Atlanta Hawks: Elite talent, not ‘Detroit model,’ still best path to title
Assuming the favored Heat beat the Celtics tomorrow and advance to the Finals, it will add to the mountain of evidence suggesting the best way to build a championship team is to acquire elite players.
Yeah, I know: radical statement. But before you lump me with Captain Obvious, remember it’s at odds with the “Detroit model” currently favored by the Hawks.
My view is that there are two kinds of NBA teams–those with top 10 players, and those without–and everything an organization does should be in an attempt to be the former rather than the latter. The Hawks’ view is that they can build a team with three not-quite-elite talents and keep knocking at the door until they become championship contenders.
That’s assuming the Hawks do have aspirations of winning an NBA championship, something that’s not always clear. The franchise often seems more preoccupied with dinging its critics and demanding credit for its successes (and there are many) than raising the bar. That perception is fueled by superficial-but-telling tendencies (such as statements boasting about making the playoffs) and the embrace of a team-building philosophy that rarely leads to a championship.
In a league where superstars contend for titles, the Hawks have tried to do it without one.
“It is going to be very hard for us to get that MVP candidate unless you pick one or two [in the draft],” Rick Sund said last summer. “Or unless you happen to have … free-agent money, to get one in free agency. It’s going to be tough, so we are going to have to do it the hard way.”
The Detroit model certainly is that.
There have been 62 NBA championship teams since 1950, and 57 those teams placed at least one player on one of the top two All-NBA teams in the season they won it. In fact, only 15 of those champions failed to have at least one player voted first team All-NBA (a third five-man All-NBA team was added starting with the 1988-89 season).
Furthermore, only 10 of 62 finals runner-up teams failed to have at least one player considered among the top 10 in the league. That means just 15 of 124 teams to make the finals — 12 percent — did so without a player voted to be among the league’s 10 best.
The Heat or Thunder would add to those totals while the Celtics would not. And chances are if Boston advances it’s because Kevin Garnett or Paul Pierce once again rekindle their form from the recent past and/or Rajon Rondo plays to the level that has him on track to reach top 10 status.
The Hawks tried to do build a contender the way the Thunder have done it. They executed the first part of the plan by getting bad enough to get a chance at a high draft pick and lucky enough to land one. The second and most important part, drafting the right players, didn’t go so well.
Making the wrong pick hurts, but it happens. Worse is that instead of cutting their losses and turning Marvin Williams et al into assets they could use to take a shot at acquiring an elite player, the Hawks doubled down. And instead of using Joe Johnson to acquire more assets (draft picks, relatively cheap and productive players, cap space) that hey could parlay into a top 10 player, the Hawks gave him the richest deal in the league.
Now the Hawks aren’t projected to have real cap space until after next season, by which time Josh Smith and Zaza Pachulia could be gone, Johnson will be a year older and they’ll have no more than four players under contract. Tough to get an elite talent and complementary players with $15 million or so in cap space.
I understand the calls for a new coach as the answer with this group of Hawks. Sometimes, though, I think that’s the most popular thing because it’s easier to change coaches than acquire a top 10 player. I’d rather have the elite talent–Scott Brooks just beat Gregg Popovich and I’ll go out on a limb and say that had more to do with OKC’s two top 10 players to San Antonio’s one than any Thunder coaching advantage.
The Hawks could try to trade for an established top 10 player. There’s precedent for this with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving (who was actually “sold” to the 76ers by the Nets), Tiny Archibald, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley and Jason Kidd.
Going that route would almost certainly mean the Hawks would have to trade away part of the proverbial “core” and perhaps take a step back in the short term. My feeling is this is less likely to happen if Sund returns as GM. After a season in which injuries legitimately hurt their chances to advance in the playoffs, the Hawks under Sund probably would stay the course.
That’s a defensible position insofar as it keeps a good team intact. It’s not a proven plan as far as contending for a championship, unless you believe Johnson, Josh Smith, or Al Horford can be top 10 players next season. Essentially, the best way for the Hawks to become true championship contenders is for one of their players to be good enough to transcend the Detroit model.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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768 comments Add your comment
tyger
June 8th, 2012
9:17 pm
Exact a mundo!
