The Right time to make a BIG Move

[ATLHawksfan21]

besides miami his best options to win are the bulls and rockets.

The bulls won 48 games with the 29th ranked offense and were still somehow were able to maintain the 2nd best defense in the league with guys like Dj Augustin, Boozer, and mike dunleavy getting heavy mins.

The Rockets? Really? So you think he has a better chance winning in the West, which had 8 of the top 10 teams in the league last year? That's a lot of extra competition when he can stay in the East where there is one dominant team, one above average team and then a bunch of average teams. Harden has proved that his game doesn't translate to the playoffs and he refuses to play defense. He is a cancer and they will never win anything with him. Besides , with 3 max contracts, it would be Harden/Melo/Howard and then some scrubs. We can offer a diverse lineup with quality starters at every position. We will also have a deeper bench and by far the better coach.

Our lineup fits Melo better than the Bulls. Melo gets a good bit of his points in the paint and the lane would be clogged with Melo, Noah and Gibson. Horford and Milsap both have above average range for their position which would give Melo plenty of room to work inside. and then you have the issue of Rose's knees. I think it's safer to assume that Rose will never be the player that he once was than assume that he will be back 100% and stay healthy. He's already wasted 3 years in New York due to Amare's knees and now he's going to put his faith in Rose's knees? Just doesn't sound like a smart decision to me.

Melo joins Atlanta and us and Miami are atop the Eastern conference by a wide margin. The same goes for Chicago IF Rose stays healthy. Join the Rockets and you don't have that luxury in the West.

[MaceCase]

People kept mentioning his Olympics where he came off the bench, maybe he realized that's when he's the most effective too.

[Jamaaliver]

If melo wants to win, his best option is miami...then atlanta.

I nearly choked on my cereal. it's okay that we all dream of the day ATL will be a true contender for a title. Able to go toe-to-toe with anyone in a playoff series.

But I don't think our franchise has ever been a player's best chance to win anything. Especially when he have never been past the 2nd round, have had a worse record each of the last two seasons.

A starting 5 of teague/korver/melo/milsap/horford is the most well rounded starting 5 in the league.

I would have serious concerns with that team being unable to guard anyone. Every top team features defensive role players in their starting 5. That team needs a Bowen, Fox, Elie, Tayshaun, Marion, Rondo type of defensive player.

Our lineup fits Melo better than the Bulls.

Melo is a fine player, but ha the SAS system ever featured an isolation wing player as its primary offensive weapon? Our system is the Spurs system, and i can't think of any player in the last 15 years that plays like him.

I can't really see Melo fitting in culture-wise with SAS. I certainly can't see him fitting in with that beautiful offense the Spurs run. They ran it to perfection against the best defensive team in the league without a wing scorer dominating the ball. Thusly, I can't see Melo fitting in with our system which relies on ball movement, discipline, unselfishness more than individual scoring.

[PandaKidd]

IMO the bulls are NOT on his radar. Why would he want to get PUMMELED into the ground playing for Thibs ? Thibs is like Dantoni, he plays his guys 48 minutes a night. They get hurt and injured. Melo isnt trying to do that. Why would he risk having AMARE 2.0 with D Roses knees?

On paper the best team for him IMO is the Hawks or Clippers. 2 teams that need a guy with his skillset, he can still be the alpha , doesnt have to play defense.

Rockets are intriguing, but Im not sure he can play with D12 AND Harden. And if that happened, the Rockets would have to trade Parsons.

Why would Melo want to go to the West? Its BRUTAL out there.

Melo to Miami means that 4 stars would have to collectively say they will take A LOT less money, and then the whole tampering issue would come up and the other owners heads would explode.

[PandaKidd]

People kept mentioning his Olympics where he came off the bench, maybe he realized that's when he's the most effective too.

Thats why I feel he would fit in here. Not in a bench role, but he could still be somewhat an ISO Wing player and get his shots. The offense with millsap and healthy AH would be interesting to watch with Melo on the wing. He would get so many open shots it would be unbelievable.

[ATLHawksfan21]

If melo wants to win, his best option is miami...then atlanta.

I nearly choked on my cereal. it's okay that we all dream of the day ATL will be a true contender for a title. Able to go toe-to-toe with anyone in a playoff series.

But I don't think our franchise has ever been a player's best chance to win anything. Especially when he have never been past the 2nd round, have had a worse record each of the last two seasons.

