Atlanta Hawks: Video: The draft and the ‘core’
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315 comments Add your comment
Fundamentals
June 20th, 2011
11:10 pm
I actually agree, Marvin could be an effective back-up for Joe if they run the same sets for both. In that case or if he’s traded we need help at SF
Of course we need help at C.
KevinM
June 20th, 2011
11:20 pm
Najeh, from hawks.com:
“Get to the front of the line to place your deposit for 2011 Flex Plans at the Atlanta Hawks 2011 NBA Draft Party and Select-A-Seat, scheduled for Thursday, June 23 from 5pm – 9pm. The first 50 fans to place a deposit will receive a limited edition, long-sleeve Hawks t-shirt for every seat reserved.
Just a $250 per a seat deposit for lower level seats and only $100 per a seat for 300 level seats secures your priority to be first in line to purchase your 2011-12 Hawks Flex plan!!
Also, those that attend our NBA Draft Party on June 23rd and place a deposit will receive exclusive access to a watch party at Taco Mac with complimentary food and beverage.”
There’s going to be a long wait for pick 48.
SteveW
June 20th, 2011
11:45 pm
The Hawks to Newark?
From the NY Post:
“According to the report, the Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Bobcats are considered possible candidates for a move due to financial losses and a desire for a new arena.”
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/nets/newark_mayor_wants_nba_team_to_replace_JqaHct2aQlbBiC8LfvAg4I#ixzz1PsWMVsD3
Najeh Davenpoop
June 20th, 2011
11:52 pm
That NY Post link = more NY “journalists” throwing sh-t at the wall and hoping some of it sticks.
The Hawks have a lot of problems but the arena is not one of them. Philips is a fantastic arena and more importantly the Hawks are contractually obligated to the city of Atlanta to play there for the next 22 years until the bonds for it are paid off.
SteveW
June 21st, 2011
12:03 am
Najeh – Thanks – I was just curious….
Realsquawk
June 21st, 2011
12:07 am
Sy+ Horford for Rockets Picks, Motiejunas,Hasheem, MalcolmThomas, Jordan Hill – the point is Eric Gordon isn’t 30 and he is only making 3.5 million this year and only has two years left on his deal. Same goes for Chris Kaman. That way we are basically dumping a horrible contract for a good group of players with reasonable contracts.
dap-01 – yeah I completely agree this isn’t a core. When our base player is probably the main one not playing within the team concept you don’t have a core you have a group of individuals.
fundamentals- hey if we trade marvin and he blows up great, right? Why don’t we do the same thing with Teague since we wasted two good years of his life. I am pretty sure Al Horford would play great somewhere else if there is a good 5 and he gets to play the four.
You don’t trade away players who can play well because the system is weak and catering to a hindrance to the franchise you fire the gm, the coach, and trade the player and let everybody have the best years of their life here in Atlanta.
Najeh- you are the truth
Kevin M- Check out MArvins stats for December and March and before you come back check out his shots per game.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 21st, 2011
1:51 am
Ric Bucher just said Enes Kanter’s worst case scenario is… Zaza.
This is the consensus #3 pick in this draft.
And we are supposed to trade up in this draft? GTFOH
Najeh Davenpoop
June 21st, 2011
2:43 am
MC, is there any truth to this? More importantly, is there anything new to that report that doesn’t date back to when the Hawks allegedly made calls about Smoove to gauge the level of interest in him?
I hope for his own sake that if he feels “scapegoated” it’s not a result of reading Bradley and Schultz’s articles, or even worse this blog. We certainly have plenty of Smoove scapegoaters who post here.
Realsquawk
June 21st, 2011
2:56 am
Najeh- I worry less about Smith; an actual change in culture and play would be great.
What worries/makes me happy/disturbs me is that a year after signing joe johnson they are ready to move him. I hope they get that done before trading smith. I can think of a lot destinations where we could move him.
Rick Sund if you need some help let me know, I am down to be an assistant.
KevinM
June 21st, 2011
3:42 am
“:Najeh Davenpoop
June 21st, 2011
1:51 am
Ric Bucher just said Enes Kanter’s worst case scenario is… Zaza.”