The Hawks arent going to do anything BIG…
Sund is the human embodiment of DULL…
ATL Spirit or whatever they are now are BROKE…
So, that pretty much sums up our off-season…
We’ll draft #23; probably trade or sell it for next to nothing…
Fill remaining roster with minimum veteran free agents…
Most excitement we can expect is guessing…
Who will play for a $1M minimum salary?…
You get 6 guesses…
1. Lumpy
2. Dumpy
3. Sleepy
4. Etc.
DawgNole
June 8th, 2012
9:20 pm
Sautee
June 8th, 2012
4:56 pm
“The franchise often seems more preoccupied with dinging its critics and demanding credit for its successes (and there are many) than raising the bar.”
Well put, Michael. Succinct and right on point.
_____________________
“Succinct and right on point”–perhaps. But “many successes”? Having a tough time swallowing that one. For sure, what successes the team has had haven’t been in the postseason, which is where they really matter.
kwooden
June 8th, 2012
9:20 pm
I will say this though, if the HAWKS had not traded Bibby and kept their pick, they could have had a very good shot at drafting Faried(22) or MarShon Brooks(25). We definitely can’t waste this years pick!
DawgNole
June 8th, 2012
9:25 pm
hawksfancents95
June 8th, 2012
6:28 pm
i know yall hate optimisim on here with this crap ownership but you know you will watch every game next year so i like to think positive and be wrong as oppose to being a pessimist and being right
______________________
Your only hope in ATL is to be a pessimist and be wrong. Tried the ol’ optimist stuff for years. Never worked (except in ‘95), so resorted to pessimism (or “reality,” as I prefer to call it). Still waiting–and HOPING–to be wrong. No longer sure that it’ll happen in my lifetime.
terrell
June 8th, 2012
9:27 pm
Doc, what’s your definition of a warrior? Lebron does it on both ends. Night end and night out. Dude has carried the Heat basically by himself this Playoffs. Dont know whats up with Wade. The man took the freakin Cavs to the finals for crying out loud. Durant is great, I give you that, but to call him a ‘warrior”, and call Lebron the queen is just ludicrous. Not the biggest fan of Lebron myself, but if I was starting a franchise today, he’s be my guy. No questions asked. Durant is a close second.
DawgNole
June 8th, 2012
9:30 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
June 8th, 2012
7:15 pm
If you are a fan of a have-not, you should recognize that you are SOL and have a nice summer. The teams that recognize this and act accordingly — like the Sonics in 2007 — give themselves a good chance at rising to the top. The teams that don’t — like the current Hawks — continue to be have-nots and afterthoughts.
____________________
One important edit: Should read “like the current AND PAST Hawks . . . .”
DawgNole
June 8th, 2012
9:32 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
June 8th, 2012
7:18 pm
” I’d rather see hime use his time to investigate (or suggest) how this team can improve this summer, not offer up a “no hope” view of the situation.”
I prefer to call it a “realistic” view of the situation. If the goal is a championship, this team has no hope of achieving that goal without a superstar. MC is absolutely right to point that out.
______________________
No edits on this one. “Realistic” is exactly what it is.
DawgNole
June 8th, 2012
9:41 pm
Will
June 8th, 2012
8:19 pm
For an organization that wants to use the “Detroit” model and seems so reluctent to want to spend over the cap, they sure as heck aren’t good at either of those efforts.
____________________
Based on their history in ATL, they aren’t good at many other efforts either.
Sautee
June 8th, 2012
9:41 pm
“JOSH AINT GOIN NOWHERE!!! IF THE “FANS” SUPPORT HIM”
Unlike many on this blog, I do not think Josh is dumb. I think Josh is smart enough to know that he needs to get away from this ownership group. Unless we trade him, he WILL walk at the end of next season, IMO. And who could blame him?
I don’t think the fan support is even a factor. He’s smart enough to see all the screwy things this ownership has done, including making him go shop himself, while re-signing Horford without Al ever reaching the market, the Chills debacle, not signing another big for weeks after Horford was hurt, spending millions on a restaurant while your scoreboard is broken all season, etc., etc., etc..
