noble

Think of it this way. You need a “Jordan” to Trae’s Pippen. Or a “Kobe” to Trae’s Shaq….however. Again, maybe he gets there. But until he’s more consistent it’s what it is.

I’m saying he’s a good second guy. But sorry, he’s just not THE guy for a team. Maybe he gets there, but he needs help.

I was killed for saying this when we drafted him. He’s a top notch second guy. That’s always been who he is. I know it isn’t a popular opinion, but his consistency and issues to create for himself when the team needs someone to take over isn’t what you’d hope for your top guy. He can score 18/10 but if he is your TOP guy he has to be better than that. If not, you need another guy or two who can score and allow his passing to be the catalyst.

I’ll be honest.

I’d also love some first level defense.

I think they still have enough to get a trade for him done if they wanted to. Now, do they want to? I dunno. I’d still look at Gobert if it were me.

Wins aren’t a single player stat, kind of like wins aren’t a QB stat. Carry on.

I don’t honestly care about Cam, that is what it is. All of those guys are better or at least put forth fairly solid effort in the defensive end. Also all four of these were on stacked teams and each are arguably top players of their generation, playing with other top stars of their generation. I don’t see Trae in that stratosphere (maybe he gets there, but he isn’t there). My bigger issue is this team has functioned the same since Nique. Get a guy, think he is the guy, hope he can carry you. Historically this team is what it is. To change the idea of being a fluke, you have to repeat the success or at least maintain, something they have not been able to do. They need another star, plain and simple if they want to win a ring at least once they have to actually team build with an eye on the sum of its parts, not just a part here, a part there. Look I get it, this is a young, developing team. But sadly they are also a team with a history of not being able to get over the hump of the “we made the playoffs but aren’t good enough to win it” treadmill. I am just tired of year in and year out knowing our chance at a ring is a long shot. At some point I just want them to go all in and win the whole thing, or the very least prove you aren’t a fluke.

Fluke. Here’s the thing Trae can score (streaky) but he can’t help the defense. If you want to be a true superstar to carry your team you have to do both. Then the FO believes he alone can carry a team and did nothing to help him. No defensive help, no real second star (although I’ve argued Trae IS the second star they just don’t have a first), just a bunch of dudes. Afraid to spend money and make moves to even add a guy that COULD help. They desperately want to draft and develop, but fact is they don’t really do that. Then instead of keeping a guy they trade for picks/money or let them walk. They approach the off-season and trade deadline like the Cowboys front office does, and tbh it sucks. You can’t stay stagnant and hope for the best if everyone else is trying to get better. Not unless you have a top 5-10 player, which iwbh, we don’t have yet.

To be actual contenders? You have to find a way to get Giannis on the roster. While you are doing that, get at the very minimum Bertans. If you mean actual contenders you need at least a Superstar and and some stars around him. If you mean a playoff team then hope some guys develop and scrape the middle barrel for guys like Derrick Jones Jr and pray.

For a bag of popcorn and some socks

It is like they think the Hawks will be rebuilding for the next 10 years the way they write.

Was rolling through some news and came across this gem. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2898018-realistic-offseason-trades-nba-fanbases-wouldnt-see-coming Apparently it comes from an article from the Athletic that the Hawks don't want to give Collins a big contract. What say you?

This is it. Well put and dead on. Trae is more of a 1a/2 guy as a scoring option, or should be.

Because this isnt the season they wanted to chase free agents. Next year looks god awful at this moment, so maybe 2021if the FA class holds. Why not play some younger guys and let them get experience? Best I can come up with.

I want to remind everyone this. The Hawks are tanking because they could never be considered a threat for a ring before this. They couldn't get a superstar to put them over being just a middle of the road team who got swept against a real player. Taurean Prince is bad because we are trying to rebuild. The Hawks defense is bad because they are young and the NBA is scoring at a record rate. They are turnover prone due to being young and rebuilding. They gave a shot to a young coach during the rebuild. They are not competitive just like they have been for 20 years because they have no stars and are rebuilding. The future is no more or less dim than before when we couldn't make it past LBJ and be a real team who had a shot at a ring.

You missed the point on this and that's okay. The point was prior to go this route, there are people that have voiced their opinions that all we had to do was keep the pieces we had and grab one or 2 more pieces, oh and not have an injury, and this team would have been in the Championships. So, to those people, I say that because you are so quick to slam an attempt at getting a truly competitive team, remember we weren't truly competitive before either. Whether anyone likes it or not, we are in a rebuild, we haven't been a realistic team to win a ring since, well, maybe Nique vs Bird.

Folks who dont support this tank job believe we could have flipped a switch and been competitive in the playoffs and had a chance at a ring before this. So both are wrong apparently?

Welcome to being a Hawks fan. This team cant sign big free agents in their prime. The hope is the young guys learn from Vince, develop, and become a destination for star FAs. That is what this is all about, the tank that is. Collecting draft picks. Something to try to one day have a team that could have a real shot.

And how many times have we been to a Finals prior to this "tanking"? Making the playoffs with zero to show for it has worked so well to this point. And if we are going to talk culture, even with a 60 win team, what was so bad about our culture that no high value FA wanted to join that team? We could easily say we haven't had that type of culture you want since Nique was traded. Know what Nique was? A superstar, a generational talent. Talent can and does help change a culture. Outside of Run DMC, the Warriors were never a destination, until they got talent.

What does it say about this team then if they haven't had a superstar in 30 years? Neither FA or the draft.

Two different things here. We were winning and still couldn't get one. 30 years like you said. And we had a 60 win team. And yes, we are a team that had to draft well to get a major star.

That's one. Who else was "big time"? And dont give me Milsap. Johnson is 2.

True, but even when we had a chance, it never materialized. Like I said this way it is a pleasant surprise lol.

Based on our history to pull star free agents. I am never excited for FA. I plan to watch until one day I am surprised and we actually get real talent that could potentially one day get us a ring. Since this has never actually happened. I plan to be surprised when it does so I dont get disappointed anymore.