With a Horford trade, will the Hawks go after Durant?

[atlantabbq99]

I was wondering why the Hawks would be open to trading Horford. Al will probably comman a max contract and he loves Atlanta and has no indication of leaving.

I don't see any problem in the Hawks resigning Horford as long as they offer max or close to max, which in this market he does deserve.

Al is vital to Budz's system. I would think that Budz would not want to trade him on a talent stand point. The only reason I can think of trading Horford would come from a financial stand point, and if the Hawks are so worried about the salary cap, then that must mean that they could be targeting big time free agents this summer?

Any thoughts?

[Geaux_Hawks]

We need some better pieces for Durant.

[Hawk Eye]

The reason they are open to trading him or willing to listen on trade talks for him is because there is a legitimate fear he will walk at the end of this season and leave us high and dry. Better to get something for him now then lose him for nothing. However, i dont think Bud is going to trade any of our main guys including Jeff.

And also every team in the league is going to go after Durant but I can assure you we will not be the ones that sign him.

[atlantabbq99]

The reason they are open to trading him or willing to listen on trade talks for him is because there is a legitimate fear he will walk at the end of this season and leave us high and dry. Better to get something for him now then lose him for nothing. However, i dont think Bud is going to trade any of our main guys including Jeff.

And also every team in the league is going to go after Durant but I can assure you we will not be the ones that sign him.

This is just really wrong. As long as the money is their and the offer is right, i don't see any threat of Horford leaving Atlanta. I don't see Horford as the type of guy who cares about going to LA or NY.

Al likes Budz and he likes winning, their is no point in him going to a losing franchise for less money or becoming a bench player.

[ATL Boy]

I don't think he leaves OKC.

[Hawk Eye]

The reason they are open to trading him or willing to listen on trade talks for him is because there is a legitimate fear he will walk at the end of this season and leave us high and dry. Better to get something for him now then lose him for nothing. However, i dont think Bud is going to trade any of our main guys including Jeff.

And also every team in the league is going to go after Durant but I can assure you we will not be the ones that sign him.

This is just really wrong. As long as the money is their and the offer is right, i don't see any threat of Horford leaving Atlanta. I don't see Horford as the type of guy who cares about going to LA or NY.

Al likes Budz and he likes winning, their is no point in him going to a losing franchise for less money or becoming a bench player.

If there was no fear of Al leaving us after this season then why would Wes and Bud even listen to offers for him?

"Atlanta has the potential for a guy like myself to maximize [the business] part of it,” Horford told Yahoo Sports. “But obviously there are other cities, bigger cities that are more appealing probably [business- and marketing-wise]. The impact would be bigger if that is what you are looking for.”[/quote ]

“Obviously, my focus right now is on the season, the team and the things I need to do," Horford told Yahoo Sports. "That’s kind of where I am going to leave it.”

[MaceCase]

You move Al and it kind of diminishes your pitch for Durant unless you're getting pieces back that are enticing. I do however think Teague/Schröder and Sap beats Washington's pitch of Wall and....who again? KD's future in OKC is likely tied to Westbrook though, I think if he resigns there he does it on a 1+1 deal because I don't think he wants any part of going from him, Russy and Harden to just him.

[td00]

Same scenario that we had when Ferry got nothing for Josh. We saw how that ended up and we saved big money, but if Al is known to want around 25-27M/year, can you really do that? They only gave Sap 3 years, but I don't think Al settles for Sap's deal.
This forum said at the time you can't get something for a pending FA, and it might not be any different this time around.

We're going to have to go West and got get a Terrance Jones or another young talent if we want to move Al. Would you take a TJ Warren / Archie Goodwin combo for Al to build our depth?

Perhaps a draft pick works here if its Phoenix, because Al would be a great pickup for them. I'd rather take my chances to keep Al though. It won't help us come playoff time.

[atlantabbq99]

Same scenario that we had when Ferry got nothing for Josh. We saw how that ended up and we saved big money, but if Al is known to want around 25-27M/year, can you really do that? They only gave Sap 3 years, but I don't think Al settles for Sap's deal.
This forum said at the time you can't get something for a pending FA, and it might not be any different this time around.

We're going to have to go West and got get a Terrance Jones or another young talent if we want to move Al. Would you take a TJ Warren / Archie Goodwin combo for Al to build our depth?

Perhaps a draft pick works here if its Phoenix, because Al would be a great pickup for them. I'd rather take my chances to keep Al though. It won't help us come playoff time.

