atlien

Shelly is in the vein of a Reggie Evans. Horford is in the vein of an Emeka Okafor. Very different players, IMO. I still wouldnt be upset with either Horford OR Yi.

These are the two guys I think have potential to be mid to late 1st round steals (in fact, I wouldnt be all that mad if we took Stuckey at 11, if the front office figures he can hold down the pg spot... I think dude is gonna be LEGIT, and while he is more of a combo guard, i think a backcourt with him and joe could get it done; still, i'm higher on crittenton). I think we definately should have a plan in place to get some later picks if players are available. Something like Chill OR Shelden plus change for Detroit's picks at 15 and 27. If BK can do some creative things like that, I'll be impressed. And Sean Williams is the biggest risk/reward pick in the draft. Could be a dominant 5 in the NBA. Or he could be a complete bust who never gets away from his offcourt issues and perhaps even brings a guy like smoove down with him (I dont think BK will go for Sean Williams, as he doesnt like these type of bad character guys). BUT, perhaps more than ANY player in this draft, he has the skill-set that our Hawks need (a dominant interior defensive and rebounding presence). Just wanted to throw these 2 names out there as I am quite intrigued by both of them.

i guess all our question are answered...

Quote: We've already seen Josh Smith do a great job against Carlos Boozer. The Hawks went on the road against the Jazz and built up a 21-point lead in the 4th quarter before we blew it. But a big reason for that lead is that Josh Smith, with his quickness and athleticism, really bothered Boozer and held him to one of his lowest scoring games of the season. Boozer scored 13 points in that game, Josh Smith scored 23. So I think it's safe to say that Josh Smith matches up fairly well against Boozer. So that leaves us with Horford versus Mehmet Okur. Okur averages 7 rebounds and less than HALF-A-BLOCK a game. That's the big bad center for a Wetern Conference Finals team whom Horford couldn't possibly match up with, right? I mean, Okur will just be too much for him 'cause Okur is a "true" center. Personally, I think our big men would be in pretty good shape in this matchup if we drafted Horford. While I agree with you on everything else in this thread, I went to that game (it was a home game around Christmas time). We looked so good for 3 quarters, built up that huge lead, and then our players panicked and Joe was the only one doing anything (Marvin had a really tough time against Kirelinko). But, Smoove did not guard Boozer. He was on Okur, and i thought he actually did a good job defending him (Okur was on fire though and had a great game). Zaza/Lo/Shelly were guarding Boozer. So, it would more likely be Smoove-Okur, Boozer-Horford, which I think works well for us.

hmm, he says KG and Duncan play the same position as him. Id take either of them as our starting 5

Quote: It's definitely not impossible to play good basketball with a slightly undersized but extremely strong, quick, and athletic frontline. Not only that, but it's an ENTERTAINING brand of bball to watch too. That line-up of Conley, JJ, MW, JS, Horford is a team that I would LOVE to watch (and by mid-season, the rest of NBA fans too... can you say Baby Suns... well you should, cuz if it happens that's what we'll be called). I think all those players would love to have that line-up too. It would be flat-out exciting. Give me Phoenix anyday over the Spurs. (yes i know they just won a championship, I still dont like them. Same goes to Utah and Indy... lame teams IMO, but I digress). I want my team to do well, but I also want a team that plays a style and has players that I enjoy watching. That said, I think the lineup posted above can compete with anyone, and I think Horford can play half his minutes at the 5. We should still try to get a late pick to roll the dice on Sean Williams. See if that can work out.

If Conley doesn't fall to 11, I definately do that trade. Horford/Yi + Conley is something we can all be happy about. We can sign a guy like Mikki Moore to do what Shelly does (plus we wont have to deal with looking at him anymore, which is a plus).

[quote #3 = Yi or Horford #11 = Conley or Law or Critt (dark horse in Stuckey) lol, that's my BEST case scenario if we keep the picks. I guess my real best case scenario though is fleecing someone in a trade and bringing in a Gasol without having to give much up (3, Chill and Shelly is fine for me). Worst-case Noah at 3

What about all the talks of his interior-D struggles against Oden in the finals? (which I didnt get to see b/c I was traveling) I'd like to hear what you got to say, having seen a lot more of him than myself. Can he guard NBA 5s on a nightly basis?

