2017 Hawks Offseason Thread

[Geaux_Hawks]

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If we're moving on from Sap, then playing Gallo or Ersan would/should be the ideal fit next to Howard with Prince at the 3. I think Ersan comes back anyway for the exact reasons they listed.

James Johnson on a cheap contract wouldn't be to bad of a signing.

Something interesting would be moving Bazemore and swapping 1st with a team late in the draft like Brooklyn. They move up, and we get salary relief.

[Jamaaliver]

James Johnson on a cheap contract wouldn't be to bad of a signing.

Something interesting would be moving Bazemore and swapping 1st with a team late in the draft like Brooklyn. They move up, and we get salary relief.

Jamaaliver likes both of these.



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[ATL Boy]

http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2017/6/9/15724570/atlanta-hawks-free-agent-targets-paul-millsap-offseason-salary-cap

Peachtree Hoops ran down some of the free agent options the Hawks have to remain competitive if they lose Millsap.

Serge Ibaka

As an overall package, Ibaka would probably be the best single replacement for Millsap should he leave.

Offensively, Ibaka has adapted to the modern NBA beautifully and now can space the floor. He has always had a great touch in the mid-range but has now expanded that already potent range beyond the three-point line which creates problems for opposing defenses. His hard work has paid off as he shot a career-high 39% from behind the arc this season between his stops in Orlando and Toronto.

Ibaka is also versatile. As well as starting him at power forward you can also deploy him at the center spot in small-ball lineups and that spacing he provides becomes even more valuable at the 5. Spacing is something the Hawks really value, something which Mike Budenholzer proved when he benched his star free agent signing of 2016, Dwight Howard, for the Hawks’ failed fourth quarter comeback against the Wizards in Game 6 of the 2017 playoffs (as well as other comebacks such as the Hawks’ 26 point fourth quarter comeback), all in favor of more spacing.

Ibaka can also operate in the post, meaning he can score in a variety of ways, similar to Millsap.

Is Ibaka a better offensive player than Millsap? No, but he can do a lot of similar things to Millsap...things that Mike Budenholzer likes his bigs to be able to do.

Defensively, we all know Ibaka is more than capable of challenging shots at the rim but he can also guard out on the perimeter, similar to Millsap, which is a very important to coaches and executives when evaluating aspects of a big man’s defensive game in today’s NBA.

Ibaka is also only 27 years old, meaning you could invest a four year deal into him and he’ll still — in theory — be playing at a high level when he hits the market again. However, according to Basketball Insider’s Steve Kyler, Ibaka and the Toronto Raptors (Ibaka’s current team) have basically agreed upon an extension that would keep the Congolese shot blocker north of the border on a reported salary of 20+ million.

Time will tell.

Danilo Gallinari
Here’s an interesting free agent. If the game of basketball is an old fashioned weighing scale, with Ibaka providing a balance of offense and defense, Gallinari is certainly weighs more on the side of offense.

Gallo possesses elite size for a small forward at 6’10” and his ability to play power forward shows versatility, which is something the Hawks like in their players. It would give Bud the choice to mix-and-match different lineups.

Offensively, Gallo can put the ball in the bucket in a variety of ways (averaging 18.2 points per game in 2016-17) and can space the floor with his 38.9% three-point shot.

When the Hawks needed a bucket, they could dial up Paul Millsap and he would normally make something happen, whether it was for himself or others. In a hypothetical situation where Millsap isn’t with the team, creating offense is going to be a huge concern. As we saw in the playoffs, no one outside Dennis Schröder or Millsap could consistently create offense/get into a consistent offensive rhythm. It was one of the many reasons the Hawks lost that playoff series...

With Gallinari, you can also throw him the ball and he can make something happen.
However, the problem is defensively. With Ibaka, you don’t really take a major step back but with Gallinari you more than likely will. With the likes of Dennis Schröder and Tim Hardaway Jr. in the lineup, adding Gallinari into the mix could be a defensive disaster for the Hawks’ overall defense.

