Jungle Jack

You are forgiven. Did not realize he was being forecast anywhere near 6 as I wrote this thinking somewhere around 10 would get it done. As for the Georgian thing, I personally do think perhaps the best path to Atlanta finally becoming a free agent destination is by going after kids who know what Atlanta is about. I know it did not work a treat with Smoove, but I remain a fan.

Apologies for both starting a thread and the very high risk that perhaps this thread will look misguided before his first contract is up, but I think he is meant to be a Hawk. Also, have been way too bloody obsessed about 3 and NOT about the other 3 picks we have. Even a Georgian (Mableton) to boot looking past that foolish T-town dalliance. Just a pretty damn fun guy to watch which is huge considering Vegas most likely has our wins safely in the upper 20s-low 30s area for next year. Fans flipping love him and maybe someone like him will finally bring Atlanta into being the premier sports town it absurdly is not. I know the last sentence is a good allegory for some of Nancy Reagan's musings on intoxicants...

That is all I can think as well. Young clicks in terms of getting people excited and even if he utterly sucked throughout his rookie contact Schlenk will simply point out that Steph took time too! That said, the chance of Trae not putting up points is to me exceedingly small. Sadly, so too is he even for a PG.

Man, if we the obnoxious few, so traumatized by Marvin end up not getting JJJ and he becomes 70% of what many reckon he can be will cause much derision amongst those who actually do not care enough the waste hours on Hawks message boards. Totally on board with JJJ at 5 or 6, but not at 3.

The proposed PHX 1st for 3rd and Denis to me anyway is firmly in you're lips, God's ear's territory. That would flipping rule, but holy crap do I not value Denis high enough on his own to get us there. Perhaps the 3, 34th, and Denis would move the needle?

I will admit to being cautiously optimistic that the Kings would take Bagley in spite of Doncic certainly feeling at first like a fait accompli given the GM/Ownership makeup of Sac. Not anymore as I am back to the default thought of the Kings taking him again at 2. Just cannot imagine a world where Vlade does not draft what feels like the most legit Euro perhaps ever. That said, it truly would be great one way or the other should the Kings pass on Doncic as that would bring higher value should Schlenk/Ressler decide Young is their guy. At this point, I reckon I would be happier about Young at 6 or 7 than of Jackson at 3. That said, if JJJ were available where they were planning on getting Young, I would absolutely do that.

Absolutely. Without a doubt this draft and the attendant tank trades represent an inflection point where the Hawks could become legit or in tried and true Atlanta sports tradition somehow be cursed. I just cannot fathom a world where Atlanta (especially when factoring in UGA) is not the most tortured fanbase in the country. I suppose considering just how much of a crapshoot that the NBA Draft is that potentially drafting 4 in the top 34 picks makes sense. While we are decidedly deep in the tank, I still struggle with the idea of trying to integrate four rookies at once.

I don't think we will trade down from 3 unless the consensus is Young is the best of the lot in which case it makes all the sense in the world to move down to around 6 or 7. That said, the optics of trading down for that high of a pick in what is considered a very solid draft would be horrid. All other picks I would reckon would be exceedingly in play.

Our collective Marvin PTSD is pretty fierce. While he certainly did not become the player we hoped he would be, he is still playing all these years later. Shelden is the one that seems the most egregious to me. That said, will always be a personal hero for managing to be a NBA lottery pick who still scored alimony from his ex-wife. Still blows my mind. I think Doncic would be the best plug and play for the roster that will be available at 3. Still praying we do what it takes to get Ayton but seems unlikely. Trae strikes me as far more boom or bust than JJJ but gosh could the boom associated with Young be seismic. We have such an absurd number of draft picks that I must admit to not following the 19th and 30th picks nearly as much. However, I still would be shocked if we ended up with 3, 19, 30, and 34 when all is said and done.

I don't think there is a snowballs chance in Hades that Porter will be available anywhere near the 19th pick. While between is back injury and very limited availability is doing him no favors, the few teams that have worked him out have been raving about him with some media outlets even reporting that Porter is in play for Memphis's pick at 2. Should that happen, now that Doncic has announced that he is staying in the draft irrespective of team and draft position, my goodness would we both have some unbelievable options. Heck, the Kings might give us Fox and multiple firsts to get a crack at him. Saying nothing of many teams and media folks really banging the Bagley drum ever louder. That would be one heck of a quandary choosing between Luka and Bagley. On the Doncic front, I have no doubt the marketing department are salivating at the opportunity of having who is called "the most accomplished 19 year old ever". In addition, by playing in the the Eastern time zone would help to maximize the international audience. Granted, the home and much of the Eastern Conference games would be late at night, but at least it would not be a further 3 hours earlier should he end up in Sacramento. All that said, I would most likely choose Bagley. While his defense get knocked, he is so young even by one and done standards and with his height and motor, he really could be special. Averaging that many points on a Duke team lousy with NBA talent is impossible for me to dismiss. Still want Anton though. I will grant you this is not a uncommon refrain.

