ggp

It really is shame that Dennis did not develop into the player he could be today. If I were running the show, Dennis would remain on the team for at least another season. It is obvious that TY is the point guard of the future, but it would be nice to have someone ahead of him for a year. DS has potential to be a star. I just wonder what goes on in between his ears.

I don't think defenses will scheme specifically for Doncic. He is not a slasher, rather a guy that makes everyone else better.

OK, I'll stop with the Young critiques. To be honest, my assessment of TY has been harsh. I am misplacing my anger towards the GM and owner. I think that they missed a rare opportunity to do something great.

Exactly correct. That is why I am still hopping mad at this. I have been hyper-critical of Trae Young, but my anger has been misplaced. Young is a fine young prospect and under proper coaching, should turn out to be a very good PG. I just don't think that he had the same league-wide draft value as Doncic and Bamba. It's not just about a team's own draft board, but also about getting the most out of a draft by using strategy. The Hawks had the stars aligned for a major overhaul. A good job would have landed the team the tandem of Young and Bamba. A great job would have also included Doncic. A haul of Doncic, Bamba, and Young would have been worth taking the contracts of Biyombo and Parsons and trading away #19, Dedmon, Schröder and a first rounder next year. The deals were there to be made with Memphis and Orlando. Both of those teams had immediate needs. Memphis needed cap space and Orlando needed a PG and very much wanted to be rid of Biyombo's contract. Instead, Schlenck moved two spots down from a highly regarded #3, for a protected first rounder next season (supposedly a weaker draft). He is still stuck with Dennis Schröder, who is talented, but does not fit into the rebuild. He drafted two offensive prospects for a HC that is clearly defensive-minded. And, he is sitting on a whole lot of cap space that will not be used on a high-end Free Agent. Sclenck and Ressler missed a rare opportunity that could have paid off handsomely in three seasons.

He is taller, longer and actually plays defense. Young, not so much.

Probably more than short collegians with average athletic abilities.

Not really. He is smaller and does not have the athleticism to compensate for that short coming. He is also accustomed to taking a lot of shots.....he is far less efficient. His defense will be more limited than LD because of lack of effort and length. Additionally, LD has proven to be a high caliber competitor with the mental make up to overcome adversity. Young may have that, but it certainly did not show up in the NCAA amateur tournament. Young was the wrong choice over Doncic. Than, add on the cheapness of the Hawks' owner. They had the chance to purchase the #4 pick to draft an excellent young front court prospect, instead they saved their money. Another mediocre decade begins.

Why? The kid put his team on his back and won the games he had to win. He has faced grown men for two seasons and managed to look good doing it. He is better than Young and will likely develop a better body in the next two years. He has proven his maturity and ability to handle adversity more so than Young. He is a better player than Young and would have been a better ambassador of the team internationally. The Hawks failed to maximize their position in this draft. Their GM failed from a talent perspective and their owner failed because he did not spend the money he needed to spend to advance the team. And so, another mediocre decade begins. Young will "dazzle" some fans with long distance shooting, but not provide much more than that.

Trae is a short stack that does not have the athletic ability to over come that SHORT coming. No amount of weight training will change his defensive deficiencies. In college, against kids, his turnovers were high. Right now, Young is a poor back court companion with Schröder. Neither will defend much. Regardless of which player was taken, the Hawks will lose a lot for the next two seasons. Which prospect is more likely the tougher minded? The young kid that performed against men and put the his team on his back to win a championship, or the kid that shot a lot of jumpers but was stymied once he faced serious amateur competition? Would it surprise anyone to see Young turn into a pouting brat in three seasons?

I agree, except I would give it a D. The Hawks did not maximize their situation; they did not even come close. They had the #3 pick and enough cap space to purchase the #4 pick. They came away with a short stack gamble at PG, a back court "companion" that has yet to show any defensive talent, and a 6-9 Center that has had chronic weight issues. By simply keeping Doncic and purchasing the #4, they could have the distributor of the future and an excellent front court player. This was really a failure to maximize. I did not grade an F, because in today's cream puff society, everyone gets a trophy.

We have the Check Cola version of the Warriors. The choice of Young over Doncic will haunt this team for a decade.

You know that Chrysler cars have been designed to look like Mercedes Benz for several years. Cheap imitations are almost like the real things, right?

This was a colossal missed opportunity. An idiot Gm and a cheap owner. The #4 pick was there for the taking, but money was clearly the issue. A consensus play maker was available and our GM opted for a short stack of question marks. Mark Cuban is lighting up a Cuban and laughing his a$$ off.

He is an idiot. He doesn't have an original thought in his head, so he imitates.....even if it is a cheap imitation. Why does Atlanta endure and suffer such fools?

When a European is good enough to land in the lottery, he tends to be very good. How many college players have been drafted by the Hawks that turned out to be outright trash? Let's be honest. You are a fan (as in fanatical). This decision was a monumental mistake. It is Marvin Williams all over again.

This owner was supposed to be a wealthy guy that wanted a championship. Instead, he is a pile of hypocritical dung. We could have purchased the #4 and already have Doncic and Bamba on the roster. The rebuild would have progressed. Instead, they gambled on a short stack who MAY pan out. This is historical-grade stupidity.

Does it matter?

The Hawks did not have to convince any other team of Doncic's value. Everyone knew. Do you really think that any other team respects what the Hawk's think?

99.8% of college players don't ever play in the NBA. Real Madrid would crush Villanova......please. Doncic makes everyone around him better. He is a gifted passer that has honed his skills at a much higher level.......with very few turnovers. He is also bigger and better prepared to defend. For crying out loud! The Hawks could have worked a deal to take Young later. Please don't tell me that Orlando would have taken him over Bamba. That is just ridiculous. This is Marvin Williams all over again.

Of course they were interested. Doncic is a top-3 prospect. Not only was Dallas interested, but Cuban was also smarter than anyone in the Hawks administration. He stole a major asset that will help his team for the next decade. I am truly shocked at the stupidity of the Hawks. Why would any free agent want to work for this closing tradition?

How do you know? Young played in a college league and did not face real competition until the tournament. He gacked that opportunity. Meanwhile, Doncic has played against grown men for the past two years and he stepped up and put his team on his shoulders. He is an incredible passer. This is not even close. It is unbelievable. This is Marvin Williams instead of Chris Paul/Deron Williams.

Schlenck has a plan. Step one: throw away a 3rd pick. I am not sure I want to know what the rest of his plan is.

You know because Luka Doncic is not known for his passing.......in a professional league. Such a F'en idiot.

This is Chris Paul all over again.

Seriously? This is another historical gaff. Generation after generation, this is a mismanaged team.