Iman

I'm with Lascar, step two, and I also hope we already had an agreement of sorts with Fratello and will announce soon. Musselman kinda reminds of a young Fratello but I think we need the media attention Fratello and a few high end draft picks and free agent signees will bring us.

I agree, I'd rather use one of our 2nd round picks on some lesser known point guard (not Duhon) than blow one of our first rounders on one. The exception to me would be if somehow Livingston fell to our mid first pick. Actually I might consider Tellfair there also, mostly just for the hype, so far I dont see him as much more than that.

I havent watched or read that much on Sato but you're one of the first I've heard say that he was not a good outside shooter. I think he would be an major upgrade over Hansen in pretty much all areas other than maybe ball handling. Chalmers and Sato would be an interesting duo to pick up if possible. I doubt we pick him anyways, my guess is that Billy Knight will draft all relatively unknowns (small school, European, etc) in the second round hoping to get lucky. Then sign known free agent talent when looking for dependable backups.

That does sound right now that you mention it, I think there was a team option on Pryz but I didnt think it was for that much? I like that starting 5 though, assuming we cant move up even further and get Howard. I hope we do move up with just draft pick or non-starter swaps. Either way, I liked Leon Smith a few years ago when we only really had Dermarr potential to look at, but now I'd pass on him. What happened to your idea of a second round pick for Duhon, I like that much better than Brevin Knight. I actually thought that was one of the best things about the Reef trade, it allowed us to dump overpaid, horrible shooting, Brevin Knight. If we have Sura, JT, and Diaw we can just draft a backup PG, even if it's a second rounder and not Duhon it wont matter, unless Sura gets hurt they wont get many minutes anyways.

I like most of it, especially Sura and Jackson at those figures or maybe even less for Sura but a little more for Jax. I'd like to see us pick up Swift if we cant get Howard, I think he would fit well with our current roster if we keep most of it. I'd like to get lucky in the draft and get to take Josh Smith in the first and Sato in the second but I doubt either fall to where we'll be. I think it's more likely we end up with a European center or PF with our first pick and then someone like Jameer or Kirk Snyder or maybe Devin Harris if he falls that far with our second first. That would eliminate the need for Brevin Knight which I'd never do anyways. I like Przybilla's athleticism and the way he outlet passes. He's really designed for this team we have now but I bet we can get him for more like $8 million for 3 years if we dont end up with Swift and a drafted center or even Collier. With all our draft picks coming up do we need another project like Leon, especially for more than maybe $1mill for one year. But really signing a bunch of midlevel players keys on us getting a good top pick like Howard or Smith to build around. If not we just need to get solid over the next year or two until we can sign a superstar.

Of course we have no idea where we'll draft, who'll be in front of us or even who will come out, but it does look pretty likely that me may not get Howard or Josh. First I hope we get lucky in the lottery and get a top3 pick. If not I still think some team above us will go for a European. Also maybe Luol Deng and/or JR Smith will come out and be in the top few picks. I dont really want Livingston with our top pick or Deng but would probably take JR Smith. If not I bet Billy Knight can find us the best available European. Then I'm looking at Tony Allen or Kirk Snyder with our mid first.

I think one might take the GM job and the other Coach but no way either, especially Fratello, would take assistant in my opinion. The only way I could see us getting both would be if Doc wanted to be GM and if Fratello really wants to coach again and if he'll take a reasonable salary. The most likely scenario is Doc as Coach and maybe Wittman or maybe Willis as an assistant if we're thinking 80's Hawks.

Yup, it was a bad comparision. I thought all the commentary pretty much sucked. Maybe it's because I wanted to know what was happening and they just wanted to gab. No matter how tall Hakeem was his fall away jumper was unstopable. Okafor may be slightly undersized for a power game like he plays. Either way I'm more worried about his back but I'd still definitely take him top3, probably after Josh or Dwight in our case given what we need, etc.

Thanks for the info, I woulda been pissed if I missed it!!

Interesting stats, Thanks. Truely we wont know where we draft until the lottery but it's still interesting.

I didnt like Humphries that much. I'd rather get Howard or Okafor if available but if not I'd be just as glad with Smith and then I'd like to go for a PF with our mid 1st. But if I had to take Humphries but could still get one of the top two or three HS point guards out there then I'd go that way instead.

Those comments definitely are how I see Freije. I dont think he could play center, unless he played for Dallas, whereas Collier can but I think Freije's much quicker and a better shooter. Still a tweener for sure. I havent watched Nevada yet but I'm sure I will this Friday. I actually liked Eddins I think his name was from UAB but I havent read anything rating him very draftable. Us trading off all our frontcourt does leave us critically needing to draft help there. That means we better get Howard or Okafor or we're lottery bound again next year too. There's lotsa foreign bigmen available, maybe Billy Knight will find us a keeper among them?

