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Walter, I'm in total agreement regarding Calderon. Unfortunately, so are a ton of other teams, including Toronto! I sincerely doubt we have a shot at Calderon unless we give up Marvin or Smith. Here's a "What if" for you. What if Toronto decides that Calderon at $8M is too expensive for a back-up, so they decide to make him the starter and move Ford. Should the Hawks have interest in Ford at $8M? Injury risk, much shorter, but maybe the fastest player around, and a great penetrator. Can't consistently hit the outside shot though, and we definitely need shooters. Just a thought.

Portland is not doing a salary dump, nor will they trade specifically for expiring contracts. They want to upgrade by trading 2 or 3 for 1. That's why they were involved inthe Kidd talks. They were going after Devin Harris, giving up Outlaw, Jack and Frye. They are looking for someone they can put with Oden, Aldridge and Roy long term. The only trade I can see us making with Portland is for James Jones, Martell Webster, Jack or Frye (I doubt we could get Sergio or Outlaw). If they value Chills more than Webster, a deal could be worked out, or possibly a Shelden for Frye staight up deal. Those are the only ways I see a deal with Portland working out.

Lofton should be available, but he's got no other skills than shooting. At least Salim has some other talents. For shooting, the best that should be on the board for us would be Richard Roby, Shan Foster and Marcellus Kemp. Foster and Kemp are both catch and shoot guys, while Roby is jsut a great shooter. But they all have their weaknesses, which is why the'd be available in the second round.

I agree with Joe's views of a max player, and I don't feel Josh is a max player. I really don't even like $12M, but I think an incentive based contract that could net him $12M would be fair. And the incentives should be based on team wins, not just blocks/game or things like that. Easier said than done, I know. My all bad contract team is as follows: C - Jerome James ($5.8) - The epitome of a bad contract. Runner up - Theo Ratliff PF - Chris Webber ($19.0 without his new salary from GS). Runner up - Brian Cardinal. I'm giving Kmart a break, as that contract was signed previous to an injury. SF - Michael Finley ($21.7M combined) - Hell, he's barely earning his $3M from SA! Runner up - Antoine Walker SG - Steve Francis ($18.8M combined) - He can't even make the rotation right now in his beloved Houston, and they are looking at picking up a PG! Runner up - Larry Hughes PG - Starbury ($20.1M) - Just incredible. Runner up - SPEEDY CLAXTON Wow, I can't believe Jared Jeffries, Kwame Brown, TMac and the ever popular Eric Snow didn't make this team!

Funny, if we actually did do one of the trades mentioned above (which I DO NOT advocate), #3 might be the one I woudl be LEAST inclined to do. Sam is a UFA after this season, and Maggette has a player option which he is very likely to invoke. We could end up with a #1 pick in the 10-15 range and cap space for JJ. If that's all we can get, there is no way we trade him. Now, I don't agree with trading Joe at this time. While I agree with some of the points Diesel made, the bigger question I have is if we trade JJ, what kind of message does that send the rest of the league? JJ is the ONLY FA who actually wanted to come here, and then after 2 1/2 years we trade him away? Now, I know our ownership is in shambles, and we're not likely going after any name FA's in the near future, but it might take years after our ownership situation is finalized to get rid of the stigma we would have if we dealt JJ now. We need to build around him, not the other way around.

I know on the Real GM board they were talking about amending this with Atlanta possibly getting a Philly 2nd round pick instead of Orlando's. My amendment would be to put full lottery restrictions around the pick through 2012, and if the restrictions aren't met by then, a cash settlement for $2M or soemthing for a buyout would be done. I hate to say it, but we could always fall off dramatically with a key injury (like what happened to Gasol last year with Memphis) and we end up giving a top 5 pick down the road.

I would love to have either Jack or Sergio, but I'm pretty sure I would rather have Jack, as Sergio doesn't understand what defense is. If he was our back-up PG, fine, but as our starter, he has to play D. If he could just play a little D, he's better than Jack though.

