Packfill

In order to really make a move up in the standings the Hawks need two things: (1) the young guys to continue to develop and (2) at least two veteran leaders capable of starting need to be added. Look at the Clippers - they are doing well because they brought in veterans Mobley and Cassell. Phoenix didn't take off until bringing in veteran point guard Steve Nash. All the top teams in the league are veteran teams.

Quote: Look like a solid signing. Hawks are due for one of these type of players to be a surprise. Wouldn't players like Ira Newble, Snoop Graham and Jason Collier qualify?

Good job BK. This is this missing piece to the championship puzzle!

Quote: Ben Wallace is an exception, but in general stats impact the contract more than intangibles. Winning impacts contracts as well. Ben Wallace played a major role on a championship team. Al and other players on bad teams put up stats, but they are not as meaningful as the stats put up by a player on a winning team. Plus Ben Wallace has great stats with the exception of scoring. He is one of the very best NBA players in terms of rebounding, defense and shot blocking.

Agreed, 6'9" 300 is very different the 6'9" 230. He is like Sean May, except maybe more athletic.

How does he help the Hawks? He is another undersized shooting guard. He is identical to Delk who the Hawks just released. He would just take time from the young guys. No point to bring him in.

Quote: Quote: Point out to me one instance when BK has said specifically that he wants us to be a very strong defensive team. Point out to me one instance when BK has said specifically that he wants us to be a very strong offensive team. No one probably can. BK has only said he wants a long, versatile, athletic team. He has made no reference to actual results with that long, versatile, athletic team.

Quote: You gotta' admit, Seattle got alot better defensively just by getting rid of Flip Murray! I don't believe Flip Murray played substantial minutes for them so I doubt that makes a huge impact.

As long as he is 6'9" he is perfect for the Hawks.

Quote: Well don't take it badly...a western team due to the fact that Gozaga gets much more media coverage out there. Boston just because they are likely dreaming of the "next Larry Bird"... Isn't every team in the league dreaming of the next Larry Bird?

Quote: Quote: If you had to pick 2-3 forwards to play defense, would you guys really pick this 20 year old? He's a good shot blocker, but that doesn't make him an all-NBA player. of course not. Smith isn't even our best defensive player. He is one of the best shot blockers in the country, not one of the best defenders. Just like he is one of the best dunkers, but not one of the best scorers / offensive players in the league. If there was an all-blocking team he would possibly make it Agreed. Plus there is absolutely no way anyone from one of the worst defensive teams in the league deserves inclusion among the league's best defenders. Smoove has potential, but he has a ways to go before he is referred to as one of the games premier defenders.

I think the fact that the Hawks have not had a winning season in so long is a big reason why attendence is so bad. It really has been a while since they have been competitive and it will take a winning season or three to restore fan confidence in the viability of the franchise.

Maybe the fact that Tony Delk got waived will make Salim realize that undersized shooting guards are lucky to have an NBA job at all. Hopefully someone in the locker room beat the crap out of him after his antics.

Quote: Quote: and if his bitchfits keep coming if it became a real problem, yes. But we are a long way from that. Where we are is a guy who makes faces when being put in / pulled out of games. There are many more steps between that and being a real problem. A few notable steps along the way might include swearing at your coach, refusing to enter a game, going against your coach's order in a game/practice, giving the fans the finger, fighting with your teammates, etc, etc... We are at step 1a, making a face while doing what the coach asked you to do. All I am saying is give the guy a chance. He is a rookie making faces. Let's not act like he just started a brawl in the stands. I don't know, his attitude leaves a lot to be desired. Is there any job in the country where a college graduate can get away with this type of attitude? I would fire someone on the spot if they gave me that type of attitude as an entry level employee.

Quote: I know most of you wanted AL traded and some have called BK every name in the book because he did not pull the trigger. Was he right or wrong? This is what we already know: Denver, Chicago, Indiana, and New York are amongst the teams who wanted AL. None of these teams are in the championship hunt and needed AL to put them over the top. So why would they offer anything of value now and get AL for the rest of ths season not knowing if he will bail on them at the end of the year. When the season is over and these team along with others are trying to build their teams up then AL will be a top priority. The price will go up. My job has me traveling throughout the country; everywhere I go and talk about the Hawks, Al is a star. Not a superstar, but a star. WIth that being said; Al would be a fool to just leave the Hawks. No agent would let his player leave a team who owns his bird rights and go to another team for less money in the prime of their career. If he was an older player and wanted a chance at a ring or something then I would worry about losing him for nothing. I cannot speak for Denver, Chicago or Indiana, but I can assure you know one in New York not named Isiah Thomas believes Al is a "star." A good player yes, but not a star player. For what it is worth.

