2013 Auditions now taking place in Atlanta.

[Diesel]

This is my outlook for the Hawks at this time.... with some points about everything else going on.1. This team 2012 is not built to be competitive. We have every stitch of players on this team that is meant to be released at the end of the season. The only players under contract is Jenkins and Horf. So right now, everybody is auditioning to be a part of 2013. 2. But Ferry is smart. He has built a team that easily converts into a winner if we get Dwight. Very Smart. It's a win win from that standpt. If the Magic folds and give us Dwight, we win because we have a team full of Shooters, a few PGs, and Josh. I'm sure we would take Richardson off their hands and give them picks well into the future.3. Salary wise, we will have a gang of FA money. If there's a free agent that wants to play with Josh and Horf... we got money for them.BUT...4. Auditions are happening for those left on this team.Harris vs. Teague, vs. Williams.Morrow vs. Korver.If Harris outplays Teague, Teague might not get his QO.If Morrow outplays Korver, this may be it for Korver.Or..The right situation may come up and none of these guys are resigned.Ferry can't lose because next year will either be cheap and rebuilding through the draft.. or expensive and building a megateam...However, as we are composed right now, no playoffs.We have the same problems we have always had.. too small up front and no inside scoring.I say Sign Keith Benson, try for the trade... and wait.

[WillBarrow]

I think dwight is over....but I like this team better than last years even if we go in like we stand today.

[PSSSHHHRRR87]

I believe Morrow will be apart of a trade or just not resigned. If we are going to give Jenkins any quality minutes with Williams backing him up, Morrow will have to be traded, unless Orlando is very interested in a Jenkins/(Fillers)/picks trade for Howard. I think Teague stays and Harris may stay if CP3 resigns with LAC. Harris, Jenkins, Smith, Horford, Howard is still a title contender, that is if Howard is interested in coming home. If Korver likes it here in Atlanta (heard he wasn't too happy to be traded here) and is okay backing up Smith, I'd like to see him back in Atlanta. Not a bad lineup. The 2013 lineup will be like the lineup is like that in Orlando, but with the difference being Dwight will have Smith, Zaza, and Horford to give him plenty of help down in the paint and with Williams, Teague, and Harris, we also have a few slashers that will attack the basket. Korver will be our 3 pt specialist... I like it a lot.

[macdaddy]

I just don't see where there is a big dropoff having just lost Joe. Lou williams provided comparable production in fewer minutes for the sixers. Out depth and shooting is greatly improved and for a jump shooting team that's a big deal. Defense won't be as good but I expect Josh and Al to have career years. I can't see us dropping out of the playoffs. I expect us to be right there and be even tougher to beat.

[KB21]

I stopped reading when you stated that this team isn't built to be competitive. This team will win more games than last year's team did.

Edited July 18, 2012 by KB21

[gurpilo]

I just don't see where there is a big dropoff having just lost Joe. Lou williams provided comparable production in fewer minutes for the sixers. Out depth and shooting is greatly improved and for a jump shooting team that's a big deal. Defense won't be as good but I expect Josh and Al to have career years. I can't see us dropping out of the playoffs. I expect us to be right there and be even tougher to beat.

The big dropoff comes from defense, we are an undersized team at very weak defensively at SG, SF and C positions. I think that if we don't get Howard is a lost season but it doesn't matter, we should use the season to develop Teague, Jenkins and Horford as the new go-to guy, and sign some young players at the post to develop them for next season as Jordan Hill or A. Randolph. Next season 2 draft picks and tons of cap space, if you have a good core, FAs would think on signing here.

[SalvorMallow]

The big dropoff comes from defense, we are an undersized team at very weak defensively at SG, SF and C positions. I think that if we don't get Howard is a lost season but it doesn't matter, we should use the season to develop Teague, Jenkins and Horford as the new go-to guy, and sign some young players at the post to develop them for next season as Jordan Hill or A. Randolph. Next season 2 draft picks and tons of cap space, if you have a good core, FAs would think on signing here.

Since when has Horford been weak defensively?

[Jody23]

I believe Morrow will be apart of a trade or just not resigned. If we are going to give Jenkins any quality minutes with Williams backing him up, Morrow will have to be traded, unless Orlando is very interested in a Jenkins/(Fillers)/picks trade for Howard. I think Teague stays and Harris may stay if CP3 resigns with LAC. Harris, Jenkins, Smith, Horford, Howard is still a title contender, that is if Howard is interested in coming home. If Korver likes it here in Atlanta (heard he wasn't too happy to be traded here) and is okay backing up Smith, I'd like to see him back in Atlanta. Not a bad lineup. The 2013 lineup will be like the lineup is like that in Orlando, but with the difference being Dwight will have Smith, Zaza, and Horford to give him plenty of help down in the paint and with Williams, Teague, and Harris, we also have a few slashers that will attack the basket. Korver will be our 3 pt specialist... I like it a lot.

