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After the Hawks NBA cup game, I think it's fair to say that we're currently not really close to being in the top tier of contenders. I'm sure Mitch will make a difference but 1) if so, will he stay healthy the whole year? This is what our team without him looks like and 2) is he the difference between being a middle of the pack Eastern conference playoff team and an NBA championship?

1. I trust the front office, and the hindsight wasn't available to them at the time, but does it seem that they'd be better off having made ONLY the Towns trade or ONLY the Bridges trade? If they only traded for Towns, they'd have a Brunson/Towns/OG Big 3 with enough picks to trade for a really good player on top of that and more flexibility. To a lesser extent because of how Towns is playing, if they hadn't made that deal, they'd have more depth and would have the Nova 4 together, and would at least have that as an identity. Sounds crazy, but they clearly had more of an indentity last year so far. However, They made 3 blockbuster trades in a 6 month span, chemistry is still being worked out. And again, Towns is incredible and it's not a comment on him, it's about the fact that we've done several 2 for 1 trades. Bridges is definitely playing better and I've loved him as a player and I have faith in him as well.

2. Kind of seems like they really thought they were getting Ihart back? I know there may have been other bidders, but maybe OKC paying him close to $30 mil a year is what was needed to pry him and he would've stayed here for less to a certain extent. They missed out on guys like Valanciunas and even lesser guys while this was happening.

3. Brunson, Towns and OG are playing extremely well (maybe Brunson to a slightly lesser extent but he'll be fine) and this is the result. And the starters are playing 36 min a game and they're taking the regular season more seriously than anyone. We've had good injury luck and it's easy to forget, how totally **** are we if this is the result now if OG or Towns gets hurt?

Huge game against Orlando on Sunday.

You make the KAT trade 100/100 times but the Mikal trade is something we might regret if we don’t already

This combination is not it. They’ll get better for sure but I don’t think this set up maxes out as a title winner. Need to upgrade Thibs at some point and need to add more defense and depth. I even think a KAT plus parts swap for Giannis could make sense so JB is the only weak defender. Hard to win with two weak defenders IMO.

i’d be fine if we never made the mikal trade.. always thought he was overrated.. i was able to be talked in to it just for the nova reunion but we didn’t even get to see that

We need to see what we look like with Mitch or his replacement, if traded. Statistically, iHart was #2 behind Brunson in win shares last season and he actually wasn't that far behind. #1 of players who received substantial minutes in WS/48. While I don't put much stock in those stats as specific numbers they fairly clearly illustrate that we lost a major piece for nothing AND have not replaced that piece at all. Mitch at least provides a replacement stand in of similar production/role.

The roster is fine. We need a new HC. PERIOD.

Context wrote:

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I agree with what Josh is saying. It will take time for them to get things figured out and I want them playing their best basketball at the end of the year. I don't care about another January banner.

Unfortunately Thibs' coaching style completely contradicts everything he is saying. Josh is telling everyone to calm down while the leader on the sidelines is having constant meltdowns from minute 1 to minute 48 of every game. Thibs coaches every game like there is no tomorrow.

Thibs is not pacing the team for a long season. He is not helping the young depth to get acclimated to the speed of the game in case another injury occurs to a more significant part of the roster. He hasn't experimented with KAT at the 4. He isn't really tinkering with different lineups. He is just pushing the players as hard as he can while treating every game like it is game 7 of the finals.

My hope is the players realize they have to pace themselves for a long season since Thibs won't which may be the reason guys like Mikal don't look as great as we hoped for defensively.

sol537 wrote:This combination is not it. They’ll get better for sure but I don’t think this set up maxes out as a title winner. Need to upgrade Thibs at some point and need to add more defense and depth. I even think a KAT plus parts swap for Giannis could make sense so JB is the only weak defender. Hard to win with two weak defenders IMO.

What's the biggest critical difference from last year? No interior elite reprotecting 5. It's that and that alone.

KAT even with some minutes at 4 is still better than having Randle at 4 full time.

Get the 5 and we will see a drastic shift.

It's early to say this, but if things don't end up fitting perfectly, could they trade Bridges or Anunoby to get a defender and then a bench scorer? Again, unfair to make that conclusion now. But does it sometimes feel like only 1 of the 2 get theirs on any given night? We are a great offense but tough to have two 25 PPG scorers and then two 18 PPG scorers and have everybody in their rhythm. When depth is an issue.

