Hawks looking to trade

[TheNorthCydeRises]

7 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

There is no 3rd star. Get a rental and if the shit don't work, oh well, get a TPE for him and use that with picks to try to get another star that way. 

While I think a rental is stupid, it makes more sense each day for the TPE element. Miami did that years back to get Jimmy in FA. A TPE could get us a top end FA this year or next year. We can't do it otherwise due to the salary cap. 

We aren't going to win without Bogi or Dre but we can't get a superstar for either one. Might as well flip one for Siakam and use Siakam TPE this summer to try to get another star that way. 

Probably your best post this decade.

[NBASupes]

We need to trade JJ this year before he gets exposed like the others. 

[NBASupes]

1 minute ago, TheNorthCydeRises said:

Probably your best post this decade.

Most of my worst posts quality are the best ever for guys who really don't do this like I do it.

[NBASupes]

Atlanta right now has three issues

1. Salary cap

2. Asset barren

3. A moody lead actor

 

While many here will get mad at Travis, the biggest issue we have done so far is leaving the lottery way too soon. We should have just gotten out the lottery like Orlando and OKC. Instead, we been mid for several years because we wanted to compete in Trae's 3rd year and went to the ECF but we maxed out and haven't came anywhere close since. 

Salary is messy right now. Hardly anyone on their rookie deals outside of OO and JJ who play key mins. We got a lot of vets. We only got two stars and one is moody and the other isn't a 2nd guy, more of a 3rd guy and he's out of position so he's closer to Bogi than he is to Trae, atm. 

Asset barren due to the awful Murray trade. We should have never traded unprotected picks for someone that wasn't a top 10-15 player. That was stupid on us. A desperate, we gotta make Trae happy trade. 

Trae is moody and that's not changing. Ressler likes making money and that's not changing. So he's gonna bend over backwards for Trae. It is what it is. Good or bad. Sadly, it's been bad so far. 

[JTB]

31 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

He's not even close to good right now. He's a risk taker and most of the time, he's out of position and ball watching. 

He's an occasional on-ball defender.

JJ has become the most overrated Hawk this year. Last year, it was AJ. 

JJ is pretty good at on ball defense. I’m not saying he’s a finishing product but it’s all a work in progress at this point.

29 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

He ain't staying. That's the problem with going to get him. He wants to play with his countryman in Philly. Philly got nothing to offer and have a ton of cap space so he's easy picking like Kawhi was. I would love to just do a SnT with Philly for him. 

Well like you said a few post ago it’s a risk worth taking at this point.

[RedDawg#8]

1 hour ago, Sothron said:

I actually think the chances of a Hawks rental for Siakam have went up. Team Soft Rebuild in the FO is apparently losing to Trae's Team Get Me A Third Star faction in the FO.

A Siakam trade accomplishes both. A third “star” rental who costs a couple of meaty contracts to acquire and leaves in the offseason which frees up enough cap that we can perform a soft rebuild in FA lol

[NBASupes]

4 minutes ago, JTB said:

JJ is pretty good at on ball defense. I’m not saying he’s a finishing product but it’s all a work in progress at this point.

Well like you said a few post ago it’s a risk worth taking at this point.

Because we need the cap space and we got no other way of getting it. 

[NBASupes]

3 minutes ago, RedDawg#8 said:

A Siakam trade accomplishes both. A third “star” rental who costs a couple of meaty contracts to acquire and leaves in the offseason which frees up enough cap that we can perform a soft rebuild in FA lol

He doesn't give us enough space to where we got real cap space but his TPE will be massive and functions as an asset.

Edited December 30, 2023 by NBASupes

[Spud2nique]

3 hours ago, kg01 said:

Aye, the outsiders need to start adding pieces.  This is an arms race.

Let's put together a package to add @Mikey to the squad.  Squd you bring the hooked, I'll bring the blow. 

I like Mikey cuz.. well.. Mikey likes it! 

[RedDawg#8]

2 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

He doesn't give us enough space to where we got real cap space but his TPE will be massive and functions as an asset.

I’ll take your word as I don’t do TPE arithmetic. But agreed, it’s time to start playing chess and get off some of these contracts for the long term play.

[Jdawgflow]

40 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

Most of my worst posts quality are the best ever for guys who really don't do this like I do it.

