RedDawg#8

I still don't love the depth on the Heat. I think they got better talent as an overall team, but they aren't particularly deep if injuries become a factor, which is possible when all your additions are on the wrong side of 30, and your wildcard X-factor is an extremely injury prone 29 year old in Oladipo. I think they set themselves up to be a tough playoff opponent because their top 8-9 is as good as anyone's who doesn't have KD or Lebron. But the regular season will be a drag for them and they will have to work really hard just to grab that top 6 seed.

I think Fournier's ability to put the ball on the floor and get to his spots, get in the lane and make the defense move; is the real challenge. They went from Payton and Bullock who are almost self check type players. Bullock could knock down shots but he wasn't the kind of movement player that Fournier is, Trae could hide out on him. These guys will be a lot tougher to guard on the perimeter next year. They won't have to ride Rose like they did in the playoffs. Their guard play, which was their weakness, just got a lot better. I don't think it drastically changes the standings, but it makes them a much tougher out in the playoffs.

Wright is a career 45/35/79% shooter. Last season he finished overall at 46/37/80 % So I'd say he is a pretty solid shooter overall.

I agree based on how our roster is constructed, that its not very likely for them to be contributors early. But, there are examples of guys drafted later (or undrafted) who contribute to contenders early. Duncan Robinson, Alex Caruso, Tyreese Maxey, Divencenzo... are just a few off top. None were lotto picks and 2 went undrafted. Add to that, we picked 20th and 48th, but we didn't draft the 20th and 48th best players, we drafted guys who had lottery level grades that just happened to fall. Looking at their talent alone, and not the factors that caused them to fall (character questions and height) there is no reason to think they are long term projects that can't get on the court in a year if the depth wasn't in front of them.

I think there is just as much incentive to keep him as an expiring contract for potential trade purposes as there is to lock him in. We know we want a long term answer at backup PG, but Im inclined to think that may be Cooper. So Wright is very much an asset that we could move if need be, or keep if we really like his fit. I don't imagine we determine which anytime before the season.

We called it, even we could see that it was too suspect for him to know the details of a sign and trade without there having been tampering. These idiots are their own demise.

Makes sense for him to feel that way, but a little strange it took so long to draw that conclusion. Season ended over a month ago, did he not realize then that he was in a good spot to miss summer league? He basically waited until they had the guys report for practice to pull out.

Woj is literally the cause of these allegations. By breaking news a full day before Free Agency you are basically begging for a investigation. It was his fault the Bogi deal fell apart. I don't know why teams still leak info to this guy, knowing full well the consequences of his actions.

Never underestimate the power of the people. When decisions are made and there is public backlash, decision makers tend to straighten up. If they havent already selected his replacement, there is a much higher chance of him being brought back

I think there are enough examples of playmaking big men that don't space the floor that you can feasibly see a scenario where Simmons can be successful. Bam and Draymond are 2 examples off the top of my head. Giannis to a different extent is a non shooting playmaker, but he is such a focal point of the defense that it opens up easier passing lanes. The only difference between Simmons and those other guys that can't shoot is that they are at least willing to shoot open shots if you leave them alone. Simmons won't shoot at all. Even if they only hit 30% from the outside, it's enough to make a nearby defender honor your existence. Simmons has to get over that mental hurdle so that he can at least put the ball up to give his team a chance. I've never seen a non-center be that afraid to shoot a jumpshot. It's like that character from Saving Private Ryan, the language interpreter who had never been in live combat and was used to being behind a desk. He was so worthless that they delegated him to just run ammo back and forth during a gun fight. When his own fellow soldier was being killed in a fist fight by a Nazi, he had the chance to save his fellow man, but he was too afraid to fight and literally cried with his rifle in his hand. That's Simmons. When you wont even step up for your team when they need you most; afraid to take a wide open layup opportunity with the game on the line, you are literally killing your team at that point. Whether you miss the shot or not, if you at least engage the enemy, he has to consider you some kind of threat. Simmons leaves his teammates 4v5 when he wont put up an open shot. The literal definition of self check.

Joe Johnson anyone, while we are at it right? https://hoopshype.com/2021/04/13/joe-johnson-nba-comeback-milwaukee-bucks/

Let's Goooooo!!!!!!! The gang is back again. That's so huge Outgoing from 20-21 Dunn, Bruno, Goodwin, Knight, Snell Incoming Wright, Cooper, Johnson, Dieng (Maybe Sap?) Everyone and everything the same, love it!

