SuperSavvyNation

For the record (thus far), there is no doubt that BK has played these past few weeks leading up to the draft perfectly. All of these 'leaked' rumors about who we are interested in drafting/trading have opened up all kinds of posibilities and have put us in the cat-bird seat in terms of options. Now is he savvy enough to make the right decisions?!?!

I'm getting nauseated leaning one direction on Monday, the other on Tuesday, a third on Wednesday, etc etc etc....

First of all Conley (in my mind) would do the most to help this team jell. He gives us what we need in terms of a playmaker with tough defense.

I don't see a true center prospect, so Ji is a player that I am intrigued by. Really curious. I think he can be an exciting player and maybe has the highest upside of all the rest. But where would he play? He's not a center. But who is? If they're all forwards, then why not choose Ji?

On the other hand, we really need to upgrade our post defense. Horford is the best when considering this aspect. Plus, he's extremely smart with high BBIQ (from reports), has some offensive game and would clearly be an assett. But is he only a minimal upgrade of Shellhead?

What about Gasol? I really like him and he would play the center position (I don't care if he thinks he's a PF) and add a dimension to our offense that we desparately need. He's a vet and would appear to vastly improve our frontcourt and make us an immediate contender. But what about his defense (Lord forbid we play team defense)? Is he too expensive when considering what our you players will command in the near future? Could Ji be that type of player in the next 2-3 years on the cheap?

I really like Jarret Jack, too. If we don't get Conley, please trade for Jack. His defense is what sets him apart from drafting Law. We really need defense from the guard positions. Listen closely. We MUST have defense from the guard positions.

Trade with Bucks for CV/#6? Not bad. He is an asset either from the bench or in a trade...and Conley (at #6)would answer our #1 need IMO. This is definitely an option that is building steam. And even if it is just a smokescreen. It does the trick of putting pressure on other teams to compete for the right to deal with the Hawks at #3.

Anyway, don't mind me. I'm just thinking outloud. It does make me quite dizzy.

Zbo

Maybe at times he would be passing out to a jumpshooter, but if Marving and Smoove attack the rim it could be Conley dropping dimes for thunder dunks. Just have to move without the ball.

Zbo

I'm not so sure. Mags = double/double with 2 blocks/gm when he gets minutes.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/gamelog?statsId=3418

In the end, some combination of these players should be with the Hawks next year:

Ji, Horford, Gasol, Noah, Hawes, Villanueuva

Conley, Jack, Law, Critt

If we don't address every need (which is unlikely anyway) at least we have upgraded our talent and made progress in an offseason where we were lucky to just get a pick.

Zbo

Jim, maybe the idea is to put a balanced, winning product on the floor and increase value that way. If they believe that Conley is more important to the team (as constructed) than Ji, then trading down and passing on Ji is the right decision.

Zbo

Very impressive denying entry passes and playing passing lanes. He seems to have the quickness to get around his opponent and make steals, plus ability to get the ball down court.

Like many, I wanted to see how he handled players powering him inside (like the one play). His quickness does allow him to get his hands on lots of balls, though.

Zbo

I like Noah's energy, but I saw this on NBAdraft.net about his shoulders and him getting bigger:

"But it should be noted that his body type (narrow shoulders) suggests that he will never have much bulk..."

Take that for what its worth, I guess.

zbo

I think that's where a lot of fans lose focus. Defense is so important. It's not just about how many points they can score, but can you play good defense. That's one reason that I believe BK values Jack over Law. Defense.

If this team doesn't commit to playing defense what kind of improvement do you expect? Yi may be a mismatch offensively, but what does he add defensively? Do we have answers to these questions in this draft or through trades? We had better, or there will be a whole lot of disappointed (and disallusioned) fans that think adding another offensive forward will get it done. Unless we address the defensive holes, we will continue to flounder as a franchise.

Are you sure Magloire is awful? Check out his game log for when he got 30 mintues in a game. Double-double with nearly 2 blocks/gm looks good to me.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/gamelog?statsId=3418

Methinks he is leaking this info on purpose to keep anyone from getting a read on him. It's the opposite of what happened last year.

What I'm getting from this inside info is that he could select any of 4 different players at the 3 spot. So if you are high on any particular one you will need to deal with the Hawks to make sure you get that player.

Possible?

Zbo

I'm right there with you, Lascar. I think that Law will be a solid player at the next level, but not a star. I think Conley has the ability to be a difference maker on the Hawks, but if they decide to deal the #3 I would rather take Critt (at #11). At that point in the draft I think that you can gamble on potential (his is possibly the highest ceiling) and let Speedy/AJ bring him and the team along til he's ready.

Zbo

Superstar, your posts are more comedy than anything else. It's just people like you who irk me. I don't even post here much or get into bashing others' opinions, but let's call a spade a spade.