I disagree on Morrow. The guy receives tremendous respect from Nets fans. Several of them say he is the best shooter they've had since Drazen Petrovic. That's some pretty high praise. I think he and Jenkins will eventually be the combination at the two spot as they are both natural 2s and the best shooters of the five guards in the backcourt. Williams will probably split time between both guard spots. Eventually, one of Harris or Teague will be moved as they are virtually the same player.

[gurpilo]

Since when has Horford been weak defensively?

Defending the Center position? Always. Ask Dwight Howard, Roy Hibbert, Kaman, even Dalembert.... I mean there is a reason we started Collins against big centers and moved Horford to PF Edited July 18, 2012 by gurpilo

[macdaddy]

The big dropoff comes from defense, we are an undersized team at very weak defensively at SG, SF and C positions. I think that if we don't get Howard is a lost season but it doesn't matter, we should use the season to develop Teague, Jenkins and Horford as the new go-to guy, and sign some young players at the post to develop them for next season as Jordan Hill or A. Randolph. Next season 2 draft picks and tons of cap space, if you have a good core, FAs would think on signing here.

We were a pretty good defensive team last year going mostly with Teague/Hinrich/Joe/Smoove/Zaza. I don' t see where we are much weaker or smaller than say Teague/Harris/Smoove/Horf/Zaza. In fact its bigger. Plug Stevenson in and its pretty good defensively.

[gurpilo]

We were a pretty good defensive team last year going mostly with Teague/Hinrich/Joe/Smoove/Zaza. I don' t see where we are much weaker or smaller than say Teague/Harris/Smoove/Horf/Zaza. In fact its bigger. Plug Stevenson in and its pretty good defensively.

Hinrich is an elite defender that can shut down nearly any SG, Harris can`t. Joe is a very good defender at either SG or SF, Smoove isn't a good wing defender, he will be beaten by quicker players and the plan B is Korver a liability on defense and last year we already had problems defending big Centers and players that play well on the post. You also had Marvin to defend big SF on the bench. Now on your bench you have L. Williams, Korver, Morrow, all are liabilities on defense, Jenkins bigger hole seems to be defense also. As I salid we are weak at SG, SF and C defensively

[Diesel]

I think dwight is over....but I like this team better than last years even if we go in like we stand today.

I don't think the team is any better than last year. Prolly worse. Our vetmin has been exchanged for shooters.

I stopped reading when you stated that this team isn't built to be competitive. This team will win more games than last year's team did.

That's too bad, hopefully, you will learn to be more open minded.

[Diesel]

I just don't see where there is a big dropoff having just lost Joe. Lou williams provided comparable production in fewer minutes for the sixers. Out depth and shooting is greatly improved and for a jump shooting team that's a big deal. Defense won't be as good but I expect Josh and Al to have career years. I can't see us dropping out of the playoffs. I expect us to be right there and be even tougher to beat.

I say that the dropoff is in goto guy. Williams may be all that you say he is.. but he's not going to be a natural goto guy. Without us getting Dwight, Smoove will be bombs away. He will try very hard to get a max contract. I think before long, many of us will be cursing Smoove rather than praising him. The one good thing I see though is... Devin Harris. If he can be the Devin Harris of a few years ago.. and if he can general this team.. then maybe we will be better than last year.. However, I just think everybody in the East has gotten stronger and we still have front court problems and inside scoring difficulty.

[PSSSHHHRRR87]

I disagree on Morrow. The guy receives tremendous respect from Nets fans. Several of them say he is the best shooter they've had since Drazen Petrovic. That's some pretty high praise. I think he and Jenkins will eventually be the combination at the two spot as they are both natural 2s and the best shooters of the five guards in the backcourt. Williams will probably split time between both guard spots. Eventually, one of Harris or Teague will be moved as they are virtually the same player.

I like Morrow a lot. One of the best 3pt shooters in the league and could develop into a JJ2-Lite type player. I am just having a hard time seeing how all of these guards will get their minutes, especially with Jenkins showing out in Summer League. I have stated before that I'd rather pick up Dwight in FA over trading for him. Maybe Ferry is thinking other trades such as Williams+Korver+Harris+Petro+picks for Dwight+J-Rich at the deadline. IDK... I'd rather see Harris get moved just because he will hit the downside of his career before Teague will.

[KB21]

Since when has Horford been weak defensively?

Oh, it's because he is undersized and doesn't fit the "prototype". Let's ignore the numbers that show Al is a superb defender, and let's just continue to let our eyes tell us that Al isn't a good defender at center because he isn't 7 foot, 280 lbs.