Najeh, you think the NBA sees Zaza in Enes Kanter? As a no lower than #6 pick? Based on where we are as a whole? Where are the comments about him being one of the best at the Chicago combine?
I think he has more value than Zaza would at this stage in their careers.
The knock on Enes was the health of his knees, and that has been supposedly erased as a question mark.
We need a C, and the Zaza/Al/Collins/Thomas/Armstrong combo isn’t enough.
KevinM
June 21st, 2011
3:45 am
RealSqawk, on Marvin and his shots…is it just about shots with Marvin?
To me its not…..Marvin needs to do other things better….do you see him ranked in the Top 30 with anyone? Anyone?
Its not because of Jamal or Woody or Drew…..its about Marvin! Marvin needs to rebound too and be a difference defensively.
vava74
June 21st, 2011
6:37 am
MC:
“it’s cool when he goes iso and makes a play to bail the Hawks out of a bad possession (he’s really good at that) but not when the iso is the point of the possession.
as for Teague, i’ve said i think he should be the starter alongside Hinrich (assuming the Hawks can get another respectable guard for the bench). after what Teague did against Chicago i don’t see how he doesn’t deserve a full-time role from the start of camp (whenever that is).”
Two very interesting thoughts: JJ is a great player but he should be the “bail out guy”, not the guy who over handles and ends up sending a pass to Josh for a bail out jumper which typically does not fall.
I think it will be easy to sell that concept to JJ: “you are the main guy and you will get to be the hero when a possession does not work out as designed”.
That is how Phil Jackson got Kobe to behave and still be the man.
As for Teague, I don’t even fathom anything less than a clear cut order from LD: “you are the starting PG, you call the tempo and do you thing”.
As for a back up PG, if Shelvin Mack is still available, I would take him. I don’t care about anything else but the fact that he has proven to be a winner.
RA
June 21st, 2011
6:47 am
Okay, this is what needs to happen. Once there’s a new collective bargaining agreemet in place, the players that make up the Hawks core, need to seriously consider restructuring their contracts, ESPECIALLY Joe Johnson. There’s a precident for this. The Miami big three took less money so that they could have a viable chance to win a championship. To quote grandpa Witwicky, “there can be no victory without sacrifice.” What the Hawks big three, ESPECIALLY Joe Johnson needs to ask himself is, “is it better to break the bank and have a whole career of nothing special, or clear some salary cap room, add a really good player or two, make an honest to God run at the NBA finals, and still have enough money for five lifetimes? What’s greatness worth to you?
It’s time for the Hawks to stop talking about being a great team and be about it. Come on Atlantans let’s say it with me, DON’T SPEAK ABOUT IT BE ABOUT IT!
dukester
June 21st, 2011
7:16 am
All I want this team to do is trade Marvin and get us a center. Tyson Chandler, Sam Dalembert anybody that will commit to rebounding defense and blocking shots. Al Horford is a power forward. And yes we can trade Marvin for a another bad contract anything will be better that him. Come ASG go over the cap this is it if we dont win in the next 2 years this team will be blown up so at least be fair and honest and try your hardest to win.
Big Ray
June 21st, 2011
7:17 am
Vava ,
Good point, but that’s Phil we’re talking about. Larry is not Phil.
The Hawks players lobbied for Drew to get the job, and Gearon, being the homer that he is, listened to them instead of letting the guy he paid to make such decisions (Sund) do it.
Do you see Joe listening to Larry? I don’t. But, it is what is for the forseeable future. I hope Larry can make it happen, because he is who we are stuck with.
I think it will help if we get rid of one or two of our most active “non-listeners”, or the culture won’t change at all, meaning the Hawks will continue to not play defense when they need to, not run the offense they are being asked to run, and not rebound and stay focused.
Big Ray
June 21st, 2011
7:18 am
I almost don’t care what we trade Marvin for, though there seem to be no takers (big surprise).
O'Brien
June 21st, 2011
7:29 am
From ajc.com;
According to a study by DraftExpress.com, only 3 percent of the 574 players selected in the second round of the draft from 1980 to 2001 became “star” players. Just 10 percent ended up as “solid starters,” 14 percent topped out as “marginal starters” and 19 percent became “solid bench” players.
