RWF

If anything this makes GS more of the favorite. Now you can let go of a player like Barnes in a S&T with Lakers.

I wonder, if we miss out on Howard, who is the free agents we will sign to "win now" like the anti-re-builders want? Monta Ellis? A gamble on Bynum? Josh Smith? Alot of poster's line-ups to "win now" had Iggy on them, so curious.

Let's see our "win now" prospects in free agency if we don't get Howard: a health risk Bynum, Monta Ellis, and Josh Smith. If we can't get any franchise players in trades, hope we start new and have Ferry/Bud rebuild to their vision.

Ferry shouldn't insist on putting together a team that will be the same ol' 1st-2nd round elimination team. A "Win now" team is going to be hard to construct when we only have a handful of players under contract as of now and after Howard no free agents have really shown to make a team a contender (maybe a healthy Bynum, but it's a gamble just like a rebuild through a draft will be to take a chance on him). A Trade for a franchise player could turn us into a "win now" situation, but we have nothing to trade. So the 2 options if we miss out on Howard is to load the team up with a couple of Monta Ellis/Jennings/Iggy/Smith and/or take a gamble with your salary cap on Bynum. The other option is starting from scratch, and mold a team to Ferry/Bud's vision of success. Forming your entire team on this free agent class to "win now" isn't going to get it done IMO. If no Howard, I vote on starting from scratch.

Hawks have the leverage when it comes to a sign and trade with Houston for Josh Smith (assuming after they get Howard and need Smith on Howard's request). If Howard really wants Smith, and Houston does whatever it can to bring Howard in, I'm asking for Parsons and Asik. I know Rockets fans will decline that but Hawks don't have to trade Smith to Houston just for Howard to be happy. a front court of Parsons/Horford/Asik would be nice.

Tanking would be an option, not the first one. You try for the best and don't settle on ball hogs and overpaid players to take you to a first round elimination. Play it smart.

I would love to get Neal as a Hawk. Just offer more than Spurs will, and they will likely not match. Just don't overpay.

You would have to assume Dallas and/or Houston will try to get Smith if Howard turns them down as well, so there could be a bidding war for Smith (or Bynum?).

I agree. Free Agency, trading for a franchise player, or drafting one, those are the ways to improve your team to a legit contender and destination for other free agents to come. If we strike out in free agency for that franchise changing player (only Dwight this season), and can't trade for one, how do we get one? New coach, still a new GM (since really he hasn't put his vision on the team yet), why not a new team built around what they want to do?

Ferry just needs to find a Franchise player some way. It's not about "tanking". It's about the best way to get one. If Howard says no to the Hawks, Ferry will look to trade for one. If he can't, and Ferry believes there is one in the draft, we go for it.

Nobody likes to lose. I want to win a championship. I see a better way of doing that with a hopeful pick of Wiggins, Parker, or Randle than with Ellis, Jennings, or Jefferson on our cap for the next 4 or so years. If we can get Howard or trade for a star player (or atleast a potential franchise player) I would love that. The 3rd option is the draft IMO.

Better than playing it safe to be in the middle of the pack every year I'd say. I'm more of a Boom or Bust kind of guy, not so much happy with being a 1st round elimination team every year.

This is all I really wanted to hear from some. Many people seem they would rather be in the middle than to actually improve. Taking a step back sometimes is the best way. Trades/Free Agency/and Draft are the ways of getting a Franchise player. With this draft being held as the biggest since Lebron/Wade/Melo/Bosh, and the fact we have a hand full of players on our roster at the moment, it has a strong feel this is where we could head.

Would people really dislike Ferry if his decision was to start from scratch? Would people really prefer to be happy with "well, at least we made the playoffs" type of thinking?Is anything you can put together in this free agency (if Howard turns us down) really better than the Joe/Smith/Horford trio? Is investing in Monta Ellis or Brandon Jennings really better than letting Ferry/Bud create a team to their vision by starting over? Seems "tank" is a bad word to some, so I'll call it "starting from scratch" for now on.

Is middle of the pack better if we don't get a star via Free agency/Trade than it is for Ferry/Bud to start constructing the team to their vision?

Tanking or not, Korver at 6 mil a year? I have read that you don't have to spend 90% of your cap space on free agents, just whatever is left can be towards the players you do have. Is that correct? If so, if one wanted to truly tank, just sign vet min players and give the rest to Horford for him to sit.

Sounds obvious to me, unless the Franchise wants to stay in the middle. Add to the fact that Ferry/Bud should create their own vision of a winning team and start by rebuilding, it makes too much sense if we don't get Howard.

Dennis Schröder/Lou Williams John Jenkins/Jared Cunningham A tanking SF :) Al Horford/Terrence Jones Omer Asik/Mike Muscala and 2 draft picks for next year

Harden coming? Because that is a big part of why Houston is attractive for Dwight it would seem. Rockets should give us Asik, Jones, and a 1st for Smith in a sign and trade if Howard says no to us.

What if we don't get Bynum either, or he stays injured, what do you think should happen? Also, Dallas, and/or Houston will be scrambling to get Bynum as well. 3 guys on the roster. a deep draft coming up. Ferry and Bud both from a winning franchise known for building through the draft. They are obviously comfortable in their job security as of now to start from scratch. Some people might be upset if this happens it seems but sadly Hawks are not Lakers. We don't attract, we have to go and take. Free Agency/Trade/Draft, 3 ways to get a Franchise guy. Free Agency outside of Dwight is a no go. Trade, can't trade for something if we don't have nothing. Draft is our only way.

Not getting all of those FAs. It was a list. Point is neither is a championship contender. Star FAs are not out there past Dwight. Ferry moved Joe because he was simply not worth it to this team. Why would he then go out and pay Ellis instead? You don't think he learned after paying Larry Hughes? He sees a team with 3 guys on it as of now, and a deep draft coming up. Either fill the team with the FA crop or rebuild through the draft with a vision that Ferry and Bud would have in common.

Monta Ellis, Al Jefferson, Oj Mayo to 3-5 year deals and a comfortable slot as the 7th/8th seed (maybe even lower with the rise of some younger teams) or a chance at Wiggins/Parker/Randle/Smart/Young? Tough choice. If you have the worst record you are atleast picking 3rd (or was it 4th) correct? Hey maybe we can trade our 5th pick to form a big three. Problem is this FA doesn't have a big three and we would still need to tank like Boston.

If it isn't ATL, we do a total rebuild. Ferry wouldn't trade Joe away thinking he wasn't worth that much to the team just to sign Monta Ellis. Ferry is looking for a star, if not Howard, we move on to the next best way.......The NBA Draft. He has learned once about paying free agents (Larry Hughes). Won't happen again.

...and next year add Wiggins or Parker at SF :)

Free Agency/Trade/Draft 3 ways to get a Franchise Player. Dwight Howard is the only free agent. We have nothing to trade for a star with. Draft is the only outcome if we don't get Dwight. "Tanking" seems to be the best option after we see what Dwight does.