While I don't agree with your love affair for Florida (im guessing you go there?), I do agree that Horford is probably the best fit for our team. (But Yi has more upside). If he really does amount to his ceiling as a more athletic Okafor, then he would look great as our starting 5. I like his game. I just think we'll prolly take Yi cause of $$$

"Brandon Wright and to a lesser degree Noah would do it for me personally." Same here, only switch those 2 around.

oohh, I forgot about Stuckey. He could be the dark horse. I'm glad he's at least getting some consideration. Dude can score, facilitate, and IS READY for the league.

"We're probably getting Yi or Horford and Jack or Critt... " I for one would be happy with that. Wright was considered the 3rd best prospect for a long time. I think BK has to at least act interested just in case a team would be willing to trade up for him. Gotta put up those smoke screens.

I for one would actually be cool with either Horford or Yi. Horford or Yi + conley (if he falls)/law/crit/jack(trade)/ridnour(trade) A combo of something like that is what Im looking for. I think both Yi and Horford are going to be quality 4/5s in the league, but also think that Yi has a higher ceiling. At the same time, Horford`s athleticism and ability to run the court would look nice on our team. Plus, he is a more physical presence for the paint, which is clearly something we need. But, it`s on BK and the front office to make these hard decisions. Can Horford effectively play at the 5-spot? Can Yi? Who fits in better with our team, including whoever (pg) we take or trade for with the 11th pick? Horford could very well fit in with our team, and could even play some 5.

Well , I was obviously joking. But Noah IS Fugly. Horford is #2 on my draft board behind Conley (I would love to get both somehow through a trade-up). But anyways, the main point is that I don't like Noah (and his deformities just add to it). I don't like the way he plays and I think he is [censored]-made. Just my opinion. He may still be good. I dont care. I don't want to have to cheer for him (just like I don't like having to cheer for Shelly). In fact, same goes for Manu Ginobili, Bruce Bowen, Andres Nocioni, Robert Horry, Carlos Arroyo, Danny Fortson, Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy, and the list goes on and on and on. Players that I want no part of because I think they are [censored]-made and corny. So, there you go. Just what one fan's opinions. Shelly is enough. No Noah. Please, no Noah. (In contrast, I think the current Hawk's core of JJ, MW, JS, and to a lesser extent JC is a fun and likeable group to cheer for (maybe even Solomon some day too). Athletic. Fast. Add Conley to the show and bring in an athletic 5 who can run (Horford? Gasol? Camby?), and there you go, you got a starting 5 that ATL can respect).

Nope. In fact, I can't take seriously anyone advocating him at #3. Hell, I don't even want him at 11 (because I like players I can actually CHEER for, not despise), but realize he would be the obvious choice if he fell (I would just blame all our problems on him, even if they weren't his fault). You really want a team with Shelden Williams AND Noah? C'mon, how on earth can you cheer for that team. Maybe we should just trade joe johnson for cassell, draft chase "the ginger" budinger next year, trade josh smith for charlie "hairless" villanueva, trade marvin for that weird looking Herrman dude on Charlotte, AND HAVE THE ALL-UGLY NBA TEAM! Seriously, [censored] Joakim Noah. We already have one over-hyped, ugly-ass college star (but NBA bench player) in Shelden Williams. Please no more. Please. End rant.

We can package some players to get a legit 5 through a trade. So, what can we get for packages including Shelly, Chill, Zaza, etc? (I'm not ready to break up the core of JJ, MW, and JS). If the above players can get us a Camby or another legit 5, then cool, take Wright. A forward rotation of Marvin, Smoove, and Wright would be ridiculously talented. Then take Crittenton at 11, and we're looking really good for the future. If we can't get the 5 in a trade, then Wright just won't work.