Diop is an unrestricted FA this summer, so I don't think it's a smart thing to trade for him unless you are dealing either expiring contracts or players who are not in your future plans and want to get off the books. Chills doesn't fit into that equation. The only players we could offer would be the same old crap (Lue, Wright, Salim, Zaza, Shelden), and that's only if they are ready to give up on Shelden. I'd go after him in free agency next summer, but he has no offensive game whatsoever, so I don't think he can help in our system that much.

Quote: Cut to the hoop...try and get open...create something. "Work your way into the game". This is my main problem with Salim. After he passes the ball off, he never cuts to the hoop, he just jumps around outside the 3 point line, allowing his defender to double the guy with the ball (in most cases, JJ). I was screaming at the TV, telling him to become part of the offensive flow instead of just bouncing around outside the arc. Until he starts moving without the ball better, he's just hurting the team when he does play (as infrequently as it may be). His defender can lay off him a little, as he has to dribble each time before taking a shot. Salim is not the answer here, and he may blow up some place else, but I don't think he will ever do it here on a consistent basis.

Why would Miami EVER do that deal?????? I doubt the Lakers would do that deal as well. There's not many teams that are looking to add a $12/13M player for next season who is not a key component of a championship run this year by giving up expirings. Honestly, I can't think of any playoff caliber team that's looking for that.

Actually, I think Seattle goes for this. I just don't think there's a chance in hell that the ASG goes for it. Seattle gets rid of $11M off it's cap for next year, and saves even more money from Speedy's insurance if he can't play. This would make them a player in th FA market next year (if they want to be) or the following year (more likely). I'm sure there's some FAs that would love to play with Durant and Green. They could also do another Kurt Thomas type of move where they absorb some salary and get a #1 pick from a team over teh luxury tax threshold. I just don't see any way the ASG goes for this deal from a financial standpoint. They'd be adding $11M to the payroll for next year over where they are before the deal, and they still would only have 11 players under contract (including the Joshes). If you put the Joshes in at a combined $18M ($11-12M for Smith, $6-7M in for Childress), that would put the Hawks at $69.2M for 2008, with only 11 players! We won't go near that luxury tax threshold, so I don't see this one even close to happening. The only possibility would be if they were able to move Wally's expiring contract before the trading deadline in 2009, but I still don't think this one has a chance. Here's a more financially reasonable plan going after the same type of players (although not as flashy): 1) trade Lue for Rasual Butler 2) sign Wilkins next summer, as he will probably opt out of his contract since he's not getting any burn now 3) trade for Watson or Ridnour in a deal involving Sheldon and AJ. If they were willing to move Petro, you go for him as well, but I doubt they want to move him. I can't see ASG making more than one move, I think the most likely scenario is Watson or Ridnour (most likely Ridnour), but I'd rather save the cash and go after Calderon next summer.

Best one yet! Thanks for the laughs!

Wait until he is a FA in the off season. If someone is willing to overpay him, let them do it. He wouls only be a 15-20 minute reserve guy, but I would love to have him for that role. Unfortunately, that's only worth about $3M, and not sure he would sign for that.

Bibby would take care of so many of our problems (outside shooter, great penetrator, 2nd scoring option to JJ), but everything I've read says that Sacremento is unwilling to move Bibby or Artest without taking on one of their bad contracts (Kenny Thomas at $7.3M, $7.9M and $8.6M, or Shareef at $5.8M, $6.2M and $6.6M). I would much rather go after Shareef, and I think an offer of Lue, Sheldon, AJ, Chills & Zaza for Bibby and Shareef would still make sense. It's a lot to give up, but Bibby could be the guy that makes everything go.

