Why the Atlanta Hawks’ future is, in a word, questionable
Kirk Hinrich waves goodbye to the first-round draft pick that became Chris Singleton. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
The NBA draft is behind us, and all the Hawks have to show for it is Keith Benson, a skinny center of some promise who might not play a significant minute next season. But there are greater issues facing this team. To wit:
1. Having all but admitted they’d like to trade Josh Smith, don’t the Hawks now HAVE to trade Josh Smith?
Yes. Some players could shrug off being shopped as the price of business. Smith isn’t so thick-skinned. He really wants to be appreciated as a great player, and he can’t understand why Atlanta fans cringe when he rises to shoot a 20-footer. If the Hawks were willing to dangle Smith in the attempt to land the draft’s No. 2 pick and the Turkish center Enes Kanter, they shouldn’t pull back now. A disgruntled Smoove would be a greater distraction than he already is.
2. Does the Kirk Hinrich trade look even worse with time?
Yes. It’s one thing to deal away a draft pick, quite another to realize that pick could have yielded Chris Singleton, the forward from Florida State who’s an Atlanta native and who could have stepped into the Hawks’ rotation on defensive prowess alone. The Washington Wizards now have a shooting guard (Jordan Crawford, also included in the Hinrich deal) and a swing forward (Singleton) who came gift-wrapped from the Hawks, who — and this is the real kick in the head — might not have needed Hinrich at all.
3. Speaking of whom … is Jeff Teague the real deal?
He was terrific against Chicago as an emergency starter, but it bears repeating that he worked just under 10 minutes in the Round 1 series against Orlando. The Hawks went to training camp last fall hoping that Teague would show enough that Mike Bibby could be phased out, and that didn’t happen. If you’re counting, that makes two Hawks coaches — first Mike Woodson, then Larry Drew — who have praised Teague’s talent but haven’t trusted him enough to put him on the floor.
4. We’ve been told all along that the Hawks are “athletic.” Why did they turn into a bunch of jump shooters?
Actions have consequences. By giving Al Horford more minutes at power forward, Smith was pushed to the perimeter. The shifts turned two of the league’s more dynamic talents into standstill shooters. The damning numbers, courtesy of Hoopdata: The Hawks took fewer shots at the rim than any NBA team but hoisted more from 16 to 23 than any club save the Wizards. This is simply a poor bit of asset allocation.
5. Can Jamal Crawford be retained?
It’s hard to see how. The Hawks have nearly $67 million committed for next season, and Crawford is going to command upwards of $10 million as an unrestricted free agent. There’s also this: Of that $67 million, almost $30 million will go to guards Hinrich, Teague and Joe Johnson. Do you really want to pay $40 million for your backcourt?
6. Is Joe Johnson’s contract worse than Jon Koncak’s notorious deal?
Yes. Koncak re-upped for $13 million over six seasons, which was big money in 1989. Johnson stayed for $123 million over six seasons, which is huge money now. Koncak was 26 when he signed his new contract; Johnson had just turned 29. The Hawks will have little wiggle room so long as Johnson is a Hawk, and he’s under contract through 2016. Whoa.
7. Is there any hope here?
Sure. Horford and Smith and Johnson are good-to-excellent players, and Teague shows promise. If the Hawks make the right trade involving Smith, they could remain one of the better teams in the East. But the core, which has existed since 2007, needs to change. They didn’t sink from 53 victories in 2009-2010 to 44 last season because a bunch of guys got hurt; they got worse because the guys on hand stopped playing as well together. It’s up to general manager Rick Sund to rearrange the elements.
8. Is Sund capable of such alchemy?
Good question.
By Mark Bradley
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177 comments Add your comment
Gary
June 27th, 2011
5:08 pm
1. Yes they have to trade Smith and I bet they will. Sund said going into the season that he wanted to give the core group one more chance to move forward and, although they did better in the playoffs by winning two games in the 2nd round, they did not succeed. Smith will be the guy to go because Sund has to figure out who is going to score opposite Joe Johnson (unless he decides to keep Crawford and trade Smith for a few role players). Another reason is once the CBA issues are hammered out (lockout or not) then the Hawks will have to figure out how to better the team with even more limited cap space. Smith and his contract and Marvin and his albatross of a contract will be the likely two candidates to go……opposite of Crawfords free agency of course.