[Jody23]

I like Morrow a lot. One of the best 3pt shooters in the league and could develop into a JJ2-Lite type player. I am just having a hard time seeing how all of these guards will get their minutes, especially with Jenkins showing out in Summer League. I have stated before that I'd rather pick up Dwight in FA over trading for him. Maybe Ferry is thinking other trades such as Williams+Korver+Harris+Petro+picks for Dwight+J-Rich at the deadline. IDK... I'd rather see Harris get moved just because he will hit the downside of his career before Teague will.

Jenkins is doing a nice job in Summerleague, but we all know he won't be getting much, if any, playing time under LD in his first year.

[KB21]

Those that think the Hawks will suffer because they supposedly now lack a "go to" guy are completely ignoring the evidence that shows they are actually better now, and the evidence that shows having that "go to" guy or as I call it "volume shooter" is one of the more overrated aspects of basketball.Let's take a look at the metrics of isolation plays, which is what many of you are going to point to as what you would do with a "go to" guy. The average PPP of isolation plays in the NBA last season was 0.78 PPP. Joe Johnson averaged 0.89 PPP on 290 total plays in isolation last year, well above average. The Hawks have replaced that with Lou Williams's 0.91 PPP on 204 isolation plays. That's not much of a difference, plus the less isolation plays is a positive as Lou does a better job of keeping the ball moving than Joe does.Lou Williams absolutely smokes Joe Johnson as a pick and roll ball handler. This is where Lou makes his money, and this is what we don't get with Joe pounding the air out of the ball and causing the offense to stagnate. Lou Williams averaged 0.95 PPP on 330 total P&R ball handling situations. Joe Johnson averaged 0.80 PPP on 147 P&R ball handling situations. The fact that Lou is aggressive and gets to the free throw line is what makes him much more efficient in this situation than Joe Johnson. The average for a P&R ball handler is 0.78 PPP, so Lou is very much above average while Joe is right at average. And here is the best thing. Lou William's is costing the Hawks 25% of what Joe Johnson was going to cost the Hawks. Danny Ferry has mentioned that he pays attention to PPP, so he is using this stat to get great value.

[Diesel]

Those that think the Hawks will suffer because they supposedly now lack a "go to" guy are completely ignoring the evidence that shows they are actually better now, and the evidence that shows having that "go to" guy or as I call it "volume shooter" is one of the more overrated aspects of basketball. Let's take a look at the metrics of isolation plays, which is what many of you are going to point to as what you would do with a "go to" guy. The average PPP of isolation plays in the NBA last season was 0.78 PPP. Joe Johnson averaged 0.89 PPP on 290 total plays in isolation last year, well above average. The Hawks have replaced that with Lou Williams's 0.91 PPP on 204 isolation plays. That's not much of a difference, plus the less isolation plays is a positive as Lou does a better job of keeping the ball moving than Joe does. Lou Williams absolutely smokes Joe Johnson as a pick and roll ball handler. This is where Lou makes his money, and this is what we don't get with Joe pounding the air out of the ball and causing the offense to stagnate. Lou Williams averaged 0.95 PPP on 330 total P&R ball handling situations. Joe Johnson averaged 0.80 PPP on 147 P&R ball handling situations. The fact that Lou is aggressive and gets to the free throw line is what makes him much more efficient in this situation than Joe Johnson. The average for a P&R ball handler is 0.78 PPP, so Lou is very much above average while Joe is right at average. And here is the best thing. Lou William's is costing the Hawks 25% of what Joe Johnson was going to cost the Hawks. Danny Ferry has mentioned that he pays attention to PPP, so he is using this stat to get great value.

Your utopia only exists if we have a PG who can manage the game. Without that, we have a bunch of guys who.will shoot shoot shoot.. but I don't see execution. Joe was a lot of things but he was a passer, scorer, and defender. You show metrics, but let's see how that works out against defense.

[Gray Mule]

Diesel:I have been wondering how long before I heard it and who would say it. You did!"Everybody in the east has gotten better."Sure they always do. It's the off season and the record is 0-0, regardless of which team.Hawks have lost you're favorite whipping boy and that terrible, oversized contract of JJ's.We have spent that money on expiring sharpshooters and a draft pick, also a sharpshooter.Sure, we're undersized. Not very deep at Marvin's former spot. And, we've lost JJ.Still no great center.Deep, fast back court. And, they can shoot! Expect next season's scores to be, on average,much higher than last season's. Had trouble, a lot of nights, breaking 100. Next season,teams will have their hands full trying to keep Atlanta under 100.It's been so long since we've had a draft pick to get excited about, we don't really knowhow to react to our new JJ. Some even question if he will be around come open day.

[Nicholasp27]

Your utopia only exists if we have a PG who can manage the game. Without that, we have a bunch of guys who.will shoot shoot shoot.. but I don't see execution. Joe was a lot of things but he was a passer, scorer, and defender. You show metrics, but let's see how that works out against defense.

His metrics showed that lw is well above average as a pnr ball HANDLER and in isolation, neither of which require a pg to set him up