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Jeff Schultz wrote:And so it begins...

There goes Kyle Korver. There Hawks reportedly will receive a 2019 protected first-round pick and Mike Dunleavy in deal, according to reports. Think: Almost any Braves trade from the last two years.

...from a basketball perspective, a deal makes sense. The Hawks were on a four-game winning streak following Wednesday’s win in Orlando but their 19-16 record did not suggest to the front office, including coach and team president Mike Budenholzer, that the team was on track to do anything special in the playoffs. Korver was in the final year of his contract (just over $5.2 million) and was not going to be re-signed.

...it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Hawks begin the rebuilding process now and that dealing Millsap, who is coveted by contenders like Toronto, Boston and Oklahoma City, could bring back valuable assets.

Mark Bradley wrote:At issue now is whether...Budenholzer knows how to rebuild. But here’s where having your coach as team czar isn’t the greatest of ideas. Coaches always think they can make something of a team — until they realize they can’t.

At this moment, the Hawks are fourth in the East and atop the Southeast Division. (They’ve won five in a row.) They’re nowhere near terrible, but they’re going nowhere. Millsap, who’ll turn 32 next month, is all but certain to leave as a free agent in July, and that would leave the Hawks with a core of Howard, Schroder, Bazemore and Tim Hardaway Jr., which is decidedly middle-tier.

The only way to get better is to get younger and hope for the best. The Hawks will receive a protected first-round pick from Cleveland, which is something. They can get more for Millsap. That trade needs to happen soon.

Chris Vivlamore wrote:Another roster reconstruction is underway.

Other players who could be next include Paul Millsap and Thabo Sefolosha and perhaps Tim Hardaway Jr.

Neither Millsap nor Sefolosha would speculate on the direction of the organization following the Korver deal. The Hawks are talking to a number of teams about the availability of Millsap. The Kings are very interested, according to a person familiar with the situation. Other teams that have reportedly shown interest include the Raptors, Nuggets and 76ers.

What the Hawks get in return will depend greatly on whether the trade partner can get more than a rental player. Millsap has an opt-out year on his contract and can become an unrestricted free agent.

The Hawks lost Al Horford to free agency and Jeff Teague to trade during the summer as part of the roster remake. The team lost DeMarre Carroll to free agency the previous summer. Millsap is the lone remaining starter from the 60-win season.

Mike Muscala, Kris Humphries, Ryan Kelly, Tiago Splitter, Mike Scott, Sefolosha and Hardaway Jr. are unrestricted or restricted free agents this summer as well.

Hawks stand pat, and it’s a mistake

The Hawks are lining up to take another shot with this core now and will, more than likely, try it again next season.

I think that’s a mistake.

Maybe the Hawks recapture their spark from a year ago. But even if they do, will it be good enough to make a serious stab at the championship?

If Horford signs elsewhere this summer, it decimates Budenholzer’s grand plan. If the Hawks do re-sign Horford they still have to figure out what to do with Jeff Teague, whose value likely won’t be as high as it is now because his contract expires after next season.

I was in favor of Budenholzer letting go of those 2015 memories and dealing with the reality that the 2016 Hawks aren’t a contender. I don’t think this core (sorry) will be a contender going forward, either

MaceCase wrote:Media credentials does not grant you internal access to the inner workings of an organization nor players.

None of these guys excepting C-Viv cover the Hawks in the least yet you are holding their speculations and opinions on the Hawks as though they are "summaries". They are not. They offer no further insight than any other fan on the internet.

MaceCase wrote:Okay, Jamaaliver, calm down. Everyone everywhere gets face time with everyone. If he has a media credential then he has to have the "real scoop" on everything.

Jeff Schultz wrote:...from a basketball perspective, a deal makes sense. The Hawks were on a four-game winning streak following Wednesday’s win in Orlando but their 19-16 record did not suggest to the front office, including coach and team president Mike Budenholzer, that the team was on track to do anything special in the playoffs. Korver was in the final year of his contract (just over $5.2 million) and was not going to be re-signed

D21 wrote:Hahaha, if Bazemore was playing like he should, none of this discussion would exist, because ATL would be ahead of BOS, and almost on the same level than TOR.


