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I've come to these conclusions on the Hawks, and what I think they should do this offseason.

1.) Fire Mike Woodson and hire Jeff Van Gundy or or another good coach
2.) Do not resign Mike Bibby (the worst defender in the NBA)
3.) Sign Ramon Sessions (better distributor than Bibby, much better defender, and much younger)
4.) Let Marvin Williams walk
5.) Sign Ben Gordon (the hawks will have cap space for both of these signings)
6.) Slide Joe Johnson over to SF (its what he played in PHO and he was way more effiecient then)
7.) Draft competent big man, perhaps Dejuan Blair orGani Lawal (Lawal is more realistic)
8.) Resign Zaza at a cheap price

New Lineup

PG: Sessions, Law
SG: Gordon, Murray
SF: Johnson, Evans
PF: Smith, Lawal
C: Horford, Zaza

Now that is a much better team and with a competent coach I think they could really challenge the elite teams in the NBA. Probably not win it all, but this lineup is at least very realistic to put together, and certainly wouldn't get swept by the Cavs like we are now. Thoughts?

GTfan wrote:I've come to these conclusions on the Hawks, and what I think they should do this offseason.

1.) Fire Mike Woodson and hire Jeff Van Gundy or or another good coach
2.) Do not resign Mike Bibby (the worst defender in the NBA)
3.) Sign Ramon Sessions (better distributor than Bibby, much better defender, and much younger)
4.) Let Marvin Williams walk
5.) Sign Ben Gordon (the hawks will have cap space for both of these signings)
6.) Slide Joe Johnson over to SF (its what he played in PHO and he was way more effiecient then)
7.) Draft competent big man, perhaps Dejuan Blair orGani Lawal (Lawal is more realistic)
8.) Resign Zaza at a cheap price

1. Not going to happen.
2. I'm pretty indifferent about this.
3. Not proven he can win yet.
4. Absolutely not. At the very least, you have to S&T him. You don't let good assets go for nothing.
5. Actually, the Hawks don't have cap space.
6. I don't mind this idea, but only if you let Marvin go to do it, you're wasting your time.
7. See #2.
8. What do you think of as "cheap" for a borderline starter at CR?

If we rescind Marvin, Bibby, and Chill, we have cap space. What can Marvin bring us back in a sign and trade? I don't think he has any value above the MLE, and if I'm not mistaken his cap hold is larger than that. I view his contract status as a huge burden on us doing something helpful. I'd rather use that money to sign Ben Gordon and Ramon Sessions. Sessions isn't a proven playoff winner, but he's a NBA starter who puts up much better numbers than Bibby and could be had for around the MLE I would think. Are there any proven winner PG available, perhaps Andre Miller (do you consider him a proven winner?), I'd be fine with signing him too, but I like Sessions better due to his defense, which is a weakness for Bibby and Miller.
I'm fine with paying Zaza his $4 mill per season, same as he gets now.

Zaza is going to get more than 4 million a year. Unproven backup big men get 4 million a year. Big men are at a premium and you have to pay to keep Zaza.

Zaza's caphold is 8 million. You still haven't said how you intend to bring back Flip Murray. The hawks don't have birdrights on him so you would have to use either the MLE or real caproom to do so

I've got us with $40.8 million in salary next season before any signings. The cap should be right around $60 million, so we've got roughly $20 million in cap space. Bring Flip back with real caproom for what we're paying him now, and maybe use the MLE on Zaza, depending on who we get in the draft.

GTfan wrote:I've got us with $40.8 million in salary next season before any signings. The cap should be right around $60 million, so we've got roughly $20 million in cap space. Bring Flip back with real caproom for what we're paying him now, and maybe use the MLE on Zaza, depending on who we get in the draft.

You have to choose between the MLE and the cap space. Bottom-line, your plans calls for losing Marvin, Bibby, Josh, and Flip in order to sign Gordon ($8M+) and Sessions ($6M+). You'd probably not have enough $ left over to sign Zaza. And even if you did, you still haven't addressed the post defense.

It's not realistic. Teams don't let assets like Marvin, Bibby, Childress, etc. go without an effort for just any old player.

What do you think we should do? Trying to get a discussion going, so perhaps offer some alternatives that make sense to you?