Hatrick Ewing wrote:It's early to say this, but if things don't end up fitting perfectly, could they trade Bridges or Anunoby to get a defender and then a bench scorer? Again, unfair to make that conclusion now. But does it sometimes feel like only 1 of the 2 get theirs on any given night? We are a great offense but tough to have two 25 PPG scorers and then two 18 PPG scorers and have everybody in their rhythm. When depth is an issue.

They aint doing that. They gonna see how the 5 fits first.

Josh Hart: "We only need another 139 games to gel"

HEZI wrote:You make the KAT trade 100/100 times but the Mikal trade is something we might regret if we don’t already

I wonder if the same picks and players could have got the center the team needs rather than Bridges.

WaltFrazier wrote:

HEZI wrote:You make the KAT trade 100/100 times but the Mikal trade is something we might regret if we don’t already

I wonder if the same picks and players could have got the center the team needs rather than Bridges.

The Bridges trade when looking at his whole body of work as a two way player as well as ironman availability made perfect sense. The Center is the issue if we stay with Thibs and his very specific system.

We have enough pieces to get the C.

Everyone was fine when we were 14-8. Now we are 15-10 and the sky is falling again. I am partly guilty as well but, Thibs is the actual problem here. That's my only concern with this team. The stubborn orc faced penguin looking motherfugger!

WaltFrazier wrote:

HEZI wrote:You make the KAT trade 100/100 times but the Mikal trade is something we might regret if we don’t already

I wonder if the same picks and players could have got the center the team needs rather than Bridges.

We should. Thibs doesn't need an all star center. It's very basic what he wants from his center. Defend the rim/paint and rebound. That's it. We currently don't have anyone like that except Precious who just got back. We found Shart on the scrap heap and we still have Mitch. We should be able to find another rim runner but, who is available and what is the ask?

In the meantime the HC should be making adjustments that work with the roster he does have but, Thibs.

KnixinSix wrote:

WaltFrazier wrote:

HEZI wrote:You make the KAT trade 100/100 times but the Mikal trade is something we might regret if we don’t already

I wonder if the same picks and players could have got the center the team needs rather than Bridges.

The Bridges trade when looking at his whole body of work as a two way player as well as ironman availability made perfect sense. The Center is the issue if we stay with Thibs and his very specific system.

We have enough pieces to get the C.

I'm not sure we have the pieces to get a Kessler or Poeltl level C, nor if they're available. Would Jonas Valanciunas be a good back-up C? Or is there a younger springier guy out there, a Claxton type?

WaltFrazier wrote:

HEZI wrote:You make the KAT trade 100/100 times but the Mikal trade is something we might regret if we don’t already

I wonder if the same picks and players could have got the center the team needs rather than Bridges.

Certainly and still some picks left over

WaltFrazier wrote:

KnixinSix wrote:

WaltFrazier wrote:I wonder if the same picks and players could have got the center the team needs rather than Bridges.

The Bridges trade when looking at his whole body of work as a two way player as well as ironman availability made perfect sense. The Center is the issue if we stay with Thibs and his very specific system.

We have enough pieces to get the C.

I'm not sure we have the pieces to get a Kessler or Poeltl level C, nor if they're available. Would Jonas Valanciunas be a good back-up C? Or is there a younger springier guy out there, a Claxton type?

Jonas is not the type of C Thibs requires. We are linked to Kessler/Richards/Adams and Jonas in the rumor mill. Financially we can afford the first two but, our pick selection is weak. Mitch would have to go in any trade if we want the the other two.

Getting Kessler from **** Ainge will take a bit of maneuvering. I am not confident we pull that off but, Leon has gotten every player I said we couldn't get the last two years so, fingers crossed.

Richards shouldn't be that difficult to get at all.

Rumor has it Ainge wants two FRPs for Kessler.
Charlotte is rumored to want two 2RPs for Richards but, it depends if their other center Williams is back healthy from what I recall.

We have a weak pile of assets and the 2nd apron to work around but, if there is a worthy center that Thibs wants and he is available, we aren't completely hopeless.

I remember seeing Portland's Duop Reath is available but, I know almost nothing about him. I recall he looked ok last season but, I really don't know if he's what we need. Hes really cheap though.