Sund doesn

[HMFFL]

Hawks GM Rick Sund said the core group of Hawks that has the team aiming for a Southeast Division title is the same group you can expect to see after the Feb. 18 trade deadline.

“People are talking about us as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, and that’s what we strive for,” Sund said today. “If there is something out there that will make us better, we’ll look at it. Do I anticipate (a deal)? No, I don’t.”

Sund wouldn’t get into specifics about trade chatter, but his indication that the Hawks’ core would stay together seems to rule out a trade involving Joe Johnson, who can become a free agent after the season. The other core players include Josh Smith, Jamal Crawford, Marvin Williams, Mike Bibby and Al Horford.

The Hawks are 32-17, tied with Boston for the third-best record in the Eastern Conference and one game behind Orlando for the Southeast lead.

“This is the time of year when everybody looks at deals,” Woody said. “But I like our team in terms of being in the hunt. We are a better team than last year.” Link

[killbuckner]

The hawks don't ahve any trade fodder left to tweak the roster. The Hawks already made their "deadline deal" when they acquired Crawford.

[dpaulh]

Just throwing out an idea here... What about Kevin Martin for Joe. I know this all depends on whether or not Sund believes he can resign Joe in the offseason, but this would be reasonable. The Kings get the expiring they want and Martin out of the West and the Hawks get a very good player at a very reasonable long term contract.

Again, only if Sund believes he can't resign Joe this offseason.

[MaceCase]

^^^A one dimensional player who has averaged only 61 games over his previous 5 seasons, only 18 this year, and has fallen off a cliff from the advanced shooting and scoring metrics that he used to dominate? I say no, I'd much rather start Jamal than pay a guy 11 mill over the next 3 seasons to sit on the bench with a suit on.