The Mega Super Rumor Thread (Part 2)

[sturt]

Think we all recognize that the Huerter trade had practically nothing to do with improving the team. It was always going to be a cap space saving move, whatever move followed adding Murray. We come out of that with two guys who will not be part of the rotation as the roster is currently composed...

But/and those last six words are pivotal, of course, since there could yet be another shoe to drop. *cringes*

 

As it stands today, the rotation pieces are

Young | Murray | Hunter | Collins | Capela .

.. and...

Bogdanovic | Griffin | Johnson | Okongwu

... with Aaron Holiday and Mo Harkless getting what borders on "rotation," but really is better considered consistent spot minutes.

 

We've put ourselves in a position that Johnson and Griffin must step up in spite of their youth and inexperience.

It was almost certain that we'd be looking for 20 yr-old Johnson to step-up to Gallo's role. That's fine. Not 100% confident he's ready, but he seems capable. But now we're looking for (soon to be) 19 yr-old Griffin to step into a regular wing role, arguably similar to KVon's. Not even 50% confident he's ready, and until he actually gets on the court with others with similar talent level (not just college) every game, hard to say with any certainty what he's capable of.

By the way, let's just get sober real quick about summer league. Griffin likely will play well in summer league. But we did this last year, of course, with Sharife... people saw him perform in summer league, and so easily ascended to the idea that he should be the immediate #2 behind Trae. Then, he got to G-League and for the first 3/4 of that season, he was not all that impressive.

What a wonderful addition Griffin might turn out to be... but 19 years old is 19 years old. He's probably not ready for what we're about to need from the person occupying that place in the roster. Just sayin.

[bird_dirt]

It’s going to nice seeing better defensive effort on the court this year. Schields wanted tougher, and we’re getting there. 

But if we were annoyed with all the missed assist opportunities for Trae due to poor shooting teammates last year… Wooo boy, next year is gonna be something else. 
If Trae’s historic offensive numbers finally got him on the All NBA team, he may not make it back. His assists are gonna drop big time. 

[Spud2nique]

Just now, bird_dirt said:

Schields

Whatever Schields wants! 

[GameTime]

So I'm guessing Ayton doesn't want to get paid (sign an offer sheet)? Or are we all waiting on KD?

[Plainview1981]

55 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

I think it's the return for Huerter that they were disappointed with more than anything 

These guys were drafted a few years ago (Cam/Kevin) and they're gone for nothing. Hunter only looks like a so so player also for the most part. Schlenk's drafting hasn't been that good.

[Spud2nique]

2 minutes ago, bird_dirt said:

His assists are gonna drop big time. 

Not necessarily. I mean they will drop a bit because he’s playing off ball but he will dime off a bunch of Murray doubles and traps as well. 
 

Maybe from 9.7 assists, he goes to about 8.5ish.

[sturt]

2 minutes ago, Plainview1981 said:

These guys were drafted a few years ago (Cam/Kevin) and they're gone for nothing. Hunter only looks like a so so player also for the most part. Schlenk's drafting hasn't been that good.

.653

[GameTime]

36 minutes ago, sturt said:

Those envisioning Harkless as McM's new occupant of the Solo role, I believe are spot on.

Yup. And prepare for Justin Holiday to play a lot of minutes (at least until Nate is gone). Aaron as well if Nate can find minutes for him too. Nate loves the Holidays. I would be shocked if Nate didn't want this.

 

 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

14 minutes ago, REHawksFan said:

Best case scenario for Hawks is internal growth from all of the young guys.  Trae - DJ - JC - OO - Clint - JJ - AG - All of em.  IF they get that, they will grow into contender status of the next couple years, imo.

Obviously we all think JC's time with the Hawks (and maybe Clint and Bogi too) has a definite expiration date, but until and unless they are traded for guys already in the Top 50, they need to focus on that internal improvement if the team is going to be significantly better. 

 

The mistake we're probably about to make, is signing Hunter to a 4 yr / 80 mil extension, without him proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he can be more of an impact player . . and stay healthy for more than 2/3 of a season. Hopefully with 2 PGs in the lineup with him, his efficiency as a player will increase, which will translate into having more impact on games.

At this point in their careers, he is a little behind the pace of Marvin Williams after Year 3.  Most of us hadn't soured on Marvin yet, but it was obvious that Josh Smith was starting to progress well ahead of Marvin, from an impact standpoint.  Marvin showed incremental progress in year 4, which enabled him to get that 5/40 mil deal on his 2nd contract.

[sturt]

8 minutes ago, GameTime said:

Aaron as well if Nate can find minutes for him too.

Do the math, and I think it's hard to come to any other conclusion but that Aaron will be getting regular minutes... see below...

 

[RedDawg#8]

4 minutes ago, sturt said:

Think we all recognize that the Huerter trade had practically nothing to do with improving the team. It was always going to be a cap space saving move, whatever move followed adding Murray. We come out of that with two guys who will not be part of the rotation as the roster is currently composed...

But/and those last six words are pivotal, of course, since there could yet be another shoe to drop. *cringes*

 

As it stands today, the rotation pieces are

Young | Murray | Hunter | Collins | Capela .

.. and...

Bogdanovic | Griffin | Johnson | Okongwu

... with Aaron Holiday and Mo Harkless getting what borders on "rotation," but really is better considered consistent spot minutes.

 

We've put ourselves in a position that Johnson and Griffin must step up in spite of their youth and inexperience.

It was almost certain that we'd be looking for 20 yr-old Johnson to step-up to Gallo's role. That's fine. Not 100% confident he's ready, but he seems capable. But now we're looking for (soon to be) 19 yr-old Griffin to step into a regular wing role, arguably similar to KVon's. Not even 50% confident he's ready, and until he actually gets on the court with others with similar talent level (not just college) every game, hard to say with any certainty what he's capable of.

