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Wade, Bosh and LBJ won the title. It was, sadly, inevitable.

The alternative was that OKC's super young trio would win their first ring. Or Boston with their aging super trio would get another. Or San Antonio with their international super trio would get another.

Or LA with their mish-match trio of all-stars.

How can we ever compete with these teams? They have higher revenue streams, which allow higher payrolls. They have experienced basketballl minds running their basketball operations. (Maybe not LA anymore.)

So what can we do? Do we just stay the course and be satisfied with the 2nd round? Do we tank and hope that the Sunds of the world can draft a superstar at some point?

Do we mortgage our young players for older vets to form our own super squad ala Boston?

I think anything is more desirable than just staying the course. Remaining irrelevant.

I still like the idea of the 'Detroit Model' that our folks (and Michael Cunningham at the ajc) have mentioned in the past. But I don't think our ownership or the GM is savvy enough to pull it off. (Trading Grant Hill for an unknown, undersized, undrafted Center with a crazy fro...BRILLIANT.)

I really like the idea of investing in scouting and coaching like San Antonio. And building a team based on a proven system and drafting guys who fit into that system. I'd be delighted with being the top seed every year and at least having a shot at the title most seasons.

At this point, I just need to see something. That mgmt actually cares. Standing pat makes me sad...and bored. How about you guys? What over-arching strategy (not specific move) do you think gets us anywhere near the 3rd round of the playoffs? And maybe, someday, beyond?

I think our best chance was to tank last year when Al went down and have a top 10 pick in the draft, then we coulda traded Smoove for the GSW pick and we woulda had 2 picks with which to build a new core. Right now all we can do is trade Smith for a top 10 pick (say the GSW 7) and hope that we draft a potential superstar

Super teams don't last that long. Wade could be out in a year or two and Oklahoma won't be able to keep Harden and Ibaka

Most fans would rather have a legitimate contender window of 3-5 years where they are actually on the verge of winning titles rather than complaining that it won't last long. Super teams also have this annoying habit where they reload from a previous championship window and create a new one.

I don't think it was inevitable. If OKC won as predicted at the start of the series people would be talking about how Miami's window may have passed. Now, the question will be does Miami have the fire to do it again? They'll have the talent to win multiple titles, but will they have the health? Will they have the depth?

The Hawks at full power matched up well early in the year with Chicago and Miami. Whether we'd have a chance in a series is a bit of a stretch considering our coach and level of respect we see from officials, but a break or two and we might be able to pull the upset. I've not thrown in the towel yet.

the only way we can is to get a new ownership clear cap space and try to attract elite free agents. Im sure there are alot of athletes that would like to play in atlanta but our ownership and management is so god awful that they turn their head.

Or we can suck for the next decade until we draft durant/duncan type player.

@ if we really tried to follow the Detroit model they failed epically.

Atlanta has too much talent for them to start over just like that.

JustAwesome wrote:Atlanta has too much talent for them to start over just like that.

I agree with this

For some reason, a team with 'so much talent' can't be a serious threat to get to the ECF.

We won 2 playoff games this year...we only needed 14 more.

Our record vs. teams over .500 this year...........16-25
Our record vs. teams over .500 2011.................20-32

Please tell me, where is all that talent getting us? We are picking 23rd and we our big 3 doesn't match up with anyone above Indiana or Philly. And they have now passed us in the playoffs.

I think we overvalue our roster..that's why we get nowhere.

And rumors of trading Josh are only that....they have no idea what they're doing in the front office.

True. The team has talent but none of it is great talent and then its talent that doesn't fit properly. On any given night every team knows that they can lose to the Hawks but no team actually fears losing to the Hawks. Over the playoff runs lower seeded teams have had an equal chance of advancing and higher seeded teams have destroyed the team. 2 second round wins in a 6-7 year span of this core is not inspiring much confidence then to speak of some window opening up because other top teams will drop due to age and free agency.......as though the Hawks are immune to those factors....is the most comical of the excuses.

We don't need a superteam or to compete with them. The Knicks superteam is not looking so super and even if you add Nash or Deron I don't fear them and don't think they will be any better than us. Boston has only won 1 title with 3 HOF'ers and a All NBA Rondo. So, many ways to do this without going the route of Boston, LA, New York, or Miami. Dallas did win last year and people always questioned Dirk before they actually did it.

The problem is you have to do something and we are not doing anything.

Maybe we could trade Josh Smith

or

We have to sometype of way get another All NBA caliber talent.

Maybe we could get Nash, then maybe he could get the team to play right, then maybe we could sign Asik or Mahimini and Nash could make them look like Gortat did this year. Then maybe we could get to the ECFinals and see what happens.

Teague, Zaza, and a 2014 1st for Nash, then sign Asik or Mahimini for mid level exception. Draft Wroten to play behind Nash at #23.

Nash/Wroten
Joe/Willie
Josh/Marvin
Al/Ivan
Mahinimi/Sacre 2nd rd/Collins

The problem with that is can Josh play the SF full time? That is the problem with this whole team, you get rid of Bibby and there are still problems. Trade Teague and now you run around foolishly thinking things are solved but they will not be. Team needs to trade a big piece like Josh, Joe, or Al to solve the real problems.



We just can't afford to keep doing nothing.

Scenarios that have to be considered:


1) Move Josh or Al - our strongest position and one of the easiest to fill in the league if we need a backup.

2) I see Iggy for Pau rumors....why not JJ for Pau? That one move changes our identity, but would Pau be as motivated in Atlanta?

3) if this is such a deep draft, why aren't we trying to pick up another #1, preferably higher? Move 1 captain and we should have room for 2 new rookies. But because we drug back LD for 1 year, this is hilly unlikely to happen. Go get that Charlotte draft pick.....they are starved for any veteran talent

4). A must - get rid of Marvin and that ridiculous player option in next year's deal...it is a cap killing deal for a guy who hasn't proven himself yet. I would rather have Shellhead than Marvin.

The ultimate fantasy move - any 2 of The 3 captains for the #1 pick, Anthony Davis.
This team's only chance to compete is from within draft picks.....thanks BK and Sund for proving you shouldn't be in the league.

Superiorblogman wrote:Teague, Zaza, and a 2014 1st for Nash, then sign Asik or Mahimini for mid level exception. Draft Wroten to play behind Nash at #23.

Nash/Wroten
Joe/Willie
Josh/Marvin
Al/Ivan
Mahinimi/Sacre 2nd rd/Collins

The problem with that is can Josh play the SF full time? That is the problem with this whole team, you get rid of Bibby and there are still problems. Trade Teague and now you run around foolishly thinking things are solved but they will not be. Team needs to trade a big piece like Josh, Joe, or Al to solve the real problems.



We just can't afford to keep doing nothing.

Why Trade Teague for Nash? Nash is past his prime and is a FA anyway, if we want him our best chance is to trade Josh for a high pick and use the resulting cap space to offer Nash a contract

I think a quicker way to rebuild this thing is to trade JJ or Horford for another 1st rd pick. That will give us two young guys with promise and rookie contracts. Then, we let Josh walk after the season or trade at the deadline if possible. We clear two bigger contracts on this team and set ourselves up for a more controllable cap situation and potentially two new studs to rebuild with. As much as I hate it, Horford would give us the best chance to get a better pick. He has a very reasonable contract and is a solid young talent. I could see MJ biting on that one.