REHawksFan

I'm not so much making a knee jerk reaction to Clint's play in the postseason as I am making a knee jerk reaction to OO's play in the postseason. Clint is who he is. He's limited offensively and defensively, he's an athletic, shot-blocking big. He's an elite defender in the regular season and in these playoffs, he got lost and was not elite defensively. If you want to blame that on Trae and Bogie, fine. But it doesn't change the fact that his effectiveness defensively was neutered in the playoffs. And when you don't provide anything offensively, it makes you a liability. It's the same thing everyone was saying about Lopez after Game 1. He was terrible defensively and didn't get any shots either. So you can't play him. But then he turned into Wilt offensively and they changed their coverage so he ended up being a key player for the series. The problem is, Clint doesn't have that offensive potential. I think OO has a higher offensive upside than Clint and may have the same defensive upside. It's just a matter of how soon he realizes that potential. There's no question in my mind that at some point, the Hawks are going to move on from Capela and OO is going to be the guy. It's just a matter of when. I want to be clear that I'm not advocating that it be now. I'm just saying if it was now (or sooner rather than later) I'd probably be ok with it.

I was so very impressed with OO this postseason. Will be interested to see his progression in Year 2. But just for comparison, here are he and Clint on a per 36 basis for the playoffs. Clint: 11.5pts / 12.8reb (3.9 O, 8.9 D) / 1.2blk / 59.1% TS / 43.6% FT OO: 10.4pts / 10.5reb (4.6 O, 5.9 D) / 2.8blk / 59.6% TS / 66.7% FT Not too much of a difference between the two for the playoffs. Of course, Clint was almost always going against the Embiid's and Lopez's whereas OO at least sprinkled in some Bobby Portis and Dwight Howard. So context matters, but still. OO, for a rookie, was really impressive to me. The questions I have are as follows: Is this who Clint is in the playoffs or did he just have a bad run of matchups the last two series? His per 36 numbers in the regular season are substantially better than this overall. That said, his last playoff run with the Rockets was very similar to this year after having more playoff success early on in his career with them. How much progression will we see from OO with a full summer to workout and train? Remember he was hurt coming into the season and did not have any training or workouts. How risk averse will Travis and Tony be? Do they just "shore up the edges" and run it back? Or do they take a chance on OO and flip Clint for someone else if the opportunity presents? Should be a fun offseason.

This is what I've been saying. We disagree on timing of it, but my opinion is that OO will eventually replace Capela. The question is when does that happen? This year is probably a little too soon, but do the Hawks expect a huge jump from him like we saw from Hunter? If so, do they gamble on it if a deal involving Capela arises that makes the team overall better? Those are the questions I'm asking. Amd again, not shopping Capela. Just wondering out loud if the play of OO makes Capela a little more expendable.

Fortunate enough that 1 and 1A don't overlap. Here's mine: Rearranging Schedules for these 1. Dawgs football 1A. Hawks 3. PGA When convenient / when compelling I'll watch 4. Falcons / Braves / United / Other Dawgs sports My top 3 are pretty clear cut and I'll rearrange my schedule if they are on to make sure I don't miss anything. The others? They are all ones I have been emotionally invested in / had season tickets to at one point in time or another but as I've gotten older and life happens, they have fallen by the wayside in my fandom. So basically, if there's something compelling about them in a particular season, I'll watch, but if not? Eh. I kind of always keep tabs on them but not really invested in them like the Dawgs, Hawks, and the PGA.

The challenge is to win a couple of 'ships before they have to break it up.

Zero chance he's gettin snubbed for anything going forward. Made an absolute statement this postseason and it didn't go unnoticed.

Good article. I definitely think Trae, Cam, Kev, Dre, and Gwu are the future even though I think Kev is best off the bench. I'm intrigued to see that lineup play together. The question is, how soon will we see it as the regular rotation?