The other problem is Gallo is best suited as a small forward who can take advantage of the more than likely smaller small forwards since Gallo stands 6’10” tall. Sure, you can deploy Gallo at power forward in certain lineups but if he were to be plugged as the starting power forward — which he would probably have to be in this situation — I’m not sure it would really work. Plus, if you started him at small forward your power forward spot is still horrendously vulnerable.

Though he would certainly give Budenholzer an interesting option on the offensive end (an end that the Hawks certainly regressed in last season), the overall fit of Gallinari in Atlanta would be a concern...

These are the two players under the category of guys that would suck up all of our remaining cap space to get. James Johnson and Ersan Ilyasova are two more players talked about who would still leave us a few mil in cap space to work with if we signed them.

All in all, this team will be significantly worse if it loses Millsap and replaces him with any of the players mentioned in the article, but the problem is that these are realistically the best players available to Atlanta if they wanted to remain "competitive."

[Jamaaliver]

All in all, this team will be significantly worse if it loses Millsap and replaces him with any of the players mentioned in the article, but the problem is that these are realistically the best players available to Atlanta if they wanted to remain "competitive."

Yep. We waited too long to make a major adjustment and are now forced to:

a) overpay to keep a mediocre team together or
b) just be really bad for a while.

<sigh>



I was okay with taking a quick step back when we had reliable vets and franchise pillars around to hasten the rebuild. (Korver/Horford/Demarre/Millsap)

But being terrible with guys like Dennis and Dwight as cornerstones...sounds like a recipe for disaster.

1) Losing Horford without getting assets in return then losing Millsap without getting assets in return is the cause of all this.

2) Signing Baze and D12 to fat contracts only hastened our downfall.

...what was Budenholzer thinking, man?

I can only hope Trav has a solid plan for moving forward.

NOTE: If we were gonna tank for a year, this would have been the draft to do it for.

[D21]

All in all, this team will be significantly worse if it loses Millsap and replaces him with any of the players mentioned in the article, but the problem is that these are realistically the best players available to Atlanta if they wanted to remain "competitive."

Now the question is "would it be better to stay competitive next year and the following years to re-sign Millsap, and have the possibility to trade him later ?"

Working under the cap is only interesting when you have a solid core and can add one good player before re-signing the core later.
It was a possibility last summer, because there was enough to add Howard and keep the core, except that Horford was part of the core, but not Bazemore. The goal should not have been changing the system, but keeping it and adding someone to bring new option and improve on where you have a problem (rebounding).
Even if a frontcourt of Howard-Horford-Millsap is not the best you can get if you think that Millsap should play PF, it may be better than Howard-Millsap-Bazemore and :
- you can still play mainly with these three guys on C-PF
- you have better assets to make trade these three players than with Bazemore instead of Horford.

Signing Bazemore was the end of the possibility to keep Horford, and it was a bad choice.
There were talks about adding a C, but not a C to replace one Horford-Millsap. And that it was what Horford was asking.
It was not like he didn't listen to an ATL offer and say "I'm going to BOS", he was asking for the same annual money than BOS was offering, but on 5 years instead of 4 years.

You sign Howard, say OK to Horford for 141M instead of 136M, and let Bazemore walk and you are in better position for the season and the following seasons than with what has been done.

NOTE: If we were gonna tank for a year, this would have been the draft to do it for.

Don't forget that tanking one year with young players under contract is easier than with your best player being in a contract year.

[Geaux_Hawks]

I think Gallo is being underrated here. Honestly feel like he fits perfectly with us. His got a potent offensive game tailor made for today's league also and easily becomes our go to scorer. If we could trade Baze, and sign him, while bringing back Sap, I think a team of Dennis, Gallo, Sap, Howard, and THJ at 2 guard would be a strong starting 5.

[MaceCase]

Gallo with Sap, sure. That's a varied and skilled frontcourt but Gallo to replace Sap is a different story. His injury history is very concerning too as getting him to suit up for just 60 games is a rarity and Denver's training staff is considered amongst the best.

I don't see the sense of letting Sap go yet signing some lesser known player to all of the cap created. I see more of a cheap committee approach in free agency with any of or a combination of guys like Terrence Jones, Motiejunas, Sullinger, Amir Johnson, Spencer Hawes, Patrick Patterson and Marreese Speights getting looks as big men that can stretch the floor plus flex at Center in small ball lineups.

