Tiago Splitter to miss remainder of 2015-2016 season after hip surgery

UPDATE: The Hawks have confirmed the season-ending surgery.

-----

The Atlanta Hawks have been without Tiago Splitter intermittently throughout the 2015-2016 season as a result of a nagging hip injury. Now, it appears as if that ailment will cost the 31-year-old center the remainder of the campaign.

Hawks' Tiago Splitter has elected to have season-ending surgery on his right hip.

— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) February 16, 2016

Rumblings of surgery for Splitter have been percolating in recent days, and he has missed the past six games as a result of the ailment. His raw production of 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game has been seen by some as underwhelming, but the Hawks have been better (+9.3 net rating, 94.2 defensive rating) with Splitter on the floor this year, and this is a significant blow to the team's frontcourt depth.

At this juncture, it is pure speculation to discuss what Atlanta plans to do to replace Splitter in the short term, including the possibility of a trade before Thursday afternoon's deadline. However, if the Hawks elect to "stand pat", Tiago Splitter's absence will pave the way for additional playing time for Mike Muscala, Mike Scott and, potentially, Edy Tavares.

Stay tuned for updates as they become available.