You claim to be something that you are not. It's as clear as day and everyone knows it. On top of that, you carry a very condescending tone and it puts people off. It's like that kid in school who claims that his father is a rich doctor working out of state (while wearing 2nd hand clothes and raggedy shoes) or shows you pictures of this gorgeous girl (his girlfriend) who lives out of town (but never seems to call or visit). The truth is obvious and the pompous act is tiresome.

However, even considering all of that, if your opinions were insightful, enlightening, well put-together or even in the least articulate....you might get a pass.

But to me, you're just the guy who keeps barking that he averaged 25pts/gm in high school but for some reason can't dribble or shoot when we play.

Credibility? Not a shred.

Zbo

1. Draft Conley at #3 and BPA at #11

2. Trade #3 and Zaza to Memphis for Gasol draft Law IV at #11

3. Trade #3 and Chillz to Portland for Jack/Aldridge draft BPA at #11

Of course options 2&3 require an interested trading partner but I think that both of these trades are reasonable and help both teams.

why couldn't it have been

1. Portland

2. Seattle

3. Boston

4. Hawks

5. Memphis

6. Milwaukee?

I think that lucking out and getting Oden actually makes Aldridge expendable (at a price) and his draft position is irrelevant.

If Portland is dreaming of a Conley/Oden tandem for the next decade then they may part with Aldridge. They have Pryz, Mags, and LaFrentz as bigs too. In my mind, Aldridge is/will be more valuable than all of those players. So, it would likely take Portland pursuing Conley and feeling that he along with Oden and Roy could be a championship trio as opposed to Jack/Aldridge. Plus, I think that Chillz packaged with the #3 is of a great value to them considering that Ime Udoka averaged nearly 30 minutes a game for them at SF last season.

#3 and Chillz

Jack and Aldridge

I'm inclined to keep Conley and let him kick start our offense, but how else are we going to get a quality BIG/PG?

You may be right. But that was only one option that I presented.

Without Randolph, where does their scoring come from? Roy?

At least in my mind.

The Hawks should either trade #3 or draft Conley.

There are 3 potential trading partners out there that make sense: Portland, Memphis, Indiana.

Portland is the only scenario in which we receive a PG (Jack and Aldridge). Memphis would involve Gasol and Indiana would involve O'neal. In both of those trades there needs to be a pick (#11 or other) that allows us to get a young PG (Law/Critt) in the mid-first.

I've come to the conclusion (albeit subject to change) that if we can't make a trade that involves a significant presense inside that Conley is easily the best option to draft at #3. And yes, I do think that Aldridge can play center and be a difference maker for the Hawks (averaged nearly 15/8 when is minutes went up in March). I think #3 plus Childress will get this trade done.

But if we can't figure out a way to get a quality big then Conley is the player that will make the most difference for us. I really believe that . He is a mediocre shooter at present (not terrible) but that will not be some achilles heal in the future as some of his detractors try to convince everyone. He is simply the best combination of distributor/penetrator/leader and on-ball defensive player that we can select. That is exactly what we have been clamoring far. We have the scorers...if we can have someone to run the offense. And Conley will score too.

Either make a significant trade for big time talent or draft the best PG possible.

zbo

How important is it to have 7 footer to body up against say, Tim Duncan, man on man?

If it is not a necessity in today's NBA, that would lend some reason to drafting Yi or BWright #3.

Especially with Wright, I think he can score in the post and will get much stronger over the years. Protecting the paint between him and Smoove should not be an issue.

Wright and Law? If management must have Conley at #3, I don't think Noah or Hawes will be there at #11 (with the Georgetown boys staying in school). What do you do with that pick then? Trade for Joel Pryz? Maybe that is an option if Portland is willing.

ZBO

The Hawks desperately need a floor general to put this offense in high gear. If we wait til #11 to get Law, IMO we are only HOPING that he can give us what we need in terms of leading the offense.

I believe that if we do decide that Conley is not far and above Law/Critt and wait for one of them at #11, then we will go with Hibbert (Bwright and Yi may be fine players, but duplicate MW, Smoove, Solo). That scares me somewhat as we are HOPING he is more Zydruna Ilgauskas and not Priest Lauderdale.

By selecting Conley, we would have one of our glaring deficiencies sewn up and not have to HOPE that Law/Critt will fill that need as efficiently. (Not saying that Law won't be a fine NBA player, just not as good as Conley. Critt has potential but too many unknowns exist with him to lay our future in his lap)

Charisma, leadership, Bball IQ, pedigree, desire, talent.

Conley and Noah would be my draft picks. Not that Noah is perfect. He is far from it. But this draft would cure a lot of ills for this team.

ZBO

I don't think he understands sample size or that each year's results are independent of the previous year's outcome.

If you flip a coin 10 times and it is heads each time...the next flip is still a 50/50 outcome.

I think the answer that Diesel is looking for is Shelden Williams.