mdawg

Ray Allen is 29 years old. He's not in a wheelchair. Get off the age thing. A 30 year old Allen is better than Johnson, Redd, Korver(are you serious?) or Hughes at any age.

You guys are acting like Ray Allen is ancient. He's 29 years old. How is that old? Also, sometimes you have to sign a guy for more than on field performance. The NY Mets did it with Pedro Martinez. Sometimes you have to take into account prestige and the image of the franchise. That's the position the Hawks are in.

From everything I have heard and read, it seems like Allen will base his decision on who to sign with on money. The hawks can offer more than anyone else. Cleveland wants Redd because Lebron has said he wants to play with him, and Redd is from Ohio-he wants to go home. Denver may go after Allen, but George Karl ran him out of Milwaukee, so why would he want him now? The Clippers will have cap room, but when have they ever payed for anybody? Allen is a legit superstar, and if you sign him and draft Bogut, you are a playoff team in the east. Allen would get people excited and he would give the hawks credibiblty around the league. You have to make a run at him. I also think it's possible because the Hawks owners want to make a splash and get some good press for a change.

I just think it's funny how you compare Bogut to Koncak and Collier instead of Yinka Dare and Jerome Moiso. Why not throw Raef LaFrantz or Greg Kite in there and make the stereotype complete? But, what else do you expect from a gator.

You don't think Bogut is Ewing or Shaq, but what have you seen that tells you Paul is Kidd or Nash? Paul supposedly plays against the toughest competition in the country, but when was the last time he dominated a game? All the guys who came out of high school dominated inferior competition, yet no one had a problem drafting any of them. There are people on this board who want the Hawks to draft another H.S. player this year. Who did Howard or Josh Smith play against last year in H.S.? Bogut would be great in any conference. I hate to say this, but it seems like Bogut is being compared to every white stiff who's ever played in the NBA. If Bogut was from Harlem instead of Austrailia, would there be a question about his ability? I'm not accusing anyone of anything, but it doesn't seem fair to me.

Far and away, the best player in the draft is Bogut. If he played in the ACC or Big East, everyone on this board would be drooling over him. Many people here do like him, but for some reason, quite a few don't. Why? He can rebound very well, he has a very good post game, he's a great passer, and he put up 14 and 8 in the olympics against NBA competition. He is the number one pick, no matter who else comes out.

You're absolutely right. I'm glad you sent the e-mail. By the way, I really don't think Dallas will give up Harris and Daniels for Sprewell. They would be getting older and they would hurt their depth. Do they really need Sprewell? They have Finley, Howard, and Daniels.

You could say that about any player. Draft history is full of high picks who have been busts. Personally, I think it would be easier to draft Bogut and sign a PG than draft a PG and sign a center. Of course, if Bogut is gone when the Hawks pick, then a PG would be an obvious choice. As for Bogut, he isn't a big slow guy who stands next to the basket looking for put backs. He's a good athlete, and a great passer. I really think he'll be very good.

Bogut will be an all-star in this league. He will instantly be the best passing big man in the league, he'll put up a double double every night, and he'll be a great fit with the speedy athletes the hawks have (The Smiths, Childress, Harrington). He'll be able to hit those guys cutting to the basket, and he'll be great at starting the fast break. It's much easier to find a PG than a franchise center. If you get a chance to draft a big time center, you do not pass it up.

Bogut is a legit 7 footer who is a great passer. Think about an offense that could have him in the post and J Smith, Harrington, and Childress cutting to the basket on the receiving end of his great passes. He'll also do a great job of starting the fast break. Bogut puts up a double double every night, and he played in the Olympics, so he has played against NBA players. As for Paul, he may be the most overrated player in college basketball. He's not that great of a shooter, and he struggles against guys just an inch taller than him. You don't pass up a true center when there are so few available. Why spend huge dollars on older guys when you can draft a twenty year old and mold him into what you want? Bogut has to be the pick.

A short list: Chris Paul, John Gilchrist (MD), Nate Robinson (Washington), Carl Krauser (Pitt), and Rudy Fernandez. I know everyone in Atlanta loves him, but I'm not that impressed with Jack.

I've watched every minute of the competitive games, and at least the 1st half of the blow outs. It's not easy.

I know it's not realistic. But it's my dream team.

