Atlantaholic

Quote: Law may very well develop into a JT type, but he's got a killer instinct and competitive drive that I still don't see out of JT. hmm.. I seem to remember JT absolutely dominating in the playoffs two years ago. Perhaps I'm mistaken. He isn't a perfect PG, but JT always was a competitor in my mind.

Quote: EC teams we might be better than this year: Washington - HAHA no Milwaukee - Maybe Philadelphia - NO Indiana - NO WAY Boston - NO New York - Maybe Charlotte - probably not.

Quote: The "rebuilding" era is officially over. THe Hawks might end up around $1M or so under the cap (we should know the actual amount by Monday), but that's about it. Any trades made now have to fit with the 125% rule, as well as the court-ordered "you can't go above the cap" rule. *sighs* I can't wait for the BK era to come to a close. It's not so much this draft that is the problem, the picks were good in themselves... the problem is all the moves in the past that have preceded this draft. I mean, what direction are we going in? the team has no identity, they seem like a team made through the randomizing feature in some video game rather than a team built with a specific strategy in mind. What kind of team are we expected to be next year? what are our strengths? I have no freaking clue. And I think Woodson and BK really don't either.

Initially, my gut reaction was that this trade was terrible for Boston. But now that I think of it, Allen + Pierce + Al Jefferson really gives Boston a shot at being a very, very, competitive team in the east.

Quote: The Shelden for Haywood deal would be look good now. I'd love for this to happen. Unfortunately it makes too much sense, which means BK will never go for it.

Quote: Quote: So now we have 5 pgs under contract (if you count Salim) and 4 short PF....brilliant. Yes, because Horford and Shelden can't spend minutes at C. Uh huh... I can't figure out what people expected. We had picks 3 and 11, not 1 and 4. How we were supposed to solve everything in one night? I guess it all has to do with the inflated expectations people had thanks to the flurry of trade rumors that hit the Hawksquawk all of this week. Maybe all of these rumors were just that, rumors, and really had no shot of materializing. Maybe the Hawks did everything right, but the other team(s) involved stopped it from happening. However, judging by our organizations track-record, I can't help but think that we probably dropped the ball somehow.

Quote: I don't think Boston is any better with Ray Allen. It sounds good, but you can't put two scorers like Pau Pierce and Ray Allen together and have it work. Boston has tried this with Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker. It didn't work. huh? Didn't Pierce and Walker make it to the Conference Championship??

I really haven't seen these players play much so personally I don't really know what to expect. From the scouting reports I've read it seems like the most realistic thing is to assume Horford will be at worst a 10 and 8 and at best a 15 and 10 guy (in 2007-8 seasons) and Law a better version of Tyronne Lue (14+ points 4-5 assts). If this is the case, then the Hawks haven't really "filled" their needs. However, with Josh Smith, Marvin, and Shelden hopefully improving we would have a TON of depth, and probably will be improved from last year. (borderline playoff team) What are everyones expectations from these players, and how do you see their presence influencing the success of the team NEXT year?.

Quote: I agree that a starting PG is still necessary. And a defensive, role-playing center. So basically we still need to fill the same two needs we have been trying to fill for the last three years. Awesome! BK is a mastermind!

wow. I would 100000 times rather have a 24 yo Amare partnered off with JJ than Kobe. I think you'd have to be insane to prefer Kobe to JJ + Amare.

Quote: If our biggest worry after this offseason is backup SG then I consider us blessed. haha.. exactly. All these people that worry about depth need to understand that sacrificing the quality of your seventh and eigth men to get a 25+ 9+ is a good thing.

I'd take Amare. Unless Law turns out to be a great PG (which I don't see happening) it's not even close.

I wouldn't be done as a hawks fan if we get Luke with the 11th... but I would kick the [censored] out of my cat, and body-slam my tv monitor if it happens.

If we are thinking about drafting Law with the 11th pick, I think getting Barbosa instead would be a pretty good decision. Barbosa would be a better scorer right off the bat, probably just as good of a distributor, plus he has a lot more experience and isn't that much older.

I actually agree with you guys that the KG move would be too risky. I'm playing devil's advocate a little because even though I'm not in favor of it, I still think that if the offer is on the table it would be something that should be worth a lot of consideration.

The east is a total joke. JJ + Garnett + any three players would be a better starting five than Cleveland had last year. The key for me would be if we can keep and re-sign Smoove. If we are able to do this then I'd do the trade. Everyone else IMO is totally replaceble, but Smoove is the guy that we need to keep around at all costs. (obviously JJ also).

I would ONLY do the trade if we could somehow be able to keep Smoove. If this isn't possible then I agree that the trade is not worth it.

I'd give up either chillz or Marvin along with the picks... and I'd add Shelden or Pachulia without a moments hesitation if Minnesota asks for it.

Quote: I don't see him thinking that. He's more likely to void his contract and if need be sign a MLE deal to go to Phoenix or heck even SA to try and win a ring. I agree that it would be a gamble in our part, but if the price is right, it would be one that I would strongly consider taking. Let's assume that Garnett does come to Atlanta and we make it deep into the playoffs. Garnett's celebrity status will blow Mike Vicks out of the water. He would be a total hero. I think that would also add to the appeal of possibly choosing to stay.

Interesting. I'll tell you what. I'd rather have Garnett than Gasole. hands down.

I go with Yi. If Yi Jianlian was an american kid called Jason Smith, there is no way I take him over Harford. (i'd consider it if we didn't have such an abundance of SFs on the team) However, considering the absolute insane exposure that the Hawks would get with Jianlian, IMO drafting him would be the shot in the arm that the franchise needs BADLY. The only way drafting Yi would backfire is if he is just absolutely terrible. From what I've seen, I don't think this would be the case.

Quote: Actually my main concern with KG is that he can void his contract after this season. Does anyone here seriously think he would resign in Atlanta? Why would he waste his last few good years here instead of playing for a contender? I think if you do the trade you are doing it under the assumption that you will be a contending team because of it. I definitely think we would be a major contender in the east if we had Garnett. (if Cleveland can make the finals, any team with Garnett in it has a chance to contend in the east)

Quote: I love Smoove, especially the fact that he can blocks shots and that he really wants to win. The thing I'm not sure about is what is Smoove without his high flying? Huh?? Why is this ridiculous hypothetical question even worth pondering? J-Smoove has at least seven years left of being a "high-flyer" while J-O'neal is already showing signs of going the way of Shareef. Doing this trade is Managing at its poorest.

Quote: I wouldn't even trade Josh Smith for JO straight up. I'm with you, no way I do this. That would be total rape. Especially when you take their salaries into account.

Quote: It's quite humorous how you made your account right after the lottery when the Yi buzz was at its highest. Freaking idiot. HAHA! yeah, It's hilarious. The guy is a fan of Yi and when he heard the hawks might draft him he started getting interested in the hawks. HOHO HAHA my sides are hurting... oh wait, nevermind; it actually isn't funny at all and makes perfect sense. Damn. you are retarded.