IMO, Josh has had it, and will be a true professional in his last season here, and won’t even look back in 2013.
This BASG cares nothing about asset management. They will hold on to Josh in the vain idea that he wants to be here, despite the rumors. So, you may be right that he goes nowhere FOR THIS YEAR, but fan support will have little to do with it, in my opinion. After this year, he’s gone.
KevinM
June 8th, 2012
9:58 pm
The only hope going forward is that the ASG won’t be here after a year.
I’m at the point where its okay to extend Sund and LD to 5 years.
I’d love to hear whether the current season ticket holders are going to bite that apple one more time and attend 50 or so home games of the core as we know it?
The last time I had season tickets was 2001, when Gasol was selected and traded for Abdul-Rahim, the 20/10 machine. That worked out well for Lon Kruger didn’t it? The same year that Jason Collins and Joe Johnson were drafted. Ahh, the good ole days of Hawks basketball.
will
June 8th, 2012
10:50 pm
Mr. Blank, has not won a playoff gm in 8 yrs. BUT THE GEORGIA DOME IS SOLDOUT EVERY SUNDAY FOR THE FALCONS!!!!!!
AND THEN MR. BLANKS, HAS PERSUADED THE STATE, TO BUILD HIM A BRAND NEW STADIUM!!!!!!!!!!
NOT BAD FOR HASN’T WON A PLAYOFF GM IN 8 YRS!!!!!!!!
Section 303
June 8th, 2012
10:50 pm
I do not think the Hawks will make any major moves this offseason, even though they should. Trading Josh Smith seems like a no-brainer to me. He does not want to be here and will likely leave the Hawks at the end of the season. Why not trade him for a decent pick in this year’s draft? You get a shot at a good player, who will come cheap.
Another thing Michael should mention is that the ASG is content with just having a good team. I have heard Michael Gearon say as much on more than one occasion. He likes that this team will make the playoffs and have a shot at winning most of the games they play. That’s why he won’t break up this “core” group. It might lead to taking a step back in order to get a shot at improvement. They’re (the ASG) simply not going to endure the step back. So, get used to this team as constructed. For one more year, at least. Josh will leave at the season’s end. Who knows what happens from there?
doc
June 8th, 2012
10:59 pm
terrell he quit during the playoffs in cleveland, plane quit or did you forget? he also disappears for long periods during critical games and passes up the big real shot to someone else. warriors always want that shot to win. lbj doesnt mind getting close and watching then talks about having a chance to win. that is his legacy and far from a self pronounced king. when he gets to the top of the heap then fine, until them he sits at least one rung below as the queen. great talent for sure and the best body and skill in the nba since wilt, no question. with sidekicks of two other top five players no excuses, sorry to disagree.
Thetruth
June 8th, 2012
11:00 pm
Ahhhh…..it’s new owners that The Hawks need!!
JustSayinB
June 8th, 2012
11:24 pm
Great teams have great management, period. That’s all I’m sayin.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
June 8th, 2012
11:27 pm
When we are healthy the core still ain’t good enough to win a championship.
doc
June 8th, 2012
11:33 pm
jason heyward steals a game for the braves. i hope he becomes the real deal and can stick around.
Ra'mon
June 8th, 2012
11:46 pm
Alex Kennedy (CNNsi) reports that Moultrie is the real deal. Kennedy said last night while all other prospects were out having fun, Moultrie was in a local gym going through an intense workout.
Guys, Moultrie’s measurements (used to be an SG/SF before a crazy growth spurt) are insane. I could see the Hawks drafting him, and using he, Josh, and Al in a three big line up, with Josh guarding the SF (Moultrie’s outside shot is pretty decent). A line up like that (Moultrie is extremely athletic) would allow the Hawks to switch even more for positions 2-5. This would give the Hawks a great advantage on guarding the most dangerous play in the league (P&R).
If Jordan will take Rudy Gay for the #2 pick. I wonder if he would trade that pick and a contract for Joe Johnson. Joe Johnson gives Charlotte an instant all star, and credibility. The Hawks would have a chance to get from under Johnson’s contract. I know Jordan may laugh the Hawks off of the phone. But its worth a try.