[Jamaaliver]

I think Gallo is being underrated here. Honestly feel like he fits perfectly with us.

Gallo with Sap, sure. That's a varied and skilled frontcourt, but Gallo to replace Sap is a different story.

Agreed.

[Jamaaliver]

A few minor free agents I'd be okay with us pursuing, courtesy of the FA rankings at Bleacher Report:

Ramon Sessions, PG, Team Option

Age: 31

...assuming his shot returns during the 2017-18 campaign, he's a steady veteran presence who can capably lead a second unit. He won't take over games, but he's skilled in enough different areas that he can hold steady and avoid making too many mistakes




KJ McDaniels, SG/SF, Team Option

Age: 24

McDaniels has consistently flashed potential, routinely compensating for his missing jumper with athletic defense and a willingness to do the little things. With the Nets, he averaged 15.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks per 36 minutes




Shelvin Mack, PG, Unrestricted

Age: 27

it's clear the 27-year-old veteran has the ability to settle in as an impressive backup. As an adequate defender and distributor who typically avoids mistakes while running the show, he can provide positive production without many detrimental plays.



Omri Casspi, SF, Unrestricted

Age: 28

...put Casspi in the right situation, and he can still thrive. He's in the midst of his athletic prime, remains a tremendous shooter from the perimeter and can contribute in a number of different areas once he's allowed to settle in and regain the rhythm he was forced out of throughout a trying 2016-17 season.

[Jamaaliver]

A few more:

Donatas Motiejunas, PF/C, Unrestricted

Age: 26

It's simply too soon to give up on Donatas Motiejunas. He will get more chances because he's a young 7-footer who can capably protect the rim and has shown the ability to hit threes.



Bojan Bogdanovic, SG, Restricted

Age: 28

Bogdanovic is a wing who has to be used in the right situation. His ability to score either as a spot-up sniper or off the bounce also keeps his defender off balance, which is rather valuable in and of itself.



James Johnson, SF/PF, Unrestricted

Age: 30

2016-17 Per-Game Stats: 12.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.1 blocks

Advanced Metrics: 17.0 PER, 2.36 RPM, 111.66 TPA

By allowing Johnson to handle the rock as a secondary drive-and-kick threat while guarding any position necessary, Spoelstra maximized what he could do. He gave him the confidence necessary to break out and keep producing at a high level, making him a late popper who should fit with virtually any competitive team that can afford him. So long as they're willing to let him use what's now the established blueprint, he'll keep looking like a two-way standout contributing in unorthodox fashion.

[Jamaaliver]

I'd start James Johnson, play Bogdan off the bench, let Ramon and Shelvin wrestle for backup minutes at PG.

And work to further develop KJ and Motiejunas massive potential.

Omri Casspi is my pick to be our top 6th man option. And is a player I suspect Travis will definitely look to bring in on a value-based, incentive laden contract.

[Jamaaliver]

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[The Hawks] odds of winning it all in June 2018 are at 200 to 1. By way of comparison, the Philadelphia 76ers are listed at 100 to 1.

The only teams given longer odds than the Hawks: Charlotte, Detroit, Brooklyn, Orlando, Phoenix and Sacramento.

ajc

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[D21]

The problem with Gallo is injury only.
He had a solid season, with a 20PER and direct opponent PER of 12, with a +6.7pts Net On/Off court (2nd for DEN)... now Jokic ended with +13.3 so it can be a Jokic effect (the previous season, Jokic was already leading at +9.9)

I add my answer to a post on Gay opting-out (an example that gives some numbers)

I reckon Atlanta Signs him to a 3yr $45mil deal and Milsap to a 3yr $75mil deal.

Dennis/Kent/Rudy/Paul/Dwight

Top 4 in the East.

It can happen only if Millsap is signed quickly to count for 25M (and not his higher cap hold), Bazemore is traded (and THJ is renounced), because with Millsap at 75M, it makes at least $22,624,434 on first year and you have 87M for Howard,, Millsap, Bazemore, Schröder, Delaney, Prince, Bembry and the 19th pick
Add Dunleavy guaranteed part and minimum roster charges and you are at 90M, so Gay could get 35M/3years, still possible.

