Assuming these deals go down, Howard and Paul will be off the market without any team with cap room in FA participating.

So if you are the Hawks, now what do you do?  If this deal goes down, expect Smith back for that 14 million a year I keep saying.  Expect Teague back @ at least 8 million per.  This will leave us with approximately 11 million in cap room.

Why Smith and Teague will be back.

The NBA has a minimum team salary each team must meet. In 2013 that number rises to 90% of the cap. With an expected cap of 58.4 million, that equates to a minimum team salary of $52.56 million.

As covered in numerous other topics the Hawks have 4 players under contract that should be back next year and 2 incoming first round picks. Not including holds that = approximately 22.4 million in salary.  Meaning the Hawks are 30.16 million short of meeting the NBA minimum team salary and only 7 slots to fill.  We will either be overpaying for our own players or for other people's players.  Expect both back if this LA deal goes down.

Signing both for 22 million total = a cap number of 44.4 million (approximate) + holds, with 5 slots to fill.  Expect one quality big to take up the majority of the remaining money (my guess would be Bynum, Jefferson or Pekovic) and then 4 players to fill out the rest.

And as far as the "deal is all but dead", that's a sure sign 2 weeks before free agency/draft happenings that its truly on and the teams are just gauging fan interest.

WTH - If D12 wants to play with Ellis is he really trying to win a championship?

 I call so much BS on this.  'Sources' just throwing crap against the wall to see if anything sticks.  Good Grief...just stop, PLEASE. 

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2013/04/30/slideshow-atlanta-falcons-stadium---.html?s=image_gallery

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2013/04/30/slideshow-atlanta-falcons----solarium.html?s=image_gallery

More pictures available in the links.

Now there is a breath of fresh air... back to square 1 possibly. I think Danny Ferry has done an awesome job getting rid of bad contracts and putting the hawks in a position to start over.

I really like the hiring of Budenholzer because I love the spurs brand of basketball. I do think that building the team in the Spurs image would be quite hard and I'm sure Ferry and Budenholzer understand that. It's not like you can just go out and draft or sign a players like Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. The spurs have excellent coaching and go after players that fit in their system that's undeniable, but they also had some very good fortune in having the no.1 overall pick and Duncan in the draft that year. He is an all-time great and we aren't getting a Tim Duncan. However I do think Horford could serve as Tim Duncan Lite. I like the idea of building a team with guys who are competitive and winners. Maybe not having the most talented guy at every position but guys who fill the right role and are tough guys who go out there and battle every night because it is in their nature and would be competing just as hard in their field if they weren't a basketball player. 

Years ago... I posted on this forum that it would be a mistake to draft Marvin because he didn't have that competitive drive and the killer instinct to become a great player. There were several stories I read about him that were major red flags in that department. I was totally right. He was a wuss and a total bust. I don't want nice guys. I want guys that will go out there and destroy people on a nightly basis. I want guys that hate losing, guys that never want to come out of a game, guys that will do anything to win. 

Dwight Howard does not fit that bill. Dwight Howard is a goofball. I think Dwight Howard spends more time working on his impressions of Van Gundy and Barkley than he does on his free throws. Dwight Howard likes going on television shows and wants to be some kind of comedian apparently. That's a great attribute in a person and I love people that are funny and easy going. I hate that in a basketball player or any other athlete. Can you imagine Michael Jordan or Larry Bird or even Kobe Bryant going on some foreign television show with a woman's wig on? Dwight Howard did that. I don't want that guy on the Hawks. 

Also... I'm from Atlanta I have lived in Atlanta my entire life. I love Atlanta. Dwight Howard also grew up in Atlanta but seems to have no desire to play for his hometown team. That also is a red flag. He doesn't have that hometown pride. If he doesn't like Atlanta and doesn't want to represent his hometown. Fine... I don't want a goofball like him anyway. He doesn't show the type of loyalty and competitive spirit that I think defines a real Champion. He went to LA with a team that already had some very good players on it and they got worse. That is not a good sign. He also was a huge distraction and just really screwed up that team. 

Chris Paul is a competitor. I like Chris Paul and would take him in a second, but if the Hawks need to take a few years to rebuild Paul won't have any interest in coming here. That is fine with me... I can wait a few years to see what Ferry and Budenholzer can put together. 

Go to Houston Dwight. You won't ever win anything but you aren't a winner anyway. You can do commercials and TV Shows and maybe even some Movies. The press will be easy on your fragile ego and there won't be any pressure. Go to Houston. As an Atlantan I can honesty say I don't want someone like you representing my City. You goofball.

I'm wondering which of our members, past or present, started this Twitter account.  

https://twitter.com/HawkSquawkLive

"You cant see it because it's a drop step!"

