Atlanta Hawks: The Reasons Four Highly Coveted Players Were Retained

The Atlanta Hawks elected to hang on to the four players most mentioned in trade rumors, making just two small moves, as the NBA trade deadline passed. I take a deeper look at why the Hawks chose to stand pat.

Atlanta Hawks fans eagerly anticipated this year’s NBA trade deadline. Center Dewayne Dedmon, wing Kent Bazemore, point guard Jeremy Lin and small forward Taurean Waller-Prince were the Atlanta Hawks players, whose names frequently surfaced in trade talks heading into the deadline.

Instead of parting with one of the rumored veterans, the Atlanta Hawks made just two small moves.

Atlanta Hawks Moves Made

The first move saw the Atlanta Hawks send shooting guard Tyler Dorsey to the Memphis Grizzlies for point guard Shelvin Mack. Tyler Dorsey was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with pick number 41 in the 2017 NBA Draft. He averaged six points per game in his 83 games with the Hawks, five of them starts.

The second round draft pick out of Oregon has been a streaky shooter thus far, making 37.4 percent of his shots from the field and 34.5 percent of his three-point attempts. He was having a difficult time cracking the Atlanta Hawks rotation and should see much more playing time in Memphis.

Shelvin Mack is an 11 year NBA veteran backup point guard. He spent four years here in Atlanta with the Hawks, his longest stint with any team. He averaged six points and three assists per game while shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from beyond the arch.

Unfortunately Shelvin Mack will not be joining the Hawks as he was waived. This opens up a roster spot for Atlanta and allows Mack to seek a role with a contender or a point guard needy squad.

Tyler Dorsey’s Stats

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/12/2019.

The second trade the Atlanta Hawks completed was acquiring guard Jabari Bird and an undisclosed amount of cash from the Boston Celtics, for a protected 2020 second round draft pick.

Jabari Bird is a 6’6 shooting guard out of the University of California. He was a second round pick, being selected number 56 in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. He appeared in 13 games for Boston and averaged three points. He shot 57.7 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three.

Jabari Bird has been mired in controversy this season, as he has been charged with and plead not guilty to, multiple charges of domestic violence. The Atlanta Hawks waived Jabari Bird immediately after the deal, making it a cash saving move.

In a non trade move, the Atlanta Hawks also waived forward Daniel Hamilton. Hamilton played in 19 Atlanta Hawks games this season, starting three. He averaged three points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in his time as a Hawk.

Hamilton struggled with his shot in his brief stint here reflected by 38.3 percent shooting from the field, 34.3 percent from downtown, and 50 percent from the free throw line. Andy Bowers of the Atlanta Hawks NBA.com website has this summary of the Hawks trade deadline transactions.

Daniel Hamilton’s Stats

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/12/2019.