T21

Give Stockton keys to a brand new sports car (Nique, Willis, Carr, Levingston...) and get out of the way!

I thought that was going to be our year... until that...

I remember the game Nique came home with the Clippers, with all the mixed emotions, but also with his passion! I think that it was his passion for the game and hunger for success in Hawks uniform that we missed the most during the Playoffs (Willis was also injured during the Indy series)! Manning was an All-Star and a good player, but Nique was a superstar hungry for his moment under the spotlight of the biggest stage in the sport! I personally like to believe that it would have made all the difference...

I recently came across an article in which it was stated that Hawks front-office is very much tight-lipped about it's business, no leaks whatsoever... I expect something similar this year too...

http://hoopshype.com/draft_2014.htm

Here's a better link with the latest mock draft version

http://hoopshype.com/twitter/media.html

Looks like DF had this one in the bag for quite some time... 

He's an intriguing talent, who has size, good b-ball IQ, and some experience for his age...

Think he's got Marc Gasol potential? That would be the type of career path it sounds like he might be headed down. That or Pekovic I'd guess.

It's hard to say... Physical similarities between them are obvious, but I think he's a better athlete then both Pek and Marc, as he runs the floor better and has smooth, natural moves that the compared two took years to develop... Anyway, He's got that extra something that tells me he'll be a very good player... Given a proper chance to further develop his game in a good organisation, with a good coach, he could become a dominant center.

I can give you some inside info on Nurkic... Kid's big and strong as an ox and has a very good post game. I can see him as a potentially dominant center, pending his further development... as far as I know he started playing basketball just few years ago. Since then he's made huge strides, because he loves the game and works hard. I think he's a year or two away from the NBA, but I'm sure he'll be able to make an impact eventually... He's definitely worth a gamble!

Kid's been getting nothing but rave reviews ever since he's been back from injury time-off! Spanish ACB league is second best national league, with good competition, coaches and organisation... He's proving his worth... I'm only concerned with his knees and the grind of a full NBA season... Anyway, he must be in ATL next season, period!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO4tIrjBDkk

http://forum.rojadirecta.es/showthread.php?219222-NBA-Playoffs-1st-Round-Game-1-Atlanta-Hawks-vs-Indiana-Pacers-19-04-2014&highlight=atlanta+hawks

Who knows which one of us is correct, but I like this team and it's depth. I like the various elements it brings and most importantly, I like the improvements it makes on our current weaknesses. I do want to state that I don't disagree with your assessment of Al as a leader. He's a great leader, but so was Derek Fisher and you don't build a team around a player because of leadership abilities. Those are very important and a part of every team, but I don't think Al is a guy you build a championship team around. IMO, he's more of a major yet complimentary piece to a championship team, but not the foundation. If we're building around Al and he's the focal point, we will sadly not ever improve as a team from the place we're at now. The only exception I believe to that would be to surround Al with other players just like him meaning a quality team with borderline all-star players at most positions.

I like when we express our different opinions and emotions on any given subject and just have an open discussion...

I agree with you about the depth, plus the fact that our front-court would be well rounded and not undersized... still, I don't see this team as a true contender and that's what we all hope for.

P.S. Surely Al is not a number one option on offense and he'll never become one... Surely Love is much more polished offensively, nobody is arguing that... However, Al's got that something that you don't find on a stat sheet, plus he knows what it takes to win (leadership, chemistry, team-first attitude...). Imagine if DF is able to bring a superstar caliber player and put him next to Al... that would be a solid foundation...

Wow, you are seriously overating Al and undervaluing Love. Love has been talked about around the league as the greatest PF currently playing the game today. No other player comes close to putting up the numbers he puts up. He puts up video game type numbers. His one flaw is defense and no one will argue that point, but outside of that, there is little he does not do well. He might leave the Hawks down the road, but if we built a solid team around him, he could definitely be a guy to hang around and build around. Asik is the perfect compliment to him since he helps cover up some of his defensive inefficiencies.

You could start Carroll over Granger, but look at Granger's career numbers. When he's been engaged and healthy, he's not a bad defender and averages more than 1 steal per game and almost one block per game (0.9 career average). If you started Carroll, then your biggest defensive weak spots would be Korver (who has improved his defense a good bit) and Love. I also think you are underestimating the impact a legitimate rim protector like Asik would have on this defense.

I understand your take, but I still stand firm on my Love assessment... numbers don't win games. I'm not trying to disrespect Love and his achievements, but I believe that Al is the better overall player with leadership qualities so rare to find in the NBA now-days.