Rufus1
June 27th, 2011
5:09 pm
The Trade…and the pyschics
Lets see what the 18th pick and “Bubba Chuck” becomes before we say this was a bad trade. The NBA is the biggest “CRAP SHOT” of ant sport. As a playoff team I would prefer a PROVEN PLAYOFF performer over an 18yr rookie and Mike “The worst defender in the NBA” Bibby. We saw Kirks Value in the Magic series and effect on the teams defense.
PS.. If Bibby would have taken a 1mil buyout, we wouldn’t have needed to make that trade.
Hawks fan.... not
June 27th, 2011
5:11 pm
I not paying these guys salaries, especially Joe’s.
ASG’s problem.
Wonder if Joe will be worth 20 mil/yr in his thirties when he is not worth it now?
No one is going to buy this team.
Joe’s contract makes a league title impossible.
PD
June 27th, 2011
5:12 pm
OldMonty , You’re right but it has to be agreed upon by the teams. It is called an amnesty in 2005 when the soon to be expired CBA was extended all of the teams were allowed to waive one player for cap relief. In the Hawks’ case waiving Joe Johnson would make them a lottery team. I guess they could just waive Marvin for the 8 Million bucks
PD
June 27th, 2011
5:17 pm
Rufus1, They could have just started Teague. Stopped being wishy washy about his play. The Hawks would have been a deeper vs the Bulls. They killed the depth of the team with trade. Also, I just think they gave up way too much as always
Gary
June 27th, 2011
5:17 pm
2. No….Kirk is the reason why this team beat Orlando. His defense was refreshing and allowed the team to take advantage. Had he been in the Chicago series I have no doubt it would have went 7 games.
3. Speaking of Chicago….yes Teague is the real deal. He went up against one of the best defensive teams in the league and was the only player able to make any kind of offense consistently. The problem with the coaches is they really had no choice this time to let him play and he proved them wrong.
4. They have always been jump shooters with speed.
5. No……unless see #1 in previous comment.
6. No it is not. While it is against better judgment, Koncak was only an All-Star in his own and Pete Babcock’s mind. Joe Johnson – while never the consistent star – is All-Star caliber and can rise up to the occasion when he wants too.
7. Sure there’s hope……if the rumored sale goes through and our third laughingstock of a franchise has a rebirth similar to that of it’s other two downtown occupants (Braves and Falcons) once they got ownership that cared.
8. I’m sure he could do it…..if he had an ownership with some direction.
NEW CARS
June 27th, 2011
5:19 pm
I love Hinrich to death, but we could be looking at Jordan Crawford, Chris Singleton and Josh Selby on this roster. That would have allowed us to trade Josh or Marvin, Jordan could fill Jamal’s role and Selby could come in a compete with Teague for the PG spot. I just don’t get the thinking of either of the last two GM’s. I just wish I could either to the poker table, because I’d be rich after taking them to the cleaners.
Tyler McWebb
June 27th, 2011
5:19 pm
They need a real NBA center! ASAP! Get him from Europe, anywhere! Trade whoever you want, just keep Horford!
JIMMYMACK
June 27th, 2011
5:20 pm
Jeff Teague and Josh Smith needs to spend the entire summer and fall(if there is a lockout) bonding and playing basketball together. They can take each other to another level. Personally I think Holford is overated because he don’t have the physical toughness you need in a power forward or center. Josh is the closest to having the alpha male personality to play in the NBA. The problem is his teamates look as though they resent him. WE NEED MORE ALPHA DOGS WITH SOME TALENT AND LEADERSHIP ABILITY(ETHAN THOMAS WITH TALENT).
Mystikal
June 27th, 2011
5:22 pm
Does anyone on this list make sense for hawks to go after?
jamal crawford
glen davis
kwame brown
joel przybilla
caron butler
tyson chandler
jr smith
tayshaun prince
al thornton
shane battier
aaron gray
carl landry
david west
earl clark
jason richardson
samuel dalembert
francisco elson
earl watson
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2011
5:25 pm
I’ve always liked Caron Butler, Mystikal. But he’s a free agent coming off an injury.
