With the news that Thabo Sefolosha will miss the next six to eight weeks and the NBA trade deadline just two weeks away, it begs one question.
Will the Hawks make a trade?
It’s a complicated question. Do you mess with the chemistry of a team that is 40-9 and leads the Eastern Conference by seven games? Or is there a player who can put the team over the top?
The Hawks’ depth certainly took a hit with the loss of Sefolosha, who could miss two months with a right calf strain. He was the first reserve behind DeMarre Carroll at small forward and was a top defender at the wing.
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. The Hawks’ basketball operations staff has had, and will continue to have, conversations about ways to improve the team.
“For us to be open to improving the group and adding more depth, with Thabo healthy or without Thabo healthy or without Thabo having this injury, it’s kind of the same mindset,” coach Mike Budenolzer said. “We really like our group. You are hesitant to do anything. There is a little more opportunity for a six- to eight-week window but I don’t think it changes much if at all.”
Budenholzer admitted that disrupting the chemistry of a team that just had a 19-game win streak end and has won 33 of the past 36 games is a concern.
“Those kinds of conversations are part of the debate and the collaboration,” he said. “We are fortunate to have such good chemistry and have such good guys that we are very protective of that and respective of that.”
In the meantime, Budenholzer said to expect more minutes for Kent Bazemore. The offseason acquisition, along with Sefolosha, was brought in for his defensive ability. Bazemore started two games recently that Carroll missed with a left Achilles strain. Also, John Jenkins has gotten an opportunity to play. He had appeared in four games before the injury to Sefolosha but has played in three straight headed into Wednesday’s game against the Wizards. Shelvin Mack, who has missed the past nine games with a left calf strain, is nearing a return and will be back in the rotation.
“All three of those guys there are more opportunities,” Budenholzer said.
Budenholzer has also used more of the Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder combination.
