nathan2331

When did I say Ferry couldn't draft properly? What I said was that if we do tank more than likely we will just be bad. Say what you want about our 'winning' but it does count for something, just not much. Instead of telling the rest of the league we are losers I'd rather have a franchise in which we win because we developed talent along the way rather than taking a shot in the dark and ending up with nothing. I have faith in Ferry and Coach Bud because they are committed to turning this franchise into a winning program that gets the best out of their players.

I'm sorry but why tank? The talent to win a championship may be in the lottery but the culture around the team won't be here anymore. Once that superstar gets here there won't be a team to put around them. The loser players we get in trades in our attempt to tank will still be losers (mentality and in talent). Not to mention, if we already have trouble attracting good players here in free agency, what makes you think they'll come after seeing us lose intentionally. We'll become a team like Cleveland or Orlando if we're lucky, or a team like Denver, or Toronto. Even worse, we become the 2005 Hawks or the Wizards. Either we become a team with a superstar who is held ransom when our star goes in search for greener pastures or we miss on every pick and become 'an average D student'. I'd rather build a team that focuses on developing the talent it does have instead of looking into the unknown for answers.

Have you seen him at all? If this guy puts on some weight (big if) and develops like he should, I think he can be Tyson Chandler with a slightly better offensive game.

You're definitely right. After watching the Heat-Pacers game I have realized we need to get a center here and soon. Basketball on offense at its simplest is about points in the paint and high percentage jump shots (no kidding). By getting q center here who can lower FG% around the rim will go a long way towards making us contenders. Although I think Bebe can be that player for us one day, he's far from ready to contribute. The question is, in the short-term how do you get that center to Atlanta?

Never mind, Philly receives too much salary

Well I tried. Even though ball sharing would be a problem, not many teams could handle the offensive threat they would possess, although defense would be another question. And I think that trade is balanced. Houston gets out of two terrible contracts in Lin and Asik and receives a superstar return for Parsons, Jones and a first. While Parsons is a great contract, he won't be forever. As for New York they become a playoff team while shedding salary. As for Philly, they commit to tanking by taking on Stoudemire and Bargnani and get loads of cap space in 2015 assuming assuming both players opt in. While their respective GMs may see themselves moving in a different direction, it does help them in some sort of way. Only other alteration I would make is sending Houston Shumpert to fill their void at SF and have us compensate them with a future pick.

Tell me, what trade did Ferry pass up that would have helped us in any way. The only rumored trades were no good. Yes I wish we would have gotten something for him, but it takes a partner to make a trade

Luol Deng-not worth a lottery pickDion Waiters-debatableRudy Gay-not worth pickJoakim Noah-debatable, injury problems are a red flagNo one that's been suggested warrants a potential lottery pick especially in a draft that is said to be one of the best in years. There has been no one on this thread that we can acquire that would make us a contender. You can't use past draft busts as reasons for why they are expendable. The reason being when you do strike it rich you get to keep your star player under market value for at least 4 seasons. Look at Parsons of the Rockets. He's making under 1 mil a seasonfor the next 2 years yet he's become a top SF. Sure, players like him are in the minority but by collecting picks, you get a better chance of finding them.

Say Parsons goes to Philly instead. How plausible does this trade become?

Haha yeah I know. On the original trade Parsons goes to Philly to compensate them receiving some bad contracts. Realistically, we would have to give up an extra pick or two to even get on the phone and even then it has too many moving parts.

Looks like Schröder has already gotten used to the D league. Nice Video.P.S. Is there a D-league for cheerleaders

If you're a GM, you don't bend over for anyone. Sure you take their considerations to heart, but at the end of the day you build the team the way you see fit. If Horford asks for a center, you listen but that doesn't mean you call Houston the next second. Especially when they want a 1st for Asik. I think Ferry has learned now not to stray from his vision. If you work out of desperation trying to appease your star players, you will gamble too much and be left high and dry when they leave town.

Don't think you're being completely fair. Joe's contract will go down as one of the worst ever signed and we did well to get rid of it when we did, especially when you consider we didn't take any bad contracts back. Although I would like to agree with you about Smoove, it's not like we had a for trade rumoured that he turned down.. The reality is that he made may have madethe best decision to let him walk away, Not necessarily reckless like you make it out to be. Even if you think he's a negative, if you can't get good trade value you might as well not force anything.Also, I don't think you can say he's not pursuing free agents. He did go after Paul/Howard but the reality is that there was no way Howard was going to come back home and Paul wasn't going to sign without him. Besides I think we're better for it. Is Paul worth 20+ mil when you can have Teague at 8. As much as getting a star is important you also have to look at who is attainable and who can win you games when they are making 20+ a season. What would you rather have, Carmelo or Horford and Millsap? This is the reason why I think OKC should trade Westbrook. Even though he's a star you already have one in Durant. You don't need a superfriends, you need a supporting cast. That's what I think the Spurs system is. Maximizing the talent out of what you've got and making moves to fill the areas you don't have covered.

