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20 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

There is a lot going on behind the scenes. A lot. There is even a chance where Atlanta ends up with 1 and 3. There is a lot going on. A lot. 

I'll say this, Murray trade talks are extremely hot and there are teams interested that just wasn't even close or interested at the trade deadline 

There is a reason why Clingan has the interest he has. He's seen as the #1 or #2 best center on the market with Claxton and many see Claxton returning to Brooklyn so the gap between the next player regardless of draft, trade, or FA is considered massive. Regardless of what I personally think, Hartenstein is seen as the #3 guy and after that, it's all over the place, you got Edey, Jonas, CC, or even going potential like Missi or Ware that's the next option and the gap is seen as massive to execs. That's why Clingan is so high with teams.

While teams thought Atlanta was gonna tank and trade Trae to SA and it was a done deal. They have come to realize Atlanta isn't open to trading Trae without a clear overpay like Mikal and Brooklyn. From what I've gathered, no one is even close. That Trae market is similar to Murray which is two quality 1sts. Of course, Atlanta had no interest and even then, they want to make it work with Trae due to their personal love for him as well as business most importantly. 

Capela has a lot of interest just due to a dead market. A lot of teams have called about OO but it seems like outside of NO which has wings Atlanta covets, it doesn't seem like he's been in trade talks. There are 8 teams calling about CC. Last year, it was just Houston who had a deal with us and pulled out because Cam Whitmore fell to them. Teams more than ever need multiple centers so he's getting a lot of interest. 

It's no lie that Atlanta is targeting Clingan. Maybe it's a tad overrated based on what I've got this morning. He's not the #1 player on their current big board, Risacher is. He's not even #2 like I thought, Sarr is. He's just the #1 center and as I just mentioned, many teams see the gap between Claxton and Clingan to the next tier as massive regardless if I personally have Edey as the top overall guy. I was told that sentiment isn't shared by any team which I felt could change due to some of the private workouts. That said, I was told he is in the top 3 of some team's BB which makes me feel like okay, not everyone is a dipshit. 

Right now, Sarr is the top guy for most bad teams with Sheppard being the top guy for some other bad teams. Houston is the only team with Sheppard as the top guy and they aren't bad. Risacher is the #1 guy for most average to great teams. He's clearly the top dawg. No surprise, teams like wings who are NBA ready, can shoot, play smart, defend multiple positions and can play off the ball at a high level. Whereas bad teams want potential stars. They want a potential building block even if they are raw, they got time and patience. I do believe teams are higher on Risacher than I am. Based on the Intel on Sarr, many question his floor like I do. The Sarr takes are a lot closer to my takes than Hawksquawk.net or Hawks Twitter/Reddit. 

Also, Atlanta is not close to making a decision at 1. I was told it's going go be a more rigorous process this year than it was during the Trae draft just due to the players outside of Castle being cooperative to the Hawks. So Sarr fans, at first Sarr was one, then the execs and coaches got involved and he's now #2 with Clingan getting #2 pushes from the coaches. That said, I haven't heard he's done workouts yet and I've heard the Hawks are planning on multiple meetings with all the top prospects.

Trae has been a lean from what I've heard for Clingan. He wants a younger center who can set great screens, run the PnR, and make the game easier for him on both ends. Not just him making the game easier for them. 

Also, don't count Edey out of Atlanta. I haven't heard of any workouts or workout plans but Atlanta had seriously scouted him and Atlanta could be in the lottery twice is what I've heard. They want a center Edey is high on their BB. So while the Hawks best decision is unlikely, I am hoping it happens even when I know it's a long shot. 

Thanks for the info, good to know they haven't completely decided or ruled anything out. 

I can see the argument for any of Sarr, Clingan or Edey but I just don't get Risacher hype at all.

Dude isn't long, has small hands, a 31" vert and only weighed 195 lbs.  He missed 11 dunks this year.   Sure he shot well from 3 but it was more like a hot streak at the beginning of the season, I heard that he shot under 30% from 3 for like the last 30 games of the year.  He's not a good FT shooter, he's not a passer, doesn't really create off the dribble.  They have this guy ranked #1 over the others, and he's at most a 3/D guy who needs to gain a lot of weight and isn't very athletic?  I just don't get it.

1 hour ago, thecampster said:

I've said this repeatedly.  Purdue doesn't make the NIT without Edey. You can't say that about Clingan and UConn.  Edey put both their centers in foul trouble that game.  UConn committed 18 fouls. Other than Edey, the rest of Purdue shot 5 total foul shots. It was that bad. Edey roasted Clingan and pretty much everyone else he faced the last 2 years.  Honesty matters.

On to Sarr.
Perth came in second during the regular season. You can make the argument they're still top 4 without Sarr.  Team leaders statistically, that's his impact.  He was the top scorer once. The last game of the season (17) in a loss. He was the top rebounder twice (9) in a loss, (12) in a win. 

What follows is his +/- from the last 5 games he played at Perth. -17, -10, -1, -1, -15.


Will he get better, sure.  But taking him or Risacher is playing roulette. With the 8th pick, maybe, with the top pick....OMFG no.

He was 18 years old.  He played 17 minutes per game.  The NBL is a better league than the NCAA.

His per 36 numbers are as good as anyone on that team.  

