HAWKS' Free Agent Shopping List

[Jamaaliver]

In the interest of staying optimistic for our FA bonanza this summer, I thought it might be fun to brainstorm what we as fans think (or want!) or team to look like next year.

Let's focus on Free Agents only for the time being. (No potential sign and trades) and on guys likely to leave their current team. So no CP3 or D12.

The list of FA I'm using is courtesy of HOOPSWORLD at http://www.hoopsworld.com/2013-nba-free-agents/:

[Jamaaliver]

I like Pekovic as a starting Center, but he's already been quoted as saying he intends to be back next year.

I also really like Byron Mullens at Center, but I suspect CHA will extend a qualifying offer this summer.

So I say we put all our energy into making AL Jefferson our starting Center. He's a big body who provides inside scoring and rebounding. His post game would go over well with Horford's mid-range game. My biggest concern is that it might take a near MAX-Deal to reel him in.

I suspect Ferry will make a run at JJ Hickson. Whether it's as SF, or backup PF remains to be seen. I'm thinking 6-8 million should get it done.

I like Kevin Martin at SG very much. I'm torn with bringing in Martin over Korver since Korver will be cheaper. Also, we already have Jenkins and Lou at SG. Tying up lots of money at this position seems foolish.

I think Teague has earned another run at PG. But if we forgo spending big money at SG, maybe we pursue Tyreke Evans and only extend the Qualifying offer to Teague. Letting the two of them compete for the starter's spot at PG.

I would also like to reunite Corey Brewer and AL Horford from their Florida days. Brewer would be a solid wing defender, finisher on the break and can hit open shots.

So targets would be: Jefferson, Brewer, JJ Hickson, Tyreke Evans, Korver

Starters would be:

Jefferson
Horford
Brewer
Korver
Teague

Lou-Hickson-Zaza-Tyreke as primary bench players.
Jenkins-Mike Scott-1st rounders-Jeremy Tyler to fill out the roster.

Not much vet experience. But a solid team with shooting, speed, defense, rebounding.

[Jajwanda]

Good selections all around although Pau Gasol for one year would be a better solution than blasting max cap money on Jefferson for multiple years.

[Geaux_Hawks]

I would consider one year of Pau if free agency just doesn't go our way, but it might be more of a deadline move. If we do make some moves and look like a playoff team by the deadline next year, then I would take on Pau for a run.

[Jajwanda]

It'd be tough to do it by the deadline based on contracts. If Atlanta doesn't sign Jefferson they're very likely going to be way below the salary cap floor. Trading new pieces around and satisfying both teams would be tough. My expectation is an Odom like deal with a TPE plus draft pick value.

[Jamaaliver]

Good selections all around although Pau Gasol for one year would be a better solution than blasting max cap money on Jefferson for multiple years.

YES!

I strongly believe Gasol can be for us what Duncan (at this point in his career) is for the Spurs. I also think Gasol + Horford = the best frontcourt in basketball.

And one year at Gasol's current contract wouldn't be crippling, especially since he is expected to take a pay cut for his next contract.

I was hoping we'd make a trade of Josh for Gasol this year or last; at this point, it becomes very difficult to acquire Gasol in trade.

[Amerissexy]

How badass would it be for us to get Manu? I think we would rape with Manu on our team keep the shooters coming Manu Korver combo would be sick. And how udnerratted is Korver at passing though! ?Like honestly

[tcorbin]

I change my mind about Tyreke Evans, i don't want the Hawks to get him, even if he does come cheap.

i realized that the Hawks do so well passing the ball, because everybody on the Hawks can shoot, which makes the defense have to recover all the time

Tyreke can't shoot and holds the ball too long. it would be like Joe again where their is iso all the time.

Maybe just stick with the draft to get a SF/SG like Glenn Robinson, Doug McDermott, or Otto Porter.

[parson]

I have a great deal of confidence in Ferry's drafting ability. He seems to be a very good judge of talent.

That makes getting a Center in free agency so important, because then Ferry would be drafting the BPA with our 2 1st rounders. What a bench we could have: Lou Williams/Zaza/Stevenson/Jenkins/Ivan/Scott/the 2 1sts (Harris is probably going to be signed to start somewhere).