Not sure if the formatting is going to get messed up, but here's a list of "available" centers. Of these, Robin Lopez, Boogie Cousins, or I guess, Alex Len would be potential candidates for me. PLAYER (33) TEAM POS. AGE EXP TYPE RIGHTS 2020-2021 AAV Dwight Howard PHI C 35 17 UFA Non-Bird $2,564,753 Robin Lopez WAS C 33 13 UFA Non-Bird $7,300,000 JaVale McGee DEN C 33 13 UFA Bird $4,100,000 Boban Marjanovic DAL C 33 6 UFA Early Bird $3,500,000 Serge Ibaka LAC C 32 11 PO $9,489,450 Ed Davis MIN C 32 11 UFA Early Bird $4,886,175 Hassan Whiteside SAC C 32 9 UFA Non-Bird $2,320,044 Dewayne Dedmon MIA C 32 8 UFA Non-Bird $580,811 Gorgui Dieng SAS C 31 8 UFA Non-Bird $1,000,000 DeMarcus Cousins LAC C 31 10 UFA Non-Bird $335,366 Daniel Theis CHI C 29 4 UFA Bird $5,000,000 Enes Kanter POR C 29 10 UFA Early Bird $4,886,175 Bismack Biyombo CHA C 29 10 UFA Non-Bird $3,500,000 Cody Zeller CHA C 28 8 UFA Bird $14,000,000 Frank Kaminsky PHX C 28 6 UFA Non-Bird $4,767,000 Willie Cauley-Stein DAL C 28 5 CO $4,100,000 Alex Len WAS C 28 8 UFA Non-Bird $1,697,755 Andre Drummond LAL C 28 9 UFA Non-Bird $794,536 Nerlens Noel NYK C 27 8 UFA Non-Bird $5,000,000 Richaun Holmes SAC C 27 6 UFA Early Bird $4,886,175 Willy Hernangomez NOP C 27 5 UFA Non-Bird $1,737,145 Luke Kornet BOS C 26 4 UFA Early Bird $2,250,000 Jordan Bell GSW C 26 4 UFA Non-Bird $11,499 Tacko Fall BOS C 25 2 RFA Early Bird - Moritz Wagner ORL C 24 3 UFA Non-Bird $221,995 Devontae Cacok LAL C 24 2 RFA Early Bird - Zach Collins POR C 23 4 RFA Bird $4,083,154 Jarrett Allen CLE C 23 4 RFA Bird $2,508,646 Tony Bradley OKC C 23 4 RFA Bird $2,149,715 Isaiah Hartenstein CLE C 23 2 PO $1,691,680 Harry Giles POR C 23 4 UFA Non-Bird $1,678,854 Mitchell Robinson NYK C 23 2 CO $1,569,671 Reggie Perry BKN C 21 1 RFA Non-Bird -

So how do you handle the roster issue? You have OO on a rookie deal. You have Clint on a big contract. You have Gallo on a big contract. And you have JC, presumably on a big contract. So let's say they add Robin Lopez. I would love that move. But who loses PT during the regular season? OO is developing into what Capela already is but may end up being an even better version given his offensive versatility. And he's on a cheaper contract. Do you sign Lopez with the understanding that he's just not going to play much during the regular season? He avg 19 min/gm this year. Capela avg 30. OO avg 12. Do you cut Clint's min? Play OO at the 4 and cut Gallo's? I don't think anyone is suggesting throwing Clint out. It would have to be a move that makes the Hawks better in the playoffs or it doesn't make sense.

Some numbers to illustrate the match up issues with Clint: Vs Knicks: 10 pts on 66.7% TS% / 13.4 reb (10.4 def and 3.0 off) / 2.0 blocks Vs Sixers/Bucks: 10 pts on 56.8% TS% / 10.3 reb (6.8 def / 3.5 off) / 0.6 blocks Points stayed the same but efficiency drops vs the bigger teams. Rebounding - specifically defensive rebounding - dropped vs the bigger teams as did his blocks.

Right. But in the playoffs, his shot blocking is more matchup driven. He had 11 blocks in 5 games vs the out-matched (and smaller) Knicks and 8 blocks in the 13 combined games vs the larger Sixers and Bucks. He also avg fewer overall rebounds vs the Bucks and Sixers than the Knicks (which was directly attributable to fewer DEFENSIVE rebounds as both the Sixers and Bucks held the offensive rebounds advantage). For a guy that struggle to finish around the rim unless its on a lob, that's a bad combination.