Of those 574 players, 29 percent never played in an NBA game and 62 percent played in fewer than 100 games. The percentages are even worse for players selected outside of the first few picks of the second round. .
Ken S,
This is the reason why you should pump your brakes when it comes to Pape Sy. He was drafted 53rd, never played college ball here in the U.S., so we have no idea what to expect from him. All we have is 32 total minutes of NBA PT.
I’m not saying he can’t help, but to count on him being a solid rotational player for us is a bit premature.
Ray
June 21st, 2011
7:42 am
@ Najeh
I honestly hope there is no truth to the rumors you need to get rid of the guy that’s paid the most. He was the one that was brought back in hoping to reach the promise land(NBA Finals).
Honestly if you brake the bank on someone they should be the first person looked at and last just like what happened in the playoffs Joe vanished and his best excuse I kept getting double teamed. Josh and other players got doubled a lot, but I didn’t see them complain about it afterwards well Josh did, but he got back and kept trying to do his thing.
Not only that go back and look at the playoffs videos look at the parts where Josh exits the game and see what the hawks look like without him. I’m telling you whatever defense we had with Josh if we trade him that’s gone.
Not all of this was directed @ Najeh
Grandmaster JeJe
June 21st, 2011
7:49 am
LOL @ when Sund was raving about how we got Earl Watson and some other scrub in the 2nd round when in Seattle. WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT
Mike is Back
June 21st, 2011
8:20 am
MC, I agree that AL has Super Start potential in the long term…However I think Josh has just as much POTENTIAL to be a Super Start too.
How do stop Josh from taking jumping shots…make him the first option in the post…I’M WILLING TO BET…both AL and Josh…game would improve…if they knew they were going to get the ball early in the clock on a consistent basis…they will have their struggles being the first and second option in the post…but both guys would respond.
Excellent commentary on JJ…unless the ASG hit the lottery…I don’t think they can afford to hold on to JJ…just saying.
What about Hilton Armstrong…what are your thoughts on him?
O'Brien
June 21st, 2011
8:26 am
Ray,
He was the one that was brought back in hoping to reach the promise land(NBA Finals)..
I dont think JJ was brought back to help us reach the NBA finals. He was brought back because the ASG didnt want to take a step back in the East. So if the Hawks can win 50 games, and win 2 or 3 games in the second round continuously, I think the ASG will be thrilled.
James,
If the Hawks wanted to take a step back, then last offseason would have been the time to do it. They could have done a SNT for JJ to the Knicks or the Bulls, and after his “I dont care if fans show up” comments, some fans would have been ok with a short term step back.
I think the Bulls would have given up Hinrich, filler and pick for JJ, while the Knicks would have given up Eddy Curry’s expiring, and a couple of the players included in the Carmelo trade.
Maybe the Hawks would have been competing for 8th, but they would have more salary cap flexibility, another first round pick, and the team makeup would be different.
However, ownership decided to go “all-in” with giving JJ the contract they did. And after only 1 year, I think its too early to abandon ship.
Melvin
June 21st, 2011
8:34 am
The Atlanta Hawks have started to gauge trade interest on forward Josh Smith(notes), and Smith isn’t averse to ending his seven-year stay with his hometown team, league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Monday.
Smith hasn’t requested a trade, but has privately told league friends that the Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic are his preferred destinations should the Hawks decide to move him.
“The relationship has run its course,” said a league source with knowledge of the dynamic.
There’s been growing acrimony between Smith and the organization, sources said, largely because of the feeling that Smith has been too convenient of a scapegoat. Smith had one of his most complete seasons for the Hawks, averaging 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
Josh Smith has spent all seven of his NBA seasons playing for the Hawks.
Payroll is an issue for the Hawks, too, and Smith’s contract – which has two years and $25.6 million remaining – is an attractive target for management to unload, if, for no other reason, than the five years, $110 million left on Joe Johnson’s(notes) deal is far more difficult to move.