Ferry let Josh walk to make cap room for Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.

http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2013/07/03/hawks-gm-danny-ferry-to-meet-with-howard/

[PandaKidd]

You move Al and it kind of diminishes your pitch for Durant unless you're getting pieces back that are enticing. I do however think Teague/Schröder and Sap beats Washington's pitch of Wall and....who again? KD's future in OKC is likely tied to Westbrook though, I think if he resigns there he does it on a 1+1 deal because I don't think he wants any part of going from him, Russy and Harden to just him.

I believe this is true as well. IF HE LEAVES, hes not coming to Atlanta. If he stays, I think he does a lebron 1+1 deal and waits to see what happens with WB (especially if you believe all the reports of LA Lakers dreams).

The only way I could see him NOT doing that type of deal is if hes worried about his foot or something, and just wants the big deal done now.

[Geaux_Hawks]

You move Al and it kind of diminishes your pitch for Durant unless you're getting pieces back that are enticing. I do however think Teague/Schröder and Sap beats Washington's pitch of Wall and....who again? KD's future in OKC is likely tied to Westbrook though, I think if he resigns there he does it on a 1+1 deal because I don't think he wants any part of going from him, Russy and Harden to just him.

Washington does have Beal and Porter Jr. as well. Throw in Gortat, and their starting 5 with Durant would be a pretty good young core of players with a decent amount of veteran leadership. Easily the best team in the east. Wall/Beal is better than Teague/Dennis & Sap especially if Teagues traded and Dennis doesn't have a great showing the rest of the way.

[PandaKidd]

Im not sure Wall/Beal/Durant/Gortat/Porter=best team in the east.

CLE is loaded. KI/LBJ/Love easily better than that squad.

[Jamaaliver]

After watching D Ferry misuse assets to chase windmills in Free Agency, I'd prefer a steadier, more efficient approach to team building and acquiring talent.

We bypassed guys like Rudy Gobert, Rodney Hood and other rotation players at positions of need. That cheap young talent would come in handy about now.

I'm not against attempting to lure in top free agents, but we need to build a pretty solid foundation to make ourselves more attractive or position ourselves as able to trade for them.

Managing our assets better should be key #1. Draft better, trade high priced players we don't intend to re-sign.

Collect our assets and pool them for top players. Like Boston did with KG and Ray Allen.

[Jamaaliver]

Im not sure Wall/Beal/Durant/Gortat/Porter=best team in the east.

CLE is loaded. KI/LBJ/Love easily better than that squad.

Agreed, but if WAS signs Durant...I imagine Beal and Otto become trade bait.

Let's keep in mind the team that LBJ signed on for included Andrew Wiggins and Dion Waiters. They were moved for better fitting pieces at positions of need.

A package of Beal and Porter could bring a pretty solid frontcourt player: Blake Griffin, Marc Gasol. Maybe add a vet big with a lot to prove (Tyson Chandler or Joakim Noah)

...they'd have the ammunition to be a top team if they made the right moves

[MaceCase]

You move Al and it kind of diminishes your pitch for Durant unless you're getting pieces back that are enticing. I do however think Teague/Schröder and Sap beats Washington's pitch of Wall and....who again? KD's future in OKC is likely tied to Westbrook though, I think if he resigns there he does it on a 1+1 deal because I don't think he wants any part of going from him, Russy and Harden to just him.

Washington does have Beal and Porter Jr. as well. Throw in Gortat, and their starting 5 with Durant would be a pretty good young core of players with a decent amount of veteran leadership. Easily the best team in the east. Wall/Beal is better than Teague/Dennis & Sap especially if Teagues traded and Dennis doesn't have a great showing the rest of the way.

I'm not sure Gortat has excited anyone since he was Dwight's backup, Porter plays Durant's same position and Beal is a walking injury report of whom there's talks of a minutes restriction to keep him healthy for the rest of his career. Their sub-500 record isn't doing their talent or coaching any favors either, I don't think Durant sees himself as enough to bump that team up to the Cavs' category so again, Wall and being back in the DMV looks to be their best selling point.

[PandaKidd]

Im not sure Wall/Beal/Durant/Gortat/Porter=best team in the east.

CLE is loaded. KI/LBJ/Love easily better than that squad.

Agreed, but if WAS signs Durant...I imagine Beal and Otto become trade bait.