This team is sick if we add a good Center.

[Geaux_Hawks]

I change my mind about Tyreke Evans, i don't want the Hawks to get him, even if he does come cheap.

i realized that the Hawks do so well passing the ball, because everybody on the Hawks can shoot, which makes the defense have to recover all the time

Tyreke can't shoot and holds the ball too long. it would be like Joe again where their is iso all the time.

Maybe just stick with the draft to get a SF/SG like Glenn Robinson, Doug McDermott, or Otto Porter.

In fairness to Joe, he was kind of forced to ISO. Joe had the range to shoot and do other things, but Woody kept in ISO because he was our only threat back then. I would take Reke, especially if we lost Josh. We're gonna need a legit scoring option without Josh's playmaking and scoring. Sacramento is just a poor environment for players right now. Evans and Cousins are wasting talent there. Even Thomas and Jimmer would do better elsewhere.

[dpaulh]

Josh, Jefferson, and Korver. Simply put, this team with Jefferson instead of Zaza, a healthy Lou, and a year of experience or Jenkins (learning from Korver) and Scott will compete. Josh is worth 15/yr and I hope we give it to him. I critique everything he does as much as the next guy, but watching a game as objectively as possible shows how good of a player he is. Also, Scott and Jenkins show each game that they are learning which is a very good sign. Jenkins can be a clone of Korver and he is proving that he can learn from him. I like this team with a healthy Lou and a true center.

[dpaulh]

If it doesn't work then we would have assets on good contracts that teams would want and still some money to spend on 2014 free agents.

[tcorbin]

Plan "A" of course is going to be Dwight and Chris Paul.

Plan "B" or "C" could be, two big contracts to Josh Smith and Monta Ellis, and then a fair contact to Kaman or Dalembert.

Horford/Dalembert/Zaza
Smoove/Ivan
Korver/TBA rookie
Monta/Jenkins
Teague/Louis

[parson]

Plan "A" of course is going to be Dwight and Chris Paul.

Plan "B" or "C" could be, two big contracts to Josh Smith and Monta Ellis, and then a fair contact to Kaman or Dalembert.

No to Ellis. I do not understand the attraction. Look at tonight's game: trade Tolliver out of the starting lineup for a big man and we'd be interesting.

Plan A is getting a Center.
Plan B is getting a Center.
Plan C is getting a Center.
Plan D is getting a Center.
Plan PDQ* is getting a Center.

*Pretty Doggone Quick.

[D21]

Don't forget that we would need to renounce some players to get a real cap space, and if we want to add one or two big players, it could change a lot of things.

At this moment, here are the main cap hold counting against the cap, unless we renounce these players, or if they signed to a new contract (they would count at the level of their first year of the new contract):

Josh Smith $16,402,500
Devin Harris $12,750,000
Zaza Pachulia $7,783,125
Anthony Morrow $7,600,000
Kyle Korver $7,500,000
Johan Petro $6,650,000
Jeff Teague $6,082,693
Ivan Johnson $1,250,854
Anthony Tolliver $884,293

Stevenson would also need to be cut to delete his $2,240,450

There are $18,483,800 for Horford, Williams and Jenkins.
If the Salary Cap is set at 60M, it leaves almost 31.5M (60 - 18.5 for Horford/Williams/Jenkins - 6 for Teague - 4 for the roster spots to fill). If Teague is morth more than his 6M cap hold, it's better to keep him unsigned and signing him once the cap space is used.
If Smith is not re-signed at the moment we make an offer the Howard for example, it leaves 15.1M only to offer and it also means we need to renounce all the other players including Harris, Zaza and Korver

[tcorbin]

Don't forget that we would need to renounce some players to get a real cap space, and if we want to add one or two big players, it could change a lot of things.