That is the big question. I personally think Conley and Crit are the better fits because of what they could do for our talented, athletic wings (and are more athletic themselves). This is why I like Conley at 3. I think he makes our other players a lot better as well as better utilized. Dude is a quick, cerebral player who makes great decisions and could provide the offensive leadership we need so badly. I think his shot has a lot of room for improvement, but will come along. He's a great passer who plays well on the defensive end too. Crit also intrigues me because his ceiling is just so high. He would also make our team potentially scary. Teams would struggle with our athleticism (which Billups has stated in the past has been an issue for the pistons). He also seems to be a better shooter than Conley, but does not have the mental game Conley possesses. Ultimately, I think Conley would look to good on our team. We can't pass on him. Just think of how he could interact with Joe, Marvin, and Smoove on both ends. So, Conley at 3, and then my own opinion is different from what i've seen elsewhere: Make EVERYTHING and EVERYONE available except for Conley, Joe, Marvin, and Smoove. I want to use the 11 to trade for a more sure-bet 5. #11, Chill, Zaza/Shelly (either one) should be at least interesting to a few teams. Doubt that gets JO or Gasol, but maybe Camby? I'd also like to acquire a late first or second round pick to take a gamble on Sean Williams, an elite shot-blocking, defensive 5 who got kicked out of BC for bad behavior. Obviously this would need to be very carefully investigated and considered, but I'd look into it. Camby, Solomon and Sean Williams would be a very different 5 rotation. We could finally defend and rebound the middle.

preach brotha! i can't agree more. He'll make our team look a ton better.

Wow, Phoenix may have just gotten owned so bad. How much lower do you think the pick we give them now will be than the pick they wouldve gotten? They wouldve gotten in the 4-5 range. I think they now get something in the 16-20 range. OWNED.

Quote: Claxton, signed to a four-year, $25.5 million deal, started only 31 games. Much of how the Hawks approach the NBA draft and free agency may depend on Claxton. "We knew he was injury-prone," Mullin said. "We hoped he'd play 55 games. Obviously he's got to go get himself healthy. "I think he's going to come back and surprise a lot of people. He's committed to us that he's going to come back and have his best season ever in the NBA, and I think he will." That's the part that really stuck out to me. I knew Woody wasn't going anywhere (and honestly, as much as I've hated his offensive strategy, his player substitutions, etc, he seems like a good guy, who genuinely is helping our players develop... the guy hasn't had a pg to run his offense either. So, as much as I wouldve loved a change, I do hope he can surprise us and take the Sam Mitchell route of redemption). But, onto the Claxton part. This showed me 2 things: 1) Obviously we hope he really does come back with a bang like he says he will. 2) If they only hoped for 55 games from him, then he obviously was never our ENTIRE solution at the point. Maybe this means theyll go Conley, Crittenton, Law this draft.

Quote: I prefer a thinking PG over an athlete. When the games on the line and tough decisions need to be made, I want a smart PG rather than an athlete who might fall in love with their own athletic ability and try to do too much. So I want Law but I want to hear more from you guys about Conley because Draftnet has nothing on him. I've gathered that the knocks on him are that shooting is not a strength and he obviously had a talented College squad (not his fault). I want to know about his mental toughness, under pressure, his team game. Look forward to hearing from you guys. From what I've read, he's a VERY cerebral pg. Examples: "Conley is known for his ability to play under control just as much as his athleticism ... Conley does a marvelous job of controlling tempo and playing under control, but still manages to find the right moments to bury the needle on his way to the basket." "Conley is not a showboat, wants to make the other guys better and plays under control right now. He will come along quicker than either guy [the hawks] have bemoaned not getting two drafts ago and make Marvin suddenly appear like the missing link ... the guy jumps through the roof with the pedigree of a father that was an Olympian in the triple jump who could dunk from the foul line two handed in high school and has yet to throw down a dunk. I love to see understatement and reserve at such an important position. He is a steal if left at 11. Doubt he will be."

Quote: Quote: The fact anyone can call 12/5, truly mediocre numbers, "solid" from the number two pick in the entire draft is just mind boggling to me. We really have come to accept mediocrity as a fanbase. 13.1 and 5.3 as a first time starter in the Nba. So you really think he will average 12 and 5 his whole damn career?? Yeah, i mean, look at Rashard Lewis' 2nd year in the league. Probably the most comparable player to Marvin IMO. 'nuff said. whassup yall