It shows that ATL first need is to trade Bazemore at the draft if they want to keep Millsap and have room to improve.
Without Bazemore, you can also keep THJ cap hold of 5M, and be able to sign him going over the cap once the room is used. Same for Muscala (1.5M cap hold). They can keep rights on these FA and have room to add a good player and keep Millsap only if they trade Bazemore for nearly nothing.

Without Bazemore and adding THJ and Muscala cap hold, it makes 84M for 9 players + pick so 85M with roster charges.
You can start a contract at 16M with that (or absorb one).
If they don't want to keep THK because is asking too much, you can renounce him and it gives more than 21M or room, but one player less and a "Salary Cap team". The team would certainly be better with a 16M guy and THJ re-signed than with a 21M player only, and it gives more assets to make trades later.

I would be OK for that, because it gives improvement and assets, and it seems like the only possibility to get that.
So IMHO, it has to be the first plan to try because it can be done before July 1st and open the possibility in free agency.

[Jamaaliver]

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1) I THINK this is the right approach

2) This strategy -- combined with a complete re-shuffling of GM, Asst GM and PBO positions since last offseason -- leads me to believe the franchise is officially, publicly, moving toward a longer-term, big-picture approach.

I wouldn't be surprised if we make an attempt to at least be competitive next season but finally will begin taking large actions with a 3-5 year timeline in mind.

And it's long overdue.

NOTE: I really like the approach he's taking.

[Jamaaliver]

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Great interview with our HBO.

He re-iterates three biggest tenets of team building:

a) Get younger
b) Avoid bad contracts
c) Craft a team of good character guys that top Free Agents want to come play alongside

I love it. It's what Ferry should have been doing years ago.



NOTE: This dude is incredibly goofy.

[Jamaaliver]

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The Hawks want to keep Paul Millsap but there likely will not be a maximum contract offer made to the four-time All-Star power forward.

New general manager Travis Schlenk told to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that retaining Millsap remains a priority. However, he acknowledged that Millsap may receive better offers elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent next month.

Schlenk said he has met twice with Millsap’s representation with a breakfast meeting just after his hire and a tour of the team’s soon-to-be completed practice facility last week.

The possibility that Millsap could get a better offer elsewhere would indicate the Hawks won’t offer the maximum.

Schlenk has said several times that his philosophy, developed as an assistant general manager with the Warriors, is to avoid bad contracts and accumulate players with tradeable deals. Schlenk cautioned that the skill of a player and not merely the terms of a deal determines a bad contract.

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[Geaux_Hawks]

Seems like we're going to basically low-ball Millsap in hopes that he just wants to come back to Atlanta and finish his career with the team that gave him his first real shot. Realistically, where would he be able to go anyway and still have a shot at being at least better than us? I mean sure some teams could trade some dead weight, but there's almost no way he gets to Cleveland without them giving up Love. SA is interesting, but someone has to help them. Boston seems to be looking at other options. Washington might be a team in the hunt.

[Jamaaliver]

Seems like we're going to basically low-ball Millsap in hopes that he just wants to come back to Atlanta and finish his career with the team that gave him his first real shot.

Geaux, this is a breakup. A very public breakup. We're not trying to low ball Millsap. We are telling him that this is over.

There are other fish in the sea.

It's not you; it's us.

I think we should just be friends.

[MaceCase]

Seems like we're going to basically low-ball Millsap in hopes that he just wants to come back to Atlanta and finish his career with the team that gave him his first real shot. Realistically, where would he be able to go anyway and still have a shot at being at least better than us? I mean sure some teams could trade some dead weight, but there's almost no way he gets to Cleveland without them giving up Love. SA is interesting, but someone has to help them. Boston seems to be looking at other options. Washington might be a team in the hunt.

They'll offer something respectable but obviously not go all the way with the state of the team and the other free agents that need to be handled. You are correct, this isn't last offseason where there was a cap spike and nearly every single team being flush with cap space. He'll have to decide between money and opportunity, there's less than a handful of teams that could offer both.

[Jamaaliver]

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