At this moment, here are the main cap hold counting against the cap, unless we renounce these players, or if they signed to a new contract (they would count at the level of their first year of the new contract):

Josh Smith $16,402,500
Devin Harris $12,750,000
Zaza Pachulia $7,783,125
Anthony Morrow $7,600,000
Kyle Korver $7,500,000
Johan Petro $6,650,000
Jeff Teague $6,082,693
Ivan Johnson $1,250,854
Anthony Tolliver $884,293

Stevenson would also need to be cut to delete his $2,240,450

There are $18,483,800 for Horford, Williams and Jenkins.
If the Salary Cap is set at 60M, it leaves almost 31.5M (60 - 18.5 for Horford/Williams/Jenkins - 6 for Teague - 4 for the roster spots to fill). If Teague is morth more than his 6M cap hold, it's better to keep him unsigned and signing him once the cap space is used.
If Smith is not re-signed at the moment we make an offer the Howard for example, it leaves 15.1M only to offer and it also means we need to renounce all the other players including Harris, Zaza and Korver

If the Hawks can get Dwight and Chris Paul, i don't mind renouncing (or trading) everybody except for Korver.

If the Hawks can't get any super stars and just get a 2nd tier free agent, then i would want to see Teague, Korver, and Zaza back.

[D21]

On the other side, there's always the possibility to use sign-&-trade to get superstars, and in reality, there are lots of sign-&-trades to get superstars.

[tcorbin]

No to Ellis. I do not understand the attraction. Look at tonight's game: trade Tolliver out of the starting lineup for a big man and we'd be interesting.

Plan A is getting a Center.
Plan B is getting a Center.
Plan C is getting a Center.
Plan D is getting a Center.
Plan PDQ* is getting a Center.

*Pretty Doggone Quick.

This is not smart at all. I wouldn't give Al Jefferson a max contract

[parson]

No to Ellis. I do not understand the attraction. Look at tonight's game: trade Tolliver out of the starting lineup for a big man and we'd be interesting.

Plan A is getting a Center.
Plan B is getting a Center.
Plan C is getting a Center.
Plan D is getting a Center.
Plan PDQ* is getting a Center.

*Pretty Doggone Quick.

This is not smart at all. I wouldn't give Al Jefferson a max contract

Did not say give Jefferson a max deal. Said no-way-no-how to getting Ellis. Don't like him. Don't see the attraction. Wouldn't want him for free.

What I think is dumb is forgetting this is a TALL man's game and that we're pretty small.

However, let's play the Jefferson game: take last night's lineup, remove Tolliver and insert Al Jefferson. What would you have? Sure, I want Dwight Howard and, sure, I'd prefer someone like Asik or Pekovic if Howard's not available.

But we need a starting-quality Center. Free agency seems to give us the best chance to find one. I would overpay to get a starting-quality Center. What else are we going to do with the money - master the 6-ft-and-under-league?

[tcorbin]

Did not say give Jefferson a max deal. Said no-way-no-how to getting Ellis. Don't like him. Don't see the attraction. Wouldn't want him for free.

What I think is dumb is forgetting this is a TALL man's game and that we're pretty small.

However, let's play the Jefferson game: take last night's lineup, remove Tolliver and insert Al Jefferson. What would you have? Sure, I want Dwight Howard and, sure, I'd prefer someone like Asik or Pekovic if Howard's not available.

But we need a starting-quality Center. Free agency seems to give us the best chance to find one. I would overpay to get a starting-quality Center. What else are we going to do with the money - master the 6-ft-and-under-league?

Just not smart in getting a center at all cost. Dwight is obvious. Peck is a restricted free agent. Then you have Al Jefferson, he is like Smoove, a very good player who doesn't deserve max, but will be asking for max. like you said, teams have money to spend, and which ever teams looses out on Dwight might start a bidding war over Jefferson.

that only leaves Kaman, Dalembert, and Zaza. under your 'get a center at all cost' it might just come down to one of those three guys. impact wise, Zaza and Dalembert are about the same. Kaman is better than Zaza, but not by much, adding Kaman to the current Hawks team, i don't think add three more wins or gets the Hawks pass the 2nd round of the playoffs. so really, what is the point of potentially overspending on Kaman, or Dalembert

So even if you get Kaman, the Hawks still have enough cap to consider to add players like Ellis, Iguodala, etc. or make trades by taking on big contracts.