"Don't jump Youngblood".

"Not in my house!"

and my favorite:

"That's a pocket pass!!!"

Lucas Nogueira, No. 17 (Mock Draft)  

The Hawks select a lanky, shot-altering presence from Brazil.

by DeMarco Williams / @demarcowill

Though San Antonio is about a 15-hour drive from Atlanta, the two cities feel even farther apart than that. One has The Alamo, the other has Trinidad James. One’s got real cowboys and the other has Real Housewives. When it comes to pro basketball though, the biggest difference lies in the fact that the Spurs have four NBA titles and the Atlanta Hawks have yet to score a single Finals appearance.

A model organization with sound ownership, steady coaching and Hall of Fame-caliber players, San Antonio is the epitome of class to an identity-less franchise like the Atlanta Hawks. Don’t take my word for it though; just look at what they’re doing with the team. Last offseason, the Hawks hired Danny Ferry, a former executive with the Spurs, to right their wavering front office. This offseason they welcomed Mike Budenholzer, San Antonio’s top assistant coach since ’07, to be the new head coach.

Imitation is the sincerest form of hardwood flattery. Of course, the next step in turning the ATL into San Antonio South is with the roster. That said…

With the 17th pick in the 2013 SLAMonline Mock Draft, the Atlanta Hawks select…

Lucas Nogueira from Brazil.

With the likes of Tony Parker (France), Manu Ginobili (Argentina) and Tiago Splitter (Brazil) on the payroll, the Spurs are probably more deserving of the “Globetrotters” moniker than that silly crew out of Harlem. The Hawks aren’t totally foreign to the concept of international ballers—Georgia’s Zaza Pachulia has played a decent-sized role in the team’s overall success—but 7-0 Lucas “Bebe” Nogueira from Rio de Janeiro would bring a whole different kind of flavor to the squad. Hella energetic, quick and blessed with a head of hair that has a mind all its own, Nogueira essentially has Marcus Camby’s game and Joakim Noah’s mane.

Yeah, we know that the Hawks already have an All-Star big man in Al Horford, but there’s no denying now incredibly thin the team is beyond Big Al. The 220-pound Bebe is a lanky, shot-alterin’ presence who’ll probably be able to give you 15-20 solid minutes on the court in the next year or two.

While super raw on the offensive end, Nogueira has some professional international experience (Spain’s Liga ACB), and only appears to be getting better against the better overseas talent (2013 adidas Eurocamp). And it says here that the new Hawks head coach worked with a pretty damn good 7-footer during his tenure in San Antonio, so I’m guessing he’ll have a few lessons to share with the young fella when the time is right.

The other reason this pick of a center makes such good sense lies with the Hawks’ current forward situation. Josh Smith, the Hawks’ main man at the 4-hole for the past several years, has probably played his last home game at Philips Arena. In the team’s tunnel-vision pursuit of Chris Paul and Dwight Howard this summer, they’ll likely let the 27-year-old Smith go, creating a major void in the SF/PF hole.

Coach Bud will see that 17 points/8 rebounds missing and may be tempted to slide Al over to the power forward slot full time. With Bebe in tow, the move makes a bit more sense. It wouldn’t be the flashiest of maneuvers, just a smart one. The Spurs organization would certainly approve.

That means no quick strike with big ticket free agents this off-season ('twas a pipedream anyway). It means relying on the draft over the next couple of seasons (hopefully hitting pay dirt as the Spurs have done), and developing those moldable players into a clearly defined system.

Despite Cal Bowdler's proclamations, I see a process that takes two-three years, at least. All while preserving cap space - not just for FAs but to facilitate trades for more young, system assets.

I hate to be the buzz kill, but all signs point that way, to me - esp in light of the Snyder and Ham hires.

Jordan has a 15% trade kicker and two years on his contract. They know he's a bum but they just want to tank. LAL trades D12 to LAC and they turn LAC into a powerhouse and LAL is not getting James next year either. LAL needs to be smart. Sign D12 or let him walk. I hope we can sign CP3 and D12 but it will be extremely hard. 

In our new ESPN Insider series, Chad Ford and Jay Bilas are evaluating the top prospects at every position ahead of the June 27 NBA draft. They'll answer a few key questions and provide their Top 10 prospect rankings for each position. Today they take a look at shooting guards.

1. Will Victor Oladipo ever be an 18 PPG scorer in the NBA?

Ford: Yes. I hear some GMs arguing that he won't crack 10 PPG, and I understand why. Right now his offensive skills are very average and teams are thinking of drafting him primarily because of his defensive ability. But I think they are ignoring Oladipo's obvious upside. He is, arguably, the hardest worker in the draft.

