thecampster

Sorry I'm late to the party but let me see if I can find a deal that works. Detroit is currently about $500,000 into the LT. Any deal with Detroit would eat up all or most of our $4 million cap room meaning we'd go over the cap and so any deal would need to be within about $5,000,000 salary wise. So Drummond makes $27,000,000 so an optimal deal from both team's standpoint would be Drummond for $22,000,000 in salary. Evan Turner + Alex Len is about 22.7 million. They will either want one of our young players + our second 1st round pick this year and they would include similar salary to the young player. So they add Markieff Morris, we add Heurter and it would work. http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=uybwe4z Detroit Out - Drummond and Morris ($30,293,019) Atlanta Out - Len, Turner, Huerter + Nets 1st round 2020 draft pick. ($25,402,836). Not married to this combination but it would be something like this to make it work.....discuss.

Prior to the season when we were acquiring all the expiring deals I specifically talked about how the contract of Steven Adams would have to be traded and these deals we were acquiring could be to acquire him and or someone like him. Mentioned it again a few weeks ago. We are going to be packaging some of these deals at the deadline to upgrade to longer term deals. I expect us to acquire as much as 40 million in salary at the deadline in longer deals and sending out as much as 50 million in expiring deals.

Free agency for spending that money is only part of the story. 1. Taking someone else's big contract but still a good player but might be a bad fit where he is (to get ahead of this, we may do this at this trade deadline with our big expiring deals or nearing the draft). 2. Paying our players when they come off F/A in a year. The plan (as I see it) is we will have about 4 slots, 2 new rookies and about 53 million to spend. Without trading our core 8 away that works out to 1 30 million contract and 3 x 7-8 million.

So there's a point (I think it was the 2nd quarter), where he caught a pass at the three point line kind of awkward. He started to shoot, then caught himself, squared his feet, pulled in the elbows, measured it and went straight balanced. Before the release, I muttered F@$k Ya!!! And my wife was like, what? Big, huge smile on my face I said, "someone is working with him and he's putting in the work" Every other good thing Cam did last night was gravy. He's working on the mechanics and I couldnt stop smiling, even in a loss. Mark this night Hawks fans. I think he's about 20 more games before consistent but this is why we drafted him. Getting a rookie to acceopt and work on his flaws ismaybe the hardest thing to do in the NBA. Be patient, he isn't perfect, but that was it. More work, more patience getting his and he'll be an amazing get for next year when we start to push.

OY!

Says as much in my photo....That's me with mama...If I'm not white...Mom has explaining to do and considering I've been accused of being racist at least 5 times in the politics section...its fun to be on this side of the accusations. Next month, I might just join Green Peace to see how that side lives.

Actually, I'm fairly honest and point it out when I see it. I don't think I'm playing the race card at all considering the hate I've received on this board for my political views. Its just me being honest. He's the NBA's Rocky. He's propped up nightly, pushes off often, is allowed to be handsy on defense to hide his lack of foot speed. They've marketed the snot out of him. Its pretty honest and I'm the wrong guy on this board to be accused of going that direction. As has been pointed out...There is no Trae wall in the NBA shop.

Over the last 3 games, Trae is shooting 55.9% from the field (68 attempts), 51.6 from 3 (31 attempts) while averaging 6.67 assists and 38.3 ppg. Regardless, there should never be a 1v1 comparison of Trae and Luka. The trade (in the end) was Trae + Cam for Luka and a better cap number on Trae than Luka. Its more complicated. Always remember the talent/maturity on Dallas is much higher than the Hawks right now. He's not doing it all alone, he's got more help. Now let me take a second to cause trouble (puts on social justice hat for a second...adjusts the bill...checks self out in the mirror to make sure I look pompous and self-righteous...looks at label to make sure its environmentally friendly...okay ready to go). I firmly believe that Luka gets the benefit of the calls, more marketing from the league and better press because he's one more example of "the great white hope". Its about money. Luka brings grumpy old white guys (no I don't mean me) to the games. Great smile, good attitude, good looking kid. He is highly marketable. He's our generation's Larry Bird....not necessarily skills but league support.

