What does the ideal lineup around Trae even look like?

Post #61 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Apr 11, 2024 11:03 pm

More players to consider:

Post #62 » by **Jamaaliver** » Sat Apr 13, 2024 1:54 am

Post #63 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed Apr 17, 2024 3:53 pm

One of my top targets for this summer.

If we can make this happen, feels like a no brainer to add a motivated, future HOFamer to the rotation.

Spoiler:

Post #64 » by **HMFFL** » Wed Apr 17, 2024 4:36 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:I'd love to get Kyle Anderson in here as the backup PF next season. he defends, he passes, he hits from deep. The perfect role player for a team built around Trae.

Kyle Anderson is just a solid talent that any team can benefit from so I would like him as well.

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Post #65 » by **HMFFL** » Wed Apr 17, 2024 4:37 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:Who needs a Klay Klone when we could possibly get the actual Klay here?

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It's hard for me to envision him playing for a team that's not in Cali. I will predict he stays with Golden State or goes to Denver.

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Post #66 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Apr 18, 2024 4:14 pm

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jayu70 · Post #67 » by **jayu70** » Thu Apr 18, 2024 4:18 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:

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You know how many times I said we needed to see what OO can be as a starter to make a more informed decision for the offseason? :nonono:

Post #68 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Apr 18, 2024 11:08 pm

jayu70 wrote:there is no denying he had a very bad offensive game. But another trade where it leaves us with less talent , particularly on defense is a none starter.

Gotta be honest -- I've never viewed DeAndre Hunter as that strong of a defender.
He's never been seen around league circles as some elite defensive player.

I'd be okay just grabbing Jevon Carter, Kyle Anderson, Nic Batum or any Free Agents from the list below...

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Geaux_Hawks · Post #69 » by **Geaux_Hawks** » Thu Apr 18, 2024 11:33 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
jayu70 wrote:there is no denying he had a very bad offensive game. But another trade where it leaves us with less talent , particularly on defense is a none starter.

Gotta be honest -- I've never viewed DeAndre Hunter as that strong of a defender.
He's never been seen around league circles as some elite defensive player.

Hunter's been living off of his draft status and hopes for way too long now.

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I've been wanting Isaac and Nurkic on this team for years now. Both would add a lot in terms of size and defense, and Nurkic is well rounded enough to work with Trae.

Post #70 » by **dms269** » Thu Apr 18, 2024 11:35 pm

Geaux_Hawks wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:
jayu70 wrote:there is no denying he had a very bad offensive game. But another trade where it leaves us with less talent , particularly on defense is a none starter.

Gotta be honest -- I've never viewed DeAndre Hunter as that strong of a defender.
He's never been seen around league circles as some elite defensive player.

Hunter's been living off of his draft status and hopes for way too long now.

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I've been wanting Isaac and Nurkic on this team for years now. Both would add a lot in terms of size and defense, and Nurkic is well rounded enough to work with Trae.

Magic fans seem to think that they would only trade Isaac for a top 5 MVP candidtate.

His injury history is still a MAJOR concern.

Geaux_Hawks · Post #71 » by **Geaux_Hawks** » Thu Apr 18, 2024 11:55 pm

dms269 wrote:
Magic fans seem to think that they would only trade Isaac for a top 5 MVP candidtate.

His injury history is still a MAJOR concern.

Ouch!! Didn't know they felt that way about him still.

I figured the injury history, coupled with their 2 best players being forwards would've swayed them away from that thought.

Post #72 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Apr 19, 2024 6:38 pm

Could be a misdirect, but it sounds like the plan is to build with Trae this summer...

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Post #73 » by **Jamaaliver** » Fri Apr 19, 2024 6:42 pm

Love it, but who do you give up to acquire him?

Post #74 » by **Jamaaliver** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 3:49 am

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Geaux_Hawks · Post #75 » by **Geaux_Hawks** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 1:19 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:Could be a misdirect, but it sounds like the plan is to build with Trae this summer...

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It's truly the right choice. DJ isn't a bad player. He's just not the fit we thought he would be, and overall his better defense as a PG doesn't outweigh what Trae can do offensively. So keep the offensive stud, and build a juggernaut defense around him.