I think the team is playing better but I am very concerned about the reliance on outside shooting. I think it is fine for the regular season but not so good for postseason success. The defense also remains below average. The Hawks will need to address these issues in the offseason, I think defensive issues are priority number one and then secondarily they will need to work on inside scoring via a post scoring presence or drives from the permimeter guys.

Quote: This is typical of the mindlessness that is on this board. Memphis's 50 win season in 2003-2004 was due to the foundation that Billy had put into place. Ever heard of a guy named Pau Gasol? Billy Knight traded for him during the draft, sending Shareef Abdur-Rahim to Atlanta for him, Lorenzen Wright, and Brevin Knight. Ever heard of Shane Battier? Yep. He was also drafted by Billy Knight. The only pieces Jerry West added that were legitimate contributors to the 2003-2004 50 win season in Memphis were James Posey and Mike Miller. Jerry's draft picks in Memphis: Drew Gooden, Troy Bell, Dahntay Jones, and Hakim Warrick. Only Jones and Warrick are still with the team. The Memphis Grizzlies success in 2003-2004 is based largely upon the foundation of Pau Gasol, Shane Battier, and Lorenzen Wright that Billy Knight put into place, and the one player he didn't want to bring to Memphis but was overruled by ownership in Jason Williams. The deal BK wanted to do but was overruled on was Bibby for Odom. Versace and Heisley overruled him and sent Bibby to Sacto for Jason Williams. Posey was the Grizzlies best player in the second half of the 2003-04 season. And basically you are saying the foundation BK built for Memphis is based on his fleecing of Pete Babcock - one of the worst GMs of all time. Very impressive record indeed.

Quote: We should give this guy a contract. Do the Hawks need another shooting guard? Isn't Forte a similar player to Salim?

Quote: If BK cant make a trade to send Tony to another team, then the Hawks need to buy out his contract so he can sign with another team. Management has absolutely bombed in the PR department with this situation as far as I'm concerned. How is this a PR problem? Delk just is not very good so no reason he should be playing when the team already has two identical players (Salim and Lue). Delk is lucky to be collecting an NBA pay check at this point.

Quote: I'm tired of hearing we have 'a logjam at the wing position' What other team gets accused of having too much talent? We have Al, Smoove, Chill, Marvin to man 2 positions. Is that a logjam? And if so who cares? It is a logjam if 4 of your 5 best players essentially play the same position. Still, that deal stinks. If it was for a Devin Harris type of young point guard then I would do it, but not for a fringe NBA player like Smush.

Quote: Quote: We don't even have a system So that'd be perfect for him. I'm thinking that Al is going nowhere so I'm trying to figure who we can get for Delk. Ideas? For Delk the Hawks would be lucky to get a bag of slightly used basketballs.

Well in defense of Diesel, the NY media (everyone from the Post to the Times and the news casters) said yesterday that the deal would involve Crawford, Taylor and Ariza. Obviously that is not the deal that was made, and I certaintly can't blame Orlando for not wanting Crawford's contract as it is grossly disproportionate with his value as a player. In the end though, Isiah is an idiot.

That is what I am worried about. If he is not a good defender then there is no point in trading for him even if he can rebound very well. I have read that his lack of passing and recognition skills can kill the Bucks offensive motion. Since he is limited in this manner offensively, then the only way I would want him - especially for anything resembling max money - is if he is a real honest to goodness lock down interior defender. Meaning he is a top 10 defensive center (although I am not sure that means much). Otherwise he might not be a fit and the Hawks are better off pursuing options that fit better with the team.

Magloire is intriguing for sure. He definitely is an excellent rebounder but is he really a good interior defender? He is not much of a shotblocker, but does he really play good solid man-up defense on the interior? With his previous injuries does he still have enough mobility to be a defensive force?

Can the Hawks aford to sign the youngsters in a few years if they have JJ and Magloire (or some other max or near max player) signed long term?