TI: Baron Davis/Al Thornton to Atlanta

[loflin3hree5ive]

Hawks Get:
Baron Davis
Al Thornton

Clippers Get:
Acie Law
Maurice Evans
Speedy Claxton
Randolph Morris (Cut)

You guys get great value for Bibby's replacement and the hometown Thornton to take Evans' minutes. This deal helps odds of keeping Johnson in town next year.
Davis/Johnson/Williams/Smith/Pachulia

Clips get out of Davis' deal and get more touches for Gordon/Griffin. Probably follow up w/ Hinrich trade.
Hinrich/Gordon/Evans/Griffin/Camby

[evildallas]

A question, where's Horford in our lineup? You list Zaza as a starter and I want to make sure something wasn't missing in the trade before commenting.

Can't fault you for not offering enough talent. That is a lot of talent for little in return, a true salary dump. The problem is that Baron Davis's contract is so bad and his injury potential and bad attitude potential is so high that it is a deal of great risk. If it was sweetened to include Minnesota's future 1st that the Clips hold the rights to I'd seriously consider rolling the dice on it. Without the sweetener, I'd pass because of the financial strain it would put on our team. It is doubtful we'd exceed the luxury tax and I don't think that move alone gets us much closer to championship contention.

[niffoc4]

Interesting deal. wouldn't help any defensive problems the Hawks have had though. According to 82games.com both Davis and Thornton were outscored by the men guarding them... That said its certainly one of the better offers i've seen.

[HoopsGuru25]

I would consider it if we were a team like the Knicks because that is a flat out salary dump...but I just can't see how trading for Davis would help the Hawks in the long run. You can't just ignore the fact that he's been hurt every year other than 2008(a contract year)since signing that extension after their playoff run in 2002.

[HoopsGuru25]

I didn't realize how bad Baron was until I just looked at his numbers. I always suspected he would be a player who would wouldn't age well because of his horrible shot selection and injuries but I didn't think he would fall off this quickly. He only shot 37 percent(didn't have a game over 50 percent until mid march)and he is no longer great at rebounding or getting to the line anymore. I think I'd rather have Iverson(who i really dislike)for the MLE than trading expirings for Baron.

[loflin3hree5ive]

I respect your guys concerns, but in all fairness, Davis was in a horrible situation with the Clippers on many different levels. No Brand, bad coach, no team chemistry, a team with only two guys still on the roster from the year before, etc. Davis' numbers last year don't indicate how good he really is.

[dms269]

Basically take on Davis' contract and get Thornton.

It is interesting, but as long term it isn't that great. You will have Davis' big deal on the books when you are trying to extend JJ and such.

I don't think that adding Davis is a missing piece to a puzzle. I think if we could get a big man in a deal then I would be all for a type of deal around that. Not sure if it would be possible but if Kaman or Camby was in the deal instead of Thornton then I think that would be a better deal overall for the Hawks, but still hesitant due to the sheer size of that contract.

[CAM]

That's a whole lot of talent to pass up on, for............ fillers.......

I'd find it hard to say no to this, or a subtle variation, while trying to take into account future financial flexibility.

edit: I think the posters above are possibly undervaluing Thornton. Amazing potential, only player to remind me of Nique in a long time (long way to go of course)

[HMFFL]

The details about this trade need to be looked at further and so does the future of the team. By acquiring Al Thorton we'll need to work a S&T for Marvin Williams. Baron Davis lacks passion, he's injury prone and the Clippers have asked him to focus on his conditioning this off-season. His contract also throws up some red flags due to the amount and for the four years that are left.

We get smaller with Al Thorton at the 3, we downgrade our rebounding at the position, and we get a less skilled 3-point shooter. Al would also be due an extension three seasons from now when Al Horford is due one as well.

Does this trade force us to let Joe Johnson walk after next season? I doubt we'll be able to keep him due money.

I just don't know if I'm content with Baron Davis, shooting guard?, Al Thorton, Josh Smith and Al Horford for the future.

[Hooch20]

As a Clippers fan I don't see the team trading Baron. Things may not have been as hoped for last season, but Baron's been doing 2 a day the last 3 weeks or so in LA. I really think the team gives it one more go with Baron.

How would the you guys feel about a deal involving Kaman? Maybe something along the lines of a sign and trade involving either Williams or Childress. Throw in Claxton to make things work out and I think this works for both teams.

I would also do a Kaman and Thornton deal for Williams and Childress.

[raleigh]

As a Clippers fan I don't see the team trading Baron. Things may not have been as hoped for last season, but Baron's been doing 2 a day the last 3 weeks or so in LA. I really think the team gives it one more go with Baron.

How would the you guys feel about a deal involving Kaman? Maybe something along the lines of a sign and trade involving either Williams or Childress. Throw in Claxton to make things work out and I think this works for both teams.

I would also do a Kaman and Thornton deal for Williams and Childress.

Kaman is infinitely more realistic than Davis. If the Hawks don't have to give up either of Smith/Horford, I'd be tempted.

[Hooch20]

For me I really don't like Smith for either of our teams. If we trade Kaman to you, you guys have Horford at PF and Kaman at C. Do you really want Smith starting at the SF spot. I'd rather have someone to space the floor at SF. The same goes for the Clips. I'd much rather make a deal for Williams or Childress. I'm not to sure where Smith would play on the Clips.

[Harry10]

good lord....... Hawks say YES!

Baron is a horrible contract, but with his ability to create and create for other, he is a slight upgrade over Bibby.

Thorton is a great talant, and will give the Hawks flexability when it comes to keeping, or trading Marvin.

Baron's numbers do look bad, but i think he can become a 20ppg player again. in GSW he was the PG on a team full of athletes and shooters, when he went to LAC he lost Brand and Maggette and had to deal with Zach and Kaman's and Cambey's injury problems.

[parson]

Baron Davis is toast, and expensive toast at that. The man is 30 and already his body is shutting down. Taking on 4 more years of him is foolish.

I think Thornton only plays well against the Hawks.

But the Baron Davis contract is the killer in this discussion. I'd gamble on Kaman but never on Davis. Not even for Speedy, Acie, Mo and Morris. I wouldn't take Davis' contract even if they asked for no players in return. I wouldn't take Davis even if they offered to give US future picks.

[JoshB914]

I agree with, Parson (for once).

Although I do think B Diddy could have one or two good seasons left in the tank in a good situation, getting him still doesn't get us over the hump and cripples us financially, making it difficult to improve the rest of the roster while we're still on the hook for his massive contract.

Basically the best case scenario is we squeeze a couple of good years out of Baron and continue to win 45-50 games a season and go out in the second round (same situation as the present). But I can't see him being effective after that, putting us in a terrible position for the coming seasons having to dole out all that $$$ to an over-the-hill PG with injury and attitude problems. The risk is just not worth the reward imo.

[NWO4Life]

Made me look... but no interest.

Might as well have Kieth Van Horn at least he is retired... Paying for Davis is like trowing money to General Motors.

Thornton I wouldnt mind having if the Hawks didnt have 23 players on the roster that do the same thing. Thornton has a good long NBA career ahead of him. But let be real here too. If you had Marvin Williams in a clips uniform he would average 20 a night... Thorntons number are a bit inflated simply because he's on the Clips.

Again made me look but no interest.