He runs the floor well and gets steals that lead to breakaway dunks. He is a very good offensive rebounder and finisher in the paint. He showed significant improvement on both his jump shot and handle every season at Indiana. Assuming he retains that work ethic, I don't see any reason he can't move from solid to good to great on the offensive end.

His fundamentals are fine. He just needs time, and his defensive prowess will buy him minutes early until he develops. I don't think it will be in his first few years in the league, nor do I think he's the second coming of Dwyane Wade. But I do think Oladipo is going to be a good scorer in the NBA someday.

Bilas: Yes. I believe it is unlikely that Oladipo will be a primary scorer who will score 18 or more points per game consistently over a period of years, but I believe that he is capable of doing that over the course of at least one season during his career.

Given his improvement and his attitude, I am unwilling to put it past him. Oladipo is undersized, but he is such a great athlete with his length, explosiveness and open-court ability, and he is really efficient on offense. The comparisons of Oladipo with Dwyane Wade and Michael Jordan are a bit much, but Oladipo has a chance to be better as a pro than he was in college. Whether he scores 18 a game or not, Oladipo will not fail in the NBA. He will find a way.

2. Should Ben McLemore's lack of aggression be a major concern?

Ford: Yes. I know he's 20 and has played just one season of college ball. But I am more comfortable with a player changing his jump shot than having to change his personality. McLemore has all of the physical tools and skills to be an All-Star someday. His picture-perfect jump shot and elite athletic abilities make him a very attractive prospect.

But it's hard to ignore that McLemore, on many occasions, disappeared into the background. Some of that is his lack of a solid handle; he struggles to create his own shots. But most of it stems from his personality. He's humble and deferential and is just happy to be on a team. He's not an alpha dog, and I don't think that will change.

I hope I'm wrong, because if it does change he's going to be awesome and it couldn't happen to a nicer young man. If he doesn't change? He'll be a solid rotation player and still worthy of a top-10 pick in this draft.

Bilas: Yes. His lack of assertiveness is the only thing that can hold him back from being the best player in this draft. McLemore is the most talented player in this draft, and on pure talent alone he should be the top overall pick. He is going to be good no matter what.

But this question speaks to whether McLemore is going to be great and deliver on the promise of his talent. And as of now, he is not yet as mentally strong or tough as he needs to be if he's going to be an NBA All-Star. McLemore is too hard on himself and gets down too easily right now.

I believe that if he gets with the right team early, and he doesn't have to be "the man" right away, he can really blossom. But if he goes to a team that expects him to take over and deliver right away, it can go the other way and he'll be just a good NBA player.

3. Should Kentavious Caldwell-Pope be a top-10 pick?

Ford: Yes. He has virtually every attribute that you're looking for -- good size for his position, good athlete, can really shoot the basketball, defends his position and has a pretty high basketball IQ. Had Caldwell-Pope played on a team with more talent, I think he'd be mentioned in the same breath as McLemore and Oladipo.

To me, he's the perfect balance of the two. I know his numbers didn't always reflect this at Georgia, but when you count all of the late-in-the-shot-clock wild shots he had to take, it's not surprising his shooting percentage was a little low.

Bilas: Yes. KCP is a really talented shooter with good size, length, decent speed and the ability to consistently hit his jump shot. He has been well-coached, and he is very good using ball screens and shooting off the dribble or the catch.

Caldwell-Pope is not an elite athlete or a great individual defender, but his ability to do one thing -- shoot the ball -- at an elite level makes him worthy of a top-10 selection in this year's NBA draft. Given the talent level in this draft, you have to ask yourself this question: If you don't want to take KCP in the top 10, which prospect ahead of him are you more sure of?

4. Would you gamble a first-round pick on Ricardo Ledo?

Ford: Yes. There are very few upside players in this draft, so teams that want to swing for the fences aren't finding a lot of good pitches. Ledo could be that guy. He's got great size, is an elite shooter and really knows how to score the basketball. Had he been eligible to play for Providence this season, I think he would've cracked our top 10.

His off-the-court issues are a bit troubling, and it's tough to take a player who missed a critical year of development, but after the top 12 to 15 prospects, I don't think anyone left has a higher ceiling than Ledo.

Bilas: Yes. I would strongly consider it this year, because this is the kind of year in which taking a risk makes sense. Ledo is one of those "risk-reward" talents who presents question marks because you haven't really seen him play, only practice. He is a very talented scorer, and has a great knack for putting the ball through the net.

So he has talent, but he hasn't played in a real game beyond the high school level, so he is a bit of a mystery. Late in the first round, if there is nobody sitting there you feel compelled to take, Ledo is worth the risk. But if you do have a prospect sitting there that you think can be a valued contributor, I would take a pass on Ledo.