High-sider
June 8th, 2012
11:48 pm
@Buddy Grizzard, DMB [drmaryb] and KevinM
“…“DMB, do you know what Grunfeld said when Sund agreed to trade Hinrich?
‘Sucker’!” – KevinM
Worked out great for Washington because Bibby agreed to a buyout and sacrificed his last season’s salary. Wizards were 28th in 3-point shooting and John Wall wants the team to draft a 2 guard so JC2 not working out so good. Jury out on Singleton. On the Hawks end, without Bibby gone, the Hawks lose to Orlando last year. This year, if Drew had played Hinrich in the 4th quarter of Game 3 instead of Pargo, the Hawks might still be playing. So it’s hard to judge how well the trade worked out for the Hawks because Drew played a scrub instead of Hinrich when it counted most…” – Buddy Grizzard @3:17pm dated 6/8/2012
BG [Buddy Grizzard], you still stuck on that “broken record”? I thought we’ve already “been there, done that”[sic]. You did get the memo [from my earlier posts], right [smh]? Why did you conveniently fail to mention that Hinrich DID NOT SCORE A SINGLE POINT in Game 3 vs. the Celtics? I’m just going to repost my comment from yesterday to, once again, put you in “check” or shall I say “checkmate” because you basically have no “out” [escape] or defense to the following comment/response.
————————————————————————————————————————-
Repost FTPB
High-sider
June 7th, 2012
8:29 pm
@BIG DOG [and Buddy Grizzard]
“…Do you understand the +/- statistic? Pargo was -11, which means the Celtics outscored the Hawks by 11 points while Pargo was on the floor. Hinrich’s +/- for that game was (0), meaning the Hawks scored the same number of points while Hinrich was on the floor that the Celtics scored. So the Hawks were 11 points better with Hinrich on the floor in Game 3 than they were with Pargo. The Hawks ONLY NEEDED TO BE ONE POINT BETTER THAN THE CELTICS TO WIN THAT GAME IN REGULATION.” – Buddy Grizzard
Ask him [Buddy Grizzard], if the Hawks needed only one point to win Game 3 in regulation, then why didn’t Hinrich score that one point since he played [approximately] 26 minutes in Game 3? Ask him [BG], why was Hinrich held scoreless in Game 3? Ask him [Buddy Grizzard], how many points did Kirk Hinrich score in Game 3 and Game 4 for that matter vs. the Celtics in the [2012] playoffs? Then, wait and see how he [Buddy Grizzard] will respond. FYI, Hinrich scored a total of two points combined in Games 3 and 4 vs. Boston. Furthermore, Hinrich only scored a combined total of two points from the beginning of the 3rd quarter of Game 2 to the end of the 4th quarter of Game 4; that’s a total of 10+ quarters [125 minutes] of playoff basketball. Remember, Game 3 vs. the Celtics was an overtime game. Tell him [Buddy Grizzard] that Kirk Hinrich logged [approximately] 85 minutes and 17 seconds of playing time from the beginning of Game 2 to the end of Game 4 but yet only scored a combined total of ten* [10*] points. What good are +/- statistics for a player like Kirk Hinrich if he’s not giving you anything on the offensive end? Plus/minus statistics are not “statistics in a vacuum.” Tell him to research Hinrich’s 2010-2011 regular season [individual aggregate] +/- statistics which was the [regular] season the Hawks made that trade for him [Hinrich].
2010-2011 NBA Regular Season [Individual Aggregate] Plus/Minus Statistics:
Kirk Hinrich w/ Hawks: -125
Mike Bibby w/ Hawks: +137
Kirk Hinrich w/ Wizards: -260
Mike Bibby w/ Wizards: -12
http://www.nba.com/statistics/plusminus/plusminus_sort.jsp?pcomb=1&season=22010&split=9&team=Hawks
Ask him [BG], where was that Hinrich stellar defensive prowess during the regular season of 2010-2011?
High-sider
June 9th, 2012
1:24 am
Check out the “great “D”" of Kirk Hinrich in the following [video] clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txKdnGPmHVo&feature=related
Sugar Ray
June 9th, 2012
2:21 am
“It is going to be very hard for us to get that MVP candidate unless you pick one or two [in the draft],” Rick Sund said last summer. “Or unless you happen to have … free-agent money.”
