noble

Here is the thing. We are not guaranteed a superstar or all-NBA player at the top of the draft. But the odds do say you have a better chance than hanging around the middle or later in the draft. As I've said what is the big deal not making the playoffs vs getting bounced early? A few extra games? A few extra dollars? In the long term if you want to be a relevant team you have to have relevant players. And it has been a long time since we were that. Sure there is no guarantee we will be a playoff team in the next few years. By the same token there is no guarantee we won't be. The only guarantee is that we havent been a relevant team for a long long time and without a superstar we won't be.

OK. I hated the Billy Knight era, but I truly believe we have better talent evaluation now than we did then. We can't compare the ownership and staff of the team between the two. This fan base has become so jaded that we think no matter which direction we go, we are a treadmill team. Some of us believe tanking and going lottery means we will treadmill as a bad team. Some of us think sitting as a middle of the road team that makes the playoffs, but not much more, is nothing more than a futile attempt. What have we lost honestly? We weren't a championship caliber team then, we weren't the last few years, and we aren't now. And we haven't been a haven for free agents, so saying we lost that, I don't think we ever really had it. Heck, we couldn't even keep the pieces we had. Hard to lose something you never had to begin with. I'm not sure Bud is going anywhere for a few seasons. I believe he knows what lies ahead for a few years. The ownership is so different now, that at the very least it looks like they are trying to improve the team in ways the previous ownership never did. I don't know man, maybe I am just so used to never being a real contender, not making the playoffs really isn't a huge loss for me. I've been a fan for a very long time and I won't stop being a fan, I would just rather watch this team try to get a Superstar, rather than being just another team in the playoffs that won't have a chance.

I think we all agree that the way to a championship is having a Superstar. Let's be clear about that, a superstar in their prime. It was obvious we weren't getting that type of player in free agency, even when we had a nice set of complimentary players, still no superstar wanted to come to Atlanta. Sure, some of that was terrible ownership, but there were other reasons, like they didn't see the complementary players as pieces to a championship puzzle. So what does a team do? Were you okay with being a middle of the road team that was never a real contender, but made it to the playoffs? I don't know what you want them to do. You want a championship as much as anyone on the board, that much is obvious, but how would you propose that should have happened? We couldn't even keep the All-Star level complementary pieces we had. My issue isn't your problem with the tanking, my issue is what would you have rather seen? I and many others here were not happy with just making the playoffs over and over and losing over and over. Just not much to be excited about when you just know you aren't getting a ring. How would you have liked this team to get a Superstar? Pray you hit in the middle of the draft? Trade pieces and picks for a high pick? You say we probably aren't getting one with a lottery pick, okay, how would you have liked to have gotten one?

I am not expecting a playoff next year nor maybe the year after. I would gather to say most people aren't expecting anything massive next year either. It is a process, I think most understand that. I'm totally okay with missing playoffs for a few years if it means this team has a real chance at some point. Just getting into the playoffs isn't that spectacular. Let's be honest here, did you honestly think in the last few years this team had a real shot at a championship even making it to the playoffs? I didn't as long as LeBron, the big 3 Celts, Heat, etc existed and we had no superstar I wasn't expecting a championship. I was happy we made the ECF, but getting swept was just another chapter in the Hawks aren't a real contender book. So we miss the playoffs for a few years, but if we get a superstar it could all be worth it. If not? Well, have we really lost all that much but a few extra games until a superstar bounces us out of the playoffs? Probably not.

This is the part I think KB misses. I get that we as fans want to see a competitive team or at least an exciting product. But we were never really considered a team that could win a championship. It sucks hard when you know your team will be bad and I get that KB is super frustrated with just how bad this team is looking. But on the other side you are dead on. If you don't have that MVP type player you are just another team, even if you make the playoffs.