I have to admit I was originally routing for Lebron to get another ring this whole season..... that is until the HAWKS hired Bud!!!  Now I am soooooo pulling for the Spurs show he can show up in town this off season with that all important jewelry to show off to his new squad!!!

Nothing inspires like that ring and wanting one for yourself..... or you can look across the conference to Lebron.

I got Spurs all the way..... 7 games.

who ya got?

The Parser is on GitHub with code designed for Python to compile play by play data for a given date. At this time I have too much other work to learn Python but I would like to see how this data is formatted. Is anyone good enough with Python to run through the code to get a .csv for one game? This is probably baby-stuff for an advanced programmer as I seem to recall my buddies in college who were Computer Science majors do stuff with Python daily.

1. Should Cleveland select Otto Porter with the No. 1 pick?

Ford: Yes -- if their goal is to make the playoffs this season and they can't trade the pick. Drafting Nerlens Noel is the long-term answer for the Cavs if GM Chris Grant and owner Dan Gilbert are willing to be patient the next two seasons. But if this team needs to make a push for the playoffs now, Porter is a perfect fit for the Cavs.

I don't think he has as much upside as Noel (or Alex Len, Ben McLemore, Anthony Bennett or Victor Oladipo, for that matter), but I think he's the type of player who is unlikely to fail. He does just about everything well, is humble but also a leader and, most importantly, doesn't need the ball in his hands to make an impact on the court.

To me, he's the best small forward and one of the three best prospects in the draft.

Bilas: No. Porter does not grade out as the top prospect, but he would be worthy of the No. 1 pick if the Cavs really like him and don't see any other player as being a more valuable asset.

I see the NBA draft as being about assets. The player you believe is a great fit right now may not fit your plans later or could be an asset that helps you procure a player or future pick that makes you better.

Porter will be a good NBA player, but the only reason you take him No. 1 overall is if you don't see anybody better. I see a few players who are.

2. Is Shabazz Muhammad underrated?

Ford: No. I think he was overrated coming out of high school. I believe scouts, fooled by his age (he was listed as one year younger) and mature game, struggled to see Muhammad's flaws because he was able to overpower his opponents.

Within the first few weeks at UCLA, it was clear that he was ranked too high. While he's a good scorer, his inability to go right or shoot off the bounce caught up with him once he was playing against bigger, more athletic opponents. Muhammad has struggled and will continue to struggle with the transition from alpha dog to important cog in a bigger wheel. He still thinks he's "the man," though his game no longer suggests that he is.

I do believe Muhammad is a hard worker and will fix many of his weaknesses. If he does those things, I think he's a late lottery pick -- which is exactly where we have him projected.

Bilas: Yes. Muhammad has some question marks. He is a bit undersized, unskilled as a perimeter player and not a polished defender. But he is a tough-minded transition player who can attack the basket and will work his tail off to be good.

Muhammad was injured most of last season and got a late start at UCLA. But when he got healthy, he was in better shape and did well. I think he will bounce back from a disappointing season and work hard to be a good pro.

I don't see Muhammad as a superstar, but I think he is a lottery pick and will do well in the NBA.

3. Is Dario Saric a future All-Star?

Ford: Yes. I think someone out of this group will make an All-Star team, and I wouldn't be shocked if it was Saric. He has one of the highest basketball IQs in the draft, is a hard worker on the court and possesses a unique skill set for a player who is 6-foot-10.

He's a point power forward who sees the floor as well as anyone his size, can dribble up the floor and is fantastic in the open court.

His jump shot is still a work in progress and his lack of lateral quickness hurts him defensively, but Saric's game is so advanced that he has a great chance of wowing someday.

Bilas: Yes. Saric is a talented prospect, but it might be a while before he is in the NBA. I keep hearing that he hasn't decided whether he will remain in this year's draft, but he probably should stay. He's already a pro and could benefit from playing over here if his ultimate goal is the NBA.

Saric was really good in last year's Nike Hoop Summit and played great in the European Championships following Portland. He has good skills with the ball, but I haven't really seen him shoot well. Still, with his overall skill level, Saric could be an All-Star. He is just 19, and he already has high-level experience. He has a chance to be really good.

4. Is Giannis Antetokounmpo worthy of a lottery selection?

Ford: No. Antetokounmpo has the raw skills and physical tools of a lottery pick -- but then again, so do a dozen or so American prospects each year. The question: Can he use those tools and skills to play basketball at a high level? The answer: No one knows.

He's done it against second-division Greek competition that many Division II or Division III schools could take down. He did it, albeit briefly, for the Greek under-20 team last weekend in Italy, but even the scouts who are highest on him admit he's a minimum of three years away.

