skaughtybee

It appears from the above picture that Billy might be staging the unthinkable - he's prepping to draft *HIMSELF*

Quote: That BK will trade both 3 and 11 for Gasol... I hope he doesn't take the bait on that trade. We must keep the 11th pick for the Law. I would take Gasol and the Law if we traded Speedy in the process. BK specifically said that no matter how we use the picks (trade or not) - we will be getting good players (plural) to add to the roster. It doesn't sound like both picks will be used in a single player trade.

Sports: Andy Van Slyke, Ozzie Smith, 'Nique and Spud. and the omnipresent - KISS - Destroyer cover! Scott

Many are complaining about being locked out over there. I was locked out, but now can get to the site. All I did was clear my cache in IE7. Sturt was unable to get in as well.

Quote: If BK had his way... I missed the tattoo mod on the first pass - nice!

... in big games, against strong teams. Crittendon: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=31615 Law: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=15169 Javaris was horrible against UNC, Duke, Virginia while Acie had big games against tournament-quality teams.

Quote: According to source: No one has or will have a guarantee in the draft. BK wants all options on table on draft night. "All options on the table" leads me to believe BK is close to a trade he wants, and needs the pressure of draft night to make the other side cave.

Quote: Quote: Not a whole lot was said... -Bernie talked for a while about Kobe and KG, how it takes so much to trade for them to match up salaries -Didn't even mention one player in the draft -The Police is coming to Philips in November -Look in THIS SUNDAY'S AJC for a new look for the Hawks (the new uniform!). Again, this Sunday's sport's section of the AJC. Maybe they'll put it up on ajc.com tomorrow. -Other GMs are saying BK is "gunshy" to select another forward. -Bernie said we'd only take another wing player if he was phenomenal. I thought the Falcons played in the Georgia Dome. They are coming to grab Woody. His substitution patterns, and general lack of an offensive gameplan are criminal.

Quote: Quote: AL Horford, AL Thornton. The name duplication. Well we've already got the Joshes well covered, so maybe now it's time to move on to the Als? No, BK is over Als - he'd rather have #11 picks. Too bad there won't be any Yi's available at #11.

Quote: That's the headline if we pick Al Horford. The focus if we pick Yi, even though he too is another power forward, is his ethnicity and his intrigue as a super-skilled, super tall, long, quick, skilled player. An immediate 15% increase in ticket sales with Yi? Merchandise? 35%? Horford? What 3-5% for both. If that. Talk about unsexy. W Do some of you not think this is important? Regardless of the actual %s, this can't be denied. If we want to be a championship-caliber team we need three things: 1) More Talent 2) More Revenue, any way we can get it 3) A new coach Yi solves 2 out of 3 - not bad!

Quote: I'm sorry but Billy Knight needs to submit to the coach on this one. His track record in the draft(with the Hawks) is not good. Meanwhile the owners are thinking with their pockets (who can blame them) but the coach is the one with the idea thats gonna put the best team on the floor. You have to be in the playoffs this year and you have no first round pick next year. No playoffs = no job for knight Use your head Billy. Wrong. Billy needs to submit to the owners, and the coach needs to submit to Billy. Does anybody on this board think Woodson is a better coach than BK is at drafting?

"Whatever we do, we're in a great position to help ourselves take another important step to reaching our ultimate goal, which is to bring playoff basketball back to Atlanta." Please tell me this is a misquote! BK's *ultimate* goal is to get to the playoffs? Any GM who doesn't have an ultimate goal of winning championships has poor vision. BK has always been a long-term, big picture guy. I hope he hasn't settled.

The Washington Wizards. Look at this draft record: 2006 Oleksiy Pecherov, 18th Vladimir Veremeenko, 48th 2005 Andray Blatche, 39th 2004 Devin Harris, 5th (traded to Dallas) Peter John Ramos, 33rd 2003 Jarvis Hayes, 10th Steve Blake, 38th 2002 Jared Jeffries, 11th Juan Dixon, 17th Rod Grizzard, 39th Juan Carlos Navarro, 40th 2001 Kwame Brown, 1st 2000 Mike Smith, 35th

Quote: I don't think Diesel lives in Atlanta since he watches the games on League Pass. I guess a plane ticket has to be included...any addt'l sponsors? Don't make me give the merchandise to Walter! Where do you live Mr. D? Scott

please summarize...