Which potential Hawk draftees have impressed you so far in the tournament? For our top pick: Okafor is about the only person we can watch. Mid first: I'm still leaning towards one of the HS point guards. Jameer Nelson is sliding in my book, mostly just due to size but also turnovers. Other players listed around that pick level that I've watched so far havent impressed me either, including Iguodala, Humphries, especially not Jeffries of Stanford. Devin Harris maybe, he seems quick and with a good shot, decent size but really not a match with JT. 2nd Rounders: I'd take Romain Sato for sure, I think he'll be a solid NBA contributor, especially if played at the 2 guard position. Not to sure about Freije, he had a nice game for Vandy but he seems soft, I'd still consider him if we're looking for a pick and roll PF I just know where we'd get rebounds. Mouton looks solid, McCants might fall to the second round but he's kinda small for a 2. I havent been impressed with Andre Emmett outta Texas Tech or Delonte Holland outta Depaul(he doesnt seem aggressive, does have size and talent). I'd be interested in Delonte West outta St Joe's if he comes out.

I think Nbadraft.net just keeps players listed by hype, etc. and not really by team. If you check there much you'll notice they move players around occasionally but not the teams and it's not like anyone knows who'll pick when yet. Either way, I would not pick Deng with a top10 pick at this point. He hasnt impressed me at all.

I didnt think we had a roster position available up until the time Dermarr was picked up by the Knicks. Either way I think we sorta gave up on Dermarr when we drafted Diaw. I dont know if we need both but I'd still like to see us pick up Dermarr in the offseason, but I think it's unlikely to happen.

Thanks for the update. I had quit watching a week or two ago as Milwaukee seemed to have it locked up. I still think they'll finish 5th or 6th seed but I'll definitely keep up with it now. If they can just play near .500 ball the rest of the season it would take around a 9-5 mark or better by 3 teams that are playing among themselves for us to lose the pick. But then again if the Bucks finish 3-10 it could happen. Yuck!

I dont like Rashad, but it always does amaze how many points he is able to score, even on an off nite. After Yao doing so well, I bet Pavel goes way before our second first rounder. If he does fall that far I guess from what I've read I'd take him. I think we need so much this year that all our picks will just be for the best available player. I'd like to get one project and one more known quantity with our two firsts but it would be hard to pass up one of these HS point guards that will probably be available.

I'm hoping for some solid play but we have a tough schedule coming up the next 10 games or so. It wouldnt surprise me if we hit a 12 game losing streak and then break thru for our only win the remainder of the season against Philly at home. I think critical draft placement games will be on the road at Washington, Orlando, and Chicago. If we are gonna to win a few, some of our best shots will be the home games with Philly and Boston in early April. I think 22-60 is likely and should be the worst record in the league.

I'd take AI off Philly's hands as long as I didnt have to give up a for sure top draft pick. For the new owners, AI would bring that instant marketability that they need. Plus we'd still have enough left over salary cap so that AI wouldn't have to be built around, just a key figure. I'd definitely give up JT and a our mid first round pick. I'd hold on that offer for now and if Philly doesnt snatch it up then maybe later I'd go JT and our first next year with a top 5 restriction. We're gonna have a new coach next year, we'd just have to make sure it was someone we thought could work well with AI. If we cant get Doc Rivers then this might be a case to bring in Dominique, I bet he'd get AI's respect.

Smith sounds good to me too. I wouldnt be surprised to see us try to move up for a second top pick even if not that high. I think I might lean towards drafting Okafor and Smith instead though. That would give us one project instead of two.

I dont think he'll be able to play in the NBA. Too small and his shot is too inconsistent.

I had rather see the Hawks play a good game and then lose. I watched all of the Lakers game but last nite pretty much stayed on the Tech game and just kinda popped over occasionally to the Hawks. Either way, I ever since the Rasheed dump trade I've been pretty sure that we cant win more than 5 total games to close out the year. I thought the Orlando home game that we lost was important. The upcoming Orlando and Chicago games are critical too, but if neither Rebraca or Henderson come back we are just too small to win. I think a top 3 draft pick is practically a lock, now watching our Milwaukee pick placement is interesting too.

I think St Joe's is on at 7:00 EST tonite on ESPN2. He might fall to our second 1st round pick due to his height. I hope he does and we take him. He's short but at least at the college level he doesnt play like it, his jumper is very hard to stop due to the way he shoots it. He's my pick for NBA Rookie of the Year next year.

I'm pretty sure I remember someone saying it was lottery protected plus some.

Is the 2007 Philly 1st rounder restricted? If it is then I'd do it. Of course I'd rather give up less, but I dont really see giving up what you mention giving up the franchise. Actually I doubt Philly fans would think it was enough. They see their team as AI and a bunch of role players so JT and some more role players would seem like a bad deal. They'd want our lottery pick, just like most teams will for their top player. For us, AI would bring some offense and a buzz but we could still build around our lottery pick from this year and a couple more bigtime free agents the next few years. Kobe could probably join AI's crew since he has that Philly background..lol. I'll pass on Mamadou as a starter next year though, about all that has impressed me about him is his freethrow shooting. What happened to your Alvin Jones Jr posts, let's pick him up and maybe use Rebraca to start though.