PD
June 27th, 2011
5:25 pm
Mystikal you have to take some of these guys off this list Kwame Brown and Earl Clark. I like the rest of those dudes.
PD
June 27th, 2011
5:27 pm
Mark do a comparison of the present and prior GM’s. I think Sund is quickly moving up the list for the Hawks.
PD
June 27th, 2011
5:27 pm
of Bad GM’s
4 Jacks
June 27th, 2011
5:28 pm
Anyones’s future would be questionable if their owners were the Aholes from the Atlanta Spirit Group. They are all pathetic LOSERS and little girls that have already cost us hockey…Screw all of them. I hope they all go bankrupt.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2011
5:28 pm
Past GMs, in my tenure here, include Stan Kasten, Pete Babcock and Billy Knight.
O'Brien
June 27th, 2011
5:30 pm
Mark,
Maybe Rick should have traded for Caron Butler, like you suggested last offseason.
decriz
June 27th, 2011
5:31 pm
a whole new better team with one move that doesn’t even go against the cap:
hire Rick Adelman.
he’s gonna change this team and take it to the next level much better than any free agent, draft pick or trade will ever do.
he’s gonna give you a better team, using your current team.
the idiots in Atlanta refuse to see it.
the Highlight Factory + Rick Adelman = $$$ (attendance, play-offs, sales, etc.)
an absolutely recoverable cost, and worthwhile investment.
no need to rack the brains out trying to get the next best addition via free agency or trade to the team.
this is the only addition that was only ever needed.
Mark Bradley
June 27th, 2011
5:31 pm
I think I suggested that back in 2009, O’Brien. But thanks for remembering.
jdewayneatl
June 27th, 2011
5:36 pm
This is one of the best Hawks teams in Atlanta Hawks history. Be grateful!
CONservative Johnson
June 27th, 2011
5:38 pm
David Aldridge of NBA.com says the Hawks are close to being sold:
http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/david_aldridge/06/27/morning.tip/index.html
I guess the lying ass Spirit Group will say he’s wrong too . . .
Mike
June 27th, 2011
5:39 pm
Never let it be said that Rick Sund is just a “Yes man “. If the Atlanta Spirit say no, so does Rick.
Paul in RDU
June 27th, 2011
5:47 pm
Jon Koncak! – Now there was a misplaced draft pick. There were 3 Hall of Fame players taken AFTER him in that draft. One of them also turned out to be a good GM for the team that drafted him. I am pretty sure that most Hawks fans would swap Sund for Dumars straight up.
worse2first
June 27th, 2011
5:47 pm
Casual fans are calling for Smoove to be traded. This guy is still a work in progress, a dynamic stat stuffer and 2 time runner up Defensive player of the year. Oh yeah and the best value on the team. Much of fan dissent lies in a near disastrous experiment playing him as a 3 and questionable placement of him on the wing, as well as immaturity. JJ, Josh, Al and even JCrawford seemed ill suited to the motion offense as it was instituted in LD’s rookie year for long stretches. I look for a rebound from these players and the coach next year. The sky is not falling, better days are ahead. Go Hawks!
Dukester
June 27th, 2011
5:56 pm
We are wasting time as long as ASG owns this team Sund will be the doo boy GM to hold this team over until its sold. The plan is to have a doo boy coach with no experience just to keep the team from falling apart. They will stay under the cap which makes the team attractive to any buyer. The money they gave to Joe is long term they are not worrying about is contract in 5 years. If you look at his salary early in this new deal they are about the same as they were at the end of his old contract. The new GM and owners will have to deal with the back end.
I know Rick Sund is a better GM than that he knows the 3 year plan ASG discussed it with him when they hired him. We are playing around with a bunch of journeymen and teams around us getting better every year. Some of the moves going back to resigning Marvin, Bibby, Zaza, the lack of finding a real center and a real coach!! All let you know this is hoax.
Will
June 27th, 2011
6:00 pm
Two things: 1st-I believe Sund should do a sign and trade deal for Jamaal Crawford. Should get decent talent in return.