The Hawks have looked to identify veteran players near the end of their contracts, sources said, but have had no serious discussions on trading Smith.
“They’re looking for a change,” one Eastern Conference executive said. “They would die to be rid of Joe Johnson’s contract or move Smith, but they won’t give [Smith] away. They want something in return.”
Dwight Howard(notes) has been a proponent of the Magic trying to make a deal for Smith, a childhood friend, but general manager Otis Smith is low on assets. Houston has long been intrigued with Smith, but like Orlando and New Jersey, also probably doesn’t have the right pieces to make a trade. Hawks GM Rick Sund has long coveted Kevin Garnett(notes) and Ray Allen(notes) – two aging Celtics entering the final years of contracts – but Celtics GM Danny Ainge has yet to show an inclination to break up his core for next season.
Melvin
June 21st, 2011
8:35 am
The above article on Josh Smith is from Yahoo.Sports
KevinM
June 21st, 2011
8:40 am
Hoopshype/Yahoo! is reporting Captain Josh Smith is on the block and they it’s harder to move Joe’s contract…….Orlando/Houston/NJ and Boston are potential destinations.
Guess who Sund likes? Garnett and Ray Allen….are you kidding me? If you were cash strapped, why in the hail would you even talk Garnett?
Something sounds like it’s going to happen before the CBA.
Regarding the CBA, the players have made a big concession to lower their revenue from 57 percent to 50 percent along with guaranteed contracts not extending beyond 4 years…..this might get interesting if there is serious movement by today on issues…David Stern has annointed this day as critical in the negotiations.
UGA
June 21st, 2011
8:49 am
Wojo from Yahoo is very reliable. This is probably true about Smoove
vava74
June 21st, 2011
8:51 am
Ray,
I actually think that JJ was more than just OK with Teague’s performance against CHI.
Teague as a primary ball handler for us changes the completion of our game 180º and over the course of a season will make JJ 50x more dangerous.
Teams will have to step out of their defensive comfort zones because Teague will carve deep into the paint with his dribble penetration which is something we haven’t seen from our PG since just about 100 years ago.
Heck, if only we could send Marvin elsewhere in a salary dump move in order to get us some cap flexibility.
In relation to us getting a poor-man’s Tyson Chandler, I have a feeling that his own sub in NO – Hilton – could be that guy with a full training camp with our starters.
Not that I am banking on him producing 10 and 10, but he could be the starter with limited minutes, with Zaza as the first sub off the bench as the energy/hustle guy OR Diaper Al moving to C with JJ moving to SF and Hinrich coming at SG.
I saw some promise on Hilton’s game against ORL when he frustrated Howard. It seems that he learned from Collins better footwork and defensive positioning.
I would give him a chance and he is athletic enough to dunk alley hoop passes from Teague and run the fast break as he did in NO with Paul running the show (obviously JT0 is not CP2 but his speed and perimeter pressure will give us easy baskets and we need bigs that can follow the break).
Trojan
June 21st, 2011
8:52 am
Is there anyone excited about the future course of the Hawks? Sunds creates no confidence, LD creates no confidence, ASG creates no confidence.
vava74
June 21st, 2011
9:05 am
Trojan,
This coming year, in the Chinese Horoscope, is “The Year of the Teague”
Buddy Grizzard
June 21st, 2011
9:19 am
From the previous blog:
“To argue that [Lame Duck] is the worst coach in the NBA is rather absurd.” – Dark Karma
I was waiting for someone to step up and defend Lame Duck. Let’s look at your arguments:
1. “First, his team played above .500 basketball for the regular season. Second, his team won in a first round playoff matchup in which they were the underdog.”
First, this team had two All-Stars and a third that you could make an argument for. Should any team with that much talent finish below .500, bad coach or not? As for beating Orlando, we’ve already established that Otis Smith gutted their roster. Four seed vs. five seed doesn’t exactly make them huge underdogs.
2. “Third, to say he is the worst coach is to say that this team’s success was absolutely in spite of him.”
Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. With a competent coach, they might have made it to the conference finals. As for your Clippers comparison, Lame Duck isn’t even in the same conversation as a coach with Vinny Del Negro. Comparison not valid in any case because that team is young and inexperienced.
