RealGM

https://www.sportstalkatl.com/report-hawks-plan-to-be-aggressive-in-free-agency/

There was a hint of this in the fact that Schlenk hasn't actively pursued a buy-out with Dedmon... why keep *any* veteran around whose presence is only helping contribute to lowering your draft order slot, after all?

So in light of that, the report seems to be valid.

And we can only assume that Schlenk is persuaded that he has found in Young a perennial All-NBA 1st or 2nd teamer... and/or perhaps Collins as well.

Is he right about that?

I'm not so sure.

These are guys who can put up offensive numbers, sure, but you have to play good-enough defense to still yet win games... they don't perennially put guys from losing teams on those 1st and 2nd team All-NBA teams... every now and then, yes, but not year-in-year-out. And it's those perennials who are the elite players on whose backs championships are won.

And then... should we have any optimism that Schlenk will be successful in drawing an elite player to the roster?

Again, I'm not so sure.

I think as long as your competition for that tier of players are actually proven-playoff-caliber teams, it's too much to expect. You have to have that transition year where you actually made the playoffs first, imo.

So... Ressler didn't ask me, but I think his boy Schlenk is getting ahead of himself. Premature evacuation of the tank-itude on Schlenk's part.

We aren't tanking next season, nor should we. The draft requires luck, both in the lottery and in that you get a good player. Better off just teaching your team how to win.

Al Horford time!

Its way too early to start going after top free agents. We should only go after top free agents if we feel like we are 1 or 2 pieces from contending for a title.

We still need another long term star level creator next to young on the wing. We also need some more two way players.

Im not a fan of this years draft. We need to be bad for 1 more year.

personanongrata wrote:We aren't tanking next season, nor should we. The draft requires luck, both in the lottery and in that you get a good player. Better off just teaching your team how to win.

Pretty much this. Perhaps it's a hot run, but after starting out on an 17 win pace, this team has been on a 36 win pace for the last 2 months and a half, and unless luck gets an Atlanta team again, it should have 2 lottery picks in the draft. There would have to be legitimate manipulating to actually tank which based off the moves we've seen, I doubt will happen.

Yungsta404 wrote:Its way too early to start going after top free agents. We should only go after top free agents if we feel like we are 1 or 2 pieces from contending for a title.

We still need another long term star level creator next to young on the wing. We also need some more two way players.

Im not a fan of this years draft. We need to be bad for 1 more year.

What if we lose as many games as we can and end up with the 7th pick and the BPA available is a mediocre combo guard? Tanking requires a lot of luck for it to work.

personanongrata wrote:

Yungsta404 wrote:Its way too early to start going after top free agents. We should only go after top free agents if we feel like we are 1 or 2 pieces from contending for a title.

We still need another long term star level creator next to young on the wing. We also need some more two way players.

Im not a fan of this years draft. We need to be bad for 1 more year.

What if we lose as many games as we can and end up with the 7th pick and the BPA available is a mediocre combo guard? Tanking requires a lot of luck for it to work.

You and Schlenk are setting us up for more of the same hamster wheel... and that's fine, I suppose, but just accept that that's what it is.

You can't win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket.

This roster can't obtain a jackpot talent... a player destined for All-NBA status... if they don't give themselves opportunities to obtain a jackpot talent.

This draft there is no real jackpot to be had, unless you're a Zion-ist. And/but even then, there's just one player who anyone even considers plausible.

I don't know if the 2020 draft will be any better, but it can't be any worse. We need to trade out of the 2019 for the best protected picks we can obtain. Of course, now that we think we know that the FO has taken this turn in attitude, they're not likely going to trade out... they evidently believe Trae is "that guy."

And to buy-in with Schlenk on this, you pretty much have to agree with the conclusion that Trae Young is that special.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know we got a superstar with Trae and his running mate with Collins. We need to build around that.

personanongrata wrote:

Yungsta404 wrote:Its way too early to start going after top free agents. We should only go after top free agents if we feel like we are 1 or 2 pieces from contending for a title.

We still need another long term star level creator next to young on the wing. We also need some more two way players.

Im not a fan of this years draft. We need to be bad for 1 more year.

What if we lose as many games as we can and end up with the 7th pick and the BPA available is a mediocre combo guard? Tanking requires a lot of luck for it to work.

Thats fine. I rather wait have another year of development to see what our young guys are really made of then blowing our load in free agency and committing to a core that doesnt even have any established all stars yet.

Yungsta404 wrote:

personanongrata wrote:

Yungsta404 wrote:Its way too early to start going after top free agents. We should only go after top free agents if we feel like we are 1 or 2 pieces from contending for a title.

We still need another long term star level creator next to young on the wing. We also need some more two way players.

Im not a fan of this years draft. We need to be bad for 1 more year.

What if we lose as many games as we can and end up with the 7th pick and the BPA available is a mediocre combo guard? Tanking requires a lot of luck for it to work.

