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From Jeff Schultz over at the AJC:

...the Hawks are two offseasons into the post-Danny Ferry regime of Budenholzer and Wilcox, and the jury is clearly out. Budenholzer can coach. He has to prove he can build.

Maybe this works. Maybe Howard truly is humbled and willing to change. Maybe a bigger physical presence in the post will help Paul Millsap and Kent Bazemore up front in ways Horford couldn’t.

Horford sought a five-year max contract from the Hawks. That offer presumably never came.

There was a moment Saturday when it appeared the two sides would reach a deal, pair Horford and Howard together, and the Hawks would try to make the numbers work, likely by dealing Paul Millsap to get under the salary cap.

...Budenholzer looks like more than just a guy seeking change right now. He looks like a guy at the end of the crap table, throwing two dice and trying to win back his rent money.

You wanted change? You got change. You wanted improvement? That’s up for debate. Dennis Schroder might be an offensive improvement over the inconsistent Jeff Teague at point guard, but he still has moments when he looks like a pingpong ball in a wind tunnel. Bazemore might develop an offensive game that the Hawks so desperately need on the wing.

But the Hawks just lost a four-time All-Star, getting back no assets, and Millsap can opt out of his deal after next season. This could go south in a hurry. Either way, it’s on Budenholzer’s watch.

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Thoughts?

Predictions?

Concerns?

From an accompanying piece:

Jeff Schultz wrote:There seems to be a general consensus that the Hawks have gotten worse, not better, this offseason...At the very least, coach Mike Budenholzer is taking a significant risk with his decisions.


HAWKS: They basically swapped Al Horford and Jeff Teague for Dwight Howard and Dennis Schroder. Howard is a much stronger rebounder than Horford but age and injuries have worn on him, limiting his offensive effectiveness and rendering him less of a defensive presence than when he was Defensive Player of the Year three straight seasons. The team gave $70 million to Kent Bazemore, who struggled offensively in his first season as a starter and face the likelihood of having Paul Millsap opting out of his contract after next season. There are holes on the bench, although the offseason isn’t finished yet.

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Chris Vivlamore, Hawks Beat Writer echoes Jeff's comments, speculating that jobs in the front office are now on the line with the departure of AL Horford and signing of Dwight Howard.

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I'll make a few bold predictions for next year:

1. If the Hawks win less than 50 games next season, Wes Wilcox will not be the GM here during next year summer.

2. If the Hawks lose to the Celtics in the playoffs, Wes Wilcox will not be the GM here next summer.

3. If the Celtics make the Eastern Conference Finals, Wes Wilcox will not be the GM here next summer.


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What else could you have asked from our GM? KD wasn't going to come over here. The Hawks are 0-8 against the Cavs in the last 2 post season and you blame him for trying to shake things up? The Hawks were a good basketball team that would never be great unless Durant signed here , which we all knew was out of question. I'm happy with the off-season so far. Howard brings something that Al never did, inside presence on both ends of the floor. We were 28th in rebounding last year if i'm not mistaken. Our center averaged less than 7 rpg. I think there's a good chance we will actually surprise people. I believe we still need a decent forward (Mo Hackless). Our bench is decent. Our system is very good. If Howard gets 18/11 we are probably top 4 in the East. I applaud management for at least trying something different. Horford on a 5 year deal would be a disaster long term for this team. We got Howard for 3 years and have a chance to see what works for us this season and then go from there.

Well the ASG and their band of merry men are no more - all ties severed.
It's a different direction in that it is a risky move, but things couldn't stay the same.

I don't like the idea that we went from Teague and Horford to Howard and Dennis. Without that cap space we got from trading teague, we would have been without Baze.

I'm happy with the moves and believe they will be better. They filled a glaring need of a true center. Milsap is a better player AND a better fit next to Dwight. I also believe THJ is ready to step up.

I feel like it was a lateral move. They didnt upgrade any other position. They basically swapped AH for D12 (which is plus minus) and Teague for Schroder.

So what we will rely on is this:
HUGE step forward from Dennis Schroeder
HUGE step forward from THJ
Dwight Howard to be an All Star
One of the Rookies has to have an impact this year.
And they are betting on Splitter to stay healthy and be a big contributor.

dms269 wrote:I don't like the idea that we went from Teague and Horford to Howard and Dennis. Without that cap space we got from trading teague, we would have been without Baze.

Yeah, this is absolutely alarming.

Our main issue last season was offense...and yet we've downgraded in offensive skillset.

Last year we couldn't knock down open jumpers...and now we feature a team of worst jump shooters?

Bigger picture: We won 60 games in 2015. Now 3/5 of that team is gone.

Horford/Demarre/Teague >>>>>> Howard/Bazemore/Dennis

I think it all depends on Dwight. I truly believe that in our system, he can go back to being someone who averages 20/12, with a big defensive impact. If Howard does that then the pressure is taken off of our other players.

Hardaway, Schroder, and Bazemore should all be able to take a step forward this season as well.

Our team last season won 48 games, but that's with Korver not himself until the new year, and Thabo starting out slow as well: both due to injuries.

We also legitimately lost a lot of games we could've/should've won last season (Bucks twice, Wolves twice, Pacers twice, Suns, Raptors at home, Nets, Jazz, that Heat post ASG game and others). This team lost every OT match last year, that's just an anomaly.

I always choose to take the optimistic viewpoint with my teams, so I will say that if we can mesh early with Dwight, we can win 50+ games and be a top 3 seed in the east.