I don't see us going anywhere with Bibby at PG, he's lost a step on offense, and is a horrible, I repeat, HORRIBLE defender. If someone wanted a sign and trade for him, great, but I don't forsee one that makes any sense. So I'd much rather us let him walk and sign Sessions, or try to move up in the draft to grab Ty Lawson.

Childress should be rescinded at this point. He's getting close to $7 mill in europe, and no one in the NBA will pay him that much. If we get an offer that makes sense, great, go for it, but I think he's just gonna eat up cap space until it gets too painful and forces management to rescind his deal, might as well do it now so we can make some moves.

Marvin is the only one who might have value around the league, but I'm really not sure. His qualifying offer is $7.4 million and I think thats way overpaying him. Evans contributes much more to the team and he only makes $2.5 million. Now, Evans is a great deal and I don't expect to have Marvin for that price, but he's not worth more than the MLE in my eyes, and even there I'd rather have someone else with that money.

This team has a lot of needs, but one thing sticks out biggest in my mind is that we will never be an elite team if Joe Johnson is our best player, or at least best scorer. He's just not that kind of player. Thats why I want Ben Gordon, because he can be that scorer and I think Joe's game would flourish at the 3 with Gordon at the 2. Unless the Raptors wanna trade Chris Bosh for Joe Johnson, and Bosh would be willing to resign with the Hawks, I can't forsee any other big time player that we could get in a Hawks uni besides Gordon.

I'm almost 100% against the plan proposed. You have invested in Marvin for 3 years to let him go for nothing ? How does that plan resolve or improve our biggest weakness, rebounding ? We must find a way to keep Flip, he's found a home here. I'm a little bit on the fence when it comes to Bibby. He's made this team better, I have no doubt, but his game has some flaws and money/contract lenght will play a huge role if he stays or go. The Hawks won't get B. Gordon, that I'm sure about. This draft to me is about getting a Big that can rebound. If not, maybe a PG depending on Bibby's situation. Law must go.

So you really think this team can reach elite status with Marvin as our starting SG and Joe as our top scorer? I guess thats where we have a fundamental disagreement. We could get a big rebounder in the draft and it won't make much of a difference, they'd still be stuck behind Smith, Horford, and Zaza, or if Zaza goes, there goes even more rebounding. How do you propose this team gets better? Adding a big that can rebound still adds up to a 4 seed at best (probably worse) and getting bumped in the 1st round of the playoffs. We're set for the foreseeable future at PF and C, and either SG or SF, depending on where you need Joe to play. I think we need to focus on improving our PG and SG/SF situation. This team needs a shakeup, and people accepting the fact that Marvin was a waste of 3 years is part of that. Did we ever turn down a good deal for Marvin? I don't think any other teams were seriously that interested once they saw him play in the NBA.

I think you play the "wait-and-see" game with Marvin just like you did with Smith.

Bibby and Zaza are another matter. The Hawks will have to decide before July 1st how much they're willing to pay out because both are unrestricted. That's also part of the reason to wait on Marvin - you may need him a S&T to replace Bibby at PG. I'd also draft a PG in the draft, and look to move Acie if the right deal comes along.

Personally, I would bring them all back and then add to what's there by using the MLE. I'd look to move Claxton to add depth in the backcourt and/or replace Flip.

We'll know about Childress before July 1st most likely, and I expect him to stay in Europe for one more year.

We cannot get Lawal. that would be horrible. Hes 6'9. We need a BIG MAN.

I reallly think that if we got rid of Woody the team would be drastically different. I tihnk theyd be much better but they could also be worst. Offseason is gonna suck. The Hawks wont do anything. I hope they do. Id love to trade someone and a draft pick to pick up another scorer.

The Hawks wont do anything.

They won't have any choice. Half of the team are FA's. It may be August before things shake out, but it will be eventful.

hi everyone.

not a hawks fan, but i still have an opinion i wanna share...

here's the basic principle - you can have about 17 mil in cap space if you let all your free agent walk.
now, looking at those free agents - sorry to tell you - nice players, nothing special.
so all are replaceble.

true - you can find better replacement in the open market - such as a. miller over bibby, j.jack is intriguing (can indy match a sizable offer for him ? doubt it), and then you have some decent bigs who'll be more effective for your team than m.williams like sheed for example.

you could defently have a couple of those guys replacing bibby and williams and you'll be better off for it.