Let's keep in mind the team that LBJ signed on for included Andrew Wiggins and Dion Waiters. They were moved for better fitting pieces at positions of need.

A package of Beal and Porter could bring a pretty solid frontcourt player: Blake Griffin, Marc Gasol. Maybe add a vet big with a lot to prove (Tyson Chandler or Joakim Noah)

...they'd have the ammunition to be a top team if they made the right moves

Yeah but thats a lot of moving pieces and hopes and dreams. It would be far less risky to just stay in OKC where they are pretty loaded.

Thats why I dont really buy him going to any other place accept like maybe Lakers where he would want a bigger market. But , in this day and age, is MARKET really THAT important? Someone like Durant is a GLOBAL superstar.

[Geaux_Hawks]

I'm not sure Gortat has excited anyone since he was Dwight's backup, Porter plays Durant's same position and Beal is a walking injury report of whom there's talks of a minutes restriction to keep him healthy for the rest of his career. Their sub-500 record isn't doing their talent or coaching any favors either, I don't think Durant sees himself as enough to bump that team up to the Cavs' category so again, Wall and being back in the DMV looks to be their best selling point.

My view on this is that although Gortat isn't a top 5 center, he is definitely a solid 2-way big, that's just not a warm body out there.

Also, although Porter and Durant play the same position, Porter could come off the bench as a 6th man/glue guy in small ball lineups. Durant plays the 4 with OKC at times. Porter is still young, and could very well improve a ton more. The worst case scenario that could happen is if Porter gets traded for a solid PF.

I agree that Beal hasn't been healthy, but a minutes restriction or just completely reduced workload wouldn't hurt the team nor Beal considering Durant would then take over a lot of his(Beals) shots. Again, worst case scenario, they trade him for something of value.

They are sub .500 because of injuries to Beal and their depth. The team obviously relies on having Beal since Otto hasn't hit his breakout just yet. The Wiz may not be the GSW in terms of talent, but they do have a solid core of players that could skyrocket if they acquired Durant.

Certainly better than what we have to offer in Sap/Dennis. Just off comparisons sakes, Wall would at least equal Sap(I personally say Wall is better slightly in impact), while Beal alone is better than Dennis. That's essentially excluding what they could do with Otto(trade,6th man, small ball). Now coaching could be a factor also, but the Wiz aren't committed to their coach after next year.

That's just my opinion though.

[Geaux_Hawks]

Im not sure Wall/Beal/Durant/Gortat/Porter=best team in the east.

CLE is loaded. KI/LBJ/Love easily better than that squad.

KD would surely equal Lebron. Wall would certainly equal KI, and seeing as how Love has been used(Great rebounding stretch 4), Beal/Otto would equal Love. Throw in Gortat, who is a solid 2 way big, and Washington is just a better all around team, that's well balanced.

[PandaKidd]

Im not sure Wall/Beal/Durant/Gortat/Porter=best team in the east.

CLE is loaded. KI/LBJ/Love easily better than that squad.

KD would surely equal Lebron. Wall would certainly equal KI, and seeing as how Love has been used(Great rebounding stretch 4), Beal/Otto would equal Love. Throw in Gortat, who is a solid 2 way big, and Washington is just a better all around team, that's well balanced.

respectfully,
I think youre smoking crack

KI > Wall all day. Wall cant shoot.
Lebron , while aging, has completely dominated KD his entire career.
I wont even dignify the Beal/Love comparison. Thats just laughable. Love is in a bad situation right now, the scheme was terrible for him. Hes playing much better now.

I wont even get into the depth of the benches with Thompson/Varejao/Smith/Shumpert/Mo Williams, etc

[Jamaaliver]

Yeah but thats a lot of moving pieces and hopes and dreams. It would be far less risky to just stay in OKC where they are pretty loaded.

Thats why I dont really buy him going to any other place accept like maybe Lakers where he would want a bigger market. But , in this day and age, is MARKET really THAT important? Someone like Durant is a GLOBAL superstar.

But...is it?

Staying WEST makes no sense as you have to go through the SPURS and Warriors every year just to have a shot.

Durant comes East...he can basically choose a team to elevate and (essentially) guarantee a visit to the CONFERENCE Finals against LeBron every year.

A team...to be attractive...needs:

• a franchise player already there
• assets to improve the holes on the roster
• salary cap flexibility to keep a core together
• an above average Front office or Head Coach

WAS has three out of four.

All that said, if Durant comes EAST, MIAMI or Indy seem the obvious places to go.