ATL_BALLER

Can you kindly explain in layman's why the contract is gold? Because it would have been an expiring next offseason? Related note: if you acquire an expiring, can you immediately waive the player and get the cap space, or do you have to wait til it actually expires?

Curious: what would you have preferred? Resign Sap at 30 mill and then...? Genuine question.

Ownership isn't stable and committed? They have one guy at the top, who just removed the GM and stripped the coach of his personnel duties to bring in a new voice from a championship culture. Also, just put in $50 million toward the Phillips renovation. Perhaps you'd rather the days of the ASG. Bud took us to our first ECF and continues to get the most out of his players (save for perhaps Dwight, who wasn't a fit to begin with); all with a fun, unselfish brand of basketball Schlenk didn't have a hand in building the GS juggernaut? Myers said: “He’s one of the bright, young executives in the league and someone who has played a major role in our success over the last several years." Hasn't Plumlee already been traded twice since signing that contract? What flexibility? Um, aren't we about to be $30 mill under the cap? Schröder is a loser? OK. Guy has improved every season he's been in the league. Isn't 'treadmill' around here defined as mediocrity, i.e., making the playoffs every year with no real chance at contention?

Demarre = think he's worth $15 mil per, especially the way he's played since inking that deal? Al = They offered him a fair deal, which he chose to decline Teague = Prince; quality swap Korver = 1st round pick; fantastic swap Sap = no defending this one, but that was when our coach was also making personnel decisions; in the absence of those missed assets, happy to have flexibility considering the current direction of the team Regardless, we can hold onto regrets and missed opportunities, or see that for the first time in a while, the team has what appears to be quality leadership at the top that won't settle for mediocrity.

For the first time in a long while, we have: Stable, committed ownership A world-class head coach A well-regarded GM who helped architect a dynasty No crippling contracts (Plumlee and Baze are overpaid, but not immovable) A sensible strategy built on flexibility to pounce when the time is right (ala Houston with Harden) Three solid young pieces as a new foundation An end to the 'treadmill' so many here have been begging for What am I missing?

How 'bout 'D8 Night' - experience true excitement and passion , right here with the Hawks. Seriously, love the heart of this team (how can you not love Baze and his emotion at the presser?) and am stoked for the season. With stability and credibility with ownership (thank you, G-Hill), a world-class coach, legit center, an established culture, no bad contracts and great mix of vets and hungry up-n-comers, has this franchise ever been in better shape?

So: Ferry vindicated re: telling the truth?

Exactly. That absolutely was not reading - it was off the cuff, where he was using the 'African' remark to give some misguided framework to stories he'd heard from other organizations. From what's been said, I don't think Danny's a racist, but he made a foolish comment, and comfortably, as you said, North. What's also troubling is that he didn't take true ownership - blamed it on the 'transcript'. And he was the one who was brought in to bring credibility to this dysfunctional franchise. Unreal.

Here's a question: would you rather have our roster or Minny's? I know it's going to take them awhile to put it together, but you want to talk youth, upside and athleticism? Winning aside, we watch basketball to be entertained - and with Rubio tossing it to Wiggins and LaVine on the wings - not to mention Bennet's still considerable potential, Dieng and Pek in the middle - that's going to be a damn fun team. Yeah, I think I'd rather have that roster.

Actually, I think during one of his classic doom-n-gloom vent sessions, Supes got himself so worked up that it caused a personality split, ala Tyler Durden. He doesn't realize it, but he's actually his own source now.

Guaranteed that's the first time the word 'couth' has appeared in this forum. Always enjoy your unique and entertaining voice, Lethal - not to mention your modestly-lower case signature. p.s. Come back, Dolf Lundgren!

Actually, they produced a movie to woo him. I do feel a pang of disappointment, because I think he was a great candidate to take a risk on (especially at that price) - but I figured it was a long-shot considering the character issues.

Too bad Dwight didn't feel the same way about home.

Clearly for us it's not about betting the star - it's about capitalizing on the collateral damage from others pursuing the stars: 1st round picks and up and coming talent that we can potentially turn into our own stars.