Sheldon has much more trade value than just an expiring. I'm not over valuing the guy, but don't sell him short to the rest of the league. In my mind, a much better trade would be Sheldon for Channing Frye. Neither are getting any time on their respective teams, and maybe they both just need better opportunities. Porland needs better rebounding, while the Hawks need a running big man. This has been talked about on RealGM, and everyone from both sides agreed this made a lot of sense. Plus, you may be able to get another pick from Portland (they have their 1st and 2nd, plus two other 2nds next year), as they have too many players/picks going into 208/09 season, so I'm sure they would move a 2nd rounder (so you could make those crazy 7 for 3 deals!) Don't just give away Sheldon.

Kaman is signed through the 2011/12 season, so I don't think they need a safety net for free agency. Now, they may still like the deal, but just not for that reason.

I really don't even know why I'm replying, but... Stop drinking the Kool-aid, Joe is not going anywhere. If that prevents us from going after Pau, so be it. You don't get rid of: 1) the ONLY high profile free agent we have signed in the past 10 years 2) our only all-star and olympian 3) the defacto leader of this team Just stop this hread now. It's a waste.

Hey Diesel, I did calculate the loss of those contracts in my number. Did you? This trade puts us in horrible cap position. I did forget about Horf. My bad. You can't have a team of NBDL players and plan on no injuries, unless you're Boston.

The Hawks made what, 2 FGs in the 4th quarter? Something like that. And at one point we were 0-12 on FG attempts. you can't blame that on Woody. When NOBODY is hitting any baskets, it doesn't matter who you sub in. And Joe was getting his shots deflected in the paint. He just didn't have that needed level of energy. I also don't think Woody diagramed Milwaukee's inbounds play to leave Bogut all alone for a dunk! Face it, the player's jsut didn't execute in the 4th quarter last night. It happens, but hopefully the lesson has been learned.

2 things: 1) Isn't he a free agent at the end of the year? 2) Who would we cut to make room for him? And don't be saying Speedy would retire, because that's just not gonna happen.

Wow, besides bringing in three good players, here's what this trade does for 2008: 1) you've just taken our salary for next year to about $69M (assuming you pay the Joshes a combined $18M) 2) the main back-up for both PF and C next year is Solomon Jones 3) only 11 positions have been filled, and you still need to fill at least 2 of those, which will probably put you over the luxury tax threshold at 13 players! Not happening in our lifetime.

My rant continues... With the financial situation that I previously laid out, here are some moves (HIGHLY controversial, I know ahead of time!) and the timing that they would have to happen in to work. 1) Before the trade deadline, trade Lue for Rasual Butler. New Orleans is looking for a PG, we need a 3 pt specialist. Unfortunately, he isn't a great overall shooter, but he is stil relatively cheap. He makes about the same as Lue, and his salary doesn't go up much for next year. 2) Here comes the controversy! Before the trade deadline, trade Chills and Zaza for Ron Artest. I know all about the baggage Artest carries, but he is the best lock-down defender (maybe Bowen is better, but it's close) who also can be the experienced 2nd scoring option that his team needs. For those of you who don't know, Artest, I don't feel, is the same craxy man he has been in the past. Everything I have read has commented on his daughter's illness, and how he has turned the corner from a maturity standpoint due to his personal situation. He has a player option for next year, so we would need to talk with him before the trade and get him to accept an extension (around $10M/season). 3) To replace Zaza, pick up either Jackie Butler or DJ Mbenga. Both would have a minimal role on the team, but it basically would be a try-out for next season. Diesel brought up Lang on a previous post, which could work as well. 4) Lastly, once the season is over,but before you sign Josh Smith, do a S&T with Toronto. Calderon for Marvin. Calderon will probably cost about $8.0M, which is more that Toronto will want to pay their back-up (hopefully). Though I love Marvin, Calderon could take us to new levels. And because we would be under the cap, we would just give Toronto a trade exception for the difference in salaries. 5) Sign Theo Raliff to a 1 year deal. He lives in Atlanta, and could mentor all the kids (Horford, Solomon, Sheldon). Sign him for no more than $1.5M. 6) Resign West and Salim. 7) Let Wright and AJ's contracts expire. That leaves the team looking like this: C - Horford, Solomon, Ratliff PF - Smith, Sheldon, Butler/Mbenga/Lang SF - Artest, R. Butler, West (resign) SG - Johnson, Salim (resign), 2nd round pick PG - Calderon, Law, Speedy (unfortunately, can't move him) All these moves would leave the hawks in the $67M area, which is where I think we are after signing our RFA's next year anyway. I just think this team would be set up better while JJ is in his prime to move ahead in the playoffs. Will this all happen? Of course not, no way we'll trade for Artest (though the other moves are somewhat realistic). Should it happen? My opinion is obviously yes.