3. “Exaggerating about the coach is agenda driven.”
I’m not exaggerating, but I do have an agenda, and that’s to show people that Lame Duck is the worst coach in the NBA and that the team would go farther with a competent coach like Dwayne Casey or Lawrence Frank. Let’s break down the CHI series shall we?
Game 1
The Hawks have their only game of the series where Joe and Jamal duplicate their hot shooting against the inferior defense of Orlando. It was impossible for Thibs to scout a Hawks team that featured Teague on the floor for 45 minutes because nobody had seen that. Lame Duck plays primarily a 6-man rotation with Crawford the only reserve to play more than 8 minutes. Zaza plays 8 minutes, scores 6 points and collects 5 rebounds, more than a rebound every two minutes. Hawks out-rebound CHI 38-37 and win 103-95.
Game 2
The first adjustment is Thibs’. After getting scorched for combined 20-for-34 shooting by Joe and Jamal in Game 1, Chicago double teams and limits them to a combined 9-for-25 from the field. Lame Duck does not adjust. He stays with the same 6-man rotation, Jamal plays 35 minutes, shoots 2-for-10, scores 11 points and collects zero rebounds. Zaza again plays 8 minutes (second among reserves), but this time collects only 2 rebounds and does not score. The Hawks are crushed 58-39 on the boards and lose 86-73.
Game 3
Once again, no adjustment by Lame Duck. Jamal leads reserves with 29 minutes, shoots 3-for-7, scores 7 points and collects two rebounds. Zaza is second among reserves with 9 minutes but scores only 1 point and collects only 1 rebound. The Hawks are again out-rebounded 47-34 and lose at home 99-82 at home to go down 2-1 in the series and surrender home court advantage back to the Bulls.
Buddy Grizzard
June 21st, 2011
9:22 am
Game 4
Finally Lame Duck adjusts his rotation. Jason Collins enters the starting lineup, plays 12 minutes, scores 4 points and does not collect a rebound. Marvin Williams is taken out of the starting lineup, plays only 15 minutes and does not score or collect a rebound. Zaza plays 26 minutes, scores 5 points and collects 9 rebounds. Jamal plays 29 minutes, shoots 5-for-11 and scores 12 points with one rebound. The Bulls only edge the Hawks 37-36 in rebounds and the Hawks win 100-88 to tie the series.
Game 5
Lame Duck essentally duplicates his rotation from Game 4. Prior to the game I predict that if Jason Collins starts, CHI will seek to exploit his lack of foot speed. It ends up being Luol Deng who goes off in the first quarter as the Hawks fall into a 32-21 hole. Marvin plays only 9 minutes, scores 2 points and collects 1 rebound. Jamal plays 27 minutes, goes 1-for-9 and scores 2 points. Zaza plays 23 minutes, scores 13 points and collects 4 rebounds. Jamal plays almost the entire 4th quarter. Zaza is taken out with 10:22 to play in the 4th and the Hawks trailing 71-70. The Hawks are out-rebounded 37-33 and lose 95-83.
Game 6
Player rotation is essentially identical to Games 4 & 5. In each of the previous 5 games, the team that won the first quarter went on to win the game. This time my prediction prior to Game 5 came true as Boozer and Noah attacked the slow foot speed of Jason Collins. As soon as Al Horford switched on to Boozer, the Bulls gave Noah the ball at the top of the key. Not known for his off-the-dribble game, Noah went right around Collins for a layup.
After Collins’ ineffective defense immediately put the Hawks in an 8-point hole, Lame Duck made the genius decision to pull Teague and let Jamal run point. The Hawks were outscored 32-21 in the first quarter and never recovered. Jamal played 25 minutes, shot 2-for-10 and scored 8 points. Zaza played 23 minutes, scored 1 point and COLLECTED 13 REBOUNDS. The Bulls and Hawks tied at 35 rebounds each and Chicago won 93-73 to clinch the series.