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Jamaaliver wrote:

dms269 wrote:I don't like the idea that we went from Teague and Horford to Howard and Dennis. Without that cap space we got from trading teague, we would have been without Baze.

Yeah, this is absolutely alarming.

Our main issue last season was offense...and yet we've downgraded in offensive skillset.

Last year we couldn't knock down open jumpers...and now we feature a team of worst jump shooters?

Bigger picture: We won 60 games in 2015. Now 3/5 of that team is gone.

Horford/Demarre/Teague >>>>>> Howard/Bazemore/Dennis

The caveat to that was exactly what you just said though, we completely and ONLY relied on jumpers. We have virtually no inside game, we had to hit open shots and when we couldnt, we had little answer outside an Al elbow jumper or Millsap driving 1 on 2.

Now you have a legit chance at scoring 15-20 points off DUNKS and putbacks. Thats a HUGE lift off the other players. Hopefully, in theory, you wont be relying so heavily on just the jump shots not.

Jamaaliver wrote:

dms269 wrote:I don't like the idea that we went from Teague and Horford to Howard and Dennis. Without that cap space we got from trading teague, we would have been without Baze.

Yeah, this is absolutely alarming.

Our main issue last season was offense...and yet we've downgraded in offensive skillset.

Last year we couldn't knock down open jumpers...and now we feature a team of worst jump shooters?

Bigger picture: We won 60 games in 2015. Now 3/5 of that team is gone.

Horford/Demarre/Teague >>>>>> Howard/Bazemore/Dennis

But the defense and defensive rebounding improve greatly right?

PandaKidd wrote:Now you have a legit chance at scoring 15-20 points off DUNKS and putbacks. Thats a HUGE lift off the other players. Hopefully, in theory, you wont be relying so heavily on just the jump shots not.

Here's hoping!!! But you saw all those vids of Dwight shooting jumpers with a shooting coach this summer, right? Bud has to adjust his system to his personnel. Not the other way around...

chrismikayla wrote:But the defense and defensive rebounding improve greatly right?

The defensive rebounding should improves greatly. Immediately. And, unless Bud pulls D12 away from the paint on offense (setting screens?), we should be a much improved offensive rebounding team as well.

Our defense down the stretch was pretty dominant last season. And while D12 is a better shot blocker/rebounder than AL...AL's help defense and rotations were pretty flawless. We'll have to wait and see if we remain as strong defensively.

It helps that DS, a strong on-ball defender, is a starter. But his off-ball defense is atrocious.

We'll likely have a better defender in at Korver's old spot. Which should help the defense as well.

If Taurean Prince gets the nod... I predict we become a much better fast break team, as well.

I always thought DS was a superior PnR player to Teague, and I think D12 should have a field day getting dunks off PnRs. I dont mind him learning a jump shot, that helps his game not hinders it. hes still an inside guy, and i dont expect that they sat down and Bud said I NEED YOU TO SHOOT MIDRANGE JUMPERS , because otherwise they just sign Horford.

I wouldnt read too much into him shooting 12-15 footers, I really highly doubt in a game that will be his go to move

There is no real risk here. Unless you want to be the same team that can't beat Cleveland? This was great move and great gamble. I like the way Bud and management are thinking. They are forward thinking, and being proactive instead of reactive. They are trying to move us forward as a franchise, team, and fan base. It was time to move on from Teague and Horford, and this is exactly what happened. This past year it kind of felt like we as a team had moved on from being dependent on Teague and Horford anyways. Schroeder & Milsap were our best players in the playoffs this past year. Schroeder plays with more passion, urgency, and tenacity that than Teague has shown recently. Horford's game seem to be getting stale, predictable, and overall in decline.

Anybody that thinks us losing both guys and bringing in Howard must love being mediocre.

Love the move! And so excited about this upcoming season. We actually have a bonified guy that is a difference maker, future hall of famer, and dominant big man. And add in the fact Howard is only 30 years old. This my friends is a "Game Changer"

Welcome about Bizness.

I think next season it will be interesting (a year from now) if we can parlay D12s name and say a 50+ in season and maybe a semi competitive playoff run into getting a nother big name star.

The articles are only stating the obvious.
They must write about something, right?

Our new ownership is looking to win. So, obviously everybody must be concerned about their job as we proceed forward, but the changes that have been made are good, and Horford will be a loss. I truly believe we expected Horford to be back, but that's not the case, and had he been back it was apparent that Millsap would have been traded (Many rumored deals noted).

Speaking of, Millsap. It's clear that he utilizes his right after next season, and becomes a free agent to sign a huge extension. So, we explore our options during the season before the trade deadline and can gauge his value at that time, but as of right now we just did that, so we should have a strong indication of what our return will be. The other option is to keep him and sign him to the huge market value deal that he'll seek.

PandaKidd wrote:I always thought DS was a superior PnR player to Teague, and I think D12 should have a field day getting dunks off PnRs.

Yes, and I suspect this will be an effective pairing in the regular season, too. Since teams don't spend much time scouting out opponents compared to the post season.

But in the playoffs, I foresee defenders going under screens and packing the paint against the 1-5 Pick and Roll. They'll double the rolling Center (Howard) and dare Dennis to beat them with his jumper.

DS will ultimately need to consistently knock down the 20 foot jump shot...or Howard will need to catch the ball in motion, recognize the double team and immediately pass it out to the open three point shooter. A move AL was exceedingly good at.