2025 Season discussion and analysis part I

[Rebound Mound]

I don't believe all those players were here at the same time, brother.

You are right.
When typing I was almost sure I was making a mistake.
Either it was Huerter-Bogdanovic-Hunter-Reddish in 2020/2021 or Hunter-Bogdanovic-Bey-Johnson in 2023.

Either way, we had four forwards with good contracts. I can see a similar situation now and we should be very precise in what we do, because we could be really near to having a great roster for years and close to achieving big things...

I don't view our current mix of forwards/wings similar to our early years group.

For one, JJ is absolutely the best of both groups, and actually showcases the versatility we need around Trae.

Zacch is starting to showcase a similar type of versatility as well. This was something none of the previous showed.

Add in Dys being an elite, All NBA defender already with a good bit of offensive upside, and I see a group that is for sure the core group to a great roster around Trae.

Huerter, Bogi, Hunter, Reddish, Bey were all lacking in too many other areas and it is starting to show that Landry actually did a better job of fulfilling Schlenks own plan to build around Trae. Because of that, Ressler may be willing to actually spend money on keeping all of these guys around now, unlike before. We certainly need to start adding more W's to the W/L column, but this team is primed for a breakout year in 2025/2026 with Quin continuing to develop the young talent this off-season.

Probably my explanation seemed like I was focusing on comparing the two situations, while I pretended to use that previous situation to explain that we have a very good situation from an economic and roster-wise point of view. I wanted to stress that we need to continue this path and just develop the players and add some key pieces.

I love the style we can implement with OO+JJ+Rischacher, especially if OO is able to hit the three at 37/40%. That makes him an impact player while he can also run the floor, get a ton of off rebounds, switch on defense and guard almost everybody. But I believe we lack having strong guys in the forward positions, although JJ and Risacher are extremely athletic.

My comparison was with the fear of not repeating the same mistakes, provided we have an owner willing to spend.

[jayu70]

You are right.
When typing I was almost sure I was making a mistake.
Either it was Huerter-Bogdanovic-Hunter-Reddish in 2020/2021 or Hunter-Bogdanovic-Bey-Johnson in 2023.

Either way, we had four forwards with good contracts. I can see a similar situation now and we should be very precise in what we do, because we could be really near to having a great roster for years and close to achieving big things...

I don't view our current mix of forwards/wings similar to our early years group.

For one, JJ is absolutely the best of both groups, and actually showcases the versatility we need around Trae.

Zacch is starting to showcase a similar type of versatility as well. This was something none of the previous showed.

Add in Dys being an elite, All NBA defender already with a good bit of offensive upside, and I see a group that is for sure the core group to a great roster around Trae.

Huerter, Bogi, Hunter, Reddish, Bey were all lacking in too many other areas and it is starting to show that Landry actually did a better job of fulfilling Schlenks own plan to build around Trae. Because of that, Ressler may be willing to actually spend money on keeping all of these guys around now, unlike before. We certainly need to start adding more W's to the W/L column, but this team is primed for a breakout year in 2025/2026 with Quin continuing to develop the young talent this off-season.

Probably my explanation seemed like I was focusing on comparing the two situations, while I pretended to use that previous situation to explain that we have a very good situation from an economic and roster-wise point of view. I wanted to stress that we need to continue this path and just develop the players and add some key pieces.

I love the style we can implement with OO+JJ+Rischacher, especially if OO is able to hit the three at 37/40%. That makes him an impact player while he can also run the floor, get a ton of off rebounds, switch on defense and guard almost everybody. But I believe we lack having strong guys in the forward positions, although JJ and Risacher are extremely athletic.

My comparison was with the fear of not repeating the same mistakes, provided we have an owner willing to spend.

Nothing so far in Ressler's tenure has indicated he's willing to spend. I'm not holding my breath on that one.
Every trade you propose should be made with staying under the tax as a guide post.

[jayu70]

Read on Twitter

[Rebound Mound]

CC does not fit our timeline and is too limited to give us some kind of good performances off the bench. He is not a shooter (Drummond is Garrison Matthews at his side) and not a good passer, although he is a compromised person always cheering for the team and giving some tips to others while not complaining or causing a single problem in years.
I did not like his limitations at the beginning, but learnt to live with him as our C and always valued his effort and willingness to crash the boards.

I believe we should find someone with a bigger upside and other tools, such as intimidation, or shooting for three point range or passing, although he has quality hands and a knack for rebounds and loose balls.

[Jamaaliver]

Hawks need another shooter on the wings...
(Liam McNeeley? Rasheer Fleming?)

[Jamaaliver]

With 8 games left in the season?!?!?

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

So close to running out an elite offense next season...

Read on Twitter

[Rebound Mound]

What a pity we lost today, because we were going to be almost equalized with Indiana.

Yes, there are periods in the games when we play like a fantastic team, even though we do not have the best players. If we could get a big C and a good bench PG or Bufkin and Wallace could hand assists at a 70% level of that of Trae...

[Jamaaliver]

What a pity we lost today, because we were going to be almost equalized with Indiana.

Yes, there are periods in the games when we play like a fantastic team, even though we do not have the best players. If we could get a big C and a good bench PG or Bufkin and Wallace could hand assists at a 70% level of that of Trae...

Yeah.