If you have a starting 5 of Watson/Childress/Harrington/Smith/Dalembert, who is going to score? They'll get a few dunks, but no one can hit a jump shot! That is one of the worst ideas I've ever heard. Why is everyone so high on Dalembert anyway? What has he done? I'd much rather have Swift. And for those people who say he's not a true center, let me say this: there are only 2 true centers in the NBA. One will retire in a couple of years, and the other is in the western conference. If the plan is these two guys, it will prove that this organization will always be pathetic.

1. Ray Allen: He's the best player on the list, a true superstar who would instantly make the Hawks better. I know they drafted Childress, but Allen is so much better. 2. Stromile Swift: He can defend and rebound, two things this team currently cannot do. And, when he gets playing time, he can score. 3. Z. Ilgauskas: It's hard to believe, but he's one of the top centers in the NBA. If you could get him and draft a young big man to spell him off the bench, you're ahead of most teams size-wise. 4. Jeff McInnis: If you don't draft a point guard, this guy is a proven veteran who plays well wherever he goes. 5. Bobby Jackson: I know he gets hurt, and I don't know where he would play, but I love his game. He could start at the point, or he could be a 2 guard with Diaw. Imagine if you get Allen and Swift, you could have a starting 5 of Allen/Swift/Harrington/J. Smith/and the PG, which could be Ivey, Diaw, A free agent or a draft pick. I kind of like the idea of Diaw running the point, because you would have a versatile, athletic, big team that would be a tough match up for other teams. Plus, Allen is a good ball handler, so Diaw wouldn't have to do it all the time. I think it would be a pretty good team. Fun to watch too.

I would like to see Marte move to the outfield, like Cabrerra did for the Marlins. If he's as good as everyone says, the Braves need him in the line up now. I would be okay with Green/Meyer/Lerew, but I would be hesitant to give up Marte, Francouer, or Davies.

I don't mind the Braves trading Meyer for Hudson, because Hudson is one of the best pitchers in baseball. A rotation with Hudson and Smoltz will give the Braves power pitching, something they've never had in the postseason. Plus, the Braves have a good history of trading highly touted prospects who turn out to do very little for their new teams.

Perez has been hit and miss since he left. One day he'll look great, the next he won't make it out of the 2nd or 3rd inning. Marquis had a lot of wins last year, but he was helped by a great offense. I wasn't that impressed with Capellan last year. He has a great fastball, but he can't control it, and he has no off spead pitch. Apparently, he's had trouble developing one, and he's getting lit up in the Dominican league. I'm glad Smoltz is starting again. If he had started Game 1 or 5 against the Astros, the Braves would've won one of those games. I hope they get Brown, and I'm sure they'll get a RF. Maybe Jacque Jones from the Twins, or maybe someone else. But they'll get somebody.

You forgot Sean May and Chris Taft

In my opinion, there are two guys on the free agent market worth max money, and they are Kobe and K-Mart, and Martin is a borderline max player. Honestly, he really isn't a max player, but I think he is for the Hawks because of the good PR his signing would create in the city. Do these experts think it was smart for the Warriors to give Adonal Foyle an insane contract? He averaged 3 points a game last year! What about Utah giving huge money to Okur? Why should the Hawks spend huge money on players that will only make them mediocre? If there is a player worth the money, Billy Knight will go after him.

1. Magic: Okafor 2. Bobcats: Howard 3. Bulls: Iguodala 4. Clippers: Gordon 5. Wizards: Deng 6. Hawks: Livingston At 17, I think the pick is Al Jefferson or Araujo if he is there. Trade JT for a sevicable big man, sign K. Martin and Marquis Daniels, and you've got a good start. By the way, next year's draft is weak in High School talent, but it's deep in college and international talent.

I've read on a few sites that Utah has been trying to move up in the draft. They have 3 first round picks, maybe they have to throw in Harpring for the Hawks to agree to move down. Utah's first pick is 14, maybe the deal is Harpring/14 for 6, or two picks and Harpring for 6. Or maybe JT is involved. Harpring is a quality player though. If they do the deal, you would think a point guard is a guarantee for one of the picks. They worked out 4 of them today.

I hope that somenody takes hom before the Hawks can. The Hawks don't need athletes. They need basketball players. They need to take the "Moneyball" philosophy from baseball and apply it to basketball. Draft players based on performance, not potential.

I would say Piladelphia is my favorite, because I think it's the best overall film. But Courage Under Fire is a very underated movie. His best performance is in Malcom X.

I guess the Fugitive, because it was better than Cobb. But, now that I see his resume, I'm not all that impressed.