Your humility is really what sets you apart.

(when you are a “million times” as humble as the next guy)

[Spud2nique]

3 hours ago, kg01 said:

No.  He's not worth value anymore. 

Oh that’s bs @Vol4ever brings a lot to the table that’s why the Insiders wanted him! 

 

[Spud2nique]

2 hours ago, GameTime said:

So should we expect a Siakam trade today?

I’m told no.

-Outsiders

ps But in a munph  

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Raps fans see Quickley as their future at PG.

He’s not a true 1. No way he’s a combo. He can’t be the guy.

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, Sothron said:

I actually think the chances of a Hawks rental for Siakam have went up.

Been reading my stuff the last year prolly why it changed your mind. I changed your mind. You’re welcome.  

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, Diesel said:

Hey Cyde, what your boy doing?

He can’t have Dray and Siakam. Don’t you remember my avatar of Siakam as a Hawk. I had that ish up for 4 months brahhhh.. dang brah how easily we forget. Oooohhhkkaaay.

[Spud2nique]

1 hour ago, NBASupes said:

Man, I am pissed I blew my insult chances with ahf. Damnit!

Somebody said you had another strike left. Use it.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

[benhillboy]

I love the discussions here.  Hawks basketball post-Bud certainly isn’t my cup of tea but I’ve followed only to stay engaged here.

Supes loves Dre and hates metrics, that’s totally fine.  I find that metrics match my eyes for players I like even going back to the late 80’s.  Secondary core guys like Ron Harper, Terry Porter, Doc, Detlef.  Hell, Mugsy Bogues and Spud Webb both have periods of very impressive two-way metrics as they should.  

Peak Klay and Anfernee Simons are two notable outliers from this era who I swear by with crappy metrics but even then I don’t discard them.  I’m actually looking forward to the Blazers game, their backcourt of Simons and Brogdon will eat most likely. I despise both KD and James Harden’s games but I can’t help but respect their crazy impact numbers both ways. 

@NBASupes I regularly watch wings like Jimmy, Jaime Jaquez, and Jalen Williams, I can’t pay Dre too much mind.  But this is what I see as an off ball defender:

He chases well and denies pretty good for  for someone who isn’t the best at starting/ stopping or chopping steps.  Still no Jae Crowder by a long shot.  His strength hand fighting off the ball is acceptable (unlike DJ who Donovan Mitchell bench pressed and sent flying multiple times). He closes out pretty well and under control.  Sees his man and ball pretty good.  But he doesn’t show and retreat hard, something Trae desperately needs when he’s found at the POA (ironically Trae does this pretty well when he wants).  He doesn’t bait bad passes or anticipate them.  Great off ball defenders point, yell at, and even shove teammates to position better, he never does.  He can’t defend two on a nail on the wings because of this lack of communication.  He doesn’t front well, even like-sized players.  He takes good angles off ball but his first step/ acceleration is below average.  He doesn’t flash arms consistently enough when his back is to the ball or even when he’s facing it to deter passing lanes.  He doesn’t swipe well when packing the lane as a helper.  He doesn’t draw a lot of charges as a step in defender. He doesn’t diagnose plays a step ahead, always reactive.  He boxes out mediocre and certainly doesn’t have any rebound tracking skills or feel when shots go up.

All of these things tend to show up in defensive metrics of guys who don’t post gaudy defensive counting stats like Slo Mo ,Joe Ingles, and Nic Batum, let alone dudes like LeBron, Kawhi, Tatum, PG, Caruso, Derrick White, Draymond, GP2, and Delon who can literally control opposing offenses off the ball for short spurts.  Great defenders know all these things make an impact regardless of teammate and scheme weaknesses.  

Edited December 30, 2023 by benhillboy

[Spud2nique]

47 minutes ago, NBASupes said:

A moody lead actor

Yeaaaaa, he’s the moody lead character. This is just hilarious I don’t have to post anymore but if you are thinking what I’m thinking you are right on the money and it’s ironic and hilarious as hell.

