txsting

If we passed over Aldridge for Roy or Foye....i don't know man. It's awfully close. We're not talking about clear cut choices here. Some GM is going to make the wrong choice and it's going to be hard to fault him for it given what we know now. I think I'd be upset though, because Aldridge just plays a more valuable position. Even if he doesn't pan out, he's still 6'11 and that gives him trade value down the line - someone else will think he could still turn it around even if he sucks for 3 years. If Foye or Shelden is lousy for three years, well, you've got nothing out of it.

I'd take Shelden over Bargnani (12 pts a game in Euro league?), Thomas (smoove clone), Morrison (not a fit for us), and Gay (desire issues). To me, if Aldridge, Foye, or Roy is on the board, Shelden is too much of a reach. So it totally depends on how the draft shakes out as to how happy I would be with Shelden.

I think you're on to something here. I also believe that we've been laying out a smokescreen in order to make it harder for other teams to jump over us to get the good guards. Also keep in mind the data point that we worked out a lot of guards, and never worked out Shelden or the other top bigs. Now, I think Shelden would be fine and help the team, but I now lean toward Foye or Roy if Aldridge is gone. My board for the pick if we keep it (in order): 1)Aldridge 2)Foye 3)Roy 4)Shelden I'd just take the best left on that short list and be happy with it. We can only fix one thing at a time. I think Aldridge might be gone, but Foye is probably available at our pick.

AWARD! If we were to take him with an acquired pick below 15, I'll vomit in my mouth.

If they really want a SF, I guess it would take Chillz to get this done, and that's probably too much. It ends up as essentially Roy(maybe)/Chillz for Jameer/Landlord(maybe). I don't think I like what it would take to get this done. Basically, I'm trying to find a young but established backcourt mate for JJ, but I admit I'm reaching here. I just don't want any more 19 year olds as this team starts to turn the corner - that's why I like Shelden.

Do you think Orlando would do this deal? Our #5 for #11 and Jameer Nelson. I know they like Jameer and he made big strides this season. I love his game and intensity. He's obviously learned how to stroke the 3 and plays good defense. We might have to sweeten this deal with Salim/Donta/rights to Cenk - or something. With the #11 we get the best big available, in my mind this targets Shelden Williams who is #2 on my 4/5 board after Aldridge. Of course if Aldridge slips to #5 I think we just go ahead and take him. Jameer/JJ/Marvin/Smoove/Landlord.

I didn't realize we couldn't SNT Al on or before draft day. I tried to find a rule prohibiting it, but I'm afraid I don't know all the rules. Anyway, which rule prohibits this?

I think the Hawks have one huge problem to solve right now - how to get value in return for a SNT of Al. I don't believe for a second that he will be resigned. In my mind, the ideal solution would be to use him along with other bait in a big-for-big trade, acquiring an established "star" force down low (guys like Bosh, Brand, KG, J ONeal, et al). However, I just can't see a deal out there that works for both sides. It doesn't seem realistic that we can pull off a deal like that. This board has been suggesting trades like that for months and none of them work. However, we might be able to get value for him in a trade for a pick and an expiring contract, in order to get the trade values to match. I think if Al was in this draft, his pick would be somewhere in the 6-10 range (b/c GM's feel that 1-5 picks must have allstar potential). Here's a do-able trade for you: Al to NO for the 12th pick and PJ Brown. I think NO could really use a 3/4 like Al alongside David West. NO still has a another 1st rounder to spend on a project big if they like. PJ Brown is there to make the salaries work, but he's still a serviceable 4/5 for depth and has a expiring contract. We get the 12th pick and take the best defensive big available from among Simmons, S Williams, O'Bryant, and Sene (perhaps). I'm gambling that at least one would be available, and at this pick I'm happy with any of them. Keep the 5 pick and get Roy or Foye, in that order I think. We might be undervaluing Al a bit, but at least we get something in return. Maybe BK could squeeze another second rounder out of NO for another long-term Euro project. JJ/Roy/Marvin/Smoove/Landlord sounds great!!

I think Noah = Camby. Camby is 6-11, 230. They block shots, have incredible athleticism, somewhat limited offensively, but are hustle players. Noah is probably a better passer. Heck, having Camby right now would probably improve our team through rebounding and shot rejection. Therefore, if we have the chance, I'd be all for taking a shot with Noah, and he can play the 4/5 depending on the opposition.

I agree with you. Looks like Belkin is putting himself in a tough spot. The only possible out I can see is that it sounds like, in order to be in violation, that he would actually have to cast a vote as team governor that is opposed to the rest of the partnership. However, a technicality could exist that allows Belkin to pull a "pocket veto", and simply not cast the vote at all, in order to not run afoul of the agreement. I'm totally speculating here - who knows how the NBA board of governor's meetings work? And we don't know exactly how the partnership agreement was drafted. But this seems a remote possibility given the information that we have. Most likely, Belkin is trying to stall this thing to the point that Phoenix backs out. I'm sure Belkin thinks he has the team interests in mind, and would actually like to have JJ (his words). But he wouldn't be bothered if N.O. (or anyone) slips in here and gets a deal done.