2nd-I think it is definitely time that Josh should be traded that is unless he can assure the Hawks that for the first time in his career that he is willing to listen and play to his potential and not to his supposed potential. He could be devastating if he would only play in support of the team at all times and learn to either take ball to basket or recognize open men.
I lied. there is a third thing: Joe Johnson needs to forget about playing his brand of iso ball when the chips are down. He too needs to learn to recognize open men and feed them the ball in crunch situations.
Will
June 27th, 2011
6:02 pm
worse2first: For all his accomplishments to date he is still a detriment when he refuses to play within the confines of his talent. As he progresses maybe he could do more things but right now he makes unwise decisions too much of the time. I like Josh and hope he would decide to fit in rather than rock the boat. He could be great but that is all up to him.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 27th, 2011
6:07 pm
The two biggest proponents of trading Smoove in Atlanta are Mark Bradley and Jeff Schultz. So what if the Hawks shopped Smoove? They have shopped Marvin too; that doesn’t mean he can’t show up for work like a professional anymore. Better players than Smoove (Kobe, anyone?) have been the subject of serious trade discussion before and have come back to their original team and played well.
Every argument Bradley and Schultz have put forth in regards to trading Smoove have been weak at best, and this one is weaker than all the previous ones. “They should trade him because they said they were going to trade him before.” Give me a break.
Whopper Dawg
June 27th, 2011
6:08 pm
I was going to weigh in with a lengthy post, but it has all been said before. I echo KBP and Jamaaliver’s comments.
Really, really poor decision making both in the head office and coaching bench.
They had their shot with all of the high draft choices but crapped the bed.
mountain_jim
June 27th, 2011
6:14 pm
Thanks for pointing out how bad that Hinrich deal was, Mark.
I am so disgusted with Sund’s bad contracts and trading away 2 number 1 picks for a Hinrich rental while the PG we needed rotted on the bench.
I so hope ASG finds a buyer, who immeditely FIRES SUND and upgrades the coach. With the cap blown I don’t know how much else the new GM can do though, unless they can somehow trade Joe.
Go Falcons! (if we even have a season)
Mays Raider C/O 10'
June 27th, 2011
6:20 pm
I think Marvin Williams CAN be good. He was being overshadowed by everyone else we had.
With a lineup like this:
5. Somebody from JS trade/ Zaza Pachulia/ Keith Benson
4. Al Horford/ Keith Benson
3. Joe Johnson/ Marvin Williams
2. Kirk Hinrich
1. Jeff Teague
Once we round out the roster I think we can have a better team than we did last year. We take stress off of JJ by moving him to SF so he doesnt have to play speedy guards and put Hinrich there to sure up the defense in the back-court. We have a good offense with JJ being the first option followed by Horford as the second who is an excellent post player who can get better by being moved to PF.
Im very excited to see what Teague can do with this offense. I also believe that Drew can be a good coach but he was in a difficult situation; he had an out of position center (Horford) and an out of position perimeter player (JS) and had to play sub-par centers when he did move Horford to PF. With Smith gone I KNOW we can be a better team!
wcj
June 27th, 2011
6:29 pm
MB, two trades that might work out:
Joe Johnson to Dallas for B.Haywood, Shawn Marion, and R.Fernandez
M.Williams and the 2012 second round pick to L.A. Clippers for Ryan Gromes and Eric Gordon
IT WORKS ON PAPER!!!!!
Paddy
June 27th, 2011
6:34 pm
Greg Oden….fans could see him at rehab but not in a game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is there a doctor in the house?
Captain America
June 27th, 2011
6:36 pm
Josh Smith for Andrew Bogut. I hear the bucks are looking to move him because of his injury and I can’t see them doing better then Smith
@Mark
June 27th, 2011
6:46 pm
Hawks are top heavy. Al Horford was the best player on this team at 10 Shared Wins out of our 44!
Only guys playing harder/longer than Al.