He was 5th in the league in blocks and only played 17 mpg.

He joined an established playoff team in Australia, who knew he was a one and done, and played against 25-30 year olds and played pretty damn good.  He's also gained 10 lbs since starting at Perth.  

I like Clingan and Edey but they have no chance at being stars.  Clingan just looks like an injury risk to me and he can't shoot AT ALL.  And I don't know how many times we need to witness Gobert get exposed in the playoffs to prefer a big like that.

1 hour ago, deester11 said:

I'd rather play roulette.  Give me the Hawks developmental staff and the player with the most upside.  It's still Sarr imho.  That ain't falling in love with just video, it's just that his skillset and potential is higher than Clingan/Edey.  

There is a reason in AHF's poll, 95% of the votes are to take Sarr 1st.  It's really not close IMO, especially after seeing Risacher's weak combine results.  Risacher missed 11 dunks last season.  The small hands and weak vertical make sense.

There are a few vocal detractors that don't like Sarr for some reason even though we have always wanted someone like him.

I don't think it's playing roulette at all.  And I don't think Sarr has a low floor.  At 7'1" with his athleticism, at MINIMUM he will be a great defender, rim protector and rim-runner who can push the break himself.  Pair him with a PG like Trae and he will have great value even if he doesn't improve at all.  Like there is zero doubt in my mind he will be good defensively.

By all accounts he has a high work ethic.  He's well travelled, having already played ball in France, USA and Australia.  He has family that were pros.  Players with his natural talent + a high work ethic rarely bust.  Of course there is a chance he does as with anyone but he's far ahead of the other prospects in my mind.

38 minutes ago, KB21 said:

 

Risacher’s max vert is just 31 inches?   So he legitimately doesn’t have any elite traits.  

Risacher is probably 6th or 7th on my board now.  He is 15 lbs lighter than projected at 195 lbs (15 lbs less than Durant coming out of Texas), shorter than projected, not long, can't create, not a passer, can't shoot FTs.  31" MAX vertical?  Please take anyone except that guy.  

Sarr is 4 inches taller and jumps 6 inches higher, and is probably more skilled with the ball in his hands.  Sarr is a better passer, better FT shooter, better rim protector, better lob threat, better defensively.  I really don't see how anyone can make an argument for Risacher over Sarr now.

Not buying Sarr won't come to Atlanta for a second.  He played in Atlanta for Overtime Elite for 2 seasons.  Playing with a PG like Trae will help his career so much, even his coach said that.  Trae will make the game so much easier for him.

Even if he did prefer Washington, who cares.  You don't draft players players based on where they want to go.  That's just weak copout by the front office.

38 minutes ago, Sothron said:

FWIW I'd rather take Sarr and use him like Mobley and Chet.

Agreed.  

It's just weird to me though that we like Clingan so much b/c he is "NBA ready" to come in and help contribute immediately.  But then we are told Risacher is also at the top of our board.  He weighed in at 195 lbs, that dude is a total project.  If you are taking a potential guy, Sarr is a no brainer.  

5 minutes ago, Final_quest said:

If we can do both, I am much more inclined to go that route.  I don't think NO is gonna throw Herb Jones in the deal if all we give up is Capela, Hunter, and Murray.  That seems like what the FO might be trying to negotiate, but it doesn't sound like NO is gonna bite on that offer.  Therefore a trade down in this draft is pretty necessary to get an extra pick to make the deal work.  

Giving up a potential all-star (Murray) on a great contract plus trading out of a potential superstar at #1 for a defensive role player in Jones?  And Ingram?   I LOVE Jones, but he is at best the 4th/5th best player on a championship team.  

You don't EVER give up #1 overall (even in a perceived "weak" draft) for a role player unless you think that role player wins you the championship.  

I'd consider throwing in the Sac pick, but definitely not #1 overall.  We already gave up Luka, Pau, missed on Chris Paul/Deron Williams/Brandon Roy.  Now we are going to trade the top pick for Herb?  Nah

8 minutes ago, KB21 said:

He doesn’t even need to add that much weight.  He’s going to naturally get stronger in an NBA conditioning program.  

He was almost 10 lbs heavier than expected.  He's already progressing.  The dude is a gym rat.  With that natural height/athleticism and drive to be great, look out NBA.  I just have zero confidence in the Hawks to make the right decision.

Elite lob threat, Elite fast break, Elite defense in space and rim protector, sees the floor well, elite ball handling for a 7 footer, already shooting 30% from 3 in a pro league and 71% from FT.  

I can't believe there is even a debate on the #1 pick.

We just need to ensure we get value out of Murray.  As a PG he is a beast, has made an all-defensive team and has really improved as a scorer.  And he's on a very team friendly contract for the next 4 years.

If we trade him for Ingram as the centerpiece that is a failure on the FO.  

1 minute ago, JeffS17 said:

#1 pick plus a vet minimum = 2 roster slots at $11.7-13.8M

#4 pick + #8 pick = 2 roster slots at $12.8M 

There is zero difference in how much cap space we have with either of these situations, so it really just feels like you're trying to use a cap argument to push your agenda which is you don't want Sarr because he's not a win-now pick and you're not a fan.  So I'm not sure what the constraints you are referring to are.

You never make draft decisions based on the salary of the pick.  You take the best player.  He just doesn't like Sarr.