As far as Asik is concerned... again, I don't think his much of a rim protector as you labelled him... he's just big and strong, but has slow feet and zero leaping ability, plus he's injury risk... in my book he's no more than a good back-up!

Teague just doesn't seem to be the guy who's willing to make that next step and become a leader... and that's a worst kind of flaw for a PG, who basically has to be your leader on the floor... that's why he's been inconsistent, despite having most of the tools necessary to become a star PG in the NBA... He just doesn't have it and that's why Ferry needs to move him while his price is still decent!

Horford and 2 1st rounders for Love!? C'mon... I wouldn't trade Al for Love straight up, Al's much better and he's the one guy you build your team around!

In my humble opinion, Love is just an overrated stat player who would eventually cost us a ton of money and cripple us once again like JJ's contract...

I respect the effort, but mentioned team wouldn't win 40 games as it is defensively flawed...

I'd love to get Noah and re-unite him with Al!

I think they would work wonders under Bud's coaching!

Best trade proposal in a while!

I'd love to see this come true... but I just don't see Bulls giving up on Noah... even though it would get them Asik (serviceable center), plus promising prospects for the future...

Throughout the preseason they haven't been playing Billups much or Jennings (out with impacted wisdom tooth) and they have been much more competitive than the Hawks.

This forum poster has absolutely no credibility due to his Smith hate.

Drummond/Monroe/Smith > Horford/Millsap/(Korver or Carroll) in almost every category.

Defensively, Detroit will be stout and that will keep you in every game.

They could be tough defensively as you have said, as they have long and athletic front court...

For some reason, I have a feeling that Pistons will have a good year and reach Playoffs. Plus, they have some dark horse players that could turn into very good rotation players and give them more depth...

Don't know for sure other than it featured Bob Pettit and Cliff Hagan.

Here is the box score from the Game 6 win over the Celtics:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/195804120STL.html

I never realized that Hawks' 4 W came with winning margin of 3 or less points, WOW! That was something special against those Celtics, who had the psychological edge over just about everybody!

Plus, Petit's 50 in clinching game 6!

Happy Birthday!

I'm beginning to like our coach!

Very little defense in that starting 5

That's why I already stated that I just don't see Jenkins and Korver together on the floor for longer stretches, as it would surely give us tons of problems on D, and especially to our already undersized front-court.

I don't think that Jenkins is starter material yet. I know, I know," we drafted him, he must be a superstar. " In all actuality, I don't see it. I don't see the starting material in Jenkins. I see him as about a 8th man to be honest. Maybe there's some secret secret advance metric that predicts that he can dominate this league but without the strength or size, I just don't see him being that effective.

Help me understand this if you can squawkers.

Jenkins will get his chance and minutes this year for sure.

I agree that he's not starter material yet, but the kid obviously works hard and deserves the chance to prove that he can be a productive player... He'll also need to work on his strength and stamina in order to sufficiently play D...

I just don't see him and Korver on the floor for longer stretches, because it would surely hurt us on the defensive end.

Congratulations GM!

Let's face it... PG position is usually the toughest position to play and there is a learning process to it. Some PG's are born with it (CP3 for one), others must learn and work hard to develop all the skills and proper mentality...

Teague had his chance to develop his game without too much pressure as he was basically our 3rd option on offense... Hopefully he'll be able to take it to another level and show more consistency and leadership, as he's expected to do as a veteran player now.

Let's not forget that, without Smoove, JT will have the ball in his hands and more responsibilities on offense...

Give this man a gold star. My thoughts, exactly.The entire city was abuzz about the Hawks back then. Coming off the series with Boston, they did something in the offseason that they rarely ever do; they actually added REAL players to the lineup. Out with Wittman and Rollins, in with Theus and Moses; both were getting up there in terms of age but still had some left in the tank. The Willis injury took the wind right out of their sails because neither Levingston or Carr could get the job done in the starting lineup in his place. It got to the point where Koncak was put next to Moses late in the yea. In a contract year of course, Koncak balled, averaging a double-double in the playoff series against the Bucks.Put that team at full strength against the '94 squad and the refs would have to stop it early...

Yeah, 88/89 was also a year that we could have gone long ways... Celtics and Lakers were on the downside, Pistons and Bulls weren't there yet...

I remember that Fratello tried just about everyone available for that PF spot, from Levingston, Carr and even Koncak... We really missed Willis that year, as he would have given us strength and toughness!