Ok but did didn’t you… you know what, nevermind.
Ra'mon
June 9th, 2012
2:26 am
Drummond measured in at 6′9 3/4 without shoes (6′11 with shoes). And his vertical was 38 inches, while weighing 285 lbs. That’s way better than DeAndre Jordan. I think he will be a great defensive player and rebounder for years. I would trade Josh, Al, or Joe for him.
Sugar Ray
June 9th, 2012
2:30 am
Hawks (and many of their fans) keep rewarding negative behavior, that’s why they don’t succeed. Joe doesn’t show up and trashes the fans – give him a max deal!!! Marvin doesn’t live up to #2 pick — give him another deal! Drew tries to undercut Woody to get his job — hire him, and when they underachieve the next season, pick up his option! Now? Josh wants out, his efficiency keeps going down, he’s losing explosivenes, and implies Hawks fans suck — but what do most of these folks want to do with him? Yep, you guessed it — give him an extension! Wooo! It’s the song that never ends.
now you know
June 9th, 2012
2:51 am
Now if we can get rid of sorry as Al horford and Jeff what the fuc was that teague,then we can at least make progress in the right direction. I so tired of this experiment called Al Nowitski. horford. It aint working time to move away from the projects jeff and al and build around Josh with JJ complementing. I cant take 1 more year of this Al project.
real Sugar Ray
June 9th, 2012
2:52 am
you stole my name butt whole.
Cosign now you know trade Al
Section 303
June 9th, 2012
2:54 am
Where did I put my weed? Why is every one saying trade Al horford?
Section 303
June 9th, 2012
2:55 am
Josh is more of an Elite talent than injury prone Al 12pts 8rbs Al horford
DawgNole
June 9th, 2012
2:59 am
Al horford makes me sick with that weak as game. you aint gonna win with that chett. Trade his as now!
will
June 9th, 2012
3:02 am
Al does play like a hoe.
Hoe Al
vava74
June 9th, 2012
4:47 am
Detroit had an Hall of Fame bound Head Coach, not Woody, nor LD.
We were severely undermanned and still put up a good fight against Boston, who is proving to be a tough cookie.
If we had better coaching and all personnel, we would have had a genuine shot to be in the Finals this year.
Undermanned as we were BUT with quality coaching, ECF would have been perfectly feasible.
All those bad shots/possessions from Josh and JJ would be greatly reduced, instead of ISO-JJ we would have ISO-Teague which, any blind man can identify as a perfectly viable end of game play.
More, we would have T-Mac on the floor to close games ALL THE TIME.
Let’s not talk about roster models without first talking about who is on the bench.
LD is an enabler with some X’s and O’s, but he is weak and scared and I don’t care about the fact that he was and still will be on the last year of his contract.
Either you have balls or you don’t.
You would not go to war with guys like LD. At least, I wouldn’t.
JSS
June 9th, 2012
7:28 am
Wow, there are a lot of bloggers jumping off the overpasses! Look, they are between a rock a hard place… Re-upping Marvin and getting nothing out of Kirk is hurting them… The bizarre use of back-end cap with the likes Willie Green, Collins, and Stackhouse (who I like but be real, he’s done)… Then the Joe contract, they cut off their nose to spite their face… This team (administration and ownership wise) is like the character The Engineer in film ‘Prometheus.’ The problem, the xenomorph here kills the fans, not its creators!
BIG DOG
June 9th, 2012
9:23 am
Josh is not coming back, why not trade something for him now if your the Hawks ?
Josh, D william, D 12 .
Word on the street Brooklyn will have there big 3 come 2013.
Trade Josh ASAP.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
June 9th, 2012
9:28 am
Josh for Lopez in a straight up deal, Hawks should be on the phone now calling them, Brooklyn will do this trade with Josh stock being at his highest peak, also they no bringing in Josh is the easy path for D12.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
SteveW
June 9th, 2012
9:29 am
Lang Greene said Moultrie was his darkhouse pick as well – late first rounder that could be a solid player.