So if ATL saw they won't make anything in playoffs, while the team is not playing at his full potential, why should CHA, BOS and TOR think they can ? But we they don't talk about them like that.

Jamaaliver wrote:

MaceCase wrote:Okay, Jamaaliver, calm down. Everyone everywhere gets face time with everyone. If he has a media credential then he has to have the "real scoop" on everything.

<sigh>


Okay, Mace.

And, I do love you.

Jamaaliver wrote:

D21 wrote:Hahaha, if Bazemore was playing like he should, none of this discussion would exist, because ATL would be ahead of BOS, and almost on the same level than TOR.


So if ATL saw they won't make anything in playoffs, while the team is not playing at his full potential, why should CHA, BOS and TOR think they can ? But we they don't talk about them like that.

So do you believe the decision to shop Korver, Thabo and Millsap is an overreaction?

Do you attribute our struggles this season on both sides of the ball...mostly to Kent Bazemore?

D21 wrote:

Jeff Schultz wrote:...from a basketball perspective, a deal makes sense. The Hawks were on a four-game winning streak following Wednesday’s win in Orlando but their 19-16 record did not suggest to the front office, including coach and team president Mike Budenholzer, that the team was on track to do anything special in the playoffs. Korver was in the final year of his contract (just over $5.2 million) and was not going to be re-signed

Hahaha, if Bazemore was playing like he should, none of this discussion would exist, because ATL would be ahead of BOS, and almost on the same level than TOR.
So if ATL saw they won't make anything in playoffs, while the team is not playing at his full potential, why should CHA, BOS and TOR think they can ? But we they don't talk about them like that.

Jeff Schultz wrote:...it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Hawks begin the rebuilding process now and that dealing Millsap, who is coveted by contenders like Toronto, Boston and Oklahoma City, could bring back valuable assets.

...their 20-16 record isn’t particularly inspiring, especially after a 1-10 stretch followed their promising 9-2 start.

The Korver move signifies an inevitable fire sale to ensure the Hawks cash in on their current assets and jumpstart a much-needed rebuild. It’s the smartest path for a franchise that’s straddled this line for years now, but it’s not exactly an enjoyable one for fans either.

Jeff Schultz wrote:...it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Hawks begin the rebuilding process now and that dealing Millsap, who is coveted by contenders like Toronto, Boston and Oklahoma City, could bring back valuable assets.

There could be major changes in Atlanta after the Hawks decided to move 3-point sharpshooter Kyle Korver to the Cavaliers for a protected first-round pick. The Hawks were burned by Al Horford’s free agency — he left Atlanta for the Celtics, with the Hawks receiving no compensation — so management plans to turn its impending free agents into assets.

Paul Millsap could be next to go as he as an opt-out clause this summer that he plans to exercise.

Would the Celtics be interested in Millsap? Some things would likely need to happen: Millsap would have to agree to honor the final year of his contract and the Celtics would have to offer the Hawks a chip for the long-term future — likely one of those Brooklyn picks — along with the expiring contract of Amir Johnson and likely another starter to match up salaries. It would be quite a sacrifice for the Celtics, and it would also mean Horford would have to move to center, a position he would prefer not to play . . ..

NBA Trade Deadline Predictions

Hawks Hold a Fire Sale

Paul Millsap is off the market. Head coach Mike Budenholzer said Atlanta "feels strongly" about the current mix of players...

All of this feels like posturing—an attempt to drive up the price on soon-to-be free agents, including Millsap. It's hard to put faith in a sudden about-face after all this noise.

Hardaway and Sefolosha will be due lucrative raises over the summer, and then-32-year-old Millsap (player option) will be eligible for a salary worth [$35+ million] in the first year.

..the talent gap between the Hawks and Cavaliers is enormous. That chasm isn't going away any time soon—not with this core.

There is no way Atlanta can justifiably re-invest in a nucleus that's already hit its ceiling.