Packfill

These types od demands - "I want to go to a contender" - are ridiculous. Players like Davis who are good players, but not great players, over value their talents (or at least their agents do). If they were better, their teams would win and get beyond the first round of the playoffs.

Baron is a good player, but he has flaws because he does not shoot particularly well, is injury prone and is not the prototype point guard (though he is better thant Marbury and other combo guards).

The Hawks struggled to rebound and block shots last year, not to mention to Hawks lacked a true point guard. So some of the holes are the same as last year.

The whole minor league idea makes so much sense. The players association should get on board with the idea, but won't because it is made up of NBA veterans. I think the NBA could market it and the merchandise if done properly. Would likely improve NBA basketball but may have a negative impact on college basketball, which I am not sure I want to see. For me, that is the only negative.

Was Sarunas Jasikevicius the point guard for the lithuanian team - not sure if he was point or shooting guard? Boy could shoot though. I wouldn't mind if the Hawks signed him.

Watson would be a terrific pick-up but from what I have read Jerry West loves him. Watson is a real point guard and would be a solid, solid contributor.

Say what you will about Dampier but he is a real center. I think BK's attempts to sign Damp to a deal on the Hawks terms was admirable. Sure Damp did not want to come to a rebuilding team but I strongly suspect that if the Hawk's offer was the same as the contract he got from Dallas he would have signed with the Hawks.

Absolutely correct.

Steve Smith and Kevin Willis are way, way past their prime. They may be able to provide som leadership but I just don't think either is a viable option in terms of on the court performance.

Whatever you do, do not put Josh Smith, Josh Childress or Al Harrington in there any time soon!

Add me to the Mo Williams band wagon.

With Walker and Harrington already in the fold I don't think Swift is an option right now. A true center yes, a point guard yes, but not another power forward.

If Heywood had any drive/motivation and a decent set of hands he would be one of the top 3 centers in the game today.

I think Shareef and Walker are pretty darn close talent wise - though each has different strengths and weaknesses. Both need to be put into the right system. I liked Shareef alot and loved the trade that brought him to Atlanta. I really wanted things to work out in Atlanta for him and the Hawks.

I think the biggest mistake in the post-Dominique years was trading for Grob. That set the franchise back light years because it messed up both Shareef and Jason. If the Hawks had picked up James Posey or someone like that instead, and if Dermarr never gets injured, the Hawks would have made the playoffs the past two years. Lot of ifs, I know, but thats what I think.

Agreed.

Both Harrington and Crawford can serve as back-up power forwards.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see him in Atlanta. I just don't think he is a max salary guy.

Why all the love for Tony Parker? He is a good young point guard but he is neither a great shooter nor great pure point guard. He is a good player and all but is really any better then a guy like Mike Bibby, Steve Nash or even Kurt Heinrich?

I rather sign a vet like Damon Jones and then hope to be in position to draft Chris Paul or Jarrett Jack next summer.

I was just going to ask the same thing.

Hearing words like that from the GM really makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Maybe Hotlanta is really Billy Knight!

Anything interesting said at the press conference?

I say no, he is not an option because he is likely to be signed and traded to the Knicks. Plus, from what I have seen and heard, he is not a real point guard anyway. He is a shooting guard. He is talented, but he is by no means a great player at this point.

Sadly (for the NBA), this is true. I am from the northeast and became a Hawks fan originially because of Dominique, Doc and Spud. After they left, I questioned why I remain a fan, but for some reason I still do. I am partial to the Knicks because they are my local team, but even during the peek Patrick Ewing days the Hawks still remained number one. The only Hawks games I have seen in person were at MSG, the Hartford Civic Center and Boston Garden.

Unfortunately there is very little loyalty in sports anymore, let alone in life.

That trade I would do. Chicago, however, categorically would not do that trade.

Stop pretending is right. No way Philly trades Dalembert for any player on the Hawks roster.

Seems like alot of view and post today, probably the most I have ever seen. So to the admins, is today a record? Just wondering.

You definitely have done better recently but you fell off the wagon today. You have stated in the pst that you didn't like JT as a player so why be upset when the Hawks get rid of him? If JT is as bad as you make him out to be then we should feel lucky that the Hawks got an expiring contract in return. Addition by subtraction?

I don't know why you get all worked up about Childress playing poorly during the summer league while at the same time saying Josh Smith's solid summer effort means nothing. Point is we do not yet know how either player will turn out.