That might be worthy of a late first-round pick. But a lottery pick? I don't think so. This draft class is bad, but it's not that bad.

Bilas: No. I have not seen Antetokounmpo in person, only on tape. He clearly has ability, but he seems like he needs more time to develop. And I need more time to learn how to pronounce his name.

 

2. Dario Saric, Croatia

3. Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece

5. Glen Rice Jr., D-League

6. Tony Snell, New Mexico

7. C.J. Leslie, NC State

8. Andre Roberson, Colorado

9. James Ennis, Long Beach State

10. Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State

I think this article is relevant to the Hawks and is worthy of being kept in the Homecourt area, because this philosophy may give us a good indication of the way Danny Ferry is going to build this team.

I've been telling people for a while now that the AAU racket in America is hurting American basketball.  Young players in America today are being coddled.  They are being told that they are great from a young age.  Hard work is not being demanded from them.  They are being coached on these AAU teams by mostly middle men who are taking money to try and deliver them to a college.  A sense of entitlement ensues, and these players become very difficult to coach in college.

I'm a Mississippi State guy, and I saw this firsthand at Mississippi State with the likes of Kodi Augustus, Renardo Sydney, Ravern Johnson, Dee Bost, and Charles Rhodes over the last few years.  Rick Stansbury brought these guys into the team, and probably because someone may have "aided" them at some point down the line, Rick was unable to reign these guys in and have them play hard and as a team.  As a result, Rick lost his job.  

How does this relate to the Hawks?

Well, I think Danny Ferry has first hand experience in an organization that catered to one individual player.  I think he saw that first hand, and he knows it doesn't work when he compares it to what he experienced within the San Antonio Spurs organization.  

This is one reason why I'm not convinced that the Hawks goal this offseason is to pursue Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.  Why?  Mainly because Dwight Howard is a guy that is searching for the limelight.  He wants to go somewhere that he can be marketed, and Danny Ferry is more concerned with building something that can sustain success than he is with marketing a particular player or catering to a particular player.  

This may also effect the draft.  If they draft an American basketball player, it is going to be someone that hasn't been coddled and has shown the kind of work ethic and grit that Danny Ferry wants in his players.  Players like Jamaal Franklin and Mason Plumlee fit this description.  A player like Tony Mitchell likely need not apply.  

I think it is very likely that one of the picks, if not both of the picks, is used on an International talent such as Giannis Adetokunpo or Sergey Karasev because you know they will come in and work hard because of their upbringing.  

At least Xerxes looks a little better than the last time we saw "him" down at Les Bos in South Park Colorado. 

I'm troubled reading about us as the team that can clear enough cap space for CP3 and D12 yet everybody saying but it's unlikely because they would have to renounce Smith?

After 8 yrs of Smoove still chucking bonehead shots (on purpose) I would let him go for a bag of chillicheese fries.

Do not resign Jeff or Josh

Resign Zaza for two years 2/10

 Sit Al Horford for the whole 2013-14 season

Tank and get Parker, Wiggins, Smart, or Cauley-Stein. 

I've been tossing around the idea of coding the editor to allow the creation of an HTML table, which would make adding salary data, stats, etc. a lot easier to add to posts and have them look right. 

So let's hear it...

It’s that time of year again. As the Hawks hibernate, the Dream rises!

The Atlanta Dream will be kicking off their 34-game WNBA season Saturday night at the Highlight Factory, against Skylar Diggins and the Tulsa Shock. I would suggest not getting your hopes up too high about the title aspirations of this year’s edition. Team depth is not what it once was, and there’s instability at one critical position, while perennial doormat teams below them are actively retooling.

On the good side, head coach Fred “Freddy Bass” Williams will start the season at the helm, so the tumult that bubbled over last year with superstar Angel McCoughtry, leading to the abrupt late-season dismissal of Marynell Meadors on her 69^th birthday, is gone… at least for now.

Williams, who had prior WNBA head coaching experience with the former Utah Starzz, salvaged Atlanta’s 2012 season with a 7-3 finish to clinch the Dream’s fourth consecutive playoff berth. Unfortunately, he was overmatched by Lin Dunn’s cohesive Indiana Fever team, the eventual WNBA champs, in a three-game semifinal series.

Like Meadors, the Dream ownership is trusting Williams to buy the groceries as GM (his first season doing so) and cook the meal as coach. Williams will have to be more vocal with the referees in games, keeping his key players out of technical trouble.

Also on the positive side, it appears the top players are coming in healthy to start the year, with no absences scheduled due to international obligations, like last year with Brazilian center Erika DeSouza. Backup center Yelena Leuchanka will likely be absent until midseason to help Belarus’ contingent in Eurobasket competition.