1. LeBron James-MIA 15.6
2. Pau Gasol-LAL 14.7
3. Dwight Howard-ORL 14.4
4. Chris Paul-NOH 13.9
5. Derrick Rose-CHI 13.1
6. Dwyane Wade-MIA 12.8
7. Kevin Durant-OKC 12.0
8. Paul Pierce-BOS 11.6
9. Kevin Love-MIN 11.4
10. Dirk Nowitzki-DAL 11.1
11. LaMarcus Aldridge-POR 11.1
12. Zach Randolph-MEM 10.5
13. Kobe Bryant-LAL 10.3 – 33mpg+injuries+ OLD= Al production= noncontender
14. Chris Bosh-MIA 10.3
15. Lamar Odom-LAL 10.1
16. Al Horford-ATL 10.1
17. Ray Allen-BOS 10.0
18. Luol Deng-CHI 9.9
19. Manu Ginobili-SAS 9.9
20. Blake Griffin-LAC 9.8
But is his game suited to win it all? What are the chances
Our only chance to win and improve instead of lateral is to divest Al’s contract and 2600 minutes into 4 players who can play center, power forward and center.
We have some great pieces for a “Depth model”.
By virtue of win Shares and 10 players on the court at a time an average team full of average players would win 41-41 games.
The fact that we won 44 despite having good players= we had utility/gimmick players ie Jamal Crawford and Joe.
Josh Smith won 6 games, Marvin 4, Joe 4. How do we trade those pieces and double the wins they produced?
We can’t trade potential and centers who usually win 6 games in 26mpg a season for you don’t usually come in 2.
We have to maximize talent and I said to divest Al’s minutes into Motiejunas+ Hash(4-5)+Hill(2wins).
Maybe people thought I was joking when I said 7′1 Troy Murphy (8WS in ~08), Kukoc, Love, and Zach Randolph’s and Griffin’s shooting proportions.
Well those are the list of how many wins they created and if we could get a taller Troy Murphy who spaces the 3 and can dribble and more minutes to Hash+ Hill for 14 wins then I’d go for it.
The fact that Motiejunas is taller means he may win 11 games one day. Playing with Joe and Josh would do the same they did with Horford to Zach Randolph or Kevin Love.
The fact that Blake Griffin is knocking on Horford’s door as a rookie very well means this top heavy team will never compete.
Malcolm Thomas is a great place to start with Depth to the roster. He moves Marvin to a 2 where he was better than JJ last year. If you can tell Sund this we’d all appreciate this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrXiRh5i56c
@Mark
June 27th, 2011
6:46 pm
Hawks are top heavy. Al Horford was the best player on this team at 10 Shared Wins out of our 44!
Only guys playing harder/longer than Al.
1. LeBron James-MIA 15.6
2. Pau Gasol-LAL 14.7
3. Dwight Howard-ORL 14.4
4. Chris Paul-NOH 13.9
5. Derrick Rose-CHI 13.1
6. Dwyane Wade-MIA 12.8
7. Kevin Durant-OKC 12.0
8. Paul Pierce-BOS 11.6
9. Kevin Love-MIN 11.4
10. Dirk Nowitzki-DAL 11.1
11. LaMarcus Aldridge-POR 11.1
12. Zach Randolph-MEM 10.5
13. Kobe Bryant-LAL 10.3 – 33mpg+injuries+ OLD= Al production= noncontender
14. Chris Bosh-MIA 10.3
15. Lamar Odom-LAL 10.1
16. Al Horford-ATL 10.1
17. Ray Allen-BOS 10.0
18. Luol Deng-CHI 9.9
19. Manu Ginobili-SAS 9.9
20. Blake Griffin-LAC 9.8
But is his game suited to win it all? What are the chances
Our only chance to win and improve instead of lateral is to divest Al’s contract and 2600 minutes into 4 players who can play center, power forward and center.
We have some great pieces for a “Depth model”.
By virtue of win Shares and 10 players on the court at a time an average team full of average players would win 41-41 games.
The fact that we won 44 despite having good players= we had utility/gimmick players ie Jamal Crawford and Joe.
Josh Smith won 6 games, Marvin 4, Joe 4. How do we trade those pieces and double the wins they produced?
We can’t trade potential and centers who usually win 6 games in 26mpg a season for you don’t usually come in 2.
We have to maximize talent and I said to divest Al’s minutes into Motiejunas+ Hash(4-5)+Hill(2wins).
Maybe people thought I was joking when I said 7′1 Troy Murphy (8WS in ~08), Kukoc, Love, and Zach Randolph’s and Griffin’s shooting proportions.