If you agree... I'll wear a Hawksquawk T-shirt to the draft party with "Got Diesel?" on the back. You find me, and I'll buy you one of any of the new merchandise (including a jersey if they have one). The caveat is...I have to get you in a picture wearing the Hawks merchandise. We want to prove you are real - and actually a Hawks fan. Deal? The question for the board - how would I validate Diesel? Scott

Ok, I'll bite - See my #s in [brackets] Greg Oden. Center - 100. [98] Kevin Durant. Small Foward - 99. [96] Jeff Green. Small Forward - 70. [77] Corey Brewer. Shooting Guard - 68[75]. Small Forward - 57. [NR] Yi Jianlian. Power Forward - 67 [80]. Small Forward - 67.[76] Al Thornton. Small Forward - 66. [68] Mike Conley. Point Guard - 65. [76] Acie Law. Point Guard - 64. [70] Shooting Guard - 54. [NR] Joakim Noah. Center - 63. [72] Power Forward - 59. [65] Al Horford. Power Forward - 62. [78] Rodney Stuckey. SG - 61. [66] PG - 55. [60] Brandan Wright. Power Forward - 57. [74]

Quote: Ellis/Biedrins for Chill/3 Whoever did that trade would be trown in the bay! Not because it doesn't make sense (Yi as a mega-star on the West Coast and Chill going back to the bay). Biedrins and Ellis are like Jsmoove and Marvin are for us, the fans have high expectations for them. All that being said- I like it!

Andy Katz... "the hawks can go in probably one of 4 directions" Al Horford (BPA scenario) Yi (much more of a 3 man - Hawks renewed interest lately) Mike Conley (Need) B. Wright (similar to MWill pick, tantalizing) Katz confirmed BK always "looks for the best player". Katz doesn't think Conley is in the class of Deron, Paul. Discussed the conundrum of having the 11, and the question of whether Law and Crittendon, Stuckey are/are not close. Discussed Portland looking to maybe trade to get Yi at 5 or 6. Thinks Conley will be gone by 6.

Don't you all see why BK has mastered his craft? [notice I said *craft*, NOT *draft*] He could have easily had this conversation with any of us, knowing that it may be repeated. The veracity of the storyteller, as well as the authenticity of the content are always going to be in question from this type of private conversation. Think of how fun it must be to dodge and misdirect so often, that you can tell the straight truth every once in a while - just for kicks.

Quote: I'm planning on going. I've never been to one before though. Anyone know if you can sit anywhere you want? We should all try to sit in the same section, that way we can console each other when he picks B. Wright. I've been before, and will likely go this year. There really isn't seating, as all of the action is congregating at "The Philips Experience" on the middle level. Still, I'd like to meet some more Squawkers. Scott

Certainly 6th is a safe place to get him. He meets a need more than Horford. Getting an all-offensive player like Charlie V. would offset Noah's mostly-defensive game.

First off - it rhymes -"Yi at three"! More importantly, I think his game will translate better than Horford's. Before you stone me, hear why. I've watched extensive footage of Yi and Al and am impressed by both. However, here are the reasons that Yi can produce in the NBA... - He can get his shot. His fadeaway seems to be his main weapon, and - at his height - it is unguardable. If teams compress on him from both sides, he has the ability to pass. That really is a Dirk-like quality. Hoford relies on strength and Brewer and Noah to get his shot. Life won't be as easy in the NBA. - His hands. The Hawks need another set of hands to handle the ball inside-out. Shellhead is too clumsy, and Smoove's hands are smaller than mine. Being able to control the ball inside will improve JJ's looks. Horford is solid here too, it just appears Yi is better - Help defense. While he'll never likely "hold down the fort", his blocks come from speed. The Hawks D is porous enough to create a ton of help D opportunities. Horford looks great man-to-man, but doesn't fill passing lanes or adapt quite as quickly. None of this is meant as a slam on Horford. He's easily my #2 choice, but Yi is my choice.

No team would be complete without Hanno Mottola. I submit my all-invisible team Tony Delk and Terrell Brandon (he was on the roster!)

36-46 = 10th in the EC