Iman

It's just ridiculous how many supposedly knowledgeable sources seem to ignore the Hawks. I guess I need to find some place where I can get a bet in on the Hawks. Unfortunately I doubt you can bet on much of anything but who'll be the final Champion or at least in the finals. If I can just find a bet where I get paid if the Hawks make the East finals I'd take that. I bet the odds would be huge!!

Seemed more a matter of good team ball beating a poor defending assortment of afraid to lose athletes. Would break down to coaching if the US had been together long enough to be coached.

I think you can get a player of near Lo or BK skills fairly easily. Honestly we had/ have them in Henderson and Jacque Vaughn. Gasol is better than I figured but he's still not nearly as skilled as SAR and who's to say we woulda drafted him with the pick anyways.

With what was left I couldnt decide and then I remembered the Nets, I like this one...

PG..JT is a much better scorer than Kidd but no way he's proven he can be comparable overall...adv Nets

SG..if Kittles was on the Hawks I might put him third on our strength chart but he really breaks down the court and opens things up for Kidd, assuming DJ improves I'll call it...even

SF..I dont see Jefferson instead of Van Horn being much of a drop off for the Nets but neither compares to BigDawg..adv Hawks

PF..Kenyon is improving and has an explosive game but his basic skills pale in comparision with Reef...adv Hawks

C..Mutombo is aging but Theo is much smaller and has health issues. I wonder how Mutombo will fit the Nets whereas I'm pretty sure that Theo is near perfect for us, at least as long as we're not playing an overpowering frontline team..sl adv Nets

Coach..I'm not that sure about Byron Scott but I'm less sure about Lon...sl adv Nets

Bench..I think we have a strong bench..adv Hawks

I guess that leaves it pretty much even in my biased opinion with maybe a slight nod going to the Hawks!!

DD as an NBA player is definitely an unknown at this point. I voted and hope he proves to be an above average backup.

I really liked the drafting of DD. At that time, a scoring point guard was what we had to have since we couldnt count on anyone other than Reef then. Now with the BigDawg, it's less critical our point scores but still DD seems to me to be similar to JT, a point that can reasonably well run the team AND can shoot. If we lose JT for a period, it will be nice if DD can come in and still play a similar game. If DD really pans out he'll give management an option as contract issues with JT come up.

It's funny, especially in certain sports such as boxing and basketball, how the athletes are usually compared to previous athletes of the same race. DD will definitely continue to be compared to Mark Price or Stockton, but in this case it seems pretty darn accurate to me. I doubt DD will ever achieve at that level but when you look at the type game played, you definitely have to say DD has more of a Price type game than say Kenny Anderson, Andre Miller, Jason Kidd or pretty much anyone else. Maybe he plays a little like Bibby or Shammonds Williams but still the Price comparision at this point seems valid to me. Stockton of course will come up since they both went to the same school but I've never heard anyone try to compare DD to Jason Williams of Memphis but that seems closer to me than Brevin Knight who was also short but fall had no shot.

Anyways, I'm glad we have DD, now let's cut Email and eat his contract, sign Ira and some BIG space occupier or center backup and get on with this thing!!

I"m sure it was mentioned earlier this year on this site but what about Alain Digbieu (sp?). If I recall he's supposed to be a small forward that has hops and defense? Let's bring him over this year if we cant sign Ira. Personally I'd play the Newble thing as we are but then make sure I got him for up to what he wants if I had to. I think we'd be a better team with him on the court with our starters than DJ. I realize Ira doesnt have DJ's shot but he cuts to the basket and pics up the garbage baskets better, rebounds better, and inspires the whole team to hustle on defense.

I bet if we sign Ira that as the season evolves, Ira will only start if DJ or BigDawg are injured but I'd bet Ira averages the fourth or fifth most minutes on the team, more than DJ or Dion and maybe more than Theo even.

I pretty much agree with all that the responses here, especially the Keon "Toothpick" comments. He has deformed looking tiny lower legs. I think he'll strengthen the Kings and maybe they will get by the Lakers but certainly not due to Keon playing on Shaq. I also would rather have JT than Bibby, and that's what scares me, we cant afford to pay JT what the Kings just paid Bibby. If Dickau pans out we may have to trade JT.

I havent heard what Kemp has to say but I assumed he was just taking the money cut so he could retire. If he'll play for the minimum, someone sure should take him, may as well be us.

I think the fact that we still arent predicted to do much will make our players play harder early in the year including preseason. Normally two new starters could be hard to integrate so I bet we'll play our starters lotsa minutes and I think it will be relatively easy to integrate Big Dawg and Theo. I say a 6-1 preseason.

I always liked Kevin but actually thought Antoine Carr was better on offense. Kevin always stays in great shape, I even see him at my gym occasionally, supersetted some biceps with him once actually, and that conditoning plus some luck gave him the longevity.