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As previously believed, ESPN radio in Atlanta is reporting the #Cavs are close to sending Shaq to the Hawks for Marvin Williams in S&T.

http://twitter.com/ESPNCleveland/status/18643208184

This move is beyond awful if they are going to try to start a Smith/Horford/Shaq frontcourt.

HoopsGuru25 wrote:This move is beyond awful if they are going to try to start a Smith/Horford/Shaq frontcourt.

How is that gonna work? Josh at the 3? Is that a joke? Wouldnt that complete neutralize Josh as a shot blocker? Our defense would GROSS. Josh would get effin torched.

Thoughts on the move? Does this guarantee Josh at the 3? Will Shaq start? WTF is gonna happen!?

How is that gonna work? Josh at the 3? Is that a joke? Wouldnt that complete neutralize Josh as a shot blocker? Our defense would GROSS. Josh would get effin torched.

Not really, considering the first couple of years Josh was in the NBA he played at the 3, and averaged over 2 blocks per game every year he played at that position. And if you think not being able to shoot would be an issue at that position, Shawn Marion isn't a great jump shooter but that hasn't stopped him from being a small forward. I think it'd be good to have someone with Josh's defensive ability at that position. Also, I've always thought that Josh isn't a great post up player, and playing at the 3 would give him more opportunities to get out and run on the fast break, since he won't always be the second rebounding option on the court for the Hawks.

I think Its a great move. Atlanta have to take risk on Shaq to get further to the playoffs. Plus its best for Marvin to resurrect his career In Cleveland. Its best for the future also for cap relief.

Shawn Marion has a ugly shot but he shot ~34% at Phoenix. Josh is a career 26% 3pt shooter.

Everybody is improving but us. We have to think about the future by resigning Horford. Having Shaq for 2 Yrs would solve our center problem

draycon530 wrote:

How is that gonna work? Josh at the 3? Is that a joke? Wouldnt that complete neutralize Josh as a shot blocker? Our defense would GROSS. Josh would get effin torched.

Not really, considering the first couple of years Josh was in the NBA he played at the 3, and averaged over 2 blocks per game every year he played at that position. And if you think not being able to shoot would be an issue at that position, Shawn Marion isn't a great jump shooter but that hasn't stopped him from being a small forward. I think it'd be good to have someone with Josh's defensive ability at that position. Also, I've always thought that Josh isn't a great post up player, and playing at the 3 would give him more opportunities to get out and run on the fast break, since he won't always be the second rebounding option on the court for the Hawks.

Good point. There is one problem though: Josh cant guard anyone off the dribble. Him at the 3 and guarding on the perimeter would be horrible. He can contest and block all the shots he wants but if hes guarding perimeter players, we are FOOKED!

This ownership is wearing me really thin. They're about two-three moves away from me not following this team anymore until they leave.

Would anyone really be surprised if we traded Smoove for pennies on the dollar, or let Horford walk?

I say roll with it... If it does happen, it's not like Shaq will be playing big minutes.. Im sure we'll still see a lot of Horford at the 5 and Josh at the 4 during the course of a game.

azuresou1 wrote:This ownership is wearing me really thin. They're about two-three moves away from me not following this team anymore until they leave.

Would anyone really be surprised if we traded Smoove for pennies on the dollar, or let Horford walk?

Doesnt it seem pretty evident that Horf will walk? Thats the impression ive gotten.

Brian Windhorst is downplaying this.

HoopsGuru25 wrote:Brian Windhorst is downplaying this.

Marc Stein says its not gonna happen.

Well, it IS possible. After all, Sund is famous for falling in love with second-rate centers.

Edit: Changed my mind. I decided to refrain from discussing this rumor further till it happens or Shaq signs somewhere. Until then not going to waste the attention span.

ATL DirtyBird wrote:

HoopsGuru25 wrote:This move is beyond awful if they are going to try to start a Smith/Horford/Shaq frontcourt.

How is that gonna work? Josh at the 3? Is that a joke? Wouldnt that complete neutralize Josh as a shot blocker? Our defense would GROSS. Josh would get effin torched.

Thoughts on the move? Does this guarantee Josh at the 3? Will Shaq start? WTF is gonna happen!?

don't be so obtuse. Shaq is going to only play 20mpg. Hawks are stilling going to play huge stretches of games with Horford/Smith/Joe/Crawford/Bibby.

Shaq's main role is going to be for game situations in the 4th and in the playoffs, like how TJ Duckett was used in goal line situations.

this actually gives the Hawks not only a chance against Orlando, but also Miami. a 40yr Shaq will be able to bully and dominate any scrub that the Heat get to play center.

why are people on this board being so idiotic, why are people freaking out, Josh is only going to play the SF for only 5 min, and play PF for the rest of the time..... here is how most of the games are going to go down. Shaq will start, but after 3 or 4 mintues, he is going to go to the bench, Evans or Crawford will come in, and Al and Josh will slide back to C/PF. when Al and Josh get into foul trouble (which they do get into foul trouble alot of times) then Shaq comes back in to finish the quarter or half (Zaza's minutes goes down to zero). and depending on the game situation or match up, Shaq might finish the 4th or he might not.

I don't understand why people think it can be that bad

i would rather take a chance with shaq
whats the worst that happens he gets hurt and we still use Zaza

or

he plays his 20mpg and we get to cover Dwight 1 on 1
and shaq can still get Dwight in foul trouble b/c of his strength

marvin can get replaced by just about any body

10ppg 3 rpg

You also think we should sign T-Mac and AI, so...

What's the worst that happens? Shaq comes, demands to start, we accommodate and run Josh at the 3, we suck because of non-existent spacing or PnR defense, we move Josh to the bench, he gets pissy that Mo Evans starts over him and starts mailing it in, we start him again while moving Shaq to the bench, Shaq gets pissed, mails it in, goes to the media and starts badmouthing our rookie head coach.

Oh, and now we no longer have any SFs, since Mo Evans is really a SG and Smith is a PF. Great idea.

azuresou1 wrote:You also think we should sign T-Mac and AI, so...

What's the worst that happens? Shaq comes, demands to start, we accommodate and run Josh at the 3, we suck because of non-existent spacing or PnR defense, we move Josh to the bench, he gets pissy that Mo Evans starts over him and starts mailing it in, we start him again while moving Shaq to the bench, Shaq gets pissed, mails it in, goes to the media and starts badmouthing our rookie head coach.

Oh, and now we no longer have any SFs, since Mo Evans is really a SG and Smith is a PF. Great idea.

^ this is just (Please Use More Appropriate Word).

you actually think that Shaq is going to get more than 20mpg?

I think Shaq is going to demand that he starts, like Iverson. In fact, I'm 100% sure he'll demand to start. I don't think signing Shaq outright would be terrible, but only on the condition that he accepts a bench role.