T21

First of all Al is a PF! He was basically thrown into the fire... and we must agree that he did a very admirable job, especially knowing that he did while being rook and soph! Horf is a warrior! You never hear him complain about it... which tells a whole lot about his caracter. However, he is overmatched sometimes... against certain Centers, not just physicaly, but also skill-wise... and finaly, for those of you who say that height is overrated... well, NBA is best basketball league in the world, with best players who go at it all out, where even smallest (inches) differences can make huge impact on the scoreborad!

I have read something similar in a couple of European Sports Newspapers... However, articles were very brief, not going into any details... Anyway, Chillz was quoted saying that he reached an understanding (in principle) with the team owner which would keep him in Greece for another year. P.S. Sorry, I don't have any links for this, 'cause I've read it in the papers!

Right! Plus, DA can play well in the post! P.S. Some people here have labelled DA as a jumpshooter, but he's got complete set of skills and full repertoire of moves in the low-post!

... I must say that I agree with most of points from the blog... However, I must also point out that it was written in a very bad and negative tone... I know that we all get frustrated watching Smoove take ill-advised jumpshots, when he could feast down-low... but we also must realize that he's still very, very young... yet, he proved year in and year out that he's improving and that he is willing to go that extra mile to work on his game and come back better! That's a process... it takes time... Smoove is a unique talent (we all must agree on that), that you don't find that often... He can change the game single-handedly (unfortunately, sometimes for the worst)... but I still believe in him... sometimes he reminds me of young Shawn Kemp, and just remember how long it took for Kemp to reach his true potential... And finaly to those who constantly try to wheel and deal Smoove from ATL... You don't subtract such a talented young player from your team. We have already invested too much and dealing Smoove would mean givin' up on these Hawks... just as they have shown steady progress... No! You add more pieces! That's what we need! And for that my friends, we need our ownership to make it possible with key strategic decisions which would allow our management (Sund) to make necessary moves to round up Hawks and create a window of opportunity for our team to contend and hopefully win it all in the next couple of years...

I think it would be great to get our hands on Lawson. We must realize that we need a player who can immediately step in and perform! Lawson fits that bill, plus he's a type of PG (regardless of his questionable size) that fits well with Hawks... experience (compared to other PG's from this class) quickness, decent passing, solid D and a jumper to go along... P.S. I don't understand why his stock is sliding... anyway, I hope he falls to 19!

Bron is an a**hole anyway! He is an amazing talent and athlete, but c'mon...

I wouldn't mind adding Gooden... he can hold his own down low, runs the floor well, plus he can play both 4 and 5... yeah, he would fit in...

Just look at the teams with the sense of true identity like Lakers, Celtics, Bulls... They all have their old uniforms, naturally upgraded in terms of colors, materials... even the Pistons have abandoned their unsuccessful attempts and gone back to their old design... I always thought that our old uniforms were the best and there's no reason not to bring'em back, throw in an alternate color and that's it!

Dear Popeye, I know very well what I'm saying... and I'll repeat it for you anytime, Marc Gasol is soft and terrible defensive player! P.S. I understand that you may have fallen in love with the Spaniard, but one game where 300 pound yetti had a push or two (extra motivation against USA) doesn't make him Evander Hollyfield!

I guess it works for everybody... However, I would try to hang on to Marvin and deal Chillz instead...

Just bring back those old uniforms from 70'/80' with our pacman logo! Polish them and go! I still cannot grasp that our Hawks wear blue...

I wouldn't mind adding Tyson if the price is right and if he ca stay on his feet to play at least 60-70 games per season... But that's too many ifs... He would fit our team as an athletic big, but Hawks need someone who can play post game, with the back to the basket... Anyhow, he would upgrade our frontcourt.

Thanks D! I still preffer my own judgement... I've been around this game for so long and I know what I'm saying... I understand that we might have different oppinion on this one, which is perfectly fine... However, I would never give Horford for Gasol.

Put this one to bed, once and for all!!! Gasol (Marc) is a terrible player! I realy don't know where do you dig these ideas from????? Marc plays on Spanish national team only because of his bro Pau, whose been dragging his sorry *ss throughout his career! Sometimes I think you must be joking, but this is too much... I don't even feel like elaborating on this subject! But in few words, I've seen Gasol in so many games in Europe and with Memphis... Horford is better center (in his soph year) then Gasol is ever going to be! He's soft, doesn't play D... He was simply a little lucky to play on a terible team, where he had the chance... In such circumstances Al would have averaged 15 and 10 easily, with good D and good pcts, plus Grizz would have won at least 5 more games!