Throughout the series, Lame Duck was slow to make adjustments. Successful coaches make game-to-game adjustments in the playoffs to throw different looks at their opponents and try to keep them off balance. When you employ the same rotations for three-game stretches, it makes it very easy for the opposing coach to game plan you.
And any competent coach understands that players are productive at different times under different circumstances. Zaza showed that if given more than 20 minutes he could produce points, rebounds or both. Jamal Crawford closed the season with 5 consecutive poor offensive and defensive performances. By Game 5, Lame Duck should no longer have been praying that Jamal would snap out of it. He scored his only two points of the game in the first quarter. And yet Lame Duck pulled Zaza in the 4th with the score 71-70 and left Jamal on the floor as Chicago closed with a 24-13 run to win the pivotal Game 5.
Now, give me a list of NBA head coaches who are worse than Lame Duck.
KevinM
June 21st, 2011
9:23 am
Trojan, these guys are on the last year of their contracts. Sund, LD, and the ASG have to make moves to lower their salary obligations and to remain competitive in the East.
And if the Orlando interest in Josh is real, I make sure they overpay as Otis Smith is under the gun to keep Howard happy. Brandon Bass and draft picks would have to be part of any return package.
Rick Sund
June 21st, 2011
9:37 am
Enter your comments here
O'Brien
June 21st, 2011
9:38 am
It’s funny to me how GMs and owners operate in sports (especially basketball and baseball, since the contracts are guaranteed). They will sign a guy to a huge contract, and then one year later, they are trying to get rid of him.
And if they want to get rid of JJ this offseason, they wont get equal value in return.
I was ok with resigning JJ last summer, because I have no confidence in Rick and the ASG to make good decisions to reconstruct the team. And I feel the same way now. Although I am ok with Josh Smith being traded, I have no confidence that Rick will get a good deal.
vava74
June 21st, 2011
9:40 am
Buddy,
Don’t forget that on Game 2, we were even half way the 1st quarter, with the CHI crowd deflating and restless when LD took Teague out to get Crawford in and CHI went on a 10-2 run to close the quarter…
http://popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gameflow.cgi?date=20110504&game=ATLCHI
Teague was 2/4FG with 1 steal at that point and Rose was having trouble getting past him and after Jamal got in, he went to finish the quarter with 12 points…
Fundamentals
June 21st, 2011
9:52 am
Josh has to understand that he is the leader, the catalyst, the motor for this team. When they don’t perform and he is the scapegoat isn’t a slight to Josh. It should be reassuring him that he has arrived as our leader…he’s just too emotional and immature to recognize that.
Hawks need a real leader…will the mature Josh Smith please stand up. They’re calling for you, not labelling you or accusing you. LEAD US!
Fundamentals
June 21st, 2011
9:52 am
Why is ASG so desperate to dump Joe’s salary when they just signed it? More proof maybe the problems don’t reside entirely with the players. Idiots = ASG
Fundamentals
June 21st, 2011
9:53 am
I agree Marvin’s issues are 100% on Marvin. He’s got to fight for a niche somewhere. I’d be perfectly happy to see him excel elsewhere, we’ve got plenty of evidence to prove he’s no more than a puppy on the porch here. We need some big dogs.
Fundamentals
June 21st, 2011
9:55 am
Hilton has the physical tools, he just needs coaching and time. Yes he has learned from Collins. Why can’t we hire someone to really work with our bigs? We have no real coaching in terms of post presence, footwork and rebounding. Lambier comes to mind here.
