Here we go!

[hawks1]

Proposing a 2 year plan for the future:

1. Trade our 1st round Milwaukee pick (18) to Phoenix for their 1st round pick this year and Jahidi White. Phoenix will free up 6 million dollars to throw Kobe's way; imagine Phoenix with Kobe, Marion and Stoudamire (plus Joe Johnson as trade bait for a PG or C).

2. Leave Chris Crawford unprotected for the expansion draft. Alan Henderson will not be picked, while Crawford has only 1 year left on his contract at a pretty reasonable 3.5million for a PF, who has produced lately.

3. Sign Jay Williams. He is a free agent and will not be back next year, but in 2005. Give him a guaranteed 2 year contract with a team option of 2 years, say at 2 million for first 2 years (1 mil each), and then the final two years at 1.5 each. In addition to possibly having a stud in a year, it allows us to use him as PG and trade Jason Terry after next year whose contract is reasonable (front loaded) and will only have 1 year remaining - this is when JT will have his highest trade value.

4. With our pick and Phoenix's now in the first round, pick the two local kids - Dwight Howard and Josh Smith as the SF and PF of our future. These kids will fill Philips next year and won't be that good. We should have a lottery pick next year along with Philadelphia's pick.

5. Make no true moves in this free agency, but in 2005 with Jahidi White's and Alan Henderson's contracts coming off the book, we will have plenty of money to go after T-Mac.

Imagine in 2005:

PG - Jay Williams

SG - TMac

SF - Dwight Howard

PF - Josh Smith

C - trade our picks from the 2005 lottery with JT for a stud

This is a very reasonable plan with only this years lottery going our way. We can use our 3 2nd round picks this year to get quality bench players.

I think in 2005 we could be competing for a title, especially in the weak division we will be in. Plus, we will not have tons of money invested (just TMac and our C - the others will be reasonable or under rookie contracts). Also, Smith and Howard should be ready to truly perform after 1 year of experience. To think TMac would not want to fill out this team in free agency next year is crazy, b/c it is a young bright future in Atlanta (one of the 3 greatest citys for athletes, plus the best facility).