While it would certainly selling high in respect to Collins and Prince, I still think in the case of Charlotte, nothing short of Kemba Walker plus whatever otherwise un-tradeable player they want to throw in would make it worth it to me to trade Collins or Prince. Certainly not both. Now a Dennis and Prince trade for Kemba I would do in the blink of an eye. Given the myriad reports of Walker not loving playing for Charlotte/Jordan, crazier things have happened. If forced to get rid of one of the other, I would reluctantly move Prince as so many players make a major improvement in their second year. It would be brutal to see Collins get even better against a Southeastern Conference foe. Moreover, I highly doubt Schlenk would trade a 2nd year player that he has been justifiably lauded for drafting who in every one of those 2017 draft redux has him firmly in the top 10.

KB, My thoughts, prayers and well wishes are with you and your family. I greatly enjoy your insights here and I can only hope as the treatment transpires that you feel up to contributing. Best, JJ

Bamba is rocketing up many draft charts and whomever is his agent is kicking much arse in getting the most flattering narrative about him out there. I bring this up as it makes what is already considered a pretty solid (especially in the top 10) draft means to me that the price for a top 5 or even 10 pick is going to be pretty spendy. While I remain agnostic about Bomba, I still lean towards Bagley at the 3 pick. I still am hoping a rabbit is pulled allowing us to get Anton, but it seems exceedingly unlikely.

I dig both scenarios. There is a pretty good writeup about Miles Bridges on the Ringer that posted today and I too would be happy with either. I would also be stoked with Bagley at 3, trading the 30th or 34th pick along with 19 to move up to get Sexton, and going with Simons with the 30th or 34th. Bamba does intrigue me and I do feel there are worse fates than having a dominant defensive 5 who can shoot 3's

Certainly adding 4 players would be possible, but my bigger and truest concern would be development and playing time. I completely agree about there being some mighty intriguing options especially at 30th and 34th as well. The problem to me anyway is just that, having that many such high picks. It would be one thing if it was say the 50th and 54th picks where stashing them makes a great deal of sense. However, having one of the top of the 2nd rounders and the fact that some franchises prefer top of the 2nd rounders over extreme late firsts owing to contractual differences it just would be a shock if we kept them all and the aforementioned integration concerns.

Love the Jim Jones reference! I will try to steer clear of both ever being dragged to Guyana and spend more time watching his games. Watched one full game and it did turn me off, but with his length and a serviceable shot, I am still trying to freak out too much. Probably mostly due to my abject fear that he will be exactly who we end up with.

I still am hoping that we go for Anton. While the chances of him being there at 3 are close to nil, I would be pretty stoked if the 30th and 34th combined with the 3rd got it done. Otherwise, I still cannot fathom the Hawks taking 4 players all within the top 34. In lieu of that happening, I am still leaning towards Bagley. That said, I am personally not seeing JJJ being the reincarnation of Marvin and would not throw my remote through the TV should that happen. Now if they took a certain PG from Okie?

I would hope so. That said, especially with a 3 pick and when taking about a billionaire, while I love the ideal of the GM having that level of autonomy, I still think most owners would interject. Likewise, I purposely meant to get across that not all owners are so involved, but still reckon most are more in the mix than reported.

Owners almost universally make the pick it is just GM's often take the heat and or praise. With the number of fellow cellar dwellers, I am thinking or foolishly hoping this is a 2 year deal.

Where is the "self hatred" about Korver? This premise rings false as outside the entitled douchery that is Duke, there is less of that massively less of that vibe. Just look at the Knicks saying nothing of a number of other Euro peeps that all seem to play for the Kings.

That makes a great deal of sense. Especially about Doncic as everything I have come across in depth underscores just how much control he has over destination. Atlanta really could be a utter blank slate both with cap room and blessedly few bad contracts. In addition, while I shudder to utter an optimistic delusion about an ATL franchise, you gotta hope one of these days there will be that transcendent talent that takes them to the finals and more. Still worried about targeting Young in the top 10. Anytime after and provided not too absurd a price I would be pretty happy to have him just out of the lottery. Still prefer Sexson.

Love would be a tremendous upgrade. Moreover, as opposed to most trades being bandied about, this sort of trade would not be solely about taking a crap contract solely for future picks. Just don't know if it makes sense considering where we sit in the tank.

That is pretty interesting. That said, I would be reticent to do that. While Brown is legit, it is hard to imagine the Hawks wanting a player much closer to RFA and UFA when we are buckled into the tank. Moreover, this draft really does appear to be special.

As for Bonamego, I believe it would have taken a pretty extreme set of circumstances for us to have hired another of Pop's coaches. While I certainly agree that historically Pierce could not be more of a bridge candidate, what I am not entirely certain of is the degree which the tank affects the timeframe. Beyond no team most likely getting to come close to Philly's level of sustained self inflicted failure as the NBA did get involved there and with seemingly half of franchises rocking the tank. It does make me sad that we are all but obliged to take on the worst possible contacts (Luol Deng? Come on down!!) to gain draft picks from playoff contenders desperate to shed anchors.

I am witcha and beyond that it seems futile trying to keep a even playing field. While I agree about PED's being vilified and also have seriously contemplated HGH, the advantages are such that in competition it would all but require it.