Free agents to get or re-sign if Dwight doesn't come?

[gurpilo]

Reasonable targets and upgrades now.

Samuel Dalembert to have finally a true center and a defensive presence on the post. Howard is not coming here. Cris Kaman and Emeka Okafor as 2nd option.

Dorrell Wright, a decent SF, can shoot the 3, has size and defends well, good fit for us. Corey Brewer and Matt Barnes as 2nd option.

OJ Mayo, would be a great SG, good combo with Teague. 2n option, JJ Reddick and Nick Young.

Jarret Jack, would love to have him as backup PG/SG.

Players we should target but not likely to sign.

Al Jefferson, not likely to come here, good fit with Horford. Pekovic is also a possibility but will probably resign with Wolves

Iguodala, not likely to sign for a reasonable price in Atlanta, we should overpay so that he agrees to come here.

Monta Ellis, same as Iguodala. Tyreke Evans, not sure if is worth the gamble.

Don't even dream about them

Dwight Howard, Crhis Paul, Ty Lawson, Brandon Jennings


A team of

Teague/Williams
Mayo/Jenkins
Wright/Korver/Draft Pick
Horford/I. Johnson
Dalembert/Draft Pick

doesn't sound bad.

[Rip2137]

List of avaliable centers that, Paired with Horford, are better than Smith/Horford.

I personally think that list is basically Howard...and...um...yeah. I'm done. It's always great to say "hey, go get a Center!!! but honestly, the center is the worse position in basketball right now.

[gurpilo]

List of avaliable centers that, Paired with Horford, are better than Smith/Horford.

I personally think that list is basically Howard...and...um...yeah. I'm done. It's always great to say "hey, go get a Center!!! but honestly, the center is the worse position in basketball right now.

Dalembert, Okafor or Kaman, even Taj Gibson paired with Horford could be better than Smith/Horford and more importantly with much less $, allowing to throw the money at any big FA that wants to play here.

[Rip2137]

You know full well a Okafor, Kaman or Dalembert front court wouldn't be better than Smith/Horford. Thats just reaching.

I would say a Al Jefferson/Horford front court or Gasol(healthy)/Horford front court might be better, but come on dude.

Now Gibson intrigues me as it keeps Al at the center position.

[Jamaaliver]

You know full well a Okafor, Kaman or Dalembert front court wouldn't be better than Smith/Horford. Thats just reaching.

I would say a Al Jefferson/Horford front court or Gasol(healthy)/Horford front court might be better, but come on dude.

Now Gibson intrigues me as it keeps Al at the center position.

It;s not about talent. It's not about being better than Josh.

San Antonio has the best record in all of basketball and they've been starting Kawhi Leonard, Boris diaw and Tiago Splitter. They aren't great players, but they compliment each other greatly.

Stop thinking of players in comparison to Josh.

Start thinking of a starting unit that is cohesive, hard working, and compliments each other.

You never compare your new girl to your ex.
Once we break up with Josh, we CANNOT start comparing the new guy to the old guy.

AL Jefferson, AL Horford and Zaza would make a great three player rotation at C/PF with jump shooting, post scoring, rebounding and interior defense in abundance. They'd be a matchup problem for every other frontcourt in the eastern Conference. And I doubt it would take the max to acquire Jefferson.

[Rip2137]

You don't trade a guy to get worse. That simple. Taj or Jefferson, I would be for that. But for brittle Kaman that is worse defensively, can't pass, and can only kinda be a scoring threat, or Okafor, who isn't particularly good at anything or Dalembert(I don't need to explain that).

If you trade Josh, you need either a guy that will give you most of what he does (Jefferson, Gasol) or 2 guys that give you all he does (I am fine with a guy that can block shots and rebound and another guy that can be versatile defensively) or meet SOME need.

Dalembert, Okafor and Kaman don't make us better in ANY way.

[Jamaaliver]

If you trade Josh, you need either a guy that will give you most of what he does (Jefferson, Gasol) or 2 guys that give you all he does.

Why? It's about getting a better overall team, not a better PF.

Case in point: OKC has the worst starting frontcourt in the league. (Kendrick Perkins is turrrrible.)

But they have enough talent at other positions that it doesn't hinder them.