Back in the 90's, the Spurs were a very good team but not contender quality. They just couldn't get over the hump. Then the disastrous 96-97's season happened. See here from Wikipedia: "The 1996–97 NBA season was the Spurs' 21st season in the National Basketball Association, and 30th season as a franchise.[1] During the offseason, the Spurs signed free agent and former All-Star Dominique Wilkins, who played in Greece last season,[2] while re-signing free agent Vernon Maxwell. However, without All-Star center David Robinson, who played just six games due to back and foot injuries,[3] and Chuck Person, who was out for the entire season with an offseason back injury, the Spurs struggled losing 13 of their first 15 games in November. After 18 games, head coach Bob Hill was fired and replaced with General Manager Gregg Popovich. Wilkins appeared in 63 games and led the team with 18.2 points per game. However, it would not be nearly enough as the Spurs finished sixth in the Midwest Division with a 20–62 record." The draft, building an elite contender and becoming a champion is as much about luck as is it about anything else. Stuck on the good but not great season treadmill. The Spurs thought the signing of Dominique is what would get them over the hump. But injuries to Robinson, Person derailed the season and landed them Tim Duncan. Duncan paired with Robinson led to a terrifying duo that made San Antonio the place stars wanted to play. It changed the NBA landscape for 2 decades. The moment the Collins suspension came down I immediately choked on my preseason optimism. I saw doom and gloom. Injuries to Huerter, Reddish and the slow start of other aged vets have made the beginning of this season unbearable. But with the explosion of Trae, I'm starting to see correlations to the Spurs of 96-97. The Collins suspension, Huerter injuries are reminding me of how the Spurs survived a year without Person and Robinson. If the season ended today, the Hawks would be tied with the Warriors for the worst record in the NBA but with a far superior cap situation. Assuming the ping-pong balls fell Atlanta's way, the Hawks would own the 1st and 17th picks (from the Nets) in this year's draft. I played around on the Shamsports Capulator and renouncing our rights next year to Crabbe, Turner, Carter, Parsons, Jones. I "signed" rookies at the 1st and 17th draft slots, added in the player option from Jabari Parker, picked up the team options for Trae, Collins, Huerter and resigned Bembry and Len at 8 million/season each (I needed a number, don't criticize it). We end up with $54 million in available cap space after all signings, extensions, etc. with 4 empty roster slots. Assuming we use tour first pick on a Center (James Wiseman maybe?) and our 2nd 1st round pick on a point guard to back up Trae. Our rookies mature and we use our $54 million wisely (1 star, 3 vets). Next year could be a Spurs like turnaround.

My direct quote, "Which is my point. He was super hyped by everyone and then fizzled to average NBA starter. On fire is an excited stance to take. I like the kid, but he's not Jesus. Most players dont hit their stride till their mid 20s. Give him room to breathe. You wont know what he is for a few years." Taken from here: My other general comments about this draft, "The reality is there are going to be a lot of disappointing players in this draft. A lot of teams are going to look back at this draft and wonder wtf were they doing. The Hawks avoided every one of those players. Its a huge win based on that only." Taken from here: If you'd like my current spot on takes, "I charge $20 to connect and $5.95 for every 10 minutes after.

I did? I think you have me confused with some other attractive suave grandfather?