Thats fine. I rather wait have another year of development to see what our young guys are really made of then blowing our load in free agency and committing to a core that doesnt even have any established all stars yet.

As long as we aren't overpaying for mediocre free agents I'm ok with it.

personanongrata wrote:

Yungsta404 wrote:

personanongrata wrote:
What if we lose as many games as we can and end up with the 7th pick and the BPA available is a mediocre combo guard? Tanking requires a lot of luck for it to work.

Thats fine. I rather wait have another year of development to see what our young guys are really made of then blowing our load in free agency and committing to a core that doesnt even have any established all stars yet.

As long as we aren't overpaying for mediocre free agents I'm ok with it.

I don't trust our FO not to. It seems like they want to try to win already.

Besides what free agents are even on our timeline? Our guys are 20-21 years old. All of the top free agents are close to 30. By the time our guys are reach their peak/primes in their mid 20s. The free agent we sign will be close to retirement age.

_s_t_u_r_t_ wrote:

personanongrata wrote:

Yungsta404 wrote:Its way too early to start going after top free agents. We should only go after top free agents if we feel like we are 1 or 2 pieces from contending for a title.

We still need another long term star level creator next to young on the wing. We also need some more two way players.

Im not a fan of this years draft. We need to be bad for 1 more year.

What if we lose as many games as we can and end up with the 7th pick and the BPA available is a mediocre combo guard? Tanking requires a lot of luck for it to work.

You and Schlenk are setting us up for more of the same hamster wheel... and that's fine, I suppose, but just accept that that's what it is.

You can't win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket.

This roster can't obtain a jackpot talent... a player destined for All-NBA status... if they don't give themselves opportunities to obtain a jackpot talent.

This draft there is no real jackpot to be had, unless you're a Zion-ist. And/but even then, there's just one player who anyone even considers plausible.

I don't know if the 2020 draft will be any better, but it can't be any worse. We need to trade out of the 2019 for the best protected picks we can obtain. Of course, now that we think we know that the FO has taken this turn in attitude, they're not likely going to trade out... they evidently believe Trae is "that guy."

And to buy-in with Schlenk on this, you pretty much have to agree with the conclusion that Trae Young is that special.

Hawks aren't sitting out the draft even if they have hopes of signing a top FA as there is no guarantee they get said FA.
Hawks still need to add young talent to a rebuilding team

I said they're not likely to trade out, since they evidently believe Trae is going to be elite.

If you believe that, too... that Trae is going to become one of the NBA's elite... then yeah... mission accomplished... and so you go ahead and draft because you presume you don't need another shot at another elite player.

If you don't believe that, then nah... you can't forfeit your chance to gain an elite player... and you can't draft an elite player in a draft where there is NO elite talent there... it only makes sense that you face that reality and try to engineer a trade that will give you another shot in 2020.... particularly so if you don't suspect that your own 2020 draft slot is going to be all that special, given the logical expectation that you're going to win more to some degree.

King Ken wrote:Al Horford time!

Your man crush on Whoreford is still as disgusting as it was when he wore a Hawks uni

I think this is more posturing than an actual attempt to make a leap.

I don't know why some people are concerned with tanking for the 2020 draft when we haven't even had the 2019 lottery yet.

High 5 wrote:I don't know why some people are concerned with tanking for the 2020 draft when we haven't even had the 2019 lottery yet.

For real. That early 2000's wait-til-next-next year vibe creeping back in, haha. And by the way, the 2020 draft is pretty weak too. I like Wiseman, but other than that, it's guards. the wings are meh in my eyes so far.

I think there is decent talent in Reddish and Bol. Potential that might be worth the invest in Doumbouya and role players with good defense in Hunter and Hayes. We will be picking 5-6 and 8-9, I think we can get some players that help to build a squad.

You already have a star in Trae and a player that is nearing starlevel in Collins, you add another star and ATL is a playoff team that will be growing for next 4 years with tons of cap space, makes sense in my eyes. Even without a FA I think we are a playoff team next year.

Even if you have eyes for a top elite FA, you still make your pick.
Even if you think Trae is 'the guy' you still make your pick.

Hawks have $40+ in capspace so even if you get 1 max FA, you still make your pick to groom. There are still positions to fill.

Here is your pie in sky scenario:
1. Make your draft selections at 5 and 9 (hypo) - I think Schlenk has shown he can evaluate players that can be immediate contributors.
2. Sign KD or Kawhi, as our starting SF, they'll probably sign a 3+1 deal
3. Trade Prince for a future 1st.
4. Sign AD as a FA in 2020, when Baze and Plumlee expire.
5. Championship.

I think it's highly unlikely the Hawks have a lottery pick next year, even if it's in the lottery won't be top 10.

Mistake was keeping Dedmon and Baze at the deadline.

I like Trae as well but building around him without another elite playmaker and two way player is not enough for contender in today's NBA. First and second round playoff exits it is!