Unfortunately, there remains a big question mark at the point guard spot. The starter from the past two seasons and former #1 overall pick, Lindsey Harding, joined former Dream assistant Carol Ross in Los Angeles. She’ll be bringing up the ball for a stacked L.A. Sparks squad. There were no players of Harding’s talent level available via free agency or the draft. Ketia Swanier performed admirably in short spells late last season, but was not a full-time-caliber player, and was cut last week.

The Dream traded their first-rounder and swapped second-round picks with Washington to acquire third-year guard Jasmine Thomas. Thomas guided the league’s worst scoring offense last year, and struggled from the outset (2.8 APG, 2.2 TO/G) as she focused on improving ball distribution at the expense of looking for her own shot. The change of scenery may help, but she will need to play the traditional point role better if she’s going to be effective here.

What Coach Williams will consider doing is starting fan-favorite and speedy veteran Armintie Herrington (née Price) at the point, perhaps moving Tiffany Hayes up into the starting 2-guard spot.  Hayes made the All-Rookie Team last season after emerging as a viable offensive option during Angelgate. But she struggled to reestablish her role on the floor once McCoughtry returned from her suspension. She’ll need to improve her jumper to stick in the starting lineup.

Whether it’s Herrington or Thomas leading the charge, the Dream will make their mark with a solid halfcourt defense and the most breakneck-paced backcourt transition offense the league has to offer. A literal track meet with the basketball can be expected on the court. They’ll get even more help in that area with rookie Alex Bentley, who stands to learn a lot from Herrington. The Penn State senior won the 2013 Frances Pomeroy Naismith award as the nation’s best collegiate player below 5-foot-8. The Indy native might even help the Dream against the reigning champion Fever, as she interned with that team in their video department last summer.

Last year’s league-leading scorer, McCoughtry spent her WNBA offseason in Turkey, teaming with WNBA legend Cappie Pondexter to lead Fenerbahce to their 8^th straight Turkish women’s league title. While she will come into this season with a much more positive outlook, if there are losing strings as the rigors of the season wear on, it remains to be seen whether (and in what ways) we’ll see the “Dark Angel” emerge. With no ball-dominant passers on the team, expect a healthy dose of Iso-Angel in halfcourt sets. No forward in the WNBA can create her own offense as easily as McCoughtry, but she also proved in the Olympics she’s a clever passer as well. She is the only thing standing in the way of her first MVP trophy.

The Dream will be fortunate to have a full season of shutdown defense from their frontcourt of McCoughtry, Sancho Lyttle, and Erika DeSouza. Lyttle is a defensive Swiss Army knife, but she must put to rest her Smithesque habits of poor shot selection and pouting to refs at inopportune times. The tighter WNBA flopping rules means Lyttle will also have to tighten up her man defensive strategies. DeSouza remains a stout rebounder and shotblocker, and is at her peak offensively when she is decisive in the paint and stays out of foul trouble. She’ll also have to get used to the league’s new defensive three-second rule.

In 2012, McCoughtry and Lyttle ranked #1 and #2 in steals per game in the league, while McCoughtry and DeSouza were two of just five WNBA players averaging more than one block and one steal.

Veterans Cathrine Kraayeveld and (possibly) Leuchanka return to back them up, but are definitely a step down defensively. If the re-signed Aneika Henry shows vast improvement (as she has so far this preseason), she’ll make the roster again and provide more size upfront.

The sole addition to the Dream frontcourt is free agent forward Le’Coe Willingham. A former Georgia state high-jump champion who starred at Auburn under Dream assistant coach Joe Ciampi, Willingham’s a nine-year vet who won a WNBA championship with the Seattle Storm in 2010.

Atlanta still has a pair of Achilles' heels -- a core of players that are unreliable at the free throw line (73.9 FT%, 9^th of 12 teams last season), and cannot buy a three-point shot (29.6 3FG% last season, just 0.1% above the tanking Phoenix Mercury). Regarding the former, the Dream were already the most fouled team in the league in 2012 even without full-season contributions from McCoughtry and DeSouza. Hack-a-Dream can be expected to continue until Atlanta can prove they can make foes pay for it. Herrington relies on her world-class speed to get to the bucket, but when fouled she must shoot better than her usual 60% at the line.

The latter becomes an even mightier challenge this season, as the WNBA extended the three point arc out from 20.52 feet to the international distance of 22.15 feet. Without a reliable outside threat, opponents will devise zone defenses to entice anyone, aside from McCoughtry, to take shots and beat them over the top. Former Dream guard Laurie Koehn was released before becoming one of this month’s viral video sensations (hitting 132 of 135 treys in a span of 5 minutes, in an empty gym). Thomas shot an encouraging 36.5% for the Mystics and will help out when plays break down at the end of the shot clock. 3^rd-round rookie Anne Marie Armstrong, from Norcross and UGA, has a slim chance to make the 11-person roster if she impresses with her range in preseason practice.

