Packfill

Isn't every team in the league dreaming of the next Larry Bird?

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

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.

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 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.

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.

Do the Hawks need another shooting guard? Isn't Forte a similar player to Salim?

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.

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.

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?

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?

He looks skinny in that video clip even if he is 230 pounds.

I would hope he wants to be more then a dunker.

Why would they want Al over Maggette? They have Brand and Kamen to man the post, but need a slasher to go along with Mobley (a shooter) at the wings. Maggette can drive to the hoop so he is a much better fit for them.

Plus they already have one guy with an ending contract now in Radmonovic.

so you are saying Felton's numbers over six games are about the same as Paul's for the season?

No way that deal happens - the Hawks would be getting arguably the two best players in the deal.

That is pretty similar to what he was doing at the end of last year if I remember correctly.

Well, their minutes are basically the same already.

Since the Hawks are so much better without Al why doesn't Billy trade him?

Wouldn't it make sense to trade him now as opposed to after the season because his value is likely to decline - assuming the young guys take his minutes over the second half of the season they his value in a sign and trade goes into the toilet after the season.

Shooting one right after the other I would bet i could make 26 of 30 or better it until I got tired, assuming the guy throwing the ball back to me doesn't move me all over the place. I bet there are other guys on the board who could do the same. It isn't that hard once you get in a grove.

Shooting in games is a different story. Nowadays I am hot and cold, just like most people.