If we lose Josh, but but manage to upgrade significantly at PG, SG or SF we can call it a wash.

A true seven footer at Center with Horford at PF gives us great interior defense and helps us become a much improved rebounding team.

[Jamaaliver]

RIP, you've mentioned many times that AL in no way ever could possibly man the PF position. I've researched and reviewed trying to see if I could find any reason why not. I haven't.

I watched a few games and reviewed the numbers:

AL is avg 20 ppg and 10 rpg in the three games Josh has not played this year. The team is 3-0 in those games.
AL is avg 16 ppg and 10 rpg in ten games he started at PF with Zaza at Center. The team is 7-3 in those games.

He switches to PF all the time when Josh heads to the bench and Zaza comes in.
AL as our starting PF this season: 16/10/3.

Some matchups are tougher for him at PF, but that can be said for AL at Center and Josh at PF also.

There is absolutely no basis to believe AL can't perform at the same level as our PF. He literally does it ALL THE TIME.

[parson]

Why are we having this argument?

Al Horford says he's a PF.
Mike Woodson said he's a PF.
Larry Drew says he's a PF.

When the guy in question and both his head coaches say he's a PF (plus many in management), why would any of US say he's not?

[gurpilo]

You don't trade a guy to get worse. That simple. Taj or Jefferson, I would be for that. But for brittle Kaman that is worse defensively, can't pass, and can only kinda be a scoring threat, or Okafor, who isn't particularly good at anything or Dalembert(I don't need to explain that).

If you trade Josh, you need either a guy that will give you most of what he does (Jefferson, Gasol) or 2 guys that give you all he does (I am fine with a guy that can block shots and rebound and another guy that can be versatile defensively) or meet SOME need.

Dalembert, Okafor and Kaman don't make us better in ANY way.

I don't question that Kaman, Okafor or Dalembert are better players than Smith, I'm saying that Hawks as a team would be better with a combo of Horford/Dalembert or Okafor o even Kaman.

We have two players playing PF on our frontcourt, we get outrebonded every game, we have no post scoring, both are jump shooters and we have no post defense. Robin Lopez yesterday looked like Patrick Ewing. Of course Al Jefferson would be better but he will comand a lot of money and I doubt we are able to sign him, I'm been realistic.

These 3 players would get us a legit Center, that can help rebounding and defending the post, allowing Horford to move to PF and we will be more balanced as a team, not taking into account that this 2 would make a lot less money to make a much better and balanced frontcourt, the move is a no brainer. We have already seen what Horford and Smith can give us, it's time to move on.

[Jamaaliver]

I don't question that Kaman, Okafor or Dalembert are better players than Smith, I'm saying that Hawks as a team would be better with a combo of Horford/Dalembert or Okafor o even Kaman.

We have two players playing PF on our frontcourt, we get outrebonded every game, we have no post scoring, both are jump shooters and we have no post defense. Robin Lopez yesterday looked like Patrick Ewing. Of course Al Jefferson would be better but he will comand a lot of money and I doubt we are able to sign him, I'm been realistic.

These 3 players would get us a legit Center, that can help rebounding and defending the post, allowing Horford to move to PF and we will be more balanced as a team, not taking into account that this 2 would make a lot less money to make a much better and balanced frontcourt, the move is a no brainer. We have already seen what Horford and Smith can give us, it's time to move on.

Great assessment. The only thing I disagree with, I believe we can get AL Jefferson if Ferry wants him. He's been in the league since Josh has and made the playoffs once...maybe twice. Never played past the first round.

And after years of living in Minneapolis and Salt Lake City, I imagine living in a large city like the ATL would appeal to him.

[gurpilo]

We will probably no sign Howard, I don't think we should go after Bynum so the best C available is Jefferson. Perhaps we can get him but I have mixed thoughts there, he would provide some post scoring and improve our rebounding but he is a weak defender and will comand around 12-14 m$, he has not much size, is not a shot blocker, improves a little Smith but still not the solution I think we should looking for. I still have the feeling that Dalembert, Okafor or Kaman would play great here next to Horford while allowing tons of cap space to sign a star caliber player at the wings or even Jefferson and a star wing.