Newbie
June 21st, 2011
9:59 am
If Hoston is really interested in Josh Smith, then what about trading him and P Sye or Williams or Zaza for their 14th and 23rd or 38th draft picks, Jordan Hill, and Thabeet. With the 14th pick in the draft select Nickola Vucevic (7′0″ center who plays defence and can score) or Donatas Motiejunas (7′0″ PF/C athletic and talented score but weak defensively) and with the 23rd pick select Chandler Parsons (6′10″ SF talented scorer and plays defense)if it’s the 38th pick then select either Malcom Thomas or Kyle Singler, if he drops that far, at SF. Then let Jamal carford walk and sign a FA SF like Anderi Kirilenko, Shane Battier, Tyshaun Prince, or Al Thorton. The starting line up would then be:
PG – Jeff Teague 6′2″
SG – Joe Johnson 6′7″
SF – Anderi Kirilenko 6′9″ or other FA
PF – Al Hoford 6′10″
C- Nickola Vucevic or Donatas Motiejunas
Bench
PG- Kirk Hinrich 6′4″
SG- Marvin Williams 6′9″ or Pape Sy 6′7″
SF- Chandler Parsons 6′10″, Kyle Singler 6′9″, or Malcom Thomas 6′9″
PF/C combination – Jordan Hill 6′10″, Zaza 6′11″, Thabeet 7′3″
Resign – D. Wilkens, Magnum Rolle and sign a shooting gaurd.
What do you all think?
Astro Joe
June 21st, 2011
10:09 am
To read that Sund covets size is a little disconcerting. Size is NOT a skill. Size could result in drafting someone like Mohammed Sene in the lottery. Size could lead to grabbing someone like Johan Petro or Robert Swift with a first round pick. Size is what Patrick O’Bryant offered the Raptors. Size means diddly-squat without skill.
Go get us a shot-blocker or a rebounder and don’t worry about his measurables. If you want size, you would ignore someone like Joel Anthony, Paul Millsap or Dajuan Blair. I’d prefer for Sund to draft someone with the wont to go and get the loose ball, set a jaw-rattling screen and punish a shrimp driving in the lane. That doesn’t require height and wingspan, that requires a mindset this team desparately needs. F size, give me a semi-skilled goon with outstanding work habits.
SteveW
June 21st, 2011
10:12 am
Buddy – I agree with your comments wholeheartedly. I’m no expert coach, but I did have the privilege of coaching (head) on a small college level for 3 years.
And LD from a distance was hands down the worst coach I had ever seen on any level from High School on up. And I ‘ve been following basketball since the late ’60’s.
Now in the playoffs, he stepped it up a notch, but a small notch. I will be shocked if he lasts much more than 20 games into the upcoming season. If he does, it will be because the 3 G rotation of Hinrich, Teague, and JJ is playing at such a level not even LD can mess it up. This of course assumes he plays Teague, which I still highly doubt unless forced to thru Sund not signing any one else to play or management telling him he has too. And it also assumes Josh, Al, and especially Marvin really worked on their games in the offseason, and we are clicking.
That’s the only way I see LD lasting much more than 20 games this season. And it is possible. But he has been a historically bad regular season Coach. And there almost has to be reasons behind the scenes as to why, because I can’t see a guy that incompetent even as an Asst. in the NBA if he is what he appears to be.
Good luck Dwayne Casey on your gig with the Raptors! You got a few nice pieces there in DeRozan, Calderon, and Bargnani. Much success, except against the Hawks!
Trading Sy and Horford for Rocket big men and #14 + 23/2nd rounder picks for Donatas & M.Thomas etc.
June 21st, 2011
10:15 am
“Brandon Bass and draft picks would have to be part of any return package.”
so we’re rebuilding now? great. and Orlando’s pick will be how late? 25-30 range?
@vava Hilton Armstrong has never appeared on any True Shooting % leaderboards or had a good rebounding % over the years like Tyson has over his career.
If he could put on 15lbs of muscle and increase his vert he’d be shockingly close to Okafor,
However Hilton’s 26-27 yo. That’s a pipe dream
:::::::::::::::
Bench Mob: Kirk Hinrich/Marvin Williams/Malcolm Thomas/Jordan Hill/Pachulia
::::::::::::
Starters: Jeff Teague/Joe Johnson/Josh Smith/Donatas Motiejunas/H.Thabeet
SteveW
June 21st, 2011
10:15 am
I have no idea what the fascination is with Thabeet, but if you want someone tall, who had a PER about 3x of Thabeets this past season, who is younger than Thabeet, and can be had for the vet min. possibly, sign Alexis Ajinca. He’s 7-2, 248, looks like he’s been hitting the weights hard, and has a much better game than Thabeet right now.
