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It seems that the plan is to play it out this season, re(sign Smith and look for the big FA. That's a BS plan. the top FAs that could make us a championship contender aren't coming. CP3, DH and Bad Knee Bynum arern't coming and most of the other top FAs are re-signing.

Smith as a PF needs a dominant BIG C. He's not going to cut it at SF
Horf needs to play PF with a good C

With all of our expirings the move to make is to trade everything except Horf, JT and the rooks. Get picks and 2-3 year filler contracts. Even bad ones. Get some top picks in the next draft.

Smith to Hou for Montiejunas, Patterson or Jones, Cook and reducing the protection to make sure we get their pick would be a nice strart.

That plan might give us a chance at a team that could COMPETE in the next 2, 3, 4... years.

Keeping Smith and Horf and not bringing in a quality NBA BIG is NOT going to make us a contender.

We aren't going to get a ton of picks for your players. In your plan, we aren't really even getting picks for Smith and it isn't like someone like Korver is going to net us a 1st round pick, much less a top pick.

If, as you suggested, we should keep Teague, Horford, and the rookies, who does that leave us to trade to get top picks in next years draft? Smith? Pachulia? Come on now.

I understand your frustration, tbhawksfan. But this was never a fix that was going to happen in just one year.

I have massive doubts that we could attract any of the big three free agents also. But even if we did, adding just one (or even two) without having depth, or talented young players to complement them doen't put us on the fast track for a title, or even truly contending for one.

Look at OKC. They took 4 years to really gain elite status, with a ton of wise draft choices and savvy trades. That all began in earnest the summer they traded Ray Allen and drafted Kevin Durant.

We are literally 4 months into our rebuild. But at least we do have Smoove and AL to help with the transition.

NOTE: I suspect we could have dangled Josh Smith and acquired either the draft rights to Damian Lillard OR James Harden had we been proactive.

But alas, we'll take the long route instead.

And let's be honest, we have as much chance of the winning the title this year as we did last year. None. Taking the long rebuild allows us to become true contenders as Miami is ending their window of dominance. No use in putting together a great team now just so we can finish second to Miami ever season. (Just ask Chicago...)

uga_dawgs24 wrote:We aren't going to get a ton of picks for your players. In your plan, we aren't really even getting picks for Smith and it isn't like someone like Korver is going to net us a 1st round pick, much less a top pick.

If, as you suggested, we should keep Teague, Horford, and the rookies, who does that leave us to trade to get top picks in next years draft? Smith? Pachulia? Come on now.

Smith to Hous was an example; there's also McGee / Brewer / Den 1st

Maybe the expiring Zaza / Morrow are worth a first

Harris / Stevenson a first ?

Houston makes the playoffs we'd have our tank pick, Hous about #16 say a couple of early twenties from the other two trades.

#8, #16, #22, #23

Crazy but not impossible

I doubt we are going to get a first for Harris or Stevenson unless we are taking on a very bad contract, which would completely negate the cap space we worked so hard to acquire. I can't see a team giving up a decent first just to swap expirings.

Like Jamaaliver said, this process is going to take a while. Right now the team can likely make the playoffs but not be great. We are taking a homerun swing hoping we can build a superteam very quickly. If that doesn't work then maybe we do need a full rebuild. Would we suck for several years? Of course, but it would be worth it if we can build a true team.

I agree with Jamaaliver, Patience is the key, and we have to trust Ferry who has shown that he knows what he's doing. I especially agree with his point that there's no reason to try and build a contender while Miami still has the big 3. We just need to stay patient.

"Can't never could."

What's wrong with reaching for the brass ring, especially if we're not committing everything in the process? If we sign Howard/Paul, hooray, hurrah. If not, we can use our money somewhere else.

Patience! Wish cussing were permitted. Wait for what? Two, three more 46 win seasons while other teams continue to dominate the conference finals. The best big FA this offseason is likely to be Pekovic. Pekovic, Horf and Smith at the 3 ain't gonna do it. Who else you gonna sign to drag us to title contention in the next 3 years. Mid-firsts, no top FAs and afraid to trade. Our last, long awaited window peaked out at second round exit with almost no chace of a coference finals. Is Horf, Smith, a couple of second third tier FAs and a couple of mid-firsts gonna put us in contention in the next 3 years?

Or is this plan doomed to mediocrity?

If you say there are a couple of super teams, then you want to watch your core pass their primes on a mediocrity course.

Two year rebuild. Move Smith, Harris, Zaza, Korver, Morrow, Stevevenson, Lou Willfor bad, but short 2-3 year contracts and get a few top picks in the next two drafts.

This might set us up for a contending team in 3-4 years. The mediocrity plan won't.

I dont know what the frustration is over. With JJ we were doomed to be the dreaded 5-6 seed for years to come with no draft picks and little cap room.

Moving JJ , MW opened the door to hope of signing some good talent. Not only did we offload JJ horrible contract, we signed Lou Williams who is the runner up 6th man of the year.

