Moderators: dms269, HMFFL, Jamaaliver
atlantabbq99 wrote:^ Travis Schlenk's entire career is going to be based on the Luke/Trae trade. Just like how Billy Knight's whole career is based on drafting Marvin over CP3.
I wouldn't mind seeing a Trae trade, but Schlenk is not smart enough to know when he made a mistake.
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It's starting to feel like changes are inevitable for the Atlanta Hawks between now and February 9's trade deadline.
Beyond going 4-8 in its last 12 games, Atlanta has a season-long point differential that's below zero when Trae Young is on the floor. The face of the franchise for the past half-decade is suddenly in trade rumors too.
"Rival executives in attendance at the NBA's annual G League Winter Showcase are of the belief that Atlanta Hawks star point guard Trae Young could be the next player on a rookie max extension to request a trade if the team doesn't make inroads come postseason time," Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes recently reported.
There are a lot of qualifiers in there, but any whiff of a Trae trade would've seemed impossible a few years ago.
There are less drastic moves to make, including the years-long rumored trade of John Collins. If Atlanta stays on this track much longer, the front office will have to seriously consider making them. dms269 wrote:If they make major changes to the roster while keeping Nate on the roster, then I am convinced the team isn't pushing to win and is more about being complacent. Reminds me of the late 2000s/early 2010 Hawks. 4-7 seed bound for the foreseeable future.
Jamaaliver wrote:dms269 wrote:If they make major changes to the roster while keeping Nate on the roster, then I am convinced the team isn't pushing to win and is more about being complacent. Reminds me of the late 2000s/early 2010 Hawks. 4-7 seed bound for the foreseeable future.
Have you GA folks heard anymore theories into Travis suddenly stepping away from the team?
Was it a firing? Demotion?
All this stuff is clearly related but I haven't been able to figure what is what?
I maintain that Schlenk had little choice but to hire Nate FT after leading us to the ECF. That move always had an expiration date. But 18 months later it's mind-blowing that so much seems to be falling apart.
jayu70 wrote:So unless this team really brings it together and makes it to at least the second round of the playoffs Nate will be let go. Assuming, ofc, he doesn't simply walk away at some point before then.
D21 wrote:Would like to know why Rod Higgins, Stephen Giles and Derek Pierce are gone.
These three, and Schlenk changing job, they indirectly all hide themselves a bit, and the foul can only be now on McMillan or Ressler, but fact is that even if I don't like McMillan coaching, he has a lot of reasons to be frustrated because if not last season, Ressler should have pay the Luxury Tax. In the end, a lot is on him, but it will all be on McMillan in the media
jayu70 wrote:D21 wrote:Would like to know why Rod Higgins, Stephen Giles and Derek Pierce are gone.
These three, and Schlenk changing job, they indirectly all hide themselves a bit, and the foul can only be now on McMillan or Ressler, but fact is that even if I don't like McMillan coaching, he has a lot of reasons to be frustrated because if not last season, Ressler should have pay the Luxury Tax. In the end, a lot is on him, but it will all be on McMillan in the media
Answer:
Fields wants his own people in place. He wants to "un Travis" pieces he thinks he can upgrade.
Bleacher ReportEach NBA Team's 2023 New Year's Resolution
Atlanta Hawks: Ask the Big Questions
During his relatively brief career, Trae Young has been one of those rare players capable of elevating his team's offense by himself. The Atlanta Hawks finished second in scoring efficiency last year and ninth the year before. Even when their overall offensive performance has underwhelmed, like when they finished 26th in 2019-20 or 25th in 2018-19 (Young's rookie season), it has been in spite of the point guard's massive positive impact.
His presence on the floor has improved the Hawks' attack by huge margins in every season of his career. Last year, Young became the first player to lead the league in total points and assists since 1973.
And yet...the Hawks find themselves in a position where they have to ask whether Young is the right player to build around.
Clashes with both coaches for whom he's played, simmering tensions with top teammates, a failure to adjust his playing style to accommodate Dejounte Murray (or anyone else) and now rumors of a potential down-the-road trade request should have Atlanta making an honest top-down evaluation.
If it's true that the best path forward does not involve Young as the team's centerpiece, it'd be far better to act a little too early than a little too late.