A starting 5 of teague/korver/melo/milsap/horford is the most well rounded starting 5 in the league.

I would have serious concerns with that team being unable to guard anyone. Every top team features defensive role players in their starting 5. That team needs a Bowen, Fox, Elie, Tayshaun, Marion, Rondo type of defensive player.

Our lineup fits Melo better than the Bulls.

Melo is a fine player, but ha the SAS system ever featured an isolation wing player as its primary offensive weapon? Our system is the Spurs system, and i can't think of any player in the last 15 years that plays like him.

I can't really see Melo fitting in culture-wise with SAS. I certainly can't see him fitting in with that beautiful offense the Spurs run. They ran it to perfection against the best defensive team in the league without a wing scorer dominating the ball. Thusly, I can't see Melo fitting in with our system which relies on ball movement, discipline, unselfishness more than individual scoring.

A little history lesson for you. Melo made it to the WCF in 2009 which was the only year that he has played with an above average PG. He let Billups do a lot of the work that season and he posted his lowest FGA. Melo is not Lebron or Wade. He doesn't have to have the ball in his hands to be able to score. He is an elite catch and shoot player and can work well off of screens and such.

Our team will be alright on defense but it wont matter because we will have the best offense in the league by a wide margin. NO ONE will be able to stop a starting 5 of Teague/Korver/Melo/Milsap/Horford NO ONE. Melo isn't known for his defense but he has the body and athleticism to be a solid defender. Spending less energy on the offensive end would allow him to spend more energy on the defensive end. Against the Heat, we would be able to throw Carroll, Melo and Milsap at Lebron at different times.

I love how people keep saying that Melo can't adapt. Go back and watch the Olympics. Him and Kobe were clearly our best players. You say Melo can't adapt from his chucking ways but the makeup of his teams, throughout his career, have forced him to chuck. Look at the rosters of a lot of these teams and you will notice that almost every one has 2 starters that are completely useless on offense. Who's going to score for NYK if Melo doesn't?

In my opinion, our 3 biggest needs are:

A playmaking wing
Rebounding help
A closer

With Melo, you are getting a player who is elite at all 3 of these. He's the perfect compliment to our current core.

[ATLHawksfan21]

and don't overlook the final positive of landing Melo. We become a media favorite and a league favorite. The NBA is a business and I think it's obvious to every one that certain teams are shown favoritism from the refs from time to time. With Melo, we become one of these teams.

[Jamaaliver]

^I am gonna respectfully disagree. You do make a good point about him playing with a real PG in Billups. But that team was loaded. And Billups was a Championship winning PG.

But seeing how SAS is dismantling Miami with efficiency, discipline and fundamental, heady play...I'm finally onboard with acquiring lesser talents who simply fit our needs and our system well.

Spurs run a system that is very Euro friendly. Fittingly, their roster is filled with international players. I think that's the direction to pursue.

[Yungsta404]

Spurs run a system that is very Euro friendly. Fittingly, their roster is filled with international players. I think that's the direction to pursue.

Gotta be careful with going full blown international. The mid to late 2000s raptors tried replicating the international model and were mediocre at best.

But I do see that Ferry is going in that direction, The last draft basically cemented that (promising Giannis, Drafting Dennis, Bebe, and Mike Muscula)

[simon24]

If melo wants to win, his best option is miami...then atlanta.

I nearly choked on my cereal. it's okay that we all dream of the day ATL will be a true contender for a title. Able to go toe-to-toe with anyone in a playoff series.

But I don't think our franchise has ever been a player's best chance to win anything. Especially when he have never been past the 2nd round, have had a worse record each of the last two seasons.

A starting 5 of teague/korver/melo/milsap/horford is the most well rounded starting 5 in the league.

I would have serious concerns with that team being unable to guard anyone. Every top team features defensive role players in their starting 5. That team needs a Bowen, Fox, Elie, Tayshaun, Marion, Rondo type of defensive player.

Our lineup fits Melo better than the Bulls.

Melo is a fine player, but ha the SAS system ever featured an isolation wing player as its primary offensive weapon? Our system is the Spurs system, and i can't think of any player in the last 15 years that plays like him.

I can't really see Melo fitting in culture-wise with SAS. I certainly can't see him fitting in with that beautiful offense the Spurs run. They ran it to perfection against the best defensive team in the league without a wing scorer dominating the ball. Thusly, I can't see Melo fitting in with our system which relies on ball movement, discipline, unselfishness more than individual scoring.

