Atlanta Hawks backup center Tiago Splitter will have season-ending surgery to fix his ailing hip. How does this news impact the Hawks at the trade deadline?
According to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta Hawks backup center and key rotational frontcourt piece Tiago Splitter has decided to undergo season-ending hip surgery.
Hawks' Tiago Splitter has elected to have season-ending surgery on his right hip.
— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) February 16, 2016
This was Splitter’s first season with the Hawks since coming to Atlanta in a trade last summer with the San Antonio Spurs. Splitter had played for Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer his first three NBA seasons, as Budenholzer was still the top assistant to head coach Gregg Popovich before becoming the Hawks head coach for the 2013-14 NBA season.
With the Hawks already being one of the teams largely expected to make a deal leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline, Splitter’s untimely decision to elect for season-ending surgery means that the Hawks will have to appropriately address their frontcourt in the next few days.
Splitter was one of three players Budenholzer used in his eight-man rotation, along with the starting five, wing Thabo Sefolosha, and backup point guard Dennis Schroder. Since Splitter has been out with his nagging hip, it has meant more minutes for power forwards Mike Scott and Mike Muscala.
While Muscala and Scott have played well in extended time in 2015-16, the Hawks will need to make a trade to sure up their frontcourt come playoff time. Atlanta is 31-24 and in fourth place in the Eastern Conference heading into the second half.
Hawks' Tiago Splitter has elected to have season-ending surgery on his right hip.
— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) February 16, 2016
Splitter’s surgery could impact Atlanta’s decision to shop All-Star center Al Horford, who is drawing interest from several teams at the deadline. Atlanta is at a teetering point in their front to either add a temporary replacement for Splitter while trying to lock up Horford longterm this summer in free agency or to maybe blow up the frontcourt and rebuild the roster all together.
Keep an eye on what Budenholzer and Atlanta general manager Wes Wilcox decide to do in the next two days.