To be clear: I'm not "vouching" to trade Capela either. I'm simply saying I'd consider it. And I'm saying I don't think he's off limits any more. There's a difference between that and actively trying to trade him. I DON'T think Travis should be shopping Capela, but I'd be ok with it if he was included in a deal for a player that makes us better in the playoffs. And again, there's a difference between shopping and simply being available for inclusion in a trade. I agree 100% with your synopsis of Capela as a player. I like him a lot and think he adds a lot of value to the team. I'm just saying that coming into the playoffs, I thought he was a vital piece of any championship team because of his work on the glass and rim protection. and limited, but valuable offensive production as a roll man. However, what the last 6 weeks has shown me is that in the playoffs he gets overpowered on defense against larger bigs, he gets lost too much on the boards as other teams are collectively crashing and he's no longer just fighting centers but also guys like Pat Connaughton and PJ Tucker, and offensively, he just doesn't have any attribute that translates consistently to the playoffs where - as you pointed out - games are played predominantly in the half-court. So I've just downgraded him in my mind from an invaluable piece on a playoff run to a guy that is probably close to invaluable in the regular season to get to the playoffs, but once there, is more of a matchup guy that may or may not have a role. In light of the above (and in consideration of OO who I think can replicate what Capela provides in the regular season), I'm just saying I'd be ok with Travis considering including him in a trade if it improves the team in the playoffs and balances the team out more. And no, I don't have a potential trade to offer.

If one has to, would rather Gallo than Bogie

Oh I agree with that. That's why I'm not interested in gutting the young core. My untouchables are Trae, Hunter, Cam, OO, and Bogie.

I knew someone would ask. To be perfectly honest, I don't yet have a trade in mind. My comment spoke more to my changing opinion on Capela. Coming into the playoffs, I had him in the untouchable core category. But after watching his lack of impact in the playoffs, I just wonder if he's actually untouchable. Let me be clear, I like Clint a lot. I wouldn't trade him just to get rid of him. I'm just not sure I'd keep him as an untouchable part of the core. I know that didn't answer the question but it's the best I got right now. I'll try to put together a potential trade at some point.

Personally I prefer not to do anything that guts the team. I just think there's too much upside for the young core to trade it away before we know what we have. The moves I'd make this offseason would be on the edges with the exception of Capela. I'd consider moving him if a deal presented itself.

I think you are on the right track. I'm intrigued by Robin Lopez honestly. Always felt like he was a pest and nuisance. Just the kind of dude that could muck it up for a series. With that said, I disagree on Capela. I'm starting to think he's a guy that can feast in the regular season where teams don't focus on him defensively, but in the post season, he gets eaten up and just isn't effective offensively. And even defensively, he doesn't have the same impact as an athletic big around the rim. I'd actually be ok trading him in the offseason.

Go

Don't be that guy. Moving goalposts is an insult to this young team and the work they put in. The Bucks were always the better team. With Trae. Without Trae. With Giannis. Without Giannis. They are a veteran team that was the odds on favorite to make the NBA finals at the start if the season. The Hawks were expected to compete for the playoffs. Don't marginalize their season by claiming its just like every other failed playoff run. This is NOTHING like any other team we have ever seen. This team made the ECF in their first year as a playoff team. That's amazing. Acting like this is the same ole disappointment is just being miserable and unnecessarily jaded.

Just not good enough on the interior. Exciting season. Best for this franchise so far. And it's just the beginning. A lot to look forward to but also some things to address in the offseason. Should be fun.

Miserable. TF you even talking about.

JC seems to always end up with decent numbers but he goes completely missing when the game is early and up for grabs. Then he comes on late when the game is basically settled.

The truth is the Bucks took the Hawks for granted without Trae in Game 4. But once they adjusted to it, I was a wrap, even without Giannis.

Kev, Trae, and JC have combined for 13 pts on 26 shots. Not gonna beat many teams like that.