A little history lesson for you. Melo made it to the WCF in 2009 which was the only year that he has played with an above average PG. He let Billups do a lot of the work that season and he posted his lowest FGA. Melo is not Lebron or Wade. He doesn't have to have the ball in his hands to be able to score. He is an elite catch and shoot player and can work well off of screens and such.

Our team will be alright on defense but it wont matter because we will have the best offense in the league by a wide margin. NO ONE will be able to stop a starting 5 of Teague/Korver/Melo/Milsap/Horford NO ONE. Melo isn't known for his defense but he has the body and athleticism to be a solid defender. Spending less energy on the offensive end would allow him to spend more energy on the defensive end. Against the Heat, we would be able to throw Carroll, Melo and Milsap at Lebron at different times.

I love how people keep saying that Melo can't adapt. Go back and watch the Olympics. Him and Kobe were clearly our best players. You say Melo can't adapt from his chucking ways but the makeup of his teams, throughout his career, have forced him to chuck. Look at the rosters of a lot of these teams and you will notice that almost every one has 2 starters that are completely useless on offense. Who's going to score for NYK if Melo doesn't?

In my opinion, our 3 biggest needs are:

A playmaking wing
Rebounding help
A closer

With Melo, you are getting a player who is elite at all 3 of these. He's the perfect compliment to our current core.

This past season was Carroll's first season as a starter and first year running the SA offense. He can only get better after a year in it.

Lou also could be huge for the Hawks next season. A year plus from his ACL injury.

[ATLHawksfan21]

I nearly choked on my cereal. it's okay that we all dream of the day ATL will be a true contender for a title. Able to go toe-to-toe with anyone in a playoff series.

But I don't think our franchise has ever been a player's best chance to win anything. Especially when he have never been past the 2nd round, have had a worse record each of the last two seasons.


I would have serious concerns with that team being unable to guard anyone. Every top team features defensive role players in their starting 5. That team needs a Bowen, Fox, Elie, Tayshaun, Marion, Rondo type of defensive player.

Melo is a fine player, but ha the SAS system ever featured an isolation wing player as its primary offensive weapon? Our system is the Spurs system, and i can't think of any player in the last 15 years that plays like him.

I can't really see Melo fitting in culture-wise with SAS. I certainly can't see him fitting in with that beautiful offense the Spurs run. They ran it to perfection against the best defensive team in the league without a wing scorer dominating the ball. Thusly, I can't see Melo fitting in with our system which relies on ball movement, discipline, unselfishness more than individual scoring.

A little history lesson for you. Melo made it to the WCF in 2009 which was the only year that he has played with an above average PG. He let Billups do a lot of the work that season and he posted his lowest FGA. Melo is not Lebron or Wade. He doesn't have to have the ball in his hands to be able to score. He is an elite catch and shoot player and can work well off of screens and such.

Our team will be alright on defense but it wont matter because we will have the best offense in the league by a wide margin. NO ONE will be able to stop a starting 5 of Teague/Korver/Melo/Milsap/Horford NO ONE. Melo isn't known for his defense but he has the body and athleticism to be a solid defender. Spending less energy on the offensive end would allow him to spend more energy on the defensive end. Against the Heat, we would be able to throw Carroll, Melo and Milsap at Lebron at different times.

I love how people keep saying that Melo can't adapt. Go back and watch the Olympics. Him and Kobe were clearly our best players. You say Melo can't adapt from his chucking ways but the makeup of his teams, throughout his career, have forced him to chuck. Look at the rosters of a lot of these teams and you will notice that almost every one has 2 starters that are completely useless on offense. Who's going to score for NYK if Melo doesn't?

In my opinion, our 3 biggest needs are:

A playmaking wing
Rebounding help
A closer

With Melo, you are getting a player who is elite at all 3 of these. He's the perfect compliment to our current core.

This past season was Carroll's first season as a starter and first year running the SA offense. He can only get better after a year in it.

Lou also could be huge for the Hawks next season. A year plus from his ACL injury.

I am probably more high on Carroll than most on this board but Carroll's improvements are going to get us to a title. I believe that he will improve but it's not like he's going to become Leonard.

Lou Will may get better on offense but he will always be an extreme liability on defense. I will always appreciate the guy for taking the hometown discount but he is not going to help us win anything major.

