Hawks President of Basketball Operations and head coach Mike Budenholzer said recently that no trade involving his team is imminent as the NBA deadline approaches next month.
Reports surfaced Wednesday that the Hawks, through rival executives, have listened to several offers for point guards Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder. Yahoo Sports reported that Teague has been the focus of late. The Knicks are one team to have very preliminary discussions regarding Teague, a person familar with the situation told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Other media reports have named the Jazz and Bucks as potential suitors.
According to a person in the Hawks organization, the team has had many conversations about several players on their roster. Such calls are normal NBA business which ramps up near the trade deadline. According to the person, the organization has yet to decide whether a roster move is necessary or whether there is an available upgrade at any starting position.
Budenholzer was asked by the AJC on Sunday about the approaching Feb. 18 deadline.
“I would say we continue to like our team and believe in the team,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve been as consistent as we’d like. I think, collectively we haven’t and probably individually we haven’t. But I wouldn’t say anything is in line or imminent or anything like that at all.”
For the Hawks, Al Horford and Kent Bazemore will become unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. Teague is under contract through next season at cap-friendly $8 million per season. Schroder is under contract with a qualifying offer through 2017-18.
The Hawks are currently third in the Eastern Conference with a 27-19 record. They trail only the Cavaliers (5-1/2 games) and the Raptors (3 games). They are largely intact from the team that advanced to the Eastern Conference finals last season. Teams look at the Hawks as a roster that has potentially two starting point guards, making them a team worth investigating potential trades.
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