To be honest I got most of this from Real GM so I take no credit for this, I just hope I'm not violating any of this forums rules. I used the ESPN Trade Machine, but this trade can't go down until December 15th. Well here it goes:Hawks in: Spencer Hawes, Chandler Parsons, Terrence Jones, Evan TurnerHawks out: Paul Millsap, Elton Brand, John Jenkins, 2016 1st, ATL 2014 2nd, and Jared CunninghamKnicks in: Jeremy Lin, Omer Asik, Thaddeus Young, Paul Millsap, Elton BrandKnicks out: Carmelo Anthony, Andrea Bargnani, Amare Stoudemire, Iman ShumpertThey blow it up and become a playoff team at the same time.76ers in: Andrea Bargnani, Amare Stoudemire, Iman Shumpert, John Jenkins, Jared Cunningham, 2014 HOU 1st and ATL 2016 1st76ers out: Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, Thaddeus YoungThey tank hard while taking on bad contracts to prepare for 2015 free agencyRockets in : Carmelo Anthony, Raymond Felton, ATL 2014 2ndRockets out: Jeremy Lin, Omer Asik, Chandler Parsons, Terrence Jones, HOU 2014 1stSwing for the fences and net a superstar.Let me explain how this happens. Anthony puts in a trade request and Houston answers. At this time, Philly is a playoff team and they wish to right the ship to Tankville. In comes Ferry to put this trade together. *Note: Parsons realistically isn't part of the trade, he's redundant with Turner and it's not fair valuation, but I can wish right?How we look afterwards:Teague/Mack/SchroederKorver/Williams/TurnerParsons/Turner/MartinHorford/Jones/ScottHawes/Ayón/Antić

Now we're talking. Still don't see what's so great about Waiters but I can live with it so long as the pick isn't this year.

I agree but that talent isn't exactly available in abundance. Still, I think this team is moving in the right direction and while we may no longer be the Highlight Factory, this is the best basketball I've seen the Hawks play (mind you, I only started watching in 2005).

Nets might not turn it around and if they don't, we may land a future superstar. As constructed we should get the 3-seed this year. Rudy Gay has been garbage this year shooting under 40%. Asik is not worth the 1st rounder+Millsap the Rockets are asking for. Luol Deng is a free agent after this season and is a player along with Hawes and Turner I wouldn't mind pursuing in free agency, but I don't think I would trade for him. The only negative with Hawes/Turner is that they are posting good numbers on a bad team in a contract year which is always a risk. Regardless the team you posted is a) not a contender and b) hard to acquire given the fact that our short-term contacts aren't very large.

Really? First of all, we don't have TONS of cap room to work with though we are in good shape.Second of all, Waiters isn't worth a potential lottery pick via the Nets especially in this draft.Third of all, how does Waiters-or any free agent we could sign next year for that matter- make us a contender. I would say make a trade, but who is available? Only similar level talent from what we have really.The best trade I see Ferry making at the deadline would be acquiring players like Spencer Hawes, EvanTurner, Aaron Afflalo, and Asik and using Brand, Ayón, Jenkins, Antić or Cunningham to get them (I didn't include Millsap because I'd still like to keep him even as a backup and split Horford's at the 4 and 5). Hopefully we can get a steal from a team desperate to lose some games.

Salaries might match, but the Cavs will most probably want a 1st in that trade. If it was a straight up Williams for Waiters trade I would pull the trigger, but I think the Cavs want more than that.

Lou Williams will not net you Dion Waiters. If that trade was possible I don't see how you turn it down. Nothing against Lou but Waiters has potential, Whetter he reaches it is another question

No. Good idea and realistic but I wouldn't be happy if this deal went down. Noah seems to be injured a lot recently and I wouldn't give up a pick for him either. Would rather make a deal for Hawes/Turner of the 76ers. Some thing like Brand/Ayón/Jenkins/Cunningham and some 2nds for those two. Why they would ever make that trade I don't know except that they wouldn't have to extend either of them and they would be able to tank for this draft.

The only players on the Nets who have that fire and desire to win are the players they acquired through the Celtics team. The rest are losers(mentality wise) or do not have the rank to say anything. I mean if KG started yelling at Joe, nothing would change.

That's true, but you have to give Teague the role so he can grow into it. He's done pretty well so far and I don't expect him to regress like previous years.

Honestly until Teague proves me wrong otherwise, I believe he'll only get better as his career progresses. Last year I felt he should have been a nominee for MIP (maybe he was) and this year, I think he'll make another step in the right direction. I think with Coach Bud here to guide him, he can become a premier PG in this league

Wouldn't you want him to be a better 3 point shooter? He's done great work improving his moves and decision making driving to the basket, but I'd rather him work on his 3point shot at this point, which he probably already is doing.