I like our team this year, good shooters, runners, good mix of young talent and veterans. This is Smoovs year he has to perform, Horford as well.

We are not ready for a championship run, yet, but considering where we were 6 months ago, this is def a step in the right direction.

tbhawksfan wrote:Patience! Wish cussing were permitted. Wait for what? ....
Two year rebuild. Move Smith, Harris, Zaza, Korver, Morrow, Stevevenson, Lou Willfor bad, but short 2-3 year contracts and get a few top picks in the next two drafts.

This might set us up for a contending team in 3-4 years. The mediocrity plan won't.

To give up on this offseason, when Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, for starters, are coming available, is crazy. Sorry for the insult.

Only after failing to sign one of the major FAs would I be willing to listen to your idea. Even then, it makes more sense to gamble on Smith and Horford growing than to hope to win the lottery.

"Tearing down and building up" is an idea we've already tried. Let's start building a winning mindset instead of trying to stink until we draft a superstar.

Howard could still be available if the experiment with the Lakers fail.

Atlanta has never been a superstar town. The closest we've had the stardom in the ATL is Dominique, maybe Pistol Pete for a little bit, Johnson....I don't think we can ever expect a superstar, it isn't likely, but it would be awesome to see. The highest chance we've got is forming a Pacer like core with great starters, great bench players, but no true number one, but we've been like that for a long time now. Ferry is hungry, and we have faith in him, so we just need to see what unfolds. Dwight may rock the ATL, never know.

NeZoRiL wrote:Atlanta has never been a superstar town. The closest we've had the stardom in the ATL is Dominique, maybe Pistol Pete for a little bit, Johnson....I don't think we can ever expect a superstar, it isn't likely, but it would be awesome to see. The highest chance we've got is forming a Pacer like core with great starters, great bench players, but no true number one, but we've been like that for a long time now. Ferry is hungry, and we have faith in him, so we just need to see what unfolds. Dwight may rock the ATL, never know.

I think ATL can be a superstar town. Atlanta fans have always came out to winning teams with a "star" player..aka Vick. Now it is Ryan and the Falcons. Football is a bit different since it is 1 game a week on a weekend and having the Hawks games during the week is a burden to some folks because of the drive into the city (or taking MARTA, whatever floats your boat). If Atlanta had a superstar sign and come, I do think fans would start going to the game. The problem is that in recent years we haven't had that. JJ wasn't a star. Horford isn't a star. Smith isn't a star.

tbhawksfan wrote:Patience! Wish cussing were permitted. Wait for what? Two, three more 46 win seasons while other teams continue to dominate the conference finals. The best big FA this offseason is likely to be Pekovic. Pekovic, Horf and Smith at the 3 ain't gonna do it. Who else you gonna sign to drag us to title contention in the next 3 years. Mid-firsts, no top FAs and afraid to trade. Our last, long awaited window peaked out at second round exit with almost no chace of a coference finals. Is Horf, Smith, a couple of second third tier FAs and a couple of mid-firsts gonna put us in contention in the next 3 years?

Or is this plan doomed to mediocrity?

If you say there are a couple of super teams, then you want to watch your core pass their primes on a mediocrity course.

Two year rebuild. Move Smith, Harris, Zaza, Korver, Morrow, Stevevenson, Lou Willfor bad, but short 2-3 year contracts and get a few top picks in the next two drafts.

This might set us up for a contending team in 3-4 years. The mediocrity plan won't.

Like I have said before, I do think you are severely overestimating the value of Lou, Zaza, Harris, Morrow, Stevenson. I don't think we will be able to get a ton of first round draft picks for a hodge-podge of backups/role players. We MIGHT be able to get a late first from a good team for someone like a Williams. Smith is our biggest piece but his value isn't exactly great right now with his salary situation.

It is in our best to gamble. You try and get a Howard and Paul to come here. We have the salary, might as well see if we can use it. If you can't, then you didn't lose anything trying. We still have a ton of cap room and could possibly use that to take a bad contract and get a first out of it and if we bring back Smith we can always trade him off (sign and trade to a team over the cap).

I know people don't like to hear it but if we are planning on building around Horford and Teague, that won't work. They are too good for us to tank with them. A full rebuild might be best. We botched up our last one (Gasol trade in 2001, Chill in 04, Marvin 05, Shelden 06). Maybe with a logical gm behind it we could draft better.

I honestly don't mind getting a lottery pick with this core of guys. Isiah Austin and Michael Carter-Williams would be nice for this team. Hopefully, we will move some of these small guards like Harris and Stevenson before the deadline.

Until CP3 or DH walks through the door, I'm not believing it. Certainly not condoning it as a viable plan. Trade assets for the highest picks and short bad contracts.

Smith is the first to go. the sooner, the better. Getting our pick down into the low numbers is more important than Smoove getting his nimbers and us going nowhere.