2023-24 Insider Information Thread

[KB21]

1 hour ago, AHF said:

Budcox the GM “forced out” Bud the coach.  Budcox forced us into a rebuild by leaving us with an underperforming roster that was lucky to make the playoffs (expected losing record) and had no path to add significant talent and a guaranteed massive increase in payroll coming (with Sap and others about to get overpaid).  Bud didn’t want to rebuild which is why he left at the end of the day.  Budcox put the team in a position where rebuilding was the obvious next step as a result of not managing the roster as it spiraled into submediocrity.

Bud didn’t want to rebuild is the only true statement there.  There were other ways of retooling the roster without tanking.  Ressler had a great coach and prioritized tanking over keeping the great coach.  

[kg01]

1 hour ago, Wretch said:

My thoughts on how we got here and what went wrong...

Sacred Cows
This is another good time to repeat myself.  "Potential" has an expiration date.  You can't hold onto guys until they lose their potential value.  If we "get a good look" at them, then the whole world also gets a good look.  Same thing we did in the WLOC era. I have my favorites like everyone else, but at the end of the day...it's all negotiable.

2020 draft
I was hoping we'd move up or out of this draft.  I didn't like Ant Man's attitude, still don't.  However, if the opportunity was there to move up (which there were a lot of rumors about their interest in dealing the pick), I would have made the deal to move up and select LaMelo Ball in a heartbeat.  He was the player that I really wanted and was hoping we'd make that move.

Leaving the tank too soon (edit)
I don't know how this got deleted, but this is another big one and is self explanatory.  I was worried about appeasing Trae to build a "competitive" team...concerned that we might get stuck on a treadmill. The priority should have been asset acquisition.

Running it back
This is the one I'll go down with.  I thought bringing back the core was a no-brainer.  I thought we were really close.  I'll own that I was in alignment with that.  What I didn't anticipate was how well and how quickly the league adapted to Trae.  I mean, they straight up figured him out. Which is the next misstep...and probably the biggest to date.

Failure to adapt
It was really clear, and still very much is, that teams are not just going to allow Trae to PNR/dribble penetrate them to death.  Timely and efficient shooting/spacing/movement/stretching the floor was and will always be the key to unlocking what he does.  We took a step back giving Nate the team and took our time figuring that out.  I mean, we literally walked into that trap night in and night out.

We have taken WAY too long in constructing the supporting cast and system that a player like Trae needs - despite having laid it out for the front office year after year.

Murray
I will partially own alignment with this. He checked all the boxes except for one - 3pt shooting.  I was excited at the possibility of Trae and Murray playing off each other, but at the same time, I firmly believed the priority should have been getting a sniper opposite Trae at the 2 or 3 (or a big that would allow Trae to be that shooter).  I don't like that this hasn't worked as well as we all hoped, but I don't think any of us would be adverse to swapping Murray for equal talent at a different position.

I don't think all of the picks are a problem.  DJ is worth any lottery pick you could get in next year's draft...and probably the potential of two (with protection).  Beyond that is sketchy to be throwing out unprotected picks.

I dont agree with all this, but it's well presented so you get a 'like'.

Interestingly, your first point correlates with the last.  Meaning, they can't treat Murray as a sacred cow.  If he can be moved to help move the team forward, IIWII, and it may be what's best for him to boot.

Ah well, I tend to think there's a path to improvement even with him on the roster.  So things aren't as dire as many folks here seem to believe. 

[Spud2nique]

2 hours ago, kg01 said:

Thanks.  Not sure why we have to keep re-explaining this.

Absolving Budenshoulders is like watching a guy set a building on fire, then blaming the fire for why he had to leave.  Like, uh there's a reason there was a fire. 

Would you be my analogy man for a day. I got some analogies I’d like to sprinkle on some bastar… I digress. 

[Spud2nique]

14 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Murray as a sacred cow. 

I read this as: Murray as a scared cow ..

 

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, Wretch said:

My thoughts on how we got here and what went wrong...

Sacred Cows
This is another good time to repeat myself.  "Potential" has an expiration date.  You can't hold onto guys until they lose their potential value.  If we "get a good look" at them, then the whole world also gets a good look.  Same thing we did in the WLOC era. I have my favorites like everyone else, but at the end of the day...it's all negotiable.