BUT
and here's my big point -

if you create cap space, and you HAVE the intention of spending to improve, the hawks would be FOOLS to look at the free agent market.

what you need to look at is TRADES !!!

why ? 2 reasons - economy and 2010.

those two reasons will have teams throwing HUGE sweetners at your team if you agree to take players who are every bit as good as say - bibby or williams off their hands, possibly better.
THIS is the key to a great hawks' off season if you ask me.

just as an example - i think it's safe to assume that rebounding and size are a major concern for the hawks.
well then - what happens if you simply offer to "absorb" troy murphy's contract from indiana ?
or how about murphy and ford for nothing ?
considering the pacers' financial situation and their desire to keep jack - i would argue there's a very good chance you can also swap first rd picks with them and get yourselves a lottery pick.
and when it's all said and done - have you done worse than bibby and williams ?
not if you ask me, and that's not even taking into account the lottery pick.

but that's just one example.

let's make it easier - look at the opposite confrence.

chandler was already traded for nothing this year for saving money - and to a confrence rival.
think the hornets wouldn't love to send him east - perhaps for your 1st rd pick alone ?
offer to take him with a. daniels' expiring deal and you dont' even have to include your first.
you do have a pg issue at that point, but you have 3 pg's with expiring deals to trade - law, claxton, and daniels. that will get you good players this offseason.

how about boozer who they jazz would love to dump should he not opt out ?
i know he's not really what you guys need, but even if you decide you dont' want him - you can facilitate a trade for utah where a third team gets boozer and sends you guys players you'd want - for example hinrich and noah.

i could go on and on about pottential trade targets but i'm guessing you got the point.

so forget those specific examples - what's important is the basic course of action - renounce your players, and use TRADES to fill up your roster.
you'll be able to get a LOT better players and assets that way than by signing/resigning free agents, because teams are actually willing to "PAY" for teams to take good players off their hands - players who are better than your own free agents and just as good as what you could get in the open market (only here you also get compensation...).

the economy and 2010 summer - the two biggest driving forces this offseason are on YOUR side.
you are in PRIME position to take advantage of that.
i would be surprized and disappointed if you dont'.

I understand the sentiment of bringing in a franchise player like Ben Gordon.

Ben Gordon, however has to play with a big PG to guard the opposing team's SG. Sessions fits that bill, but for all the money it will take to sign an undersized shooting guard like Gordon (who is a franchise-type player) why not sign Iverson for 10 mill over two years.

Gordon will want a lot more than that. What was the offer that he turned down in Chicago?

The same way you have to build around Gordon with a big playmaking PG who can defend, you would have to do the exact same thing with Iverson.

Iverson can be the franchise player that we lack while being much less of a long term investment. It'd be imperative to surround Iverson with the right cast of characters so that everyone would understand their roles.

The most important role to fill would be the big PG next to Iverson. While Sessions is decent, I think the perfect compliment to Iverson other than Chauncy Billups woiuld be Hinrich ... and he can be had for the right price.

I think Chicago would take Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, and Speedy Claxton for Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, and Jerome James.

Chicago gets a replacement for Ben Gordon in Johnson who is also an expiring contract (sweet!) and a game changing forward in Josh Smith to run with Rose.

Atlanta gets a big, defensive, playmaking guard to play with Iverson in Kirk Hinrich, a young SF with some upside in Deng and a replacement for Josh Smith with more rebounding ablity in Tyrus Thomas.

Also, I agree that Marvin Williams and Childress should be let go to save money if we already have suitable replacements in place. Luol Deng amd Evans are more than suitable replacements to Marvin Williams. I'd also let Murray walk because ther won't be any minutes left over for him. I don't like him playing with Iverson (or Ben Gordon for that matter).

PG - Hinrich - Law
SG - Iverson - West
C - Horford - Pachulia
PF - Thomas - Blair
SF - Deng - Evans

ALL HAIL wrote:I understand the sentiment of bringing in a franchise player like Ben Gordon.

Ben Gordon, however has to play with a big PG to guard the opposing team's SG. Sessions fits that bill, but for all the money it will take to sign an undersized shooting guard like Gordon (who is a franchise-type player) why not sign Iverson for 10 mill over two years.

Gordon will want a lot more than that. What was the offer that he turned down in Chicago?

The same way you have to build around Gordon with a big playmaking PG who can defend, you would have to do the exact same thing with Iverson.

Iverson can be the franchise player that we lack while being much less of a long term investment. It'd be imperative to surround Iverson with the right cast of characters so that everyone would understand their roles.