I hate being mean, especially to seemingly nice people, but Vivlamore aggravates me to no end - so much so that I actually emailed M-Cunningham asking how Chris got the job and if he honestly thought it was respectable journalism. No response. It's not just his lack of intel or meaningful insight. It's his lack of personality, style, proofing ability and respect for the English language. His writing is so stiff and uninspiring, especially when you compare it with the fine work of J-Dubs or even Dave Obrien with the Braves. Heck, the members of this board are 10x more articulate and thoughtful, and we do it for fun. OK, that sounds pretty pretentious, but I think we deserve better.

There have been a lot of FA threads of late, so apologies if this has already been said ad nauseam: With the contracts being doled out—Parsons being the latest overpay—I think we absolutely need to stand pat, unless Deng miraculously takes below market value to team up with old friends and a winning system. Just because we have money doesn’t mean we have to spend it (yet)—and at the going rates, the remaining crop of talent is uninspiring. I’d make a modest bet on an upside play like Bazemore, but beyond that, keep the roster fluid and flexibile and wait for the inevitable cap casualties (now or during the season). We’ve seen the benefit of preserving cap space simply to absorb a contract with a nice asset(s) attached—Boston just scored a young 7 footer and a 1st simply for absorbing Thornton’s deal. In today’s day and age—and for our situation specifically—I think that’s a perfectly viable strategy.

Right, but with the exception of the current Spurs, all of those teams have made their runs with premium and evolving young talent at the core with a SUPPORTING veteran cast. We've got the vets at our core without a wealth of ascending young talent.

F&B are trying to establish a distinct culture, with continuity - but are doing so with a core that's nearing or is already on the wrong side of 30 (a trend that will continue if we sign Deng). So, if we start to see some success, how long can we expect to sustain, and actually build on it? What impact young talent are we developing, beyond Jeff, Schred and potentially Payne, to cement the culture beyond the short window? (It's why the Brand signing didn't make a lot of sense to me - with a team of established, hard working vets, who was he really there to mentor?) I'd much rather have a young and improving core with some vets sprinkled in than a team of solid vets with limited upside.

While any of those additions would be 'nice', I'm having trouble getting excited about any of them. Seems like we're just rearranging the furniture. In fairness, the real game changers are few and far between, so not sure if Ferry has any real options there. I mean, with all of the conjecture and conspiracies about a big mystery move, who realistically can be had?

Are we at right about the same spot we were cap-wise before the Lou//Bebe deal? If so, is it fair to look at this as a swap of those two for Thabo? If so, was it worth the price of our upside first round pick last year?

Struggling with this one. Basically swapped Lou for Thabo. What does that net us?

Love has to be the answer (isn't it always?). Sadly, I don't think we have the assets to aquire him, unless we're including Horf. Doing so would certainly help our perception/credibility/allure, but I'm not sure it moves the needle significantly on the court. He hasn't exactly been enough to carry the Wolves to contender status. And, I don't think Ferry pulls the trigger without a long-term committment - which we know isn't happening.

Ferry and Bud are building a culture of competitors - so no. It's the same reason I'm skeptical of Teague as the long-term answer. We need guys who bring it every night.

Supes, I don't know why you're so surprised or have such misplaced anger toward Diesel. We all knew this EXACT scenario would play out (save for acquiring an extra pick): -Sign Deng -Draft and stash Saric -Replace Brand with BeBe -Call it a day You didn't see that coming? It's nice to dream up these fantasy scenarios and buy into random media speculation, but at the end of the day, these are exactly the type of moves this regime makes. And, while it's not sexy, it's not the death knell you think it is either.

Just watched Grantland's new video piece on soliciting fans (crowdsourcing) for draft intel: http://grantland.com/features/sacramento-kings-2014-nba-draft-crowdsourcing/ After all the debate and data-driven analysis presented to him, D'Allesandro came to a simple conclusion: you can always find serviceable role players on the free agent market. The draft is your chance to swing for the fences. For that reason, I'm hoping for a Lavine or another high-upside talent vs. the Hoods' and Harris'.