I put the Portland loss on the fact that we currently have no real front court players available on the roster.

Okongwu is an above average starter.

But no starting PF.
Sub par backup PF.
No backup Center at all.

It's hard to overcome all that against a Portland team whose main strength is: frontcourt size.

Read on Twitter

[jayu70]

What a pity we lost today, because we were going to be almost equalized with Indiana.

Yes, there are periods in the games when we play like a fantastic team, even though we do not have the best players. If we could get a big C and a good bench PG or Bufkin and Wallace could hand assists at a 70% level of that of Trae...

Yeah.

I put the Portland loss on the fact that we currently have no real front court players available on the roster.

Okongwu is an above average starter.

But no starting PF.
Sub par backup PF.
No backup Center at all.

It's hard to overcome all that against a Portland team whose main strength is: frontcourt size.

Read on Twitter

This was my issue at the end of the offseason. We did nothing to address backup PF and our overall size behind JJ...the most aggregious is that we saw this same situation play out last year.
And in Landry's own words, they expectation was for Mo to not see NBA minutes this season, but injuries forced it.

[Jamaaliver]

This was my issue at the end of the offseason. We did nothing to address backup PF and our overall size behind JJ...the most aggregious is that we saw this same situation play out last year.
And in Landry's own words, they expectation was for Mo to not see NBA minutes this season, but injuries forced it.

And it was a valid criticism both then and now.

In Landry's defense, the acquisitions of Larry Nance and then George Niang should have provided enough front court depth.

But Jalen and Onyeka stay gettin' hurt.

[CP War Hawks]

Well with Deni going off as of late and Hawks struggling to keep guys like Cunningham in check, they need another versatile 6-9 defender on the team.

Even for OO believers, still need a big to replace CC role. Still need a vet pg for non Trae mins. Plenty of holes to fill. On the other side, if they can effectively address just one of those issues, it brings the Hawks up another tier likely above the play in barrier.

[jayu70]

This was my issue at the end of the offseason. We did nothing to address backup PF and our overall size behind JJ...the most aggregious is that we saw this same situation play out last year.
And in Landry's own words, they expectation was for Mo to not see NBA minutes this season, but injuries forced it.

And it was a valid criticism both then and now.

In Landry's defense, the acquisitions of Larry Nance and then George Niang should have provided enough front court depth.

But Jalen and Onyeka stay gettin' hurt.

Larry saw very limited minutes at PF even b4 the JJ injury. And he again is injury prone and Quin played him mostly at Center.

[Rebound Mound]

What a pity we lost today, because we were going to be almost equalized with Indiana.

Yes, there are periods in the games when we play like a fantastic team, even though we do not have the best players. If we could get a big C and a good bench PG or Bufkin and Wallace could hand assists at a 70% level of that of Trae...

Yeah.

I put the Portland loss on the fact that we currently have no real front court players available on the roster.

Okongwu is an above average starter.

But no starting PF.
Sub par backup PF.
No backup Center at all.

It's hard to overcome all that against a Portland team whose main strength is: frontcourt size.

Read on Twitter

Yes, it is sad.
I said a few days ago that maybe we should have signed a C so Barlow can play his natural position and we can check what he is capable of. I believe he has more to offer the short quality stints he is showing.

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

[Rebound Mound]

What a pity we lost today, because we were going to be almost equalized with Indiana.

Yes, there are periods in the games when we play like a fantastic team, even though we do not have the best players. If we could get a big C and a good bench PG or Bufkin and Wallace could hand assists at a 70% level of that of Trae...

Yeah.

I put the Portland loss on the fact that we currently have no real front court players available on the roster.

Okongwu is an above average starter.

But no starting PF.
Sub par backup PF.
No backup Center at all.

It's hard to overcome all that against a Portland team whose main strength is: frontcourt size.

Read on Twitter

The thing is that both our projected frontcourt players are either undersized or underweighed b nba standards. OO is too short at 6-10 (maybe 6-9) and JJ is too light to fight other PFs. However, they are the best bigs we have in the roster unless we sign a heavier PF and/or a taller C. Niang is a much heavier PF (much heavier that desired).
We could then have OO playing PF for some periods, aswell as JJ playing some SF.
That is the only way I can think of to minimize this problems.

With that said, I never thought OO would reach a level in which he could be our starting C, but he connects 3s he is an interesting C.

[Jamaaliver]

The thing is that both our projected frontcourt players are either undersized or underweighed b nba standards. OO is too short at 6-10 (maybe 6-9) and JJ is too light to fight other PFs. However, they are the best bigs we have in the roster unless we sign a heavier PF and/or a taller C. Niang is a much heavier PF (much heavier that desired).
We could then have OO playing PF for some periods, as well as JJ playing some SF.

That is the only way I can think of to minimize this problems.

I do think we're a solid front court acquisition away from being in a much better position.

Donovan Clingan or Kel'el Ware in last year's draft shore up a lot of size concerns.

Asa Newell, Thomas Sorber or Danny Wolf in this year's draft class shore up a lot of size concerns.

Even a high level backup Center like Goga Bitadze eliminates a ton of front court depth issues.


NOTE: Brook Lopez is likely the ideal target.

[CP War Hawks]

I want the team to go after Portis as the backup big in FA. Trade down from the LAL pick for an additional early 2nd for a developmental big like Raynaud.