The Hawks didn't make a trade before today's deadline. That's little surprise considering they lead the Eastern Conference by 6 ½ games and have no glaring weaknesses outside of rebounding (which will get a boost when wing Thabo Sefolosha returns), post scoring (which is mitigated by their 3-point shooting) and interior defense.
The Hawks are so good in so many other areas that they are legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference even if they don't use their open roster spot to add Ray Allen or one of the free agents who shakes free over the next few days (they've been linked to Gary Neal). And a look at the other East contenders after the trade deadline passed shows that none of them got better at the deadline, either, though one Atlanta's potential first-round opponents did make a major upgrade.
Second-place Toronto didn't make a trade and so figures to still be defensively-challenged. Third-place Chicago also didn't make a move and is banking on improved health to get back to playing its customary stifling defense under coach Tom Thibodeau.
The Wizards, fourth in the East, upgraded their backup point guard spot by swapping Andre Miller for Ramon Sessions, who will help but won't make their mediocre offense good. Fifth-place Cleveland didn't make a trade, either, and LeBron James says the Cavs are title-worthy with their current roster.
The Bucks, No. 6 in the East by 7 ½ games over Charlotte, were part of a big trade in which they acquired Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis and Miles Plumlee in forward-looking moves. Charlotte traded for Mo Williams and Troy Daniels, moves that figure to have little impact.
Assuming the Hawks don't blow their big lead in the East, they'll face the conference's No. 8 team in the first round. If that ends up being the Heat, the Hawks could face a challenging series after Miami acquired point guard Goran Dragic while sending away Norris Cole, Danny Granger Shawne Williams, Justin Hamilton and two first-round picks.
Dragic was the best player to switch teams on Thursday. He was voted the league's Most Improved Player in 2013-14 and figures to give the Heat a spark as he takes on a larger role than he had with the Suns. According to ESPN Stats and Info, the Heat now has the only starting lineup in the NBA with all five players ranked in the top 90 in PER.
But the Hawks are still better than the Heat and every other team in the East, same as before trade deadline day.
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