The Atlanta Hawks have started their season off with an 18-16 mark, placing them firmly in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Though their play has took a hit from previous years, it was to be expected with the departures of starters Jeff Teague and Al Horford, even though they added Dwight Howard. However, Atlanta’s average record isn’t going to be enough to make much noise come playoff time and in order to reach that level, they could be looking to make some moves before the trade deadline passes us by in February. As previously reported, forward Paul Millsap might be dealt due to the possibility of him walking next summer and according to Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst of ESPN, two other players potentially on the trade block are wings Thabo Sefolosha and Kyle Korver:
S?ources told ESPN.com that the Hawks, fearful of losing Millsap in free agency without compensation in the summer, are not openly shopping him but are taking calls on the 31-year-old and other pending free agents, notably sharpshooter Kyle Korver and swingman Thabo Sefolosha.
Both Korver and Sefolosha are on the declines of their respective careers but certainly still retain value and bring different qualities to the table.
Korver has made a career for himself by being one of the elite marksmen the NBA has ever seen. He has provided an immediate sniper mentality to squads whether it be in the starting lineup or off the bench. Korver also brings versatility as he can play from either the shooting guard or small forward spot. The sharpshooter had served as a starter for his last couple years with Atlanta but has since seen his role diminish this year.
Sefolosha on the other hand, embodies a typical 3-and-d type player, a role which is highly coveted in today’s game. He served alongside Russell Westbrook as a backcourt starter for Oklahoma City but has become more of an impact role player off the bench in Atlanta. Sefolosha’s ability to guard the opponents best player would be quite the asset to just about any team.
Both Korver and Sefolosha can be of great value to playoff teams missing an element that would push them over the top. The Hawks seem to be pushing to make a move before the deadline this year to catapult them into the Eastern Conference’s elite where they sat a couple years ago. Both wings are viable candidates to be moved and are names worthy of keeping an eye on as we rapidly approach the midway point of the campaign.
