal.”
Budenholzer and several players said Wednesday they like the team as currently constructed, but recognized there is room for improvement.
“Just getting better,” Paul Millsap said of his trade deadline desire. “Whatever that is. There are a wide range of things we can get better at. I would like to see this team get better. We love the team we have and the talent but there are always ways to get better.”
Millsap acknowledged that the Hawks’ offense has struggled this season as the team returns from the All-Star break with a 32-24 record and fifth-place standing in the Eastern Conference.
“It can definitely change,” Millsap said of the offense. “For that to change we have to break a lot of bad habits, which is possible. Our defense has always led all year. That is going to be our staple. If we can get our offense running just a little bit, I think that will help us out.”
Thabo Sefolosha, a veteran of 11 NBA seasons, has been here before at the deadline. He is a player the Hawks could move by Thursday. Sefolosha was traded early in his career and admitted players have a sense of relief once the deadline passes.
“I love the team the way it is right now,” Sefolosha said. “We have a shot at doing something special. I’ve been feeling that way since the beginning of the year. The way the team has improved, what Dwight (Howard) brings to the team, I think the team the way it looks is great.”
Budenholzer has repeatedly said the Hawks are looking to manage sustained success in the short and long term. He said Wednesday that the team will look at players on expiring contracts and those the team can control beyond the final games of the season when considering potential trades.
“You have scenarios were you have both,” Budenholzer said. “Some of them are more of a short-term add, and you never know what is going to happen in the summer because they are free. There are other opportunities where guys give you some certainty and give you roster stability going forward. You are looking at all of those things and trying to make a good decision.”
Players said Wednesday they will leave those personnel decisions to the front office.
“I’m not a GM,” Howard said. “I’m going to stay out of it. I want to win. That’s all.”
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