edmunds77

I still think it is impressive that JR smith is dropping 20 pluse and sometimes 30plus a night at 19 years of age out of high school. I think Childress is a great player and will be a Pippen type player for years to come. But and a big but, a team can't win very often without having a reliable scorer everynight. Josh Smith or may not become that, Al Harrington is a Shareef clone, Chris Paul may get 14 or 15 and Bogut could get 15-20. The teams that make the playoffs consistently always have that high scorer which the Hawks do not have right now. JR Smith could have provided it. I still like the Joshes though. Just hard to find that scorer type player. Can't have everyone on the team trying avg 7 boards a game.

JR Smith is blowing up and turning into a star for the lowly Hornets. I like Childress and Smith, but think of JR Smith as the prototypical SG and Josh Smith as the prototypical SF. What a combo that could of been. I say that because many people on this board before the draft wanted Josh with the 6th pick and JR with the 17th.

If only the Hawks had good player development coaches in the past. Atlanta would be set at PG and SG with a rotation of Dan Dikau and Brevin Knight and SG with Demarr Johnson and Childress. Instead New Orleas, Charlotte, and Denver get to use their services while Atlanta is still searching for stability.

Forgot to add Kurt Thomas to PF/C backup.

Been reading the posts on this board for awhile and have posted in the past. Since the current discussions tend to move towards trading either Walker or Harrington, thought I would throw my thoughts to the mix. Atl: Trades Al Harrington and 2nd 2005 pick to NYKnicks: Trades Kurt Thomas and 2005 1st. Atlanta in 2005 draft, selects C/PF Andrew Bogut and PG Raymond Felton and (San Antonio pick 2nd round pick?) select Jason Maxiel, PF Cincinnati Free Agency sign Stromile Swift 2006 Roster: PG Raymond Felton, Tyronne Lue, Royal Ivey SG Josh Childress, Boris Diaw SF Josh Smith, Donta Smith, Josh Childress PF Antoine Walker, Stromile Swift C Andrew Bogut, Pedrag Drobjnak Don't know the particulars of salaries for the trade, maybe you guys can help out.

I watched this kid a few times last season. He was a guy the Hawks could have drafted but didn't. He is high energy, long in the arms, aggressive, and pushes the ball to the hoop. He could give Dan Dickau a run for his money but also be a 6'4" PG for Jason Terry to push the ball up the court with. Remember Eric Snow is only 6'4" and Iverson is about Terry's height if not shorter. Just a thought. Could be a cheapt steal. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3662

If the new GM could trade Glenn Robinson for Jalen Rose than I think that would be the trade of the year. The Hawks have shown that they play better or feel better about not having to worry about getting GROB his shots. The advantages of having Jalen Rose are: 1) Can play the big guard and bring the ball up the court. 2) Makes the kick out shot. 3) Shows athleticism and gets to the hoop. 4) Natural passing skills and creativity. 5) Has played in the finals (high school, college, and pros) 6) Veteran Leadership?? 7) Can score 20 plus 8) 6'8" If the Hawks had Rose though I think he could play the three but if not, I would think Glover wouldn't be resigned but Demarr would be resigned for a year to show what he has left or potential to come.. I'd be all for it...

Jordan is frustrated with his team and Kwame Brown. We need a tall offguard with point guard abilities. How about this trade Diesel would the numbers work out?? Atlanta trades: SF Glenn Robinson 1st round pick in 2003 (Indy's pick) If we have to PG Dan Dickau Washington trades: PF Kwame Brown PG/SG Larry Hughes Washington gets a former All Star and a prolific scorer as well as another 1st round pick. Atlanta gets a tall, athletic guard to put with Jason Terry. A promising Power Forward and then can move Shareef to small foward. What do you guys think. This trade might have been proposed before????

Why wouldn't Denver select Lebron James?? They have a bunch of foreign players already.

I live in the MAC area and in some articles, scouts have been saying that he is a definate mid-first rounder and possible lottery pick if he shows well. After watching him play, I wouldn't draft him that high but he has some skills. What I don't like is that he camps in the lane too long and complains to the refs too much. He gets frustrated with the shorter players in the MAC pulling and tugging on him to get position. Might excel against taller players. We'll see in the tournament.

I think Luke Recker will be a servicable pro meaning a three point specialist who comes in late in games to hit the three and provide offense. He needs to get fully healthy and used to the speed of the game but you might see him in a year or two if he keeps at it. Miami has given up on many prospects early the last couple of years. Ricky Davis, Ken Johnson C, Ohio State, Jamal Mashburn...