Waiters went home early, supposedly has a locked up offer at either #8 or #13, so no need to work out at the combine.
SteveW
June 9th, 2012
9:33 am
I actually wish the Hawks would trade next years 1st pick and maybe 1 or our 2 2nd picks for next season, for like the Cavs #24 pick – I’d like to see us pick up maybe Taylor and Moultrie in this draft.
The Cavs also have picks 33 and 34 for what it’s worth.
Blazers have 6,11,40, and 41
BIG DOG
June 9th, 2012
9:34 am
Teague, Joe, ? , Horford, Lopez
DRAFT Terrence Jones or Jefferey Taylor plug right in at SF.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
SteveW
June 9th, 2012
9:36 am
I don’t know how much stock you can put in Lang Greene, but he says the Hawks really want to keep Josh, and the key to making him an offer is ditching Marvin.
So how about Marvin, the #43 pick and both 2nd rounders next season to the Cavs for the #24 pick? Maybe the Cavs GM would do us a favor…
Hawkfan
June 9th, 2012
9:39 am
Not a fan of “blow it up”. I just don’t think it works. Did it work for Bulls? It did not, Curry and Chandler never helped the Bulls anywhere near a Championship. Lots of years of horrible basketball and probably short of anything worthy of it. It would only work if 2 things are true. Talent such as Lebron or Shaquille available.(Durant too maybe). And you have to be able to attract free agents.
Let’s face it. We could have paid Lebron same money but he did not want to play for ASG. if we got Lebron to play with Josh, Al, Teague I submit that we are as good or better than current Heat. No need to think about LD as Lebron would have demanded a better Coach by now. Phillips Arena would be packed every night and we would all wear Hawks jerseys to Church on Sunday.
SteveW
June 9th, 2012
9:43 am
If you can get a taker for Marvin, the money situation looks a whole lot better for the Hawks. I wonder if Josh would take 5 years at 14 mill. per?
That’s a 10 million dollar bigger contract than Al.
Then your team starts to look like this from a cap perspective:
JJ 24.8 mill. (in 4 years)
Josh 14
Al 12
Teague 6
ZaZa 6
That’s 63 mill (just under) – throw in some 1st picks and hanger ons – it’s doable for the ATL
BIG DOG
June 9th, 2012
9:45 am
If any of you guys want make some big money call vegas ASAP
BRADLEY VS PACMAN.
Bradley will win this fight.
BIGDOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
June 9th, 2012
9:51 am
Stevew – Josh will not be back, you guys need stop wishing and look at reality, Lopez for Josh is a no brainer.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
KevinM
June 9th, 2012
10:09 am
Interesting note here: Sund is 3rd on a list of most spent money the past 5 years….and where has it gotten him?
(*) Via signing, sign-and-trade or exercised contract option in the last five seasons.
.CONTRACTS
Team Payroll added per year *
1. Pat Riley Miami $114,064,952
2. John Paxson Chicago $91,809,162
3. Rick Sund Atlanta $90,033,433
4. Masai Ujiri Denver $83,751,750
5. Otis Smith Orlando $78,518,915
6. Chris Wallace Memphis $76,131,263
7. David Kahn Minnesota $74,962,078
8. Mitch Kupchak LA Lakers $74,574,189
9. Glen Grunwald New York $73,185,448
10. Joe Dumars Detroit $71,051,640
11. Danny Ainge Boston $67,052,671
12. Sam Presti Oklahoma City $64,514,723
Just showing that we spend, but we don’t spend wisely. In the last 5 years, it has given us 2 2nd round wins.
I’d say Sund has made a few mistakes.
KevinM
June 9th, 2012
10:27 am
And the numbers that we all know about Rick Sund:
TITLES
. League Conf Div
1. Mitch Kupchak 4 6 7
2. RC Buford 3 3 6
3. Joe Dumars 1 3 5
4. Danny Ainge 1 2 6
5. Donnie Nelson 1 1 3
6. Rod Thorn 0 2 4
7. Otis Smith 0 1 3
8. Pat Riley 0 1 2
8. Sam Presti 0 1 2
10. Billy King 0 1 1
11. Kevin O’Connor 0 0 3
12. Bryan Colangelo 0 0 2
12. Geoff Petrie 0 0 2
12. John Paxson 0 0 2
15. Rick Sund 0 0 1
15. Larry Bird 0 0 1
1 Div crown in 33 years and it didn’t happen here.
The guy simply shouldn’t be here today in that position with that track record.
brigadierjerry
June 9th, 2012
10:42 am
Najeh and Northclyde and others have made some good points. Only problem I have with blowing it up is that it was done before and I do not trust the Hawks to make the right picks just like they did not make the correct picks the first time as has been well documented.
