As the season winds down, teams make last-second trades to bolster up for the upcoming playoffs or unload expiring assets in exchange for draft equity. The Hawks chose not to make any moves despite the heavy rumors around Dejounte Murray. The Hawks should have been more active during this deadline, as the team still has some fundamental flaws, especially on the defensive side. Here are some of my takes on why being inactive during this trade deadline is detrimental to the Hawks.

No Man’s Land

Being in no man’s land is where the team is good enough to make the playoffs and lose in the first, maybe the second round, if they are lucky. Unfortunately, the team is good enough to where they cannot earn a lottery pick, causing their first-round pick to be in the upper teens or twenties. All teams are actively trying to avoid being in no man’s land. Essentially, the team has been mediocre for years, with no clear direction and identity of what the team wants to be or should be. 

Epitome of Mid

The Hawks are the epitome of being in No Man’s Land. The Hawk’s timeline has accelerated since their Eastern Conference Finals berth. The front office realizes they need to surround Trae Young with competent 3&D wings and a secondary ball handler, which the team sorely lacked. The Hawks made the necessary move, acquiring Dejounte Murray, a combo guard who had All-NBA Defense team honors. Since then, the team has failed to surround the backcourt with a competent defense, often ranked towards the bottom of the league in defensive efficiency.

Regarding Dejounte

Not trading Dejounte Murray is not a problem for me. The chemistry between him and Trae has improved over the past few games the Hawks have played, which is some of the best basketball they have played this season. The Hawks have no leverage against other gangs when trading Murray, as they know they want to ship him out, seeking two first-round picks. Luckily enough, the front office did not budge and did not undersell Murray either.

Front Office’s Unwillingness

We know that the Hawks are not good on defense. The Hawks sorely need a POA defender, which they have lacked throughout Trae’s career due to Hunter missing ample time with his lingering knee issues. The front office is unwilling to spend money over the cap to win. They are cheaping out. Their most recent trade before the beginning of the season was to unload John Collin’s big contract so they would be exempt from the luxury tax.

On a Good Note…

In the recent six-game stretch, the Hawks have figured it out. They have a record of 4-2, beating teams such as the Warriors, Lakers, and Suns, even closely losing against the Clippers and the Celtics, the two hottest teams in the league. The Hawk’s stellar play may have swayed the front office into keeping the team together, opting to make no changes. With the Hawks being healthy and continuing to build more chemistry this season, they look to gear up and make a run for a playoff spot.