Robin Lopez

[geeman]

This guy looks like a Joakim Noah clone . if we could somehow get into this draft he my be a good option a center. blocking, active


http://nbadraft.net/admincp/profiles/robinlopez.html

[Rip2137]

He is going to go higher than he should, but will probably be a late first round pick. I like him. Hustle guy that we are going to need if we get rid of someone like Chill, like a lot of people have been suggesting.

[JoshB914]

I'm not a fan.

[Rip2137]

I'm not a fan.

I think his game doesn't exactly scream "contributor!!" at a college level.

But mostly because of college sports in general.

I was impressed with his ability to box out even in a Zone defense. he has a nose for the ball and one heck of a motor. Plus he knows his limitations.

Knowing ones limitations and role is the differnce between being Dennis Rodman (greatest rebounder ever, one of the best defensive players ever) and Ben Wallace(one championship having whiney guy that could have went down as one of the greatest ever if he didn't keep crying about getting touches on the offensive end)

We need players willing to do the dirty stuff even if their box score ends up with 0 points on 0 shots. He is one of those guys.

[td00]

As JJ says, we need to add a vet or 2, probably as starters.

We just need to grow up and be more consistent. This last series proved that thought.

Give me someone to help Horford on the inside. He can't do the dirty work alone! Smooth to me would be better at the 3 so we could get another big body. That doesn't mean he is a terrific 3, but better than Marvin IMO. I don't think those 2 complement each other at all.

[trickydik]

in all honesty , i say we trade smith for a Legit center and then move horford to the 4 and let childress and marvin handle the 3.


that's just me though , i know we got a lot of smoove fans , but right now he has a lot of trade value and i think he could field a good center

biedrins ?

kaman and a pick ?

bynum ?

nene and pick ?

i'm sure there is something out there that we could get for smith

[Rip2137]

It has been said over and over and should be said again:

Any of those guys + horford would not be better offensively or defensively than Horford/Smith, so what reason do you make the trade.

Bynum MAYBE , but you have to have questions about that knee, and we don't have Kareem as a big man coach here. As a matter of fact, we have a bunch of bigs that don't get better at all and josh had to go get his own help to get better.

Yes, you can get something from smith. And it will almost certainly make the team worse.

[trickydik]

i love smith , i think he's great and going to be a superstar , but he will get close to a max deal , and force someone else out , this is why i say trade him now with his trade value thru the roof , bring in some great above average players and possibly a draft pick.

smith is a SF playing PF , we have Horford who is a PF playing C , if we can trade smith for a starting C and get a pick in return and draft a C i think it would make the team much better.

and then Trade Bibby and filler for a pg

Bibby ?/ Law
J.J / West / Salim
Marvin / Childress
Horford / Anderson / Solo
Trade / Draft


let's just say we traded smith for Mason, CV and there pick #7 , very unlikely because smith is worth more , but just to give you a idea on what he could do to help round out the roster.

Bibby / Law
J.J / Salim / West
Marvin / Childress / Mason
Horford / CV
D. Jordan / Zaza / Solo

and we could bring in DA over and if we could package Bibby and Filler for a upgraded PG , i think i would do it , we would have a more rounded roster , and NO ONE playing out of position

just food for thought , chances are we won't trade smith , but if we were to do it , i think this summer is the time to do it.

[conleyorbust]

trickydik, I like that you are trying but I'd much rather have a very talented squad with two guys who you think are playing out of position than lose one of the most talented players so that we have a squad that you think looks more balanced.

i love smith , i think he's great and going to be a superstar , but he will get close to a max deal , and force someone else out

This is what you said. If you think he is going to be a superstar, you don't trade him unless you get a superstar back. The NBA runs on those guys, the team with the most talent usually wins, thats why the Celtics and Lakers are at the top of the league and the Knicks, Sonics, and Wolves are at the bottom.

Now its true that Smith will demand a large contract, but the trick in the NBA is signing your best players to good contracts and building around them. That means that down the road, maybe you have to let go of Marvin because he isn't one of your best players. The fact that Marv and Horford are going to need to be considered down the line shouldn't concern Smith's contract. Either he is worth it, or he isn't. If you really think he's going to be a superstar in this league, resign him or trade him for another superstar which is NOT the number 7 (or number 3) pick in this draft.

[trickydik]

well i agree with everything you said cob , but what about our salary cap situation , we don't have the lakers or celtics salary cap

we have the 28th ranked team salary cap , we can't afford him


boston is #5 , they can afford those players
Lakers #8

Seattle # 25

we are only above memphis and charlotte.

i rather trade smith now for something great in return to help round out the roster then re-sign him to close to max and not be able to afford anyone else.

[conleyorbust]

well i agree with everything you said cob , but what about our salary cap situation , we don't have the lakers or celtics salary cap

we have the 28th ranked team salary cap , we can't afford him


boston is #5 , they can afford those players
Lakers #8

Seattle # 25

we are only above memphis and charlotte.

i rather trade smith now for something great in return to help round out the roster then re-sign him to close to max and not be able to afford anyone else.

I don't know what you mean. We have the same salary cap as everyone else.

They've spent more than us because they have locked in their core. The reason you trade Smith is because you don't think he is, or will be, worth star money. If that is what you think, then say that. We certainly can afford to sign him and sign Horford down the road.

EDIT: haha, I see where you are getting your figures from on Hoopshype. The lower on that list you are, the better. That means you are spending less currently which, hypothetically means you could spend more.

After the playoff showing and the increased exposure, ATL will have a larger revenue base. That means resigning a player should be less of a concern, especially when you aren't near the cap. It also means we now have more to lose if we let Smith go just to "round out the roster", if the team gets worse AND less exciting we have really done the franchise wrong in terms of earning potential.

[ATLfan]

Robin Lopez would be a good person to have on our team. He will will be a Joakim Noah or Anderson Varerjo type player that gives you rebounds and plays good defense.

[trickydik]

ok cob , thanks for clearing that up to me , damn we got some cheap skates running this team.

yea i don't want smith to go , i am just worried our owners won't pony up the dough or will want to trade someone else away.


i'm re thinking this , instead of looking for a rookie center in the draft , why don't we make a run at blatche from the wiz , what could we offer for him ?

i've seen on the trade board that he was available but at a price.

who/what could we offer ?

[evildallas]

Blatche signed at a very affordable price, I don't expect Washington to have any desire to move him. Etan Thomas if cleared to play is another matter entirely though. We have the same basic problem that any C worth having isn't going to be available. I still think Bibby's the key. His expiring deal could be the key to adding some veteran talent (although probably not at C). We could then try to acquire a less expensive PG to round out the starting lineup. I can only speculate as a fan, but if I was the GM I would be determining exactly what Bibby and Marvin individually could yield on the open market to determine how best to get the team further up the ladder.

[parson]

RL is a 2nd round talent that someone's going to spend a 1st on. If he weren't a novelty, no one would notice him.