King Ken · Post #76 » by **King Ken** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 4:50 pm

Geaux_Hawks wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:Could be a misdirect, but it sounds like the plan is to build with Trae this summer...

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It's truly the right choice. DJ isn't a bad player. He's just not the fit we thought he would be, and overall his better defense as a PG doesn't outweigh what Trae can do offensively. So keep the offensive stud, and build a juggernaut defense around him.

It's not possible to build a great defense around Trae. Build a truly elite offense around Trae. That's how we will win a lot of games

jayu70 · Post #77 » by **jayu70** » Sat Apr 20, 2024 8:16 pm

King Ken wrote:
Geaux_Hawks wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:Could be a misdirect, but it sounds like the plan is to build with Trae this summer...

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It's truly the right choice. DJ isn't a bad player. He's just not the fit we thought he would be, and overall his better defense as a PG doesn't outweigh what Trae can do offensively. So keep the offensive stud, and build a juggernaut defense around him.

It's not possible to build a great defense around Trae. Build a truly elite offense around Trae. That's how we will win a lot of games

What was our offensive and defensive ranks in the 2020-21 season?
The defense doesn't need to be great but it can't be bottom of the barrel bad.

King Ken · Post #78 » by **King Ken** » Sun Apr 21, 2024 1:58 am

jayu70 wrote:
King Ken wrote:
Geaux_Hawks wrote:
It's truly the right choice. DJ isn't a bad player. He's just not the fit we thought he would be, and overall his better defense as a PG doesn't outweigh what Trae can do offensively. So keep the offensive stud, and build a juggernaut defense around him.

It's not possible to build a great defense around Trae. Build a truly elite offense around Trae. That's how we will win a lot of games

What was our offensive and defensive ranks in the 2020-21 season?
The defense doesn't need to be great but it can't be bottom of the barrel bad.

21st overall. A lot of things happened in that COVID shorten season, could it just be we benefitted by teams not having time to adjust to our 1/5 PnR when we fired LP and hired Nate? Teams couldn't score with us and they were playing from behind on heavy legs. We benefitted from no one having time to adjust to what we were doing. I don't know if that's something to build off of. It's like the Lakers and the bubble team.

Post #79 » by **Jamaaliver** » Sun Apr 21, 2024 3:29 pm

jayu70 wrote:
King Ken wrote:It's not possible to build a great defense around Trae. Build a truly elite offense around Trae. That's how we will win a lot of games

What was our offensive and defensive ranks in the 2020-21 season?
The defense doesn't need to be great but it can't be bottom of the barrel bad.

This is a great point and a really intriguing question to it.

Let's focus the answer on 2021 -- but only after Nate McMillan took over the team and they thrived in a way not seen since.

Lloyd was fired on March 1.
From March 2 - May 16, Hawks went 27-11.
They had the 3rd most wins in the NBA during that span....best record in the East.

Their OFF Rating was #8. Their DEF Rating was #13.
Their NET rating (4.5) was 7th best in the NBA during that span. 2nd in the East to only the #1 seeded Philly 76ers.

So I think you both may be on to something. Building a dominant defense around Trae is likely a pipe dream. but a dominant offense paired with a better than average defense has proven to be a recipe for success for this core.

Geaux_Hawks · Post #80 » by **Geaux_Hawks** » Sun Apr 21, 2024 4:25 pm

jayu70 wrote:
King Ken wrote:
Geaux_Hawks wrote:
It's truly the right choice. DJ isn't a bad player. He's just not the fit we thought he would be, and overall his better defense as a PG doesn't outweigh what Trae can do offensively. So keep the offensive stud, and build a juggernaut defense around him.

It's not possible to build a great defense around Trae. Build a truly elite offense around Trae. That's how we will win a lot of games

What was our offensive and defensive ranks in the 2020-21 season?
The defense doesn't need to be great but it can't be bottom of the barrel bad.

More or less what I was getting at. I don't expect to ever really be a top 5 defense with Trae in the lineup, but hopefully we could add enough top notch defenders in the starting lineup to where it appears at times we are a top 5 defense.