The most important role to fill would be the big PG next to Iverson. While Sessions is decent, I think the perfect compliment to Iverson other than Chauncy Billups woiuld be Hinrich ... and he can be had for the right price.

I think Chicago would take Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, and Speedy Claxton for Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, and Jerome James.

Chicago gets a replacement for Ben Gordon in Johnson who is also an expiring contract (sweet!) and a game changing forward in Josh Smith to run with Rose.

Atlanta gets a big, defensive, playmaking guard to play with Iverson in Kirk Hinrich, a young SF with some upside in Deng and a replacement for Josh Smith with more rebounding ablity in Tyrus Thomas.

Also, I agree that Marvin Williams and Childress should be let go to save money if we already have suitable replacements in place. Luol Deng amd Evans are more than suitable replacements to Marvin Williams. I'd also let Murray walk because ther won't be any minutes left over for him. I don't like him playing with Iverson (or Ben Gordon for that matter).

PG - Hinrich - Law
SG - Iverson - West
C - Horford - Pachulia
PF - Thomas - Blair
SF - Deng - Evans

GOD NO! I am happy that you are not our GM.

GTfan wrote:1.) Fire Mike Woodson and hire Jeff Van Gundy or or another good coach
2.) Do not resign Mike Bibby (the worst defender in the NBA)
3.) Sign Ramon Sessions (better distributor than Bibby, much better defender, and much younger)
4.) Let Marvin Williams walk
5.) Sign Ben Gordon (the hawks will have cap space for both of these signings)
6.) Slide Joe Johnson over to SF (its what he played in PHO and he was way more effiecient then)
7.) Draft competent big man, perhaps Dejuan Blair orGani Lawal (Lawal is more realistic)
8.) Resign Zaza at a cheap price

1) That's a given, but our owners probably disagree.
2) Unless we already have a good PG in hand, we have to try to keep Bibby. We have to have a decent PG.
3) I think we'd have to overspend for Sessions.
4) For NOTHING?
5) Sessions and Gordon and Joe as our 1-2-3? Kinda small. Add in Smoove at 4 and Horford at 5 and we're REALLY small.
6) He'd take a beating from the bigger SFs, don'cha think?
7) Right after a beautiful girl tells you she loves your back hair.

Biggest problem I have is with the poor makeup of the starting 5. We'd have the smallest front court, the smallest swing players and the least athletic back court (1 through 3) - both in terms of speed and leaping ability - in the NBA.

Plus, that's a much poorer outside shooting team.

Defensively, Sessions is better than Bibby (big deal, I'm better than Bibby), but Gordon is worse than Joe at 2 and Joe is worse than Marvelous at 3.

what about trying to keep this team and coach, getting rid of Speedy, Mario?, Gardner, Hunter and Moris, resigning bibby (7M), flip (3), Marv (8), Zaza (5/6) and chill. Try to add a vet like Mc Dyess, S& T Andersen.
during the season look to trade chill, andersen and Bibby? pending on the needs.
Bibby, Andersen,chill + 1st 10 to a team like the nets for Harris? + Fillers ( Williams)

Harris- Law- vet or 2nd 09
JJ- Flip- mario?
Marv- Evans-
Smoothe- Mc Dyess- Solo
Horford- Zaza- Mullens


our young core gets more mature, you keep Flip and Mo (latest could be traded), you add Mc dyess and a young big while getting a younger backcourt yet competitive one.

We could try something like a SNT with both Bibby and Childress, maybe adding Speedy's contract, which has financial benefits to the team owning him (the team owning him gets 80% back if he's unfit to play).

TOR, for example, has been rumored to be looking to trade Calderon and getting rid of Kapono's contract. We could take more of their worst contracts to make up the difference.

As always, I'd love to parlay with someone for a big man. How about our assets to the Blazers for trash and Oden? Has he fallen that far? Does POR have any bad contracts that they'd love to be free of? How well could we pad the deal?

We're not that far off. We need a good PG (I'd prefer a play-maker) and we need a traditional center to at least come off the bench for 20 minutes a game.

FCNATL85 wrote:...during the season look to trade chill, andersen and Bibby? pending on the needs.
Bibby, Andersen,chill + 1st 10 to a team like the nets for Harris? + Fillers ( Williams)

You're talking about trading BYC contracts.