Forget Thabeet
SteveW
June 21st, 2011
10:17 am
Sign Thabeet to your fantasy league with Greg Oden if you want. But don’t wish his 5m. contract on the Hawks. We have enough bad contracts.
Trading Sy and Horford for Rocket big men and #14 + 23/2nd rounder picks for Donatas & M.Thomas etc.
June 21st, 2011
10:19 am
“If you want size, you would ignore someone like Joel Anthony, Paul Millsap or Dajuan Blair.”
ignoring height
……………
-Joel Anthony had good length but has his flaws undrafted.
-Dejuan Blair. steal and good weight and length but he has no ACLs
-MIlsap is always trying to be moved to small forward to accommodate big men like Al Jefferson and even Derrick Favors
SteveW
June 21st, 2011
10:20 am
AJ – That’s why Josh Harrelson intrigues me. Terrible measurables, but a heart as big as Texas. I could see him being a 10-15 mpg bruiser, hustle guy. Kinda like Brian Cardinal on steroids, figuratively speaking.
Looking at Harrelson, it’s obvious he’s never taken steroids.
KevinM
June 21st, 2011
10:27 am
Buddy Grizzard, awesome stuff! You are mentally invested in this franchise. I gotta tell you the while Larry was a huge mistake because we just wasted another season of supporting this team.
Larry forced Josh’ perimeter game on us, he shoved Bibby down our throat and would never admit his incompetence and had a playoff run to save his hide, a la Woodson.
Saying that, there were worse coaches in the league…..and those coaches have been move out.
Would a Skiles have faired better? Perhaps, but to get this organization moving forward, you have to take risks. We have probably the lowest risk taker in the business in Sund.
vava74
June 21st, 2011
10:28 am
Get me Reggie Evans to knock some sense into Diaper Al during practice and to get us 5-10 minutes of Rick-Mahorn-type toughness which is desperately needed now that we have Power-Puff-Diaper-Al instead of a Boss-Al.
Buddy Grizzard
June 21st, 2011
10:32 am
“And for anyone paying attention, Hinrich is not strong enough to take on the the full-time SG role for us.” – KevinM
Nor is he fast enough to take over as the full time point, although this is how I predict Lame Duck will deploy him for one final slap to Teague’s face. I think a three-guard lineup for the Hawks would be a disaster.
“Atlanta Hawks… are considered possible candidates for a move due to financial losses and a desire for a new arena.” – SteveW
Go ahead and gloat MC
It looks like a wire service report but the NY Post are still idiots for publishing that when the Phillips Arena bond agreement is going to keep the Hawks from going anywhere until like 2025. Way to go NY Post!
“The relationship has run its course.”
Saw that one coming. Since the season ended I have been saying on this blog that the most important task for the Atlanta Hawks is to understand that going forward the team needs to be built around Josh Smith. He should be the focal point of the offense and Joe Johnson should be transitioned into a supporting role (as MC said in the video).
The reason I said this is because the Hawks need to be focused on getting Josh his first All-Star appearance and making him happy so he will sign an extension. If he walks after two more seasons the Hawks will have to rebuild with Joe’s contract hanging around the franchise’s neck. They need to stop making Josh feel like a scapegoat and start making him feel like what he is… the franchise’s only hope.
“I saw some promise on Hilton’s game against ORL when he frustrated Howard. It seems that he learned from Collins better footwork and defensive positioning.” – Vava74
Co-sign.
SteveW
June 21st, 2011
10:34 am
And if we really want to get rid of JJ’s contract like Woj. on Yahoo says, the Bulls are desperate for a 2 G. Tell the Bulls if they send us:
Asik, CJ Watson, Deng, and Brewer, along with their 2 first picks this year, they can have JJ.
We get rid of our worst contract, for a shorter term, cheaper bad contract in Deng, get depth, and who knows, may end up a better team.
A frontcourt of Al, Josh, and Deng would be solid. Real solid. Bring Marvin off the bench. Asik and ZaZa off the bench in the frontcourt wouldn’t be bad either.
A backcourt of Teague, Watson, Hinrich, and Brewer may not be premium, but serviceable. And if we draft well at 28 and 30, even more depth and youth.