2020 draft
I was hoping we'd move up or out of this draft.  I didn't like Ant Man's attitude, still don't.  However, if the opportunity was there to move up (which there were a lot of rumors about their interest in dealing the pick), I would have made the deal to move up and select LaMelo Ball in a heartbeat.  He was the player that I really wanted and was hoping we'd make that move.

Leaving the tank too soon (edit)
I don't know how this got deleted, but this is another big one and is self explanatory.  I was worried about appeasing Trae to build a "competitive" team...concerned that we might get stuck on a treadmill. The priority should have been asset acquisition.

Running it back
This is the one I'll go down with.  I thought bringing back the core was a no-brainer.  I thought we were really close.  I'll own that I was in alignment with that.  What I didn't anticipate was how well and how quickly the league adapted to Trae.  I mean, they straight up figured him out. Which is the next misstep...and probably the biggest to date.

Failure to adapt
It was really clear, and still very much is, that teams are not just going to allow Trae to PNR/dribble penetrate them to death.  Timely and efficient shooting/spacing/movement/stretching the floor was and will always be the key to unlocking what he does.  We took a step back giving Nate the team and took our time figuring that out.  I mean, we literally walked into that trap night in and night out.

We have taken WAY too long in constructing the supporting cast and system that a player like Trae needs - despite having laid it out for the front office year after year.

Murray
I will partially own alignment with this. He checked all the boxes except for one - 3pt shooting.  I was excited at the possibility of Trae and Murray playing off each other, but at the same time, I firmly believed the priority should have been getting a sniper opposite Trae at the 2 or 3 (or a big that would allow Trae to be that shooter).  I don't like that this hasn't worked as well as we all hoped, but I don't think any of us would be adverse to swapping Murray for equal talent at a different position.

I don't think all of the picks are a problem.  DJ is worth any lottery pick you could get in next year's draft...and probably the potential of two (with protection).  Beyond that is sketchy to be throwing out unprotected picks.

I agree with about 70% of your rant here! Nice to see you though you disappear for weeks at a time then release your load on us … 

 

What up doh Wretch? 

[kg01]

5 minutes ago, Spud2nique said:

I agree with about 70% of your rant here! Nice to see you though you disappear for weeks at a time then release your load on us … 

 

What up doh Wretch? 

I think @Wretch has a burner.  No way he can be this plugged in without being here more often than we know. 

Who you think it is?  Burd?  AH?  *gasp*  Is it you, squd? 

[Gray Mule]

QUESTIONING: "WHO IS THIS POSTER?" 

I often wonder if a member of the Hawk's roster ever posts on the Squawk.  I wonder if any of the many coaches or other people associated with the team ever post.  We've noticed that, from time to time, something is said that came directly from here.  I do believe some of the broadcast crew peeps in occasionally.  Anyone know anything?

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, kg01 said:

*gasp*  Is it you, squd? 

Yo I ain’t never been anyone but my weirda$$ self here on squawk and that’s a promise. 
 

ps I’m playing ball right now and noticing that my defense has gotten waaaayyy better since I was in my 20’s and I dribble a lot more than I used to back in the day..

 

Anyhoo, it made me think defense is about pride. It’s like 80% pride and effort and 20% miscellaneous (not including size)..

Anyways, the more I’ve developed episodes in my life where I think I’ve been totally screwed over, I think about those when I D up and feel like the offensive player is my #1 enemy… why doesn’t half the league play D anymore? Cozy lives growing up, privilaged too early? 
 

Pps I am shootin by myself here..  

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[Wretch]

4 hours ago, Spud2nique said:

I agree with about 70% of your rant here! Nice to see you though you disappear for weeks at a time then release your load on us … 

 

What up doh Wretch? 

LOL I'm here almost every day...and have been these last 20 or so years. I lurk, digest what everyone says, then I ask myself if it's important enough for me to chime in. 

I feel like we're at a critical point in the franchise with Trae and I'm more dialed in now than I've ever been.

[Wretch]

4 hours ago, kg01 said:

I dont agree with all this, but it's well presented so you get a 'like'.

Interestingly, your first point correlates with the last.  Meaning, they can't treat Murray as a sacred cow.  If he can be moved to help move the team forward, IIWII, and it may be what's best for him to boot.