Well those are the list of how many wins they created and if we could get a taller Troy Murphy who spaces the 3 and can dribble and more minutes to Hash+ Hill for 14 wins then I’d go for it.
The fact that Motiejunas is taller means he may win 11 games one day. Playing with Joe and Josh would do the same they did with Horford to Zach Randolph or Kevin Love.
The fact that Blake Griffin is knocking on Horford’s door as a rookie very well means this top heavy team will never compete.
Malcolm Thomas is a great place to start with Depth to the roster. He moves Marvin to a 2 where he was better than JJ last year. If you can tell Sund this we’d all appreciate this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrXiRh5i56c
decriz
June 27th, 2011
6:53 pm
Hey Adrian Dantley just became available. One of the best small forwards and highest bball IQs ever.
We need to bring him over so he can teach our boys some offense and low post moves. Al, Smoove, Marv, Kito, Magnum, etc. even the BIG guard Joe Johnson (who could play like a power post up guard like Mitch Richmond, whom he is even larger than, if he had the decency and motivation to earn his every penny of salary) will all benefit from his tutelage.
Ray
June 27th, 2011
7:01 pm
SMH at anybody wanting to trade Josh Smith
How many times must it be said that he is the face of the franchise. No one wants to see Joe Maxx(boring) or All NBA Al jack up J’s he’s better than Joe, but no where near Josh. We won’t ever get another player that puts butts in the seats if we trade Josh Smith.
If anything you dump off Marvin, Jamal, Armstrong, Thomas, and Powell this offseason. Then get rid of JJ next year or something SMH.
O'Brien
June 27th, 2011
7:02 pm
decriz,
Before the Hawks trade Josh or Al, I would like to see them play for a legit head coach to see what he could do for them. And I think Adelman would be a good choice.
However, this is the ASG we are talking about. IMO, the main reason they hired LD was because he was more than willing to accept the lowest HC salalry in the league.
Mark jackson has no coaching experience whatsoever, but yet he is making more money than LD, and has an extra year on his contract.
O'Brien
June 27th, 2011
7:03 pm
Ray,
If Josh is the one who puts butts in the seat, then why do most of the butts in the seat cringe and yell “noooo” when Josh takes a jumper?
decriz
June 27th, 2011
7:04 pm
Rick Adelman.
my dream Hawks…the same guys, our dear Highlight Factory led at the helm by the masterful Rick Adelman….how I wish the guys at the top get it.
We don’t need to make any trades, wheel and deal. Just get this coach and watch everything and everyone improve.
The increase in ticket sales will be more than enough to cover any incremental costs resulting from this hire. And it doesn’t count against the cap.
A whole new better team that simply, and ironically you don’t need to move any of the ball players.
I love this bunch. I just wish they played a different way. Consistently play, the best I’ve seen them play. And the right coach is the way to get that done.
Come on guys, help me clamor for Rick Adelman!
Sage of Bluesland
June 27th, 2011
7:07 pm
As others have opined, the problem with the Hawks lies at the very top: ownership. Throw in historically inept management, then you have the Hawks. I’ve never seen such repeating incompetence at the GM position in one organization without the ability of the blind squirrel to find even the random acorn…
Unbelievable.
Whoever subsidizes this utter incompetence is nothing but a sheep. What do you think, that this team–as constructed–will actually compete to win a title?!
Please.
Nope–my money stays in my pocket until a real team–with a real chance–is fielded…and that management is held accountable for their incompetence…
Adios, ASG. You reap what you sow.
clark kent
June 27th, 2011
7:08 pm
may everything that ASG touches wither and die a most horrible and painful death.
The Hawks can go to hell as long as they own them.
Dawg 1
June 27th, 2011
7:08 pm
This group goes down as the dumbest management group in the history of Atlanta Professional Sports – now thats saying something…
Cost Atlanta the Thrashers. Are the Hawks far behind?
@Mark
June 27th, 2011
7:14 pm
Shared Wins; I dont see how Bogut and his 66 games is anything but lateral
10-11: 6.4 09-10: 9.3
10-11: 5.4 09-10: 7.5
are you expecting Al to leap frog into Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade territory? He has peaked guys we need to trade Al’s 10 wins for more immediate Impact pieces.