The Dream made just five threes in their two preseason games, and three of them came from undrafted rookie Courtney Clements. Arriving from San Diego State, Clements shot 13-for-20 and averaged a team-high 18 PPG against Tulsa and the Brazilian National Team. If Clements can improve her defensive presence, especially against the pick-and-roll, she has a chance to stick and push one of Henry or Leuchanka off the roster. To make room for Clements, it’s possible Williams will suspend Leuchanka and make the tougher personnel decision at mid-season (perhaps a trade) when the latter is done with Belarus.

WNBA Preview

As is seemingly the case every season, the Dream seek first to squeeze into the Eastern Conference playoffs then scare the mess out of higher seeds as they attempt to advance. To achieve the first, they have to continue outperforming at least two Eastern Conference clubs.

Washington (ex-Hawks assistant and 2-time Coach of the Year Mike Thibault, formerly with Connecticut) and the New York Liberty (three-time WNBA champion coach Bill Laimbeer) have each stepped up in the coaching department. Laimbeer has restocked the Libs with former Detroit Shock players, as Katie Smith and Cheryl Ford reunite with former teammates Plenette Pierson and Kara Braxton. It will be interesting to see how much these players still have in the tank to help out their star in Pondexter. Washington has more of an uphill climb, but will have fewer problems in the scoring department with former Dream guard Ivory Latta in the fold. Each team has rookies that will need to make immediate impacts, in center Kelsey Bone (New York) and guard Tayler Hill (Washington).

The team everyone expects to finally emerge in the East, though, is the Chicago Sky. The only WNBA franchise yet to play in the postseason, Chicago was rocking and rolling a month before the 2012 midseason break on a six-game streak. But then the Sky was falling, when breakout player Epiphanny Prince was lost for most of the season due to injury. Prince is back along with a newly-healthy MVP-caliber center in Sylvia Fowles. The Sky added a top-notch rookie forward in Elena Delle Donne, a post player with sharp passing and shooting skills. Chicago will need solid point guard play from Courtney Vandersloot plus some steady bench help to lock down a playoff spot.

Connecticut was within just 0.5 seconds of sweeping Indiana and reaching the Finals last year. Now the Sun is retooling its frontcourt around reigning MVP center Tina Charles, having already lost forwards Asjha Jones and Danielle McCray for the season to injuries from international play. The Sun also jettisoned Thibault, in favor of legendary coach Anne Donovan. Fresh from an NCAA title, versatile rookie guard Kelly Faris will boost the UConn Huskie contingent on Connecticut’s roster, but they’ll need more rebounding help and dominant point guard play from the resurgent Kara Lawson and reigning Sixth Woman of the Year Renee Montgomery to keep from sliding in the standings.

The surprise of the 2012 WNBA season was former free agent forward Erlana Larkins, who came along late in the season with her best Dennis Rodman impression, rebounding like crazy and solidifying the Indiana Fever’s first successful championship campaign. The title likely saved the team from a threatened overhaul. Now, Finals MVP Tamika Catchings and company remain the odds-on favorites to come out on top of the East. They won the title without starting shooting guard Katie Douglas, who tore an ankle tendon in the conference finals but appears ready to go.

Almost all of the excited talk around the league, once again, is about the competitiveness out West.

For the L.A. Sparks, Harding’s addition allows Kristi Toliver to fire away at shooting guard and provides a steadier hand guiding the ball to Candace Parker (Mrs. Shelden Williams). The superstar center is fully capable of carrying this team all the way to the title, if her teammates allow her to. She’s flanked by 2012 #1 overall and Rookie of the Year Nneka Ogwumike, an ideal glue player who will help the Sparks dominate in the rebounding department. Former Dream assistant Carol Ross was last year’s Coach of the Year and has lofty expectations to manage.

Phoenix was accused by WNBA fans of tanking last season with a number of mysterious illnesses sitting star players down, particularly Diana Taurasi, at the season’s end. The ping-pong balls rewarded the Mercury’s half-hearted efforts with 2013 top pick Brittney Griner. The athletic contralto-ranged center can dunk the ball with ease and has the potential to immediately transform the expectations of the WNBA’s elite bigs, if she can manage to stay out of foul trouble. With Candice Dupree and DeWanna Bonner (2^nd in WNBA scoring in 2012, behind McCoughtry) at the forward spots plus Taurasi’s and Penny Taylor’s return accompanying Griner’s arrival, this team should be able to score in bunches and in a variety of ways.