  

[Spud2nique]

Per BR… fresh

 

Pascal Siakam's Top NBA Landing Spots After Raptors' OG Anunoby Trade with Knicks

PAUL KASABIANDECEMBER 30, 2023

 

Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

The Toronto Raptors made a big move on Saturday by trading wing OG Anunoby, big man Precious Achiuwa and guard Malachi Flynn for wing RJ Barrett, guard Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round pick.

The 12-19 Raptors sit tied for 11th in the Eastern Conference, and the Anunoby trade may signal more deals on the horizon given Toronto's struggles. The ceiling has been reached for the team's current core of Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes and Anunoby.

Fred VanVleet already took off for the Houston Rockets via free agency last year, perhaps signaling the beginning of the end of this group.

Now the question is what's next for the Raptors, and all eyes are on Siakam. Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports provided more information on that front.

"League personnel are certainly prepared for a Siakam trade to follow suit. Before this weekend's deal, Siakam was the Toronto veteran whom rival executives were pegging as the most likely Raptor to be dealt, particularly after the team nearly sent Siakam to the Atlanta Hawks this summer, league sources told Yahoo Sports. He is under an expiring contract after his own extension talks fell short of a deal this fall. In addition to Atlanta, the Kings and Pacers have been routinely mentioned by NBA figures as potential suitors for Siakam."

The 29-year-old Siakam, a two-time All-Star, has averaged 21.5 points on 50.9 percent shooting, 6.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. His contract expires this season, making him more likely to be moved before the Feb. 8 trade deadline.

With that in mind, here's a look at the three teams Fischer mentioned and how Siakam could be a fit on each.

 

KANGZ!

Sacramento Kings

1 OF 3

 

Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Sacramento didn't make the playoffs for 16 years until a fantastic breakthrough campaign in 2022-23, which saw the team win 49 games and earn the Western Conference's No. 3 seed.dd

The Kings are proving that they are no fluke this season with an 18-12 record thus far, good enough for fifth in the West.

One big move could vault the Kings to the West's top tier, so Siakam could make a ton of sense here. Sacramento already has two stars in De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, but a big three with Siakam could be enough for a serious run too the NBA Finals.

Siakam would presumably start in the frontcourt alongside Sabonis, creating a deadly one-two combo there. But the bottom line is that those two plus Fox would be very hard to deal with on a nightly basis given their scoring prowess. In other words, the Kings should be doing their due diligence to see if they can bring Siakam aboard.

PACERS!!!

 

Indiana Pacers

2 OF 3

 

Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Behind a breakout campaign from Tyrese Haliburton, who is destined for an All-NBA team spot this year, the Pacers have firmly planted themselves in the Eastern Conference playoff race. At 16-14, Indiana has earned the No. 8 spot for now, although they are only two-and-a-half games back of the Miami Heat for fourth.

In other words, a big move like landing Siakam could vault the Pacers into a coveted top-six spot to avoid the play-in tournament.

Indiana could use another 20-point scorer to complement Haliburton, who leads the team with 24.7 points and 12.7 assists. Only one other player (Myles Turner, 17.4 PPG) averages 14 or more points per game. Siakam, who has posted 22.7 PPG over the past five years, could certainly help in that regard.

The Pacers could also use an upgrade in the frontcourt by adding a star talent at power forward in Siakam. He would help create a more well-rounded team and take some pressure off Haliburton and others.

 

AAAAANNNDDD US!!! @TheNorthCydeRises

 

Atlanta Hawks

3 OF 3

 

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Simply put, the Hawks' season is on the brink. Four straight losses have dropped the Hawks to 12-19 and 11th in the Eastern Conference.

With the Raptors seemingly ready to move forward from this core, the Hawks' trade interest in Siakam from this summer could be reignited.

Per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype in September, "the Atlanta Hawks were considered the team with the most trade interest" in Siakam last summer.

And with the team struggling mightily now, it makes sense for Atlanta to look into a move again. At the moment, the team is wasting away the Trae Young era.

The team has gathered talent around him in the form of veterans (Dejounte Murray, Clint Capela) and draft picks (Jalen Johnson, De'Andre Hunter), but it just hasn't worked out. The defense (27th in rating) has faltered this year and led to a host of tough losses.

It's hard seeing how that can improve much given the team's current personnel. Ultimately, a changing of the guard should be in order, and a Siakam move to the Hawks makes sense if Atlanta wants to salvage this season.