The video, statistics, math games, production is staring us in the face. If we can’t get Motiejunas’ $2 million contract, Jordan Hill and the 7′1 center.
we’re screwed certain things have value in this league and if Horford is tradeable then good if not we will never win a title with him and will play musical chairs like the we used to do.
Backups can only do so much in limited minutes. Formulas and common sense You give below average players minutes you’ll be a below (.500) team.
We are top heavy and Al will never be as active as these guys:
5. Derrick Rose-CHI 13.1
6. Dwyane Wade-MIA 12.8
7. Kevin Durant-OKC 12.0
8. Paul Pierce-BOS 11.6
9. Kevin Love-MIN 11.4
10. Dirk Nowitzki-DAL 11.1
11. LaMarcus Aldridge-POR 11.1
12. Zach Randolph-MEM 10.5
13. Kobe Bryant-LAL 10.3
14. Chris Bosh-MIA 10.3
15. Lamar Odom-LAL 10.1
16. Al Horford-ATL 10.1
I knew they were similar but Chris Bosh territory? If I told you we could trade Bosh for a 7′1 version of him with 3 point territory, a 7% shot blocking center (Tyson and Josh block 4%) who blocked a higher % of shots than Mutombo and would equal 5 wins if we played him 26 minutes per game?
And then add Jordan Hill who when motivated after the trade was on pace for 4.0 wins in 16 minutes per game.
He played his ass off.
Marreese Speights: .146 1260 minutes
Amare Stoudemire: .116 2570 minutes
Jordan Hill: .109 600 minutes
Jordan is from Atlanta and when motivated played better than a rookie Stoudemire. Even if he reaches that level and stays there never improves.
Rookie Stoudemire 16mpg off the bench against other bench players??
Jason won 1/2 of a game last season, 593 minutes!
We’re holding/held ourselves back.
@Mark
June 27th, 2011
7:14 pm
Shared Wins; I dont see how Bogut and his 66 games is anything but lateral movement
10-11: 6.4 09-10: 9.3 – Josh
10-11: 5.4 09-10: 7.5 -Bogut
are you expecting Al to leap frog into Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade territory? He has peaked guys we need to trade Al’s 10 wins for more immediate Impact pieces.
view from the east
June 27th, 2011
7:16 pm
The folks in charge have already embarassed the city with the Hockey Team and now look what they can do with Basketball. Hopefully the team is for sale and the new owner can bite the bullet to get rid of the contract mistakes here.
Players on this team seem to wear out their welcome and the managemtn needs to know when to pull the trigger.
Kirk Hinrich
June 27th, 2011
7:19 pm
Kirk Hinrich is a 6′4 guard and played against 6′0 Jameer Nelson. His Defensive Rating shows we improved 1 mere point on Atlanta.
maybe cuz Hinrich at 6′4 and 190 lbs shouldnt be guarding 2 guards. Both he and Jamal were below average during the season.
How many 2 guards do we really want a post surgery Hinrich to score and defend on? Theres a reason we lost in the regular season.
Mike Bibby> Kirk Hinrich in the regular season. Jameer Nelson doesnt change the fact, just stop the 3 guard scheming revisionist history.
Kirk Hinrich
June 27th, 2011
7:19 pm
Kirk Hinrich is a 6′4 guard and played against 6′0 Jameer Nelson. His Defensive Rating shows we improved 1 mere point on Atlanta.
maybe cuz Hinrich at 6′4 and 190 lbs shouldnt be guarding 2 guards. Both he and Jamal were below average during the season.
How many 2 guards do we really want a post surgery Hinrich to score and defend on? Theres a reason we lost in the regular season.
Mike Bibby> Kirk Hinrich in the regular season. Jameer Nelson doesnt change the fact, just stop the 3 guard scheming revisionist history.
dekalbfootball1
June 27th, 2011
7:34 pm
Please someone tell WHY trade? Is it a personal or professional? Name ten better PF in the league under 26? Give him another year in this offensive system, along with Teague at the PG. He and the Hawks will approove! There are only 2/3 teams (Miami, Chicago maybe Boston) will be better next year.