Yes, I just hope that we clear up the situation so that at least we can DO BUSINESS moving forward. If we can't even make the deals happen that are accepted, that's pathetic. If Belkin gets to call the basketball shots and plays the active owner, I don't think I'll be able to watch.

First off - forget about JJ for a moment. Whether or not we acquire him does NOT determine the future success of the franchise in a huge way. Even if you disagree, that's not my point, read on. It's obvious we have a much bigger problem that has been stewing - and it took a lightning rod such as this deal to polarize the parties and get the issues out in the open. Now that it's in the open, and has become an embarrassment for the franchise, and the NBA, let's hope to get some resolution to our ownership/governorship. Face it - it was going to take something big to shake this out, and let's get it over with now, while the team still is lousy. This can go one of three ways: 1) The courts decide that Belkin can be removed as governor by the other partners, because he has made a decision against the majority opinion. To me - this seems likely. I don't understand how Belkin has any ground to argue otherwise. If this happens, this will sever Belkin's sac, and he will probably sell to exit an uncomfortable, powerless, minority ownership position. 2) David Stern steps in and removes Belkin from the governorship, if indeed he has the power. Can someone tell me, what power does Stern have in this situation?? 3) Belkin might just win (I doubt it). This will send BK packing. Belkin will hire a puppet GM. Babcock revisited.

I'm going to pretend that I understand and am in support of the direction BK is taking the team. That said, I don't feel that Curry is a BK center. Out of the trio of offense, defense, and intangibles, he only has one, and the wrong one at that! BK needs a Whopper at C! Who is it?

I admit, it would be great to enter next offseason with only 1 major hole in the starting five (be it C or PG). I think we lost a major opportunity to take another step by failing to trade up for Jack, as BK tried to do. On Harrington, I'm not entirely sold on trading him. This board seems to really undervalue him. And I agree, if you're going to sell him, you should sell high, because his value has peaked after his best statistical year, w/expiring contract, still young, etc. But I don't see anything wrong with having 3 very solid guys to rotate at the forward positions - that's a mark of strength and depth that few teams can match. When one guy gets in foul trouble, has an off night, the rotation can pick you up. If we can get a true center that can start for a title team, go ahead and trade Al. I'm doubtful that we can get one. If we can get one through free agency, then by all means do it. I want a young REBOUNDING MACHINE who BLOCKS SHOTS. Here are the some of the possibilities, with Magloire thrown in for comparison: 1) Chandler (#4 in REB/48 min, #14 in BLK/48) 2) Dally (#13 in REB/48, #12 in BLK/48) 3) Gadzuric (#1 in REB/48, #18 in BLK/48) - likely backup role, but he's signed 4) Pryz (#10 in REB/48, #4 in BLK/48) 5) Magloire (#20 in REB/48, #40 in BLK/48) - best offensive game Gadzuric has surprisingly strong numbers over 48 minutes. What stats don't show is how well these guys play on-the-ball defense. HELP!! Somebody please rank these guys defensively - not on stats but on feel for how well they can guard other top centers, how well they help. Whoever wins that comparo would have my vote. Anyone else to throw in there??

(first time caller - love the squawk) Let's not get too carried away with needing to collect a free agent just to show that we did something. This market only had a few max-caliber players, and they are mostly gone. It's not a crime or a bad thing for this team to not sign anyone. If you cannot say for sure that a given player is a legitimate starter for a championship team , then why do you want to pay max dollars and cripple your team down the road? Who out there fits the bill? I think that only a few available players 'could' (note that none of them have proven it) fit the description: 1) Allen (gone) 2) J Johnson (RFA) 3) Dalembert (RFA) 4) Chandler (RFA) I think each of those players instantly improves the team, and can be a long term piece of a championship team. If they are all matched, save your money and continue to build the team through the draft. In the league today, the only way to develop star players and keep them at reasonable salaries is to draft well and extend contracts of key players a year before they hit the market. Nothing wrong with that! If we gamble on signing a mediocre player to a big contract (hello Curry/Swift/Kwame) we could very well end up with an untradeable contract and cripple our chance to add the right free agent down the road. What's worse, we could actually improve our team to the dreaded mediocre level - not bad enough to improve in the draft, not good enough to go anywhere in the playoffs, and too capped out to do anything about it! So we probably can't add another big piece right now. So what? One more year of struggle could lead to another good draft position. One more good draft position, and we have ourselves at least 6 or 7 key cogs. Just look at what we're building on: Chillz/Smoove/Marvin/Al/Salim/Our 2006 1st/Lakers 2006 1st Some of the necessary depth is likely to emerge from a core of promising backups: Diaw/Ivey/Donta/Cenk/Andersen/mid-tier free agent(s) (05 or 06) Take another chance at filling whatever holes emerge with 2006 free agency. Then sit back and watch this flower grow. It's going to fun to watch this develop - but patience is the key! Imagine - your playoff bound 2006 Atlanta Hawks!! 2007 Eastern Conference finalist!! 2008 NBA Champs!!