2020-21 The Current Ask Supes

[sturt]

On 3/19/2021 at 12:37 PM, sturt said:

To the general conversation about trading deadline and roster movement...

 

Comes down to what's the goal(?).

 

(A) To get to the expanded (#7-#10) playoffs?

Stand pat.

 

(B) To get to the real playoffs?

Probably can stand pat, but upon Dunn's return, give some serious consideration to dropping the 4th PG on the roster (Goodwin), in favor of some veteran big who only costs a vet minimum salary.

 

We've only had 5 legitimate bigs on the 15-man all season, and conventionally speaking, you should have 6.

Right now, you have only one true, reliable, playoff-caliber center on the roster. Beyond him, you have three centers (one of them a two-way who probably profiles better as a PF, truth be told) with less than 82 games experience, and two PFs who can take some occasional minutes there, though you really don't want to do that any more than you have to.

 

Meanwhile, you've got 4 PGs plus a two-way PG. Only 2 of those normally would get much time ordinarily, but the GM has been explicit in saying that a 3rd (Dunn) will be a candidate to get some floor time as a SG.

 

You've got 6 wings, in addition to part-timer Dunn, and most of those have been starters or part-time starters for much of their careers. Rotation-wise only 4 of those should expect to be part of the regular rotation, with at most a cameo appearance at times by a 5th (particularly given part-timer Dunn's presence).

 

 

(C) To get to the real playoffs and win a series?

Can't stand pat. Playoff ball demands that you have some stronger, reliable rim defense, and not just from the starters.

 

Conclusion?

Me, I'm not sure which one of the three is the true goal. The GM's actions or lack thereof on or before March 25 will certainly send a strong message.

 

 

Question seemingly answered...

It was "A" all along.

Not real happy with that b/c I really thought we might make some noise this post-season, which in turn, could create some momentum for next.

There does remain the possibility, of course, that Schlenk conceivably could fill the void behind Capela with one of the anticipated buyout bigs.

And, there does remain the possibility that Dunn does indeed come back 100%, which gives us a true back-up PG after all... it's just hard to feel good about that until we actually see him back on the court.

[Spud2nique]

4 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Reddick to the Mavs is such a Mavs move.  I'll be shocked if they don't sign L. Markkanen  and McDermott in the offseason.

Sorry, it just seems strange to me.

Mavs are the 1988 Milwaukee Bucks, new age. Where’s Steve Henson and Lohaus? Danny Schayes, Sikma?  

[Buzzard]

In the end, Schlenk went with Rondo in hopes of him being a leader. Paid him for half a season; then picked up two 2nds and Lou for the trouble. Its not a bad flip in the grand scheme of things.

Edited March 25, 2021 by Buzzard

[JayBirdHawk]

 

That's what he wanted all along.

[macdaddy]

7 minutes ago, MaceCase said:

If my memory is correct, he was on his way to sweeping the 1st seed Celtics in the first round just 4 years ago before going down to injury as a member of the Bulls. 

That's a good call although 'sweeping' maybe a little strong.  they won the first two games and then lost 4 without Rondo.   

I'm really not trying to knock the guy but prior to the bubble last year Rondo played in 13 playoff games in the previous 6 years.   Not sure exactly but i think around half or less of those were wins.   

He wasn't working for us.  We owed him money next year.  Seems like he wanted out.    I don't see this as a crushing blow at all.   He's been not even ok as a hawk.  He's been bad.  

[AUhawksfan]

9 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

will he? TS said he'll play twoards the end of March - we got 6 days.

No telling but I’m trying to be positive  

They’re tight lipped sometimes too. I’m just hoping it will be two weeks or less and we hopefully hear something soon. 

[thecampster]

Means the Hawks technically saved $250k in the deal off the cap number this year and $7.5 million next year.

 

 

 

Nate Duncan: Of note, Clippers will lose $250k vs the hard cap in the Rondo/LouWill trade. Rondo’s cap number was $7.5m and Lou’s $8.0m, but his $750k in incentives count vs hard cap as well.

 

2 mins ago – via Twitter NateDuncanNBA

 Salaries, Trade, Louis Williams, Rajon Rondo, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers

[REHawksFan]

From the Athletic:

Rajon Rondo headed to the Clippers, Lou Williams to Atlanta

The Hawks and Clippers are finalizing a deal to send Rajon Rondo to L.A. for Lou Williams, two second-round picks and cash, sources tell The Athletic.
— Shams Charania and Sam Amick

Go ahead and make your wings jokes. In this Lou Williams-Rajon Rondo trade, I’m thinking about Rondo playing for the Celtics while Tyronn Lue was an assistant there. He trusts Rondo and wants the playmaker Rondo for the playoffs (which is why there is such a thing as “playoff Rondo.” And I am thinking about Williams, having a down year, not getting as many touches and as many minutes, and being told the reason was the Clippers were preserving him for the playoffs. Guess not.
— Joe Vardon

So here’s the backstory on this Lou Williams-Rajon Rondo deal: During the offseason, when the Clippers were still stinging from their playoff collapse against Denver, rival executives were well aware that Williams was very available.

This, of course, surprised no one.