Looking at the draft for this year which is still a ways away and assuming the Hawks don't sign any high profile free agents or make any trades, shouldn't we look at certain positions the hawks will target. After looking at the roster, I think Shooting guard and small forward are our two biggest needs. Here are my top 3 at each position where the Hawks draft, what do you guys think? Shooting Guard 1) Dwayne Wade SG, Marquette 2) Reece Gaines SG/PG, Louisville 3) Actually no one else but NBADraft.net has Boris Diaw slated around there: http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/borisdiaw.htm Small Forward 1) Josh Howard SF, Wake Forest 2) Jarvis Hayes SF/SG, Georgia 3) Darious Rice SF, Miami Second Round Shooting Guards 1) Benard King SG, Texas A&M 2) Dontay Jones SG, Duke 3) Brooks Hall SG/SF, Dayton Small Forward 1) Kyle Korver SF, Creighton 2) Brandon Hunter SF, Ohio 3) Luke Walton SF, Arizona

I don't know how well Steve Blake will do in the NBA but the Hawks need a guard that has good vision and passing ability like Blake. He doesn't need to score but has good range when needed. With the big three offensively for the Hawks, I think that Blake and Heinrich have the PG traits that the Hawks need. Dickau needs to get quicker and more confident out there but could develop into that player but he is also limited by his height. Justin Hamilton could develop into an Eric Snow type player to go with Jason Terry, i.e. Snow and Iverson. Hamilton is a defensive whiz.

Justin Hamilton would be an interesting pick in the second round as he has great dribbling ability, a nice shot, good defensive ability and is athletic. Could become an Eric Snow type player who can move Jason Terry to play the two spot on offense.

I'm watching Josh Howard and Wake Forrest right now and he looks more like a small forward type player like Antwain Jameson. The type of player the hawks could use. Also he looks like he is around 6'8" and not 6'6". His arms are long also.

I just have to say that Glenn Robinson in college was the best player in the country. He was the #1 player picked overall. And he started the new draft rate of each position selected. He was easily the best player coming out of high school and college. While I like Carmello Anthony, he is not in Glenn's league as of yet. Let him stay two years and see what happens.

I would take Heinrich but will the hawks gamble if he is at their spot and take another point guard and try to trade Dickau for another draft pick or let him go and have him turn into a quality guard like Jamaal Tinsley and Tony Parker?

I agree with you on Heinrich out of Kansas. He has great game and would be perfect on a team like the Kings or Mavs or Lakers and especially the Hawks where all he would be needed to do would be to push the ball up court, show his good vision and get the ball to the scorers. He does that now and kills teams with his three point shooting by staying outside after passing it into the post. Too bad we have Dickau, though I think he can contribute next year if he cuts his hair. Just kidding.

He is similar to Demarr but he is taller and would be small forward who could hit the three and look over the defense to feed Shariff in the post. I think he is more like Robert Horry when he came in the league out of Alabama. Just my opinion, plus he has hit big shots to win the few games Miami has won this year.

Watching Josh Howard right now and he would be a great pick for the Hawks. Could play the 2 and the 3. Has improved each year and is the type of player the Hawks could use. Another player I like alot but who we won't target is Kirk Heinrich from Kansas. 6'3" point guard with good shooting range, very quick feet, great passing ability, and an innate feel for the game.

What is the depth chart for next year if there are no major developments besides the resigning of Terry? Is this right PG: Terry and Dickau SG: Glover and Demarr if resigned. SF: Robinson PF: Abdul-Rahim and Henderson C: Ratliff and Mohommad If that is it, I think we definately need a scorer off the bench like Vinnie Johnson used to do. Who cares if he is a 6'3" shooting guard if he can hit the three or an undersized small forward if he gets to the rack and can finish. Just need to get a spark plug who brings emotion i.e. Michael Redd for the Bucks, Bobby Jackson for the Kings, and what Walt Williams used to do in his hey day. We need a 12 point scorer off the bench. Good luck finding it but it is possible with good scouting and selecting a person with good basketball knowledge, solid offensive skills, and athletic ability. A proven commodity, not a project like many of the Hawks previous selections in the second and first round.

Another player to look at in the draft would be Darius Rice from Miami, Florida. Jerry Rice's nephew. Good height (6'10"), little slender at 215 but still filling out. He plays small forward and can hit the three. He will probably come out this year as Miami sucks. Season Averages PTS REB AST TO A/T STL BLK PF FG% FT% 3P% PPS 18.8 5.8 1.2 2.6 1/2.2 1.4 0.8 2.6 .426 .763 .364 1.2 http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/dariusrice.htm

Low profile players who could get a look in the second round would be Ronald Blackshear from Marshall and Brandon Hunter from Ohio. Blackshear is a great 3-point shooter who could come off the bench and get three-3's a game. 6'5", 210. http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/ronaldblackshear.htm Hunter on the other hand is a beast. 2000 points, 1,100 rebounds and leads the nation in rebounding this year. He is 6'7" 265 and absolutly chisled. Like Gary Trent, also from Ohio, but more of a hustler and defensive player with great ability inside. He came out last year but decided to return for his senior season.

I think that David West would be an excellent pick. I live in Ohio and see him a lot and he is in the same mold as Brian Grant was when he came out. High intensity, attacks the boards, great defense, and great jumping ability. Good hustle player who will give effort each night. Reece Gaines stock has dropped some and he is a 6'6 point guard with some slashing ability another player to look at.

After watching him play a few times, I see a clone of Glenn Robinson in college. He has good ups when he wants to. He runs the floor when he wants to. He's a good weakside rebounder but doesn't get in peoples faces on defense. He shows a good shot but tends to get lazy and stay behind the 3-point line. Also you always seem him last down the floor. I see him having a similar career. Good hustle early in his career but becoming lazy after establishing himself.