Ah well, I tend to think there's a path to improvement even with him on the roster.  So things aren't as dire as many folks here seem to believe. 

Agreed 1000%. I love everything about Murray except it doesn't appear that they fit. I think with a really good sniper or a really good big, it could work. Not with JUST him and Trae is the cornerstones tho.

4 hours ago, kg01 said:

I think @Wretch has a burner.  No way he can be this plugged in without being here more often than we know. 

Who you think it is?  Burd?  AH?  *gasp*  Is it you, squd? 

Nah. Check the bottom of the threads to see who's read when you're in here. I can almost guarantee you that my name will be there because I never close my browser.

[kg01]

2 hours ago, JayBirdHawk said:

 

 

Honestly, the rationale for the Pelican'ts prioritizing Murphy over Ingram explains why he shouldn't be a target for us. 

1 hour ago, Wretch said:

Nah. Check the bottom of the threads to see who's read when you're in here. I can almost guarantee you that my name will be there because I never close my browser.

Aye, this can all be true and you could still have a burner.  

[KB21]

18 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Honestly, the rationale for the Pelican'ts prioritizing Murphy over Ingram explains why he shouldn't be a target for us. 

Aye, this can all be true and you could still have a burner.  

Yup!

If we trade for Ingram and then pay him, he will be untradeable in 2 years when you are looking to trade Trae because the fit between the two just isn’t there.  
I don’t think Landry would do it, but I have no faith that the Resslers will avoid interfering and pushing the deal.  

[kg01]

3 minutes ago, KB21 said:

Yup!

If we trade for Ingram and then pay him, he will be untradeable in 2 years when you are looking to trade Trae because the fit between the two just isn’t there.  
I don’t think Landry would do it, but I have no faith that the Resslers will avoid interfering and pushing the deal.  

I can imagine a world where swapping Murray for Ingram makes us marginally better.  But, once you factor in the cost to acquire and the potential contract, the juice ain't worth the squeeze. 

[REHawksFan]

Just now, kg01 said:

I can imagine a world where swapping Murray for Ingram makes us marginally better.  But, once you factor in the cost to acquire and the potential contract, the juice ain't worth the squeeze. 

This is where I am with BI. Overpaid and not as good as his rep. Probably not worth the acquisition cost. 

[TheNorthCydeRises]

I need Murray to kind of suck it up this offseason, and look to get significantly stronger.  If Trae is "barbeque chicken" on defense, DJ is "barbeque hamburger".

Trae needs to continue to be a smarter defender that can do those little things like get steals and draw charges.  He needs to get stronger as well to take on the physical punishment that people will throw at him. 

DJ needs to get stronger AND tougher.  DJ has only drawn 1 charge his entire career.  That's kind of incredible.  But it also shows that he does NOT like contact AT ALL on the court.  To get to that next level as a player, he can't shy away from contact.

Remember, it was DJ getting hit near the end of Game 4 vs Boston last year, where he didn't get the call, that saw him bumping the referee and getting suspended for Game 5.  Trae, being the competitor that he is, bailed us out in Game 5 in Boston.  I just need DJ to be tougher. Just don't talk tough. You gotta BE tough.

That's the biggest difference between he and Trae from a toughness standpoint.  Trae seeks out contact on offense, and will take a hit on defense.  We need DJ to get to that level.

.

[AHF]

DJM has only 1 career charge?!?  That is absolutely incredible.  Seems completely implausible.  Even if you hate all contact, it seems like it would happen by accident dozens of times by this point in his career.  (Dozens would be like 5x per season.)

[Spud2nique]

11 hours ago, Wretch said:

then I ask myself if it's important enough for me to chime in. 

Ahhhhh I see. That’s where I go astray and just chime in regardless.

 

[Spud2nique]

10 hours ago, kg01 said:

Honestly, the rationale for the Pelican'ts prioritizing Murphy over Ingram explains why he shouldn't be a target for us. 

Yup.

 

10 hours ago, kg01 said:

makes us marginally better. 

Ya Ingram doesn’t move the chain ‍ too far.. possible another 5 game improvement? A guy like OG I’d go but not Ingram.

OG>thinGram