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Post by T R W on Jun 22, 2007 8:39:52 GMT -5
No offense taken. The Hawks are one of the most ims-managed and poorly run teams in professional sports. Atlanta is a huge basketball city, but you'd never know it because they are run so poorly. Hell, a lot of the fans are still pissed at how they traded 'Nique.
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Post by Jean-Ralphio on Jun 22, 2007 8:44:09 GMT -5
The next 6 days will dictate what happens to Paul Pierces Celtic career. Do they keep the pick and go for a great improvement with a healthy team? Do they deal Pierce? Do they go after Garnett still, or O'Neal, or Artest etc?
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Post by digitaldj on Jun 22, 2007 8:49:39 GMT -5
As a resident of Atlanta, I really think the Hawks wont get any better with a draft pick, neither Al Horford or Mike Conley Jr can help them out, they can be decent contributors to fill some voids but in the short term they make no immediate impact, well I think Horford can provide a more dominant inside presence to make up for the lack of low post presence that Zaza Pachulia doesnt have. IMO Shelden Williams is more of a finess foward and really doesnt provide too much of a defensive threat in the front court where as Horford is big, can play finess style/power ball down the middle and he can get some blocks in as well.
In my opinion I think the Hawks if they dont trade their draft pick should go for Horford, he is the 2nd best big man available in the draft behind Greg Oden. With their next pick which is the 11th overall, I would get a pg or some gaurd. Wheter it be Acie Law or Mike Conley Jr. one of them needs to be picked up to accompany Tyronne Lue and Injury prone Speedy Claxton in the back court.
So for the Hawks their best choices for 3rd pick overall is Brandan Wright or Al Horford (I would pick Horford) and with the 11th pick they should take Mike Conley Jr. (Acie Law wont be a bad pick up either depending on who is available at that time)
Should be an interesting draft and im amped to see if any trades go down that night.
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Post by T R W on Jun 22, 2007 8:54:38 GMT -5
Well, pretty much everyone thinks they are going to take Horford and best available PG at 11 anyway. But Conley won't be there at 11. You're looking at Crittenton or Law most likely. I'd actually prefer them take Conley at 3, and then gamble on the Chinese guy at 11 if he is still there. If they do take Horford, which is fine, they have to unload one of the Williams, or both. I'd prefer they unload Marvin Williams and Josh Childress, for pretty much anything.
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Post by digitaldj on Jun 22, 2007 9:00:17 GMT -5
I dont know if going for Conley right away would be smart. I wouldnt take any chances on the Chinese guy. Dont get me wrong he has talent, but is he really what they need? He isnt a powerhouse like Horford and they need a big body down low to play some defense and get some boards. I agree with unloading one of the Williams though, primarily Marvin because he has done jack squat for the Hawks. His rookie season was horrible and last season he was decent at best. Childress, I wouldnt get rid of him just yet, he needs to develop a bit, but if he doesnt pick up on the defensive side, I would say they should trade him.
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Post by T R W on Jun 22, 2007 9:02:55 GMT -5
Every team needs a talented center, because only like 3 teams have one, that's why everyone has such a boner for Oden. Even if the guy is only half as good as Yao, he's still better than half the Centers in the league.
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Post by digitaldj on Jun 22, 2007 9:10:02 GMT -5
Im just kinda scared he doesnt end up being another Darko. Other than that I wouldnt mind seeing Yi Jianlian being drafted to the Hawks. If anything if he is half as good as Yao was his rookie season, it gives the Hawks an edge in the East since their arent too many dominant Centers. There is only one and that is Shaq. Everyone else is dominant foward like Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Jermaine O'Neal, and so forth. I think the 3 best Centers in the East for now are Shaq, Zydrunas, and Bogut (and he isnt too dominant but a great contributor for the Bucks). So yeah I kind of agree with you now, if he is half as good as Yao was, he will not only be a tower down in the middle and could attract some different crowds to Hawks games just to see what he is all about.
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Post by T R W on Jun 22, 2007 9:31:00 GMT -5
Well, how much worse can he be than anyone else we have EVER drafted.
Again, the best player in Hawks history wasn't even drafted by us. The best players ever drafted by the Hawks were Pete Maravich and Kevin Willis. Maravich was good, but a slight disappointment in the NBA, and he was only in Atlanta 4 seasons.
I could list bad Hawks draft picks, but I don't have all day. So, the guy could be terrible, and it would just be par for the course for the Hawks.
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Post by digitaldj on Jun 22, 2007 9:52:46 GMT -5
Ha, you are right. The Hawks haven't had the best Draft Day picks, really dissapointing year in and year out. I guess we cant do any worse. I just want to see the Hawks get back on a roll, get into the playoffs again. I mean if the Falcons and Braves cant do it why not the Hawks (though I see the Braves winning the NL East or getting a NL Wild Card this season). Funny how our newest pro team (the Thrashers) made it to their first trip to the NHL Playoffs in a rather short time, but the rest of these dominant Atlanta teams fall behind. The only teams worth anything are the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the UGA Bulldogs (and I rarley route for them since im a huge Florida Gators fan since 1996.)
