Phunkabilly

I really don't understand the point of going after Wiseman right now.  You're paying $12M for a 3rd stringer who likely isn't better right now than our current third stringer, and he kills your cap versatility.  In the best case scenario, he really takes to Quin's tutorship and provides a nice 10 mpg during the last quarter of the season, just in time to make him some decent $$ in free agency.  I don't see how the Hawks really benefit even in the best case scenario, however.  If they're actually interested in him, then look to pick him up on a cheap deal in free agency next offseason.

I'm somehow just now seeing this thread.  I echo others' sentiments, @TheNorthCydeRises.  Excellent job, please keep it up!

Btw @terrell, why your boy gotta do that to my Falcons??? 

15 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

I'm giving the game ball to the entire team tonight.  

Haha, I was thinking about this thread towards the end of the game, and I came to the same conclusion as you... this was truly a team game where everyone played great and no real "hero" so to speak... these are my favorite types of games!!

5 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

This looks like, the 60 win Hawks. Maybe not as good on defense but offensively, wow!

Yep, I'm getting those vibes as well.

We had eight players in double-digit scoring after 3 quarters, btw 

Has there been a top 5 pick in the past 20 years who completely sucked or rarely played during their rookie scale contract and then came back to have a good career?  I can't think of one.  I think it's telling when a top 5 pick can't seem to get on the court... the drafting team has every incentive to help them be productive... in these situations, I'm willing to bet they either can't play, can't stay healthy, or don't have the drive to be the best that they can be.  Keep in mind that covid hit hard during Wiseman's class, so teams had precious little information to evaluate those players, which creates even more unpredictability with projecting those guys.  I sure as hell don't think a team that's trying to compete should shell out $12 million for the very slim chance that Wiseman is the exception to the rule.  Easy pass for me.

Tonight's the night when the Hawks commit to Quin's system for all four quarters and pull out the upset for our first dub of the season... 115-112 Hawks.  Trae gets back on track with a 26 point, 13 assist game.

1. 50 wins

2. JJ & OO

3. 36.1%

4. 16th

5. AJ

9 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Woah!!!

 

 

Holy smokes!  Is this the first time the $60M/year mark has been eclipsed?

6 hours ago, marco102 said:

I don't agree with this.  He has to stop fouling so darn much. He's been good for a back up, but it remains to be seen if he's good as a full time starter.  Clint is a proven commodity.  I'd like to keep the center rotation strong unless we are moving Clint for something that's going significantly upgrade our center rotation.   I don't see OO as good enough to be making any kind of demands.  Client is still a top 10ish center. 

That could change with both their performance this year though.  All I guess I'm saying OO needs to show me more if we want to jettison Clint off. 

Unfortunately, I couldn't find it now, but I do recall an interview with OO during his rookie or sophomore year where he talked about having an ultra-aggressive mindset when coming in as the backup center... basically, he didn't really care about picking up fouls since it was highly unlikely he would foul out with limited minutes... he just wanted to go out there and go balls to the wall in the minutes he did have in order to help his team win.  I imagine that mindset has continued with him throughout his career up to this point.  I think he's smart enough to realize, however, that if he starts getting starter minutes, he'll have to be a bit more judicious about when and when not to be ultra-aggressive, in order to keep his fouls in check.  In other words, I don't really see the fouling as a big issue, as I think it has just been a product of his aggressive mindset up to this point... I'm sure he can make the necessary adjustments if/when he starts getting starter minutes.

@Spud2nique You better get on this JJ hype train soon!  Seats are filling up fast!!

I'm in if you still need spots filled.  Admittedly, never played fantasy basketball before, but have wanted to for a long time.  But I've played fantasy football for like 25+ years and am always active.

I'm partial to King Gwu... i think it rolls off the tongue nicely.  

2 hours ago, JeffS17 said:

I know people here dismiss anything negative that comes out about Trae, but there was a decent amount of smoke last year and the front office made it explicitly clear that Quin was evaluating the entire team, and the new front office has a green light to make any moves, including moving Trae.  I don't think that was a forewarning that Trae was going to be traded, but it was a clear message that Trae no longer has the keys to the team, and those keys are now in Quin's pocket.

Trae is no longer receiving special treatment and pampering, like he has grown accustomed to because he knew the front office and ownership rely on him heavily for ticket sales, etc.  He's a Klutch guy, this fact is not lost on him.  So when I say "prepare for a Trae-less team", what that really means is that he's not longer being being treated as irreplaceable.  The loss of Trae Young 2 years ago would have crippled this franchise for years.  Going forward, I don't think that will be the case, and that's really what I mean by a soft preparation.  It's unclear how Trae is going to respond to the power shift and locker room dynamics, and being held accountable on both ends.  Quin is a relationship guy, so it might be fine, but Trae also might respond poorly if he feels like this is no longer "his team", inwhich case we will be well-positioned to move on.  

And it's been widely reported how much Quin loves Dejounte Murray, and DJ just signed a very team friendly deal.  His position overlaps heavily with Trae... my hope is that Trae/DJ tandem improves by a lot this year, because I enjoy cheering for both of them, but if it doesn't, the question quickly becomes what can you do with the the additional ~$20M in cap space (Trae v DJ salary) and the additional asset haul from trading Trae?  Particularly when Trae wants that 35% of the cap deal he will be eligible for down the road?  Trae's impact on offense won't be matched of course, but if we have a solid system in place (D Mitchell is not the offensive player Trae is, yet they still had the #1 offense in the league), you have to start questioning if an undersized PG that is a huge liability on defense is worth $60M+ a year, or do you spend that money on an elite wing/big? 

This is a thought exercise that extends well beyond this year, but it's some food for thought.

I know the perception nowadays is that just about every basketball superstar is a diva and/or egocentric, and I do think Trae at least has some of that in him (although I feel it's a bit overstated), but I also believe winning is what motivates him, not the desire to be put on a pedestal.  Personally, I've been very impressed with how receptive he's been to Quin coming in and running the ship.  Trae is smart enough to realize that listening to Quin is likely the quickest path to accomplishing his main objective:  winning.  Now if the team buys in to Quin and we stink it up for the next couple of seasons, then I could potentially see Trae becoming frustrated and your scenario playing out, but I think it's much more likely we WILL have success.  I'm very happy to see Supes' report that players are buying in... I don't know if I've ever been more excited for a season to start even with a relatively quiet offseason.

I'm surprised Schlenk never convinced the Wizards to go after him.  I know he values flexibility, but that was his boy.

9 minutes ago, KB21 said:

 

7'-2" at 16 years old?!?!?! Holy smokes!!