Atlanta Hawks Trade Deadline Reaction: No Moves, No Problem

A quick reaction and fairly positive takeaways from a quiet Atlanta Hawks trade deadline.

For the second straight year, the Atlanta Hawks were exceedingly sheepish at the trade deadline – opting to make a few very small moves to open roster spots.

Though the team did send out Tyler Dorsey after he was anchored to the bench for much of his second season, no incoming player will remain on the roster. Shelvin Mack and Jabari Bird were both on the Hawks for a brief moment this season, but both will be waived.

For many Atlanta Hawks fans, this deadline is a huge disappointment. Many expecting the team, and General Manager Travis Schlenk, to be active at the deadline as the team held 3 notable players: Kent Bazemore, Dewayne Dedmon and Jeremy Lin) that likely saw a lot of interest around the league.

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However, after the day before deadline day came and went with multiple deals getting done between teams that would’ve made sense as partners for the Atlanta Hawks, it seemed the tide was turning for the team in that no deal of consequence would get done.

Previously, news had broken that Markelle Fultz was apparently a target for the Hawks, but in the end, the Orlando Magic were the ones who were willing to part with both a first and second round pick in order to land the erstwhile number one pick.

So, why did no deals get done? Clearly, Kent Bazemore is an important culture guy in the locker room and his efforts at teaching up the young guys have paid dividends of late – as the team has played fairly well over the past month and a half.

Not dealing Lin and Dedmon seems like an oversight, but then again so did not dealing Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli last year. Both Lin and Dedmon could’ve helped multiple teams around the league, but two major teams (76ers, Rockets) in rumors surrounding the two players made their moves the day prior.

As such, the team will likely remain intact save for some low-cost machinations surrounding two-way players and the final two open roster spots created by waiving the two incoming players.

The team is winning, the young guys are playing incredibly well and the Atlanta Hawks have two likely lottery picks incoming in the 2019 NBA Draft. No moves, no problem? According to Schlenk, the answer is yes.

Keep it locked to Soaring Down South for plenty more coverage of the Atlanta Hawks trade deadline moves.