I just want to remind everyone we are talking about spots 15 - 17 potentially being rookies, and at worst, spots 13-15 if we don't sign anyone else. Nate likes a 10 man rotation, the Rooks won't even crack the top 12.

Maybe he will be back in time, which we all want to see. That would be awesome and I'm looking forward to it. But initial reports were that he had Knee Surgery to repair his meniscus tear, not a scope. Did this change and when did they say it was just a scope? My understanding was he had the scope during the season to avoid surgery, which is why it was able to flare back up https://www.si.com/nba/2021/06/09/hawks-deandre-hunter-will-miss-remainder-nba-postseason

I get that, I said in a pinch. For instance, to start the year, Cam or Kev will be moved in to the starting lineup with Dre out, and that leaves an opening for backup SG minutes that allows Lou or Wright to fill and the other to hold down back up PG. Trae-Lou Bogi-Wright Kev- Cam (or vice versa) and obviously they would get the lion's share of minutes on the wing, but you still have stretches that you can run Lou and Wright together.

I totally agree considering we aren't in talent development mode anymore, we are trying to compete at the highest level. But, in that same light, we are talking about our 3rd string at this point. They are not being relied upon for anything but practice reps and emergency minutes.

At 6-5 I fully expect Delon Wright to get minutes at SG if we are in a pinch. One reason I loved the pick up is his potential to play next to Trae and it not hurt us defensively. Same applies if we add Lou. Lou and Wright can both play on and off the ball while still matching up defensively size-wise with other backcourts.

I thought we already offered Mays? https://soaringdownsouth.com/2021/08/02/atlanta-hawks-impact-qualifying-offer-skylar-mays/

Ya'll the East teams are set for the next few years. Philly and the Simmons situation being the exception. Nets core is together on the books until 2023 Sixers with Embiid through 2023 (likely extends, Harris 24') Bucks 3 are together through 2024 (Middleton 24', Holiday 25', Giannis 26') Knicks, Randle-Rose-Fournier through 2024 (TBD on Kemba length) Heat through 2024 (Butler 26', Bam 26', Lowery 24') Hawks through 2026 with JC, 27' with Trae Celtics Tatum-Brown (lol) through 2024 Obviously major trades can shake things up, but for now the key pieces for these teams are pretty much set in stone. This is the competition that we will be up against for at least the 1st half of Trae and JC's new deals. If the Bulls extend Lavine that will be another core set in stone as well. I think Indy falls out, Washington doesn't have enough to compete, Toronto is apparently about to look completely different in 24+ hours. Detroit and Cleveland are young with upcoming talent. Orlando is lost. Charlotte are the wild cards, they are right there in that 9 seed range ready to catch teams slipping. Going forward, here is my East hierarchy: 1. Nets (Title contenders) 2. Bucks (title contenders) 3. Hawks (conference finals contenders) 4. Heat (conference finals potential) 5. Sixers (2nd round team) 6. Knicks (1st round team) 7. Celtics (1st round team) 8. Bulls (1st round team) 9. Hornets (1st round potential, play in team) 10-12 (no order) Indy, Was, Tor 13-15 (no order) Det, Cle, Orl

Mills is going to be NICE for the Nets. Harris is a better pure shooter, but Mills is a better overall shot maker and just a gamer. As a release valve he will burn teams that are too focused on their big 3. We could already barely hide Trae on Harris, you cannot hide him on Mills.

Im down to add both, as long as everyone is on the same page about minutes and how they will be used. I can't see them having regular playing time, and I hope they understand that going in to it because they both are good enough to be in a contenders top 8.

Depending on how they use Herro, they need a true PG backup and a true SF backup. Gabe Vincent is the only other PG on their roster

Nice! Okay cool. He was still listed I didn't catch it, I hate this time of the year before trades and signings go official.

Heat 10 man rotation would be Lowry, Robinson, Butler, Tucker, Bam Herro, Oladipo, Morris, Achiuwa, Dedmon Doesn't seem so bad when you see it on paper lol

Didn't see it discussed but the Heat also got Markieff Morris. They not playing around *flame me, go ahead*