Also you have to be very lucky to make the right picks and hope that one of those picks is a franchise talent. It took OKC 5 years for them to get where they are today. Would Hawks fans be willing to wait 5 years for that even if it isnt a sure thing?
This was the Hawks records from 1999-2007
28-54
25-57
33-49
35-47
28-54
13-69
26-56
30-52
Are Hawks fans willing to wait that long to possibly get a franchise proven talent in the draft and build?I am not so sure Hawks fans would be willing to do that. Hawks would end up turning into franchises that has been bad for a long time and hasnt had winning seasons in quite some time such as the Wizards and the Timberwolves.
Interesting about the Celtics when they tanked games in trying to get Durant or Oden and they didnt after coming off of 2 losing seasons with Doc, they decided to make a trade to get Garnett and for Ray Allen while already having Pierce who was rumored to wanting to be traded and drafting Rondo.
My point being is that if the Hawks decide not to go the blowup route then what they should do is decide who to build the team around either Smith or Al or keep both and keep Teaque and build around them with better parts. This is is Smith wants to be here. If he doesnt than you try to move him. The first thing that would have to be if you decide to do that is find a taker for Johnson and Marvin Williams.
The Rudy Gay trade scenario isnt a bad one that some have mentioned around here. I just dont see unless you get new management that the Hawks fans want to wait for another 5-6 years to blow it up and start over and that I trust Hawks management to make the right picks again this time around.
Clarification
June 9th, 2012
10:47 am
“I so tired of this experiment called Al Nowitski. horford.”
LMFAO. The fact is, that it was Josh Nowitski if anything. Josh even took more shots from 15-23 ft. than Nowitski did. More than anybody not named Kobe. But sadly shot a much worse % than Dirk.
So if anybody on the Hawks deserves to be called Nowitski it is Josh, not Al.
Sugar Ray
June 9th, 2012
10:48 am
I guess the easiest solution Is to move Al “I wont play defense at power forward either” and his 12 pts 8 rbs for a center like Gasol or Bynum…. Dont count out a resurface of the Al for Dwight trade either.
Then Package teague and Marvin for DWillaims
Gasol
Smoove
JJ
Green
Williams
Or
Dwight H
Smoove
JJ
Green
Williams
or
Bynum
Smoove
JJ
Green
Williams
EITHER OF THESE TEAMS WHOOPS THAT STUPID AS CHIT LITTLE MUTT IS BARFING
SteveW
June 9th, 2012
10:48 am
I think Miami drafts Ezelli or Fab if they’re at #27, or will do everything they can to trade up to get a Big.
SteveW
June 9th, 2012
10:51 am
Miami traded up to get Norris Cole last season – he’s helped them a little this season – during the regular season anyway
Clarification
June 9th, 2012
10:54 am
High-Sider, I have a question for you:
You go on, and on about Hinrich’s lack of scoring. Tell me, where do you think Kirk’s offensive duties lay this past season?
Was he 1st option?, No, that was Josh.
Second option? No that would be JJ
Third option? No, that would be Teague
So, High-Sider, exactly where do YOU think Hinrich was placed as an offensive option for the Hawks?
SteveW
June 9th, 2012
10:54 am
MC – The weird thing is just before you closed the last blog down, I almost said – “Forget the Detroit model, let’s build on the OKC model” – but after considering the arguments, I didn’t post it.
OKC hit on 3 Top 5 picks – now they’ve done a nice job building around them – but really that’s the end of the story.
NC – I know what you saying about fool’s gold – almost every prospect this season has 1 or more suspect parts of their game or physiology.
That said, I do thing there will be some very good players in this draft – deep draft pool