1 of 30

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

At 12-35, the Atlanta Hawks have the NBA's second-worst record and are all but eliminated from the postseason, even in a weak Eastern Conference. The best thing they can do is continue to grow their young core while eyeing the trade market for any players who can complement that group.

Second-year point guard Trae Young is an All-Star starter at the age of 21, but the rest of the roster is mostly unproven and lacks many defenders.

In December, The Athletic's and Stadium's Shams Charania reported "one high-ranking team official was seen telling Young that the team would be getting him some help on the roster soon." He added that the team could "look to replenish its lack of veteran presence on the roster prior to the trade deadline."

While the Hawks have since traded for veteran point guard Jeff Teague, the 31-year-old will become a free agent this summer, which means his return to Atlanta could be brief.

The Hawks need a center to pair alongside third-year big man John Collins, and they should see if the Detroit Pistons' asking price for Andre Drummond goes down before the deadline. Steven Adams would be a tremendous cultural and positional fit if the Oklahoma City Thunder are open to moving him, too.