By the way, let's just get sober real quick about summer league. Griffin likely will play well in summer league. But we did this last year, of course, with Sharife... people saw him perform in summer league, and so easily ascended to the idea that he should be the immediate #2 behind Trae. Then, he got to G-League and for the first 3/4 of that season, he was not all that impressive.

What a wonderful addition Griffin might turn out to be... but 19 years old is 19 years old. He's probably not ready for what we're about to need from the person occupying that place in the roster. Just sayin.

You forgot Justin Holiday as well.

2nd unit depth is looking like

A.Holiday | Bogi | J Holiday | JJ | OO

As far as the young guys go, JJ is the only one in the top 9 but as the 4th Big. OO is getting a minutes bump, so there may be 9 mins a night left for JJ when its all said and done.

Griffin would be outside looking in at the moment. His best shot will be the start of the season while Bogi is still rehabbing. Otherwise, he is your 5th wing.

Scoring/assist wise, as constructed, you are looking for Trae, JC and Dre to take and hit more spot up attempts. You still have Bogi, and the Holiday bro’s shoot in the mid-upper 30’s which is similar to Kev. Shooting should be pretty in line with what we are used to. Hot and cold nights.

Dribble drives will go up which can be assist opportunities too so there is that.

The biggest fall off is Gallo’s post/iso scoring. That is the lane where Dre can really make his mark for us this year. OO could also stand to improve his post work as well and play some bully ball down low and get to that baby hook he likes.

 I think the way we score will look different, but we will still be putting up points. We will be at the FT line a lot more this season than we are used to.

[sturt]

12 minutes ago, GameTime said:

prepare for Justin Holiday to play a lot of minutes

Have to grant to you... though I don't wanna   ... that perhaps Justin gets in the rotation from the start, and Griffin has to earn his way into the rotation.

Not real comfortable with either of those options, but now that you mention it, yeah, that seems more likely.

[sturt]

Just now, RedDawg#8 said:

You forgot Justin Holiday as well.

Didn't forget him. Just don't think he's a credible rotation player at this stage of his career. He had his 3-4 years of that, but as North suggested, he's at that place where, pragmatically, you can't really expect him to do anything more than maybe not regress from his previous season.

[Sothron]

This is really simple for me. You either are putting together a rotation that can contend or you are not. Two old guys that were so "good" on defense that the KINGS gave up on them is not that. It is literally the opposite of that. No good team would have Holliday and Harkless in their rotations. Not even one of them let alone BOTH of them. They were so good on defense for the Kings that the Kings haven't made the playoffs in SIXTEEN STRAIGHT seasons. And you guys are happy with these bums on our team? Wow.

Sadly, with Nate as our coach I fully expect to see the Holliday clown car with both Holidays getting regular rotation minutes, Harkless getting minutes over Jalen Johnson and AJ Griffin wasting his rookie season all year long for the Skyhawks.

Unless this deal was done to set up something else then it makes zero sense OTHER than to save Ressler luxury tax money this season and in future seasons. And honestly? That's bull shit. That's not how a franchise that is serious about winning rings operates. That is how a team that is happy with "just making it" operates. 

We deserve more than that as fans.

[Plainview1981]

28 minutes ago, sturt said:

.653

What are you referencing here?

[thecampster]

9 minutes ago, RedDawg#8 said:

You forgot Justin Holiday as well.

2nd unit depth is looking like

A.Holiday | Bogi | J Holiday | JJ | OO

As far as the young guys go, JJ is the only one in the top 9 but as the 4th Big. OO is getting a minutes bump, so there may be 9 mins a night left for JJ when its all said and done.

Griffin would be outside looking in at the moment. His best shot will be the start of the season while Bogi is still rehabbing. Otherwise, he is your 5th wing.

Scoring/assist wise, as constructed, you are looking for Trae, JC and Dre to take and hit more spot up attempts. You still have Bogi, and the Holiday bro’s shoot in the mid-upper 30’s which is similar to Kev. Shooting should be pretty in line with what we are used to. Hot and cold nights.

Dribble drives will go up which can be assist opportunities too so there is that.

The biggest fall off is Gallo’s post/iso scoring. That is the lane where Dre can really make his mark for us this year. OO could also stand to improve his post work as well and play some bully ball down low and get to that baby hook he likes.

 I think the way we score will look different, but we will still be putting up points. We will be at the FT line a lot more this season than we are used to.

Right now, Jalen Johnson has a better put the ball on the floor game that Deandre Hunter. If he only averages 9 minutes a game, I will be first in line to fire Nate McMillan.

[NBASupes]

Ya'll do remember, the Hawks did the most winning with Snell and Solo starting and neither of those two are close to Holiday and Harkless.

[RedDawg#8]

3 minutes ago, sturt said:

Didn't forget him. Just don't think he's a credible rotation player at this stage of his career. He had his 3-4 years of that, but as North suggested, he's at that place where, pragmatically, you can't really expect him to do anything more than maybe not regress from his previous season.

Yeah, I guess for me, unless Griffin really shows out, I just can’t see Nate giving him minutes when he let TLC, Knox, and a healthy Solo all play in front of JJ. 
J Holiday is marginally better than each of those guys. Griffin has game though, so we shall see.

[NBASupes]

JJ starting to be the new Bruno. The guy everyone is placing into the rotation that looks like he needs another year of seasoning at College Park 

Griffin is also going to College Park 

Edited July 2, 2022 by NBASupes

[bird_dirt]

3 minutes ago, Plainview1981 said:

What are you referencing here?

The Hawks winning percentage last year when the entire team was healthy, the weather was favorable, everyone had a good night’s rest, the stars all aligned perfectly, and Mercury was moving out of retrograde.