Considering your original fan boy over the top on him, let me be the one to pump you back up. 1) Being drafted with Hunter is the very best thing to have happened to Cam. Hunter is exactly the type of under control, hands inside, steady with the ball in his hands type of player that Cam should learn from/emulate. If Cam can learn the nuances of keeping your feet, getting a defender on your hip, squaring in your mind before squaring in your body, He'll be elite. He is a better athlete than Hunter and that is his biggest drawback. He is going to have to learn those skills to take the next step and Hunter is the best person to show him. Learn from him daily. 2) He doesn't have to be superman (yet). He can grow into this role. Unlike most top 10 picks, he isn't expected to be the savior of the franchise. It isn't boom or bust with him. He can just "learn, grow, mature". I envy him. I wish I could do that daily in my job. 3) Vince is on the team. I would venture to say there is no better vet to have coach him up than Vince. Despite great hops, Rookie Vince did those little things that earned him RotY attention. That getting a defender on your hip with pace, hesitation, turning your body before going thing is key. If Cam dedicates himself to just that this year, the sky is the limit for him offensively. 4) He is a really, really, super nice guy. People root for the good guys. He'll have a way longer leash and less negative attention to any struggles he faces along the way. The expectation for the Hawks this year is still to miss the playoffs. Cam isn't on any national media's radar. That is a bigger blessing than anything a rookie can hope for. 5) he is in the right city...omg is he in the right city to learn in right now. No big lights, forgiving fan base, great owner, coach, facility, city. Your expectations for him out of the box were way too high. Your current criticism is far too harsh. As rookie's go, he is par for the course. The effort is there and that's the most important thing.

Me 18 months ago -

So the first few games have followed my general assessment....Cam is going to take some time. One day...he is going to be very good and the Young/Reddish for Doncic trade is going to look incredibly lopsided. That day just isn't today. He's really got to work on those feet and popping up on the pull-up and not gliding...bring the ball straight up in the jumper and not loose/angled. One on one defense has been better than advertised but he does get lost in switches and loses his man occasionally off-ball. It's just going to take time. IMHO, he'll make the biggest leap year 2 of this entire class. We just need to be patient.

We are 10 games of Reddish getting a feel for NBA offense, 5 games of Huerter getting his wind back and 20 games of learning to play together away from being a very scary young team. The defensive improvement over last year is impressive. Hunter making Taurean Prince an afterthought.

My avatar has my mama in it...I get some kind of special award.

Might be the best you've written...not enough likes no matter how many it gets.

I'm a few weeks in now and you get used to it after about a week. You don't even recognize the tongue thing.

He had the release point right though which is the hard part. But for big hands, big bodies you got to get those feet square or you'll build bad muscle memory.

Coming out of his hard during the explosion though. Just needs to get those week about 6 inches farther apart and lead less with that right foot.

Going crazy waiting. Look at his feet they aren't square.

So I bought one of these It's called a tongue sleeve...yah I know it looks like a baby's binky and/or a well something dirty but consider this a public service announcement. It works! It really does work. 3 straight nights, no snoring. Only a little weird to get used to, way better than a CPAP only a small bit of discomfort and you'll sleep great. How does it work. I'm not kidding. You pinch the end. Stick your tongue in it up to your fingers....release and it sucks your tongue into the binky part. Then, wear it like a binky as you sleep. It keeps your jaw and tongue stretched forward opening your airwaves. it's weird but it works well. Okay, that's 10 more good guy points for me...you're all welcome. If you need one...search anti-snoring tongue sleeve in google or amazon. And yes...it looks really weird when you sleep but its worth it.

See the block at the 4 second mark. Dude has a clear lane to a layup. This was uncommon because Willis scared the bejesus out of people. They just didn't go inside. and well...if they did...see this 1988 blog entry...http://lexnihilnovi.blogspot.com/2010/05/1988-nba-playoffs-kevin-willis-is-foul.html

You know I'm the biggest Josh supporter there is...but Willis was hella impactful at the 4...more than Josh. In his best 3 season span Willis averaged 18.4/13.5. He was a control machine around the basket. His career blocks were very low by comparison but mainly because he was so dominant in traffic he was completely avoided at times.

Trae Smith Nique Willis Mutombo Caveat - JJ was awesome but I'm not sure how ISO would work with this group. Defensively, a pairing of Willis and Mutombo would stop 99% of all drives making defense for Trae/Nique much, much easier.