Not only had he not played well during the bubble experience, but his well-chronicled trip to the Magic City gentlemen’s club in Atlanta in July was the kind of distraction that left him on the outs in terms of his vibe with the organization. And while that dynamic had improved quite a bit since then, the Clippers still wanted to upgrade their roster with a playmaker. Enter Rondo, who cost them two second-rounders in addition to Williams to land.

Yet while Rondo will certainly bring a defensive reputation that Williams doesn’t have as well as his championship credentials, the Clippers still lose their fourth-leading scorer (12.1 points per game) and third-leading assist man (3.4 per). Rondo, meanwhile, will leave an unfulfilling legacy in Atlanta. He played in just 27 games because of injuries, averaging 3.9 points, 3.5 assists and 14.9 minutes per game. The Clippers, clearly, are counting on “Playoff Rondo” making a well-timed return when it matters most.
— Sam Amick

It’s absolutely hilarious that the Hawks’ worst offseason move just turned into an elite sixth man, two second-round picks and cash. No, I don’t understand the Clippers’ interest in Rajon Rondo, especially at the cost of a pretty good player in Lou Williams, and I’m amazed that Atlanta was able to blast itself out of the deal while actually receiving assets in return.

I have a running joke with my fellow Atlanta-based colleague Chris Kirchner that nobody in the NBA actually watches the Hawks, one that we hatched after Damian Jones, Jeff Teague and DeAndre’ Bembry all got guaranteed money this offseason.

But seriously … did the Clippers watch the Hawks this year? I’m trying to imagine myself as a fly on the wall as the Clippers offered one second and cash for Rondo and the Hawks, suppressing chuckles, were like “no, that’s not enough.”

OK, let me try to put myself in the Clippers’ shoes and argue for this deal. The glass half-full perspective for the Clips requires a belief in “Playoff Rondo,” the guy who showed in the bubble for the Lakers last season after being only mildly effective over the course of the regular season. Rondo does have a well-earned history of outperforming his regular-season numbers in the playoffs, but his regular-season numbers this year were also bad enough that he’d have to outperform them by a pretty massive extent this time around.

Certainly L.A. has long felt it needs another offensive organizer to take some of the heavy lifting out of Kawhi Leonard’s and Paul George’s hands, and that’s not something that their other small guards (Patrick Beverley, Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard) have in their toolset. L.A.’s locker-room leadership has also been …. questioned, let’s say … and Rondo can certainly help them there as well.  And, of course, in L.A.’s win-now mindset, what is two seconds and cash when you already surrendered five firsts to open this window in the first place.

But wow, does this feel like a reach. Start with the fact that the 35-year-old Rondo is also owed $7.5 million next year, and that money will be a significant drag on the Clippers because it takes them out of any hope of using their full mid-level exception. Between his struggles this season and the money he’s owed a year from now, you’d think the Hawks would be the ones incentivizing the deal with picks, not the other way around. (Atlanta, by the way, will receive second rounders in 2023 and 2027; the 2023 second is Portland’s).

As for Williams, one can certainly agree that he hasn’t made quite his usual impact this season. He may be slowing down at 34, and his defensive shortcomings were likely to render him a major liability in the playoffs. He is the match to Trae Young’s gasoline on defense if the Hawks ever try playing the two of them together. Nonetheless, in a bench role he may be a nice fit for an Atlanta team whose offense goes off the rails any time Young checks out of the game.

Getting off Rondo’s money for next year is also a big deal for Atlanta’s cap scenarios, as it opens up the possibility of using their full midlevel exception and still paying John Collins. And if Collins walks, of course, they could have more than $20 million in cap room to chase a replacement. Walking out of the deal with that kind of flexibility plus draft picks makes this one a home run for Atlanta.
— John Hollinger

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[Spud2nique]

1 minute ago, AUhawksfan said:

No telling but I’m trying to be positive  

Rock on brotha!

[NBASupes]

Atlanta tried to get a big but couldn't 

[Spud2nique]

Oh god I forgot, Lou and the strip clubs. Geez a Lou!

[JayBirdHawk]

1 minute ago, NBASupes said:

Atlanta tried to get a big but couldn't 

who were our targets?  any buy out targets?

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

RealGm thought Reddish, Snell and a 1st was good/right value,  smh lol

[NBASupes]

1 minute ago, JayBirdHawk said:

who were our targets?  any buy out targets?

McGee, Zubac, Ibaka.

[kg01]

11 minutes ago, bleachkit said:

How dare they sign White players!! Racists!!

All of them, tho?  Seems weird.

4 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

Oh god I forgot, Lou and the strip clubs. Geez a Lou!

Not too late to edit your post to say "Geez Louise".

[Sothron]

So is Lou actually going to play for us? Wasn't he threatening to retire if he got traded to Atlanta? 

Hope Dunn is truly healthy and ready to go. 

[NBASupes]

1 minute ago, Sothron said:

So is Lou actually going to play for us? Wasn't he threatening to retire if he got traded to Atlanta? 

Hope Dunn is truly healthy and ready to go. 

I think he was only willing to stay in LA or go home to Atlanta 

[RandomFan]

I'm guessing Trae is happy to be keeping his partner in crime, JC. 

And again, HAHAHAHAHA

 

[macdaddy]

Is Whiteside going to get bought out?