C'mon people! Are you serious???? Al for Gasol????? I'd have to say yes, but if Gasol was Pau!!!! ... Hell NO to that lazy, no-jump, no D.... I don't know how to call him! Terrible player on a terrible team! :thumbsdownsmileyanim:

Not bad! Seriously... this would make Hawks lineup a classic... allow Horf to play at his true position, have a legit 7-foot center with decent skills, CB is a scoring SF, and Jack is a big, pass-first PG, who plays good D... We need to forward this to Sund! P.S. Best idea I've seen in a while on our trade board... It makes sense to me! :thumbsupsmileyanim:

... back to the subject... 1. Al played center in his rookie and soph years because of obvious reasons and nobody can argue that! But he's actually a natural PF and we know it! 2. Smoove is a combo-forward... 3. So what do we do if there is a legit center out there on the market (trade, draft or both)? ... in that case Sund needs to determine the true course of our franchise for next 5 years (budget, evaluate potential within, available FA's down the road, etc.)... If he chooses to go with a true center, and if that is going to make us a better team, sure, I would contemplate trades involving either Horf or Smoove... Just take a look at last men standing in these Playoffs, they all have classic centers (perhaps Nene doesn't fall in that category, but he's close). I'm not saying that's all you need, because they all (except Howard) play with superstars (Kobe, Bron, Melo), but it's still a very important ingredient for success! P.S. Trouble is... in todays basketball, there are no Olayuwons, Ewings, Robinsons, O'Neals... nobody plays with their backs to the basket (it's a lost art!)... so I basically don't see many (available) centers who could make us a better team, which would be worth givin' up Horf or Smoove...

Politics my friends! It's not the first nor the last time we wittness this BS! NBA always have their "Preferiti" and the Hollywood script along with it that has "Their fairytale ending" (read Kobe vs Bron)! Nobody said it wouldn't have happen' anyway, but folks and lovers of this game are not that stupid and naive... :shake_puter:

... I didn't say it wouldn't work for both teams, perhaps... but Blazers would be admitting that their draft choice (Number 1!) was a mistake, and that doesn't happen' very often in the NBA. Only if the team changes menagement and is heading in another direction, breakin' up, rebuilding... Oden would be great in the East and Hawks would instantly have the best frontcourt in the East! Then you sign FA pointguard and you go from there...

Yep! No freakin' way Portland would give up so soon on GO... even if he ends up being another Sam Bowie!

... domino effect!!! Sure I like some of those... I love Amare and I think he would do great in the East! Anyway 10 for immagination and creativity!

Yeah! I Hope kid does well! I wouldn't look at the stats much... Medlen cannot be compared to Hanson in my mind (5'10" to 6'6"...), or some of the established stars, but I sure hope he could turn into a solid pitcher who can use 4-5 pitches and occassionaly light up the radar gun and have that feisty, agressive approach...

I'd love to get Aldridge but I dont's see Blazers trading him... He's their second best player, with huge upside... P.S. I agree that we should let Bibby walk... he's just going to be a liability and his prime years are far behind him, so we should be thankful for what he has given our team and move on...

... Marvin lacks killer mentality and he's content with his role because he's never been asked to do anything else... I agree that he's been too laid back and passive at times and that his personality is easy goin', but most of that comes from the fact that he is still very young... he's got skills that could turn him into 20ppg scorer... I can see him average 17-22 ppg, 7 rpg, with very good procentages in a year or two...

Even though many are critical and skeptical about Marvin , I am still convinced that he'll continue his steady development... OK, you're right when you say that he needs to address issues in refference to his physical condition which would make him a more capable player, able to utilize his talents... ...but let's be fair to him and realize that year in and year out he has shown steady progress and he is still very young. Someone said Marvin should watch videos of LBJ, Roy and Granger... well, I partially agree, because all the great players study each others, pick their games apart, copy the strenghts and exploit the weaknesses ... but the difference between those guys and Marvin is that Marvin was never given an opportunity to be number 1 option on offense... many will argue that Marvin never deserved it, but he was a high draft pick, and you expect high draft picks to be given a shot to showcase their talents... yet, he was constantly 3-4 option... still found ways to produce... ...and finally, I know that all of us have hard time getting over passing on CP3, but that was not Marvin's fault, and he should not carry that load on his shoulders! Hawks need to re-sign him and give him more responsibilities and I'm sure he'll answer that call!