JETSET

Surround Howard with a competent 4 and some shooters and he will put up 22+ points, 13+ rebounds, and over 2 blocks per game. Those are superstar numbers.

If we are able to convince CP3, Howard will be easy to persuade.

Ben Wallace HOF?? Say what

You obviously didn't watch the series. In the first few games Paul did what he usually does, to his own detriment, which is sacrifice his shots to try and get his teammates involved. The Clippers are a terrible team. They have ZERO post defense. Jordan and Griffin also provide ZERO post offense. The rest of the team is a bunch of has-beens in Crawford, Butler, Billups, Odom, Turiaf, Green. Barnes is older but he actually stepped up in the playoffs and played well. Chris dominated the Grizz in the last two games. He scored 63 points on over 50% shooting against the best defensive team in the league with no one to help him on offense. He is a top 5 player in this league and this would be obvious if the Paul/Horford/Howard trio happens. Chris Paul isn't overrated. Your problem is you are overrating his non-existent supporting cast.

Take away the fifth year and add in the fact that California's state millionaire tax is the highest state tax in the country and the difference isn't all that great. They pay 13.3% state income tax in California. Georgia's rate is 7%. So take away the 20 million for the 5th year and include the 3-4 million they will save on paying less state income tax and they will lose about 6-7 million over a 4 year span. This is less than 2 million per year. Win a title in ATL and they will easily recoup that money in endorsements.

I wouldn't want to have to rely on having both Jenkins and Korver as starters. I would prefer to go after a guy like Francisco Garcia to start at the 3. We can use our 1st rounders to go after an athletic playmaking wing even if it means trading both to move up some and get the player that we want. Paul has already proven that he can excel as the primary playmaker if need be though. He got to any spot on the floor that he wanted to against the Grizz and they are as good as it gets defensively. I think this rotation would be perfect: Paul/Lou Will Korver/Jenkins/Lou Will Garcia/Korver/Ivan Horford/Ivan/Scott Howard/A vet Center who provides defense (ie Dalembert) We use our first for a playmaking wing if one is available. Use the other on a Post player. This lineup would give us plenty of shooting and we would be able to use a variety of guard lineups. (Paul, Lou Will, Garcia), (Paul, Jenkins, Korver),

What feels different is the fact joining forces in ATL is the most logical choice to form a title contending team for each of them. A Paul/Howard/Horford trio is the best chance they have at winning a title. They also both have ties to the area and we are the only organization that can offer two max contracts. Sure it's a longshot, but it's a realistic longshot. This can and will be done if both players primary goal is to win. I don't see how people are upset about these rumors. This offseason has barely started and this is the most enjoyable offseason I have had as a Hawks fan already. We, for once, have a chance at being elite instead of stuck on a treadmill.

The money that it takes to acquire Lopez or Jefferson (basically a max) is Ludacris (ooh ooh) when they provide nothing on defense. I will more than happily take Zaza as a backup on a 4 million deal over one of these 1 dimensional clowns any day of the week. Atleast Zaza will leave us flexibility with the cap and not stuck on a treadmill for the next 5 years. Why would you be happy with mediocrity when he have dealt with it for the past 7 years?

What about game 7 where Noah had like 24 pts and 14 boards? Brook is slow and cannot defend the PnR and this killed the Nets throughout the series.

Horford had his best game of the year that night, so once again you are helping to prove us right with your own posts. Jefferson went off that game, on a undersized Horford, and they still lost because he allowed Horford to get any shot he wanted that night. This is exactly what we are saying. Jefferson can put up a statline that will make you say WOW but his team still loses because he provides no defense. As for Korver. Here's a little pro-tip: The Center position is the most important position on the floor defensively. Korver not playing good defense has a far less effect on the team defense than having a Center who can't play defense. and I don't even care to have Korver back unless we get Dwight.

By bringing up Lopez, you are actually helping to prove our point. This so-called "elite post scorer" couldn't help his team win a series against a depleted Bulls roster that was missing 2 of its best 3 players and was down to their 3rd string PG.

Did you even watch the Bulls/Nets series? Lopez's lack of defense was one of the main reasons the Nets lost. They ran the pick and roll with Noah non-stop and Lopez was too slow to guard either side of the pick-and-roll. Once again, another big man who looks all nice and shiny on offense but will never lead his team to winning anything significant. There is a lot more to this game than post offense.

Northcyde. You need to go back and watch our first game against Utah this season. Jefferson is as bad as it gets on the defensive side. He is a stat-padded that doesn't translate stats in to wins because his defense is so atrocious. Jefferson would be a waste and we would be right where we started. A 4-6 seed treadmill team.

LOL no. Dump Josh and sign Paul. We need maximum spacing if we are going to get Howard and who would create shots for people with the lineup you mentioned. It would be left up to Teague to be the facilitator and he likes to disappear in games far too often. Pau/Horford/Howard with shooters and a solid defender on the wing is a much better starting 5.

Can someone explain why they can't sign both? or give me a link that explains signing free agents and staying under the cap?

What is the rule on that? Are you not allowed to sign max players if it puts you over the cap?

I think this was already known. They would still have to take a major pay cut in their first year though. It just comes down to if they would rather play with a 36 year old 7 ftr who has elite offensive skills but provides next to nothing on defense or play with a young well-rounded offensive player who has elite defensive skills. How many more years can Dirk play before that large frame of his has had enough?

A trio of Rondo/Dwight/Josh would never sniff a title so I would rather keep Horford and let Teague walk. Bring in some scrubs on 1 year deals and tank for a high pick in the starstudded 2014 draft. I don't see why people keep insisting on Rondo/Howard/Smith. How do you not realize that this is a terrible combo? This would be like the Nets. The cap would be maxed out and you wouldn't have a shot at a title. Terrible position to be in. I'm tired of being a treadmill team and I don't see how every one doesn't feel the same. I don't want any part of Jefferson or Mayo either. and who says the Celtics would trade Rondo for Horford in the first place?

LOL at one player providing enough spacing for a team. Rondo, Smooth, Dwight and Allen would be rendered useless on offense because the defense would just crowd the lane and dare them to shoot jumpers. That grouping would fail hard.

Are you talking about the last 2 games of the series where Paul looked for his shot early instead of spending the first half looking to get his teammates involved? Tony didn't have much of an answer for Paul in those two games as Paul scored 63 points on over 50% shooting.

I think you are confused. The Grizzlies beat Miami by 18 @ Memphis and lost to Miami by 7 @ Miami. So the Grizz have outscored Miami by 11 on the year. Miami was out of their minds from 3 in the game they won as were the Grizz in the game they won. This will be a tough series if it does end up being the Finals matchup.

Miami will not be running Memphis off the court. That series will go 6 games minimum. They will put up a better fight than OKC did last year, that's for sure.

I want no part of Mayo. Dude is as overrated as it gets. Carlisle was ready to choke him out by the end of the season.

I think Memphis deserves more credit that yall are giving them. This is the best team defense in the league and their bigs can score on anyone. I would probably give the edge to OKC if Westbrook was healthy but Memphis is no slouch. I do think that Memphis is a tougher challenge for Miami than OKC would be due to their style of play and their bigs.

Howard and Paul are not going to take 15 million and it would be a bad idea to keep Josh.