Ex, I agree with what you're saying, but want to add on even further. This team needs five things in my opinion: 1) Better PG play 2) An outside shooter 3) A defensive big 4) A lockdown defender at the 2/3 5) A second legitimate scoring option to Joe Some of these things can be combined, so I'm not saying we need 5 new players. I've got my own ideas of what trades/FA pick-ups could be made to get us there while staying fiscally responsible (as this is a prerequisite of ASG, since we are not living in a vacuum like many on this site seem to think). I think everyone agrees we need better PG play to become an elite team. Maybe Law will become that, but the jury is out on that. Everyone also agrees we need an outside shooter. I just think this slot needs to be a fairly inexpensive player, nothing above $4M, as they really won't be a starter. We've been saying forever it seems that we need a defensive big to clog the middle to help stop the lay-up drills. That position also should be relatively cheap. The two things I'm adding are a lock-down defender and 2nd scoring option. I am tired of seeing the superstars light up the Hawks in the 4th quarter (Lebron, Wade, etc.) We can't afford to put Joe on them, since if Joe fouls out, your can hear the fat lady singing. And I think everyone realizes how our offense stagnates when Joe is out of the game. There needs to be another scoring option that the other team actually game plans around, not just a guy who happens to be hot on a given night. With all that being said, we have one big obstacle in our way: the salary cap / financial situation of ASG. First, let's look at our cap position going into 2008/09. We have $39.9M tied up in contracts for next year excluding the Joshes. Smith will take up a cap hold of $6.7M, while Chills will take up a cap hold of $10.9M, which leaves us at $57.5M (I think the total of these two salaries is about what they will actually make, just that Smith will make the higher number and Chills will make the lower one). That still doesn't replace Salim, AJ, Lue, Wright or West. Combined, they make $10.8M in 07. You can't just fill these slots with guys making less than $1M, so you really need to hold at least $7.5M for these 5 slots. That puts us at $65.0M for next year. The luxury tax for this year is $67.865M, and will go up to about $70M next year. By trading away all our expirings for a player, you're adding that much more onto the payroll. Personally, I don't think there is any way the ASG goes over $60M next year, which will still be higher than the salary cap, which should be around $58.5M. My point here is that while expirings are a nice idea to trade, they come with financial consequences that no one seems to want to admit to. I'll propose my trades/FA pickups in a separate post!

Wait, you don't want Chris Wilcox, who is a PF/C at 6-10, athletic with potential, and a 2 year contract, but you do want Nick Colison, a PF/C at 6-9, not athletic with limited potential, and a 3 year contract for similar money? Then you want Watson at over $6M per year, who has been extremely inconsistent this season, as well as throughout his career, over Delonte West, who would cost much less, and is a restricted FA for next year, and plays much better D. A trade for Watson and Collison would put us in financial hell. Wilcox and West are the types of players we should be looking at, not Watson and Collison. But I have to ask, why would Seattle want Chills, when they just drafted Durant and Green? That's the one position they are covered at! No, they want other pieces.

I would LOVE Arenas here, but it's not gonna happen. He makes too much to do a S&T unless we give up Smoove, and that's not going to happen. Also, if there is a S&T, Washington isn't going to do it in their own division. If he decides to take less money to join a team, he's going to a championship contender now, not one that may be there in 3 or more years. He'll either resign, go out West, or the rich will get richer.