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Post by Jean-Ralphio on Jun 22, 2007 10:53:08 GMT -5
Hawks need to take Conley, then whore the #11 and or take the best pick. It really is simple when you think of it
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Post by T R W on Jun 22, 2007 11:39:22 GMT -5
Yeah, it is if you ask me. Since we have blown opportunites to get impact point guards the last two years, we have to over reach for one now. That is the easy, and smart plan. But not the Billy Knight plan, which is to have a bad afro and take average swingmen with lottery picks.
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Post by Jean-Ralphio on Jun 22, 2007 11:41:00 GMT -5
If Conley is as good as people say he will be, #3 is not going to be a reach. I just dont get why the Hawks would want anyone other than him, sure you can get a PG at 11, but they have no pressing need for Horford or Wright etc.
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Post by T R W on Jun 22, 2007 11:48:49 GMT -5
Ralpho is the preacher. I am the choir.
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Post by Jean-Ralphio on Jun 22, 2007 11:57:04 GMT -5
The Hawks are not like Boston, who has a lot of holes and a lot of guys who have not developed at all (Green, Perkins) and they have more holes.
They believe Rondo is the answer, ok great, pass on Conley
Perkins is not the answer at C hence why KG/Marion/O'Neal have been the hot rumors cuz Jefferson would shift to C.
Paul Pierce is stuck in the 2-guard/SF spot
Jefferson as one of the best young big men at the 4
Then you need a 2-guard (Brewer/Terry???) or a SF (Green, Yi, who plays like a SF)
I mean theres so many holes and options and unless its an All Star, none that will help right now
The Hawks are in the East, they have the talent in Smith, JJ, Williams(s), Childress...they just need someone to run the show, and if they take Conely, and they suck again this year, they need to blow it up and move some pieces
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Post by Chicago on Jun 22, 2007 12:07:37 GMT -5
Courtesy of The Oklahoman:
One day after working out for the Atlanta Hawks, Texas A&M's All-American point guard Acie Law on Thursday pulled out of his scheduled workout with the Hornets, which was to be held today at an Edmond fitness center.
Law had been scheduled to work out today with a group of guards that included Florida junior point guard Taurean Green and Vanderbilt's Derrick Byars. But his sudden cancellation has lead to speculation that he has received a guarantee from the Hawks , who are in need of a point guard and hold the No. 3 and 11 picks in the June 28 NBA Draft.
So, I'd say it's looking like Atlanta keeps both draft picks, goes for Horford at 3 and Acie Law at number 11.
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Post by Jean-Ralphio on Jun 22, 2007 12:16:00 GMT -5
Theres a lot of cancellations and moves like that, its all speculation and nonsense this time of year.
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Post by Chicago on Jun 22, 2007 12:18:38 GMT -5
And, in the crazy world of Kevin Garnett trade rumors,
-Minnesota owner Glen Taylor is giving off ZERO indication that KG will be playing anywhere besides Minnesota next season.
-It's certainly possible that McHale is, himself, actually seeking a trade for Garnett at this point instead of sitting back, waiting for phone calls.
-No three team trade involving Marion from Phoneix going to Boston, as Marion's agent has squashed that possibility from happening.
-This one's interesting, courtesy of the East Valley Tribune:
If the Suns traded Amaré Stoudemire and Kurt Thomas for Garnett (an even swap, money-wise) they would still sit $8 million to $9 million over the luxury tax. Now add in the fact that Garnett has a $3.3 million trade kicker (leaving him owed, gulp, $25.3 million next year) and Phoenix would be $12 million over the dollar-for-dollar tax with Thomas already gone.
-Phoenix and Minnesota have spoken about a possible trade for KG, but chances are only slightly higher than Kobe's of making it to the Suns (which, would be about 0%).
-And, amidst all the denying and squashing of rumors, the NY Post gives trade fans some hope:
Who's willing to testify under oath that hasn't happened? Who'd believe any of these guys if they did? My instincts tell me a firm deal already is in place.
A source that puts copious coin in Garnett's bank account claims it'll be announced on draft day, no later than when the salaries change July 1.
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Post by Jean-Ralphio on Jun 22, 2007 12:20:29 GMT -5
Theres no reason for the Suns to deal Amare, and thats what the Wolves want. KG is going to Minnesota this year. So good luck bud, tell Ricky Davis to  himself for me |
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Post by The Lion's Den on Jun 22, 2007 13:10:39 GMT -5
Amare going somewhere? no....
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Post by Midnight Marauder on Jun 22, 2007 13:27:07 GMT -5
Draft so far looks like
1. Blazers - Oden
2. Sonics - Durant
3. Hawks - Horford
4. Grizzlies - Noah
5. Celtics - Yi
6. Bucks - Wright
7. TWolves - Conley
Should be fun to see what all goes down.
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