RealGM

What is it that Atlanta needs to become a championship team? It is difficult to get everybody to agree to a trade or signing a free agent.

Do we need a superstar? I think most people will agree that Joe is not on the same level as Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Dwight, CP3, Carmelo...

Do we need a center? I think it is clear that Al Horford is not a center... he is a PF. So if we get a center, do we play Al at PF and Smoove at SF? Or do we trade one of them?

Do we resign Bibby or go for another PG? I think Bibby is good for 2-3 more years... if that. He can't play D, but he can shoot the 3.

I personally think the best case scenario is if we can get Chris Bosh or a good center for Marvin and Speedy. Then we resign Bibby and Flip. And Josh Childress miraculously agrees to sign with the Hawks. Add some fillers like Othello Hunter and Mario West...

I think we would have a shot at the championship...

C - Bosh, Horford, Randolph Morris
PF - J-Smoove, Horford, Othello Hunter
SF - Childress, Mo Evans, Mario West
SG - JJ, Flip
PF - Bibby, Acie

Horford can give good minutes at C and PF... if we need to go big then we can play Horford at PF and Smith at SF...

I think that's the best case scenario for the Hawks... I don't know if we have enough money to do all that... But I would love love love to see that team play... We would still have some problems... we don't have enough shooters out there... JJ, Bibby, Flip and Mo... Maybe Josh can learn a good mid-range shot in the off-season.

I am almost sure we don't have enough money for this... but how great would that be?

I think the goal should be to build the best team possible. Winning a title involves alot of luck... particularly in the draft process.

The Hawks need to go after Amare or Bosh....but it will take alot more than just Marvin and Speedy.

I mentioned this in the trade forum. The topic was about a bosh to atlanta deal, but the same could be said for amare.

I wouldn't mind giving up marvin and horford for bosh if he will agree to an extension. Then if we could make a trade for camby that would give us our two big men. Yes Josh is good, however can he play the 3? If we are confident with that then he can be the 3, however if we are not then he has to leave. Session would be a nice pg, just not sure to get him and flip.

I am not sure if we could play with bosh at the 5. He isn't that big.

What moves will make ATL a contender? Personally, I think we need another star to compliment JJ and some upgrades to the front of our bench. As far as the star, I'd prefer that either Marvin, Smoove, or Horford step up into that role, but I also think they're too similar in too many facets to really shine when they're all on the court together. Also, the fact that really none of them seem like great fit to the style we play in the 1/2 court really hurts as well. Yeah, 1 (and maybe even 2) really need to be traded. Is one of those + Speedy enough to get a star? Depends, we'll have to see how the market pans out 1st.

As far as the moves you have listed, it's fairly unrealistic, and even then, I wouldn't like the result. How many times has a team tried to attract a FA to replace their star? Even to trade said star? Teams go out on the FA market to make their team better - not as a way to trade someone like Bosh. Also, Bosh @ C? Could you see Bosh trying to keep Howard out of the paint? Or even Haywood? At this point, I want round pegs to fit round holes. If a C is what we need, then go get a C - not another PF. Too many times under BK, we collected players then figured out where to play them. Hence, why we have 3 PFs starting for us right now.

In 5 years, Joe will be 32, Smoove will be 28 and Marvelous and Horford will both be 27. Our best bet to gain another star is to develop our 3 youngsters. If Woodson had brain one he'd be focusing on just that. Just grow those 3 and any coach we have will be celebrated as a genius.

The only reason we should trade one of the fab 3 is if we can acquire a young potential star who better fits our needs, as in a great center (especially defensively) for either Smoove or Horford.

All we need is a nice defensive minded point that can drive to the hole and distribute. Being able to hit the occasional shot wont hurt either. If he is young enough to grow with our core all the better. Keep the core and add veteran bigman help in FAcy, we can fill out other depth through the draft and develope them with our solid nucleus and added tutelage from the veterans we aquire. Run a more uptempo movement offense to utilize our quickness and athleticism (SCREENS!) be a little less reliant on our modified switching zone, use more man on and bam! With our current talent and some pieces and we'd be atleast a yearly contender for the ECFs where from there anything can happen.

Not to be difficult, but what time frame our you talking about? I think it would likely take multiple years and several moves to get into position to compete for a championship. This summer I'm just hopeful that the team can make enough correct moves to still be competitive next year without selling out the future.