What? Spurs, Heat, Lakers all had top 5 picks on their teams they drafted. Not sure how you missed that. The Celts hit a top 10 with Paul Pierce and he was able to get other Superstars to come to Boston. The Mavs had a top 10 pick in Dirk. Of all of the teams only maybe the Mavs could be a case in point. But you know what all the teams have in common? A Superstar picked in the top 10 that was able to pull OTHER Superstars together. Tell me the last time we had a player of that caliber that could have pulled other talent. When was the last time we even landed a real Superstar in free agency? Dwight? C'mon. Joe Johnson? Players weren't coming here even to play with Horford et al. So what would you like for the team to do? Run the treadmill and pray? Or do something to try to get that Superstar this team has been starving for? The answer isn't clear, sure, but we tried the other way for a long time, why not try something else?

I hear you, but again I am not SOLD on the idea he can carry a team on his back and create his own shot consistently. That has been the issue with him. He is technically good in the system which helps, but to be a guy that can be THAT one guy who will change a game on his own? Not sure. I am not against Doncic, let me be clear. I am just not sold on the idea of him a Superstar yet. Again, all-star caliber piece to go with a Superstar? Absolutely. As the centerpiece? Eh, not there yet.

This is such a hard thing. Superstars were not coming here, period. Which means the best we could have hoped for is a surprise season, which we got, but we never really were considered a threat to win a championship. Which means, if you want a superstar, and none are even considering coming to your team, you have to draft one. How do you do that if you pick middle of the pack every year? You either get lucky or just sit on the treadmill. The only other option is to get a high draft pick, which if you keep making the playoffs will be very hard to get unless you trade a ton of picks and pieces to get up to the top. I'm not sure what the right answer is, but what we do know is the treadmill only gets you so far.

His stat line is good, but it is Euro. Not saying Euro is bad, but it is not the NBA. I am not sold on him being a superstar, all star I can buy, but a Superstar is someone who can carry your team when he needs to, I just don't see Doncic as one of those players. But to be honest, it is hard to find those players. There really is only 2 ways to build a championship level team now a days. Get a Super star and add 2 all-stars, and a bunch of role players OR get 4-5 all-stars and role players that are slightly better than average.

Haven't we had a ton of those players over the years? I get it, but I think many feel the Hawks need a Superstar, not just another piece to a puzzle we never have the center piece for.

Passing was terrible at times. So many turnovers in bunches.

Just saw this.. Record 22-60 Schröder 2.59 Collins 1st All-Rookie and finishes top 3 in ROY race 29th in NBA 14th in East Bonus: We get the first pick in the 2018 draft. (either through rank or trade)

Basically we got 2 second round picks to help the Cavs with the luxury tax.

Looks like we will let both walk

Bet ya Jefferson gets either bought out or retires.

Well that depends. Some states have deals about living in one place or another, if there is no deal which I don't think Colorado has any such deals in place, then he files taxes in both locations. A resident tax where he lives and lists all money incurred in that state as well as out of state. In the state he works in he will file a non-resident tax form that only includes money made in that state. Your home state will allow you to file for a tax break so the state you work in gets their money and you aren't paying twice. It's messy, but it works out in the end. Also, the Jock Tax will eat a ton as well....

I can't believe there are people who honestly think this after looking at our roster...I'm sorry I am honestly amazed.

Yeah, it boggles that statistically, data, tape, etc shows less than what others are saying. I agree, I think if we hit 20 wins that will be a good season with this roster as it currently is. I like Bud and all (yeah maybe a little over rated but still), but I don't see how this roster can roll into a 25+ win season even with Bud.

It's a good conversation. I can see it both ways. If a team like Philly takes the next step or a surprise team I can see the under. I would go over, but not by much.

Vegas has released over/under wins odds. Hawks at 25.5, only the Bulls are worse. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2730296-las-vegas-sets-overunder-win-totals-for-all-nba-teams-warriors-at-675

Know the worst part about this? This is how the NBA wants it. It is so frustrating to watch.

It already was on lockdown. Unless we get a generational talent and a few superstars with him, we are going to be nothing more than we have been.

So will our nickname be the Care Bears?

General Dynamics Land Systems. They make the M1 Abrams tank....just saying.

We got a draft pick! Haha https://m.imgur.com/t/reaction/vVkoPPU