If you’re at the Dream home opener on Saturday and notice not only a huge crowd but an odd proportion of hetero cis-gendered men in attendance, know it has everything to do with the regular-season debut of one Miss Skylar Diggins. The Notre Dame star is not only a certified dime piece who blows up Twitter with every televised appearance, but a tremendous point guard who can be sensational in crunch time. Tulsa absorbed a shock when Aussie center Liz Cambage reneged on her promise to return after the Olympics last summer, then announced she would play in China rather than in the WNBA this summer. Her sudden change of plans last week to make it to Oklahoma after all puts Tulsa squarely in the mix for postseason play for the first time since the franchise’s dominating Detroit years. Diggins will get roughed up a bit in the paint, as she learned in the preseason game with the Dream (bloodied lip). But she has veteran Candice Wiggins (Diggins and Wiggins!) and forward Glory Johnson to provide offensive balance and spread the floor.

Gwinnett County’s Maya Moore stays winning, scoring over 40 points per game in the offseason while leading her Chinese team to its league championship. But her WNBA Finals loss, a sweep at the hands of Indiana (perhaps her first postseason defeat since high school?) has left a bad taste, and she vows to come back hungrier than ever for her Minnesota Lynx, the team with the league’s best regular season record the past two seasons. How successful she, Lindsey Whalen and Seimone Augustus will be depends on how well Rebekkah Brunson and the Lynx frontline holds up against imposing centers in the West in Parker, Griner, and now Cambage.

Out of the gate, consider this season a Mulligan for the Seattle Storm, who are expected to be without legendary players Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson for the entire season due to leg injuries. Camille Little, who the Dream literally gave away in 2009, will have to lead the charge for the Storm. San Antonio will also have an uphill climb without leading scorer Sophia Young, recovering from an ACL tear in Chinese league play. The Silver Stars have a deeper team, though, and the emergence of its younger players (Danielle Adams and Jayne Appel, particularly) will take pressure off of Becky Hammon (sidelined at the start of the season with a broken finger) to perform heroics every night.

2013 WNBA Season Predictions

Eastern Conference

1.       Indiana Fever

2.       Chicago Sky

3.       ATLANTA DREAM

4.       Connecticut Sun

5.       New York Liberty

6.       Washington Mystics

Western Conference

1.       Los Angeles Sparks

2.       Phoenix Mercury

3.       Minnesota Lynx

4.       Tulsa Shock

5.       San Antonio Silver Stars

6.       Seattle Storm

Conference Semifinals – Indiana over Connecticut (2-0); ATLANTA over Chicago (2-1); L.A. over Tulsa (2-0); Phoenix over Minnesota (2-1)

Conference Finals – Indiana over ATLANTA (2-0); L.A. over Phoenix (2-1)

WNBA Finals – L.A. over Indiana (3-1)

MVP – Candace Parker, Los Angeles

Rookie of the Year – Elena Delle Donne, Chicago

Most Improved Player – Mistie Mims, Connecticut (Trivia: Daughter of singer Chubby Checker)

Defensive Player of the Year – Sylvia Fowles, Chicago

Peak Performers – Maya Moore, Minnesota (Scoring); Sylvia Fowles, Chicago (Rebounding); Lindsay Whalen (Assists); Candace Parker, Los Angeles (Blocks); ANGEL MCCOUGHTRY, ATLANTA (Steals)

Coach of the Year – Pokey Chatman, Chicago

~lw3

The Braves has a real "delima" on their hands when McCann gets back. Gattis can play and is healthy. McCann is an established vet that's had two down years in a row. But this is a good problem to to have. 

west coast, won the final two out of three from the champion Giants

and have a lead of 6.5 games in their division.

Pitching has been consistant with the Braves.  Gattis was a run away

to be rookie of the year until the Dodgers brought up their new right

fielder.  He only hits with power with home runs coming almost every

game.  He has blazing speed and recently had a batting average of .500.

Add to that the cannon arm and we have to wonder, is this guy human?

Atlanta has a women's team in the WNBA.  Some Hawk fans have a built

in hate of the WNBA.  They state their feelings by such statements as,

"Watching paint dry or grass grow is more exciting than watching the

women of the WNBA."

Nevertheless, what few of us poor males that are not so macho that we

can't abide watching, find that, even though these gals don't play above

the rim and defy gravity as they slam the ball thru, find that they play with

a speed and intensity that would put most men's teams to shame.  Quickness

is everywhere you look. The Atlanta Dream and their 6-1 record means

they are all alone, in first place in the east.

So.  Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Hawks, the pattern has been set for you.

GO ATLANTA!

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