[Geaux_Hawks]

Melo would really put us into championship contention. He gives us at least 4 above average players in the starting lineup. He doesn't have to dominate the ball to be effective either. His WCF run with Billups and recent Olympic success shows he isn't as dependent on having the ball in his hands as people think. The Hawks need a close. They need a go to guy to get them 30 on an given night. They need a wing regardless. Melo fits that criteria. Melo allows Carrol to come off the bench, and which helps our depth. At the very least we become a relevant team capable of going to the ECF with a shot at the Finals as well.

[ATLHawksfan21]

^I am gonna respectfully disagree. You do make a good point about him playing with a real PG in Billups. But that team was loaded. And Billups was a Championship winning PG.

But seeing how SAS is dismantling Miami with efficiency, discipline and fundamental, heady play...I'm finally onboard with acquiring lesser talents who simply fit our needs and our system well.

Spurs run a system that is very Euro friendly. Fittingly, their roster is filled with international players. I think that's the direction to pursue.

I would disagree with the statement that the team was loaded. How is this rotation considered loaded, especially on offense? Billups, Melo, Smith and Nene are really your only consistent scoring threats and even Nene averaged less than 10 pts in 2 of the 3 series.

Billups/Dahntay Jones/Melo/Kenyon martin/Nene/JR Smith/Birdman/Anthony Carter/Linas Kleiza.

Doesn't look anywhere close to being loaded if you ask me.

I do agree that we can win without a max talent and I would prefer us stay away from most max guys. I just feel like Melo is the perfect fit and will put us in immediate title contention.

[ATLHawksfan21]

Melo would really put us into championship contention. He gives us at least 4 above average players in the starting lineup. He doesn't have to dominate the ball to be effective either. His WCF run with Billups and recent Olympic success shows he isn't as dependent on having the ball in his hands as people think. The Hawks need a close. They need a go to guy to get them 30 on an given night. They need a wing regardless. Melo fits that criteria. Melo allows Carrol to come off the bench, and which helps our depth. At the very least we become a relevant team capable of going to the ECF with a shot at the Finals as well.

I agree that this is the bottomline for our team with Melo and healthy. I would expect us to be in the Finals if we get him though. Miami would have no answer for us and Wade will be a year older. The East is up for grabs and this is the perfect time for us to go all-in and push all of our chips to the center of the table.

[Geaux_Hawks]

Yeah. I have always wanted Melo in Atlanta. He's such an underrated player. Match him with our current group of guys, and we should be a top tier team..

[Yungsta404]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--c ... 06919.html

seems like melo would agree with me and feels like besides the heat, the bulls and the rockets would give him the best opportunity to win.

[Jamaaliver]

What's everyone's thoughts on bringing back Boris Diaw?

He knows the coach, knows the system. He can make more money here than SAS. Hell, he could even start at SF.

Seeing Spurs dominate the Heat like this makes me think we should be directly adopting Spurs personnel just a we have directly adopted their leadership and system.

[azuresou1]

Why would Boris leave a championship team to play here?

[Jamaaliver]

Why would Boris leave a championship team to play here?

Money.
His relationship with Coach Bud.

If Timmy retires, Spurs will be still be good. But not sure if they'll be championship-caliber.

SAS has Kawhi, Livio-Charles as the future at SF. We can offer a raise, a starting position. A featured role.

Might be worth a shot. At age 32, he is literally looking at his last chance to get a big payday.

[theatlfan]

What's everyone's thoughts on bringing back Boris Diaw?

He knows the coach, knows the system. He can make more money here than SAS. Hell, he could even start at SF.

Seeing Spurs dominate the Heat like this makes me think we should be directly adopting Spurs personnel just a we have directly adopted their leadership and system.

Not a bad thought, but I can't say I'm on board. I'm a big believer in you are the position you guard and I can't see Diaw guarding opposing 3's. One of the ways PHX was able to resurrect Diaw was by moving him to PF/C and allow his all around skills to play up against defenders who weren't used to playing against that type of skill. The drawback was that meant that Diaw had guard these players but D'Antoni never really cared about that. Diaw did prove to be passable in time if not even a bit better. Now, Diaw athleticism has dropped as his size has gone up and I just don't see him moving back to 3 full time. Assuming this is true, Diaw represents a(nother) PF to me and we've already got 2 AS there. Just think the $$ could be spent better elsewhere.