Official Off-Season Thread of 2015

• Size - The Hawks were 28th in rebounding. Now, granted that us being a jump-shooting team might negatively skew that stat a bit, our rebounding is still God awful. This is an issue we did not fix very well last off-season. It needs to be fixed this one.
• Lack of a "go-to guy" - We need a shooter. Yes, we have Korver, but we need someone that can create his own shot.
• Bench depth - This may fix itself, since Schroeder and Muscala show a lot of potential and are very young.

• Jeff Teague - He's still a fine point guard; however, I am not longer convinced he will be our PG for years to come. Dennis Schroeder is showing a lot of potential, and, conveniently, their contracts expire at the same time. For the time being, Teague is our guy.
• Kyle Korver - He needs to be a sixth man. He's just not a quality starter, especially in the Playoffs.
• DeMarre Carroll - From what I've heard on ESPN, the highest appraisal for DeMarre is $50 million for four years. I say pay the man.
• Paul Millsap - I like Paul Millsap, but he's going to demand a max contract, more than likely, and that's the opposite of what the Hawks need to be doing to get a title. Great overall player, but I think his time in Atlanta is up.
• Al Horford - Keep him. Great center, although undersized. Something the Hawks need to consider is moving him to the forward position.

• Dennis Schroeder - As I've already stated, very talented and very young player. I look forward to seeing how he develops. He could potentially take over at point guard.
• Kent Bazemore - Decent bench player, and he's not on a very expensive contract. No need to get rid of him.
• Thabo Sefolosha - This man is way more important than people realize. He's probably the best player on our bench.
• Pero Antic - Do not fucking resign his ass. He sucks.
• Mike Muscala - Very young player that could take over at center at some point. I like him. He has a lot of talent.

• Shelvin Mack - He's a pretty decent third-stringer. He might be worth shipping if it means getting a super-star though.
• John Jenkins - Next season, he seriously needs to get some playing time. I still have no idea what this kid is capable of because he hasn't gotten shit for playing time his entire career.
• Austin Daye - I don't think I ever saw this guy play for more than two minutes. I have no opinion on him.
• Elton Brand - Let him go. He's probably going to retire anyway.
• Mike Scott - Find a way to ship him. He's not doing shit for us and he's eating up cap space.

Demonjoe93 said:

To start, I cannot emphasize enough how happy I am with how this season went. That may sound odd to say, considering we were just utterly raped, for the second Playoff series in a row, by the Cavaliers; however, the Hawks were never expected by anyone, even by some of the biggest homers out there, to be this good. I was not expecting sixty wins, an appearance in our very first Eastern Conference Finals, nineteen game winning streak, and other franchise records to be broken. I was expecting 46 to 48 wins, with possibly a second round appearance if our seeding was high enough, and the match-up fortunate. So, despite the fact that my team was completely and utterly humiliated on national television, I am indeed very happy with the Hawks. For the first time in a long time, these guys are truly relevant.

There are three key issues the Hawks have to address in the off-season if they are going to take themselves to an NBA Finals victory:

• Size - The Hawks were 28th in rebounding. Now, granted that us being a jump-shooting team might negatively skew that stat a bit, our rebounding is still God awful. This is an issue we did not fix very well last off-season. It needs to be fixed this one.
• Lack of a "go-to guy" - We need a shooter. Yes, we have Korver, but we need someone that can create his own shot.
• Bench depth - This may fix itself, since Schroeder and Muscala show a lot of potential and are very young.

Now, let's the players, starting with the starters:

• Jeff Teague - He's still a fine point guard; however, I am not longer convinced he will be our PG for years to come. Dennis Schroeder is showing a lot of potential, and, conveniently, their contracts expire at the same time. For the time being, Teague is our guy.
• Kyle Korver - He needs to be a sixth man. He's just not a quality starter, especially in the Playoffs.
• DeMarre Carroll - From what I've heard on ESPN, the highest appraisal for DeMarre is $50 million for four years. I say pay the man.
• Paul Millsap - I like Paul Millsap, but he's going to demand a max contract, more than likely, and that's the opposite of what the Hawks need to be doing to get a title. Great overall player, but I think his time in Atlanta is up.
• Al Horford - Keep him. Great center, although undersized. Something the Hawks need to consider is moving him to the forward position.

Now, for the key bench players:

• Dennis Schroeder - As I've already stated, very talented and very young player. I look forward to seeing how he develops. He could potentially take over at point guard.
• Kent Bazemore - Decent bench player, and he's not on a very expensive contract. No need to get rid of him.
• Thabo Sefolosha - This man is way more important than people realize. He's probably the best player on our bench.
• Pero Antic - Do not fucking resign his ass. He sucks.
• Mike Muscala - Very young player that could take over at center at some point. I like him. He has a lot of talent.

Now, finally, it's time to go over the remaining reserves.

• Shelvin Mack - He's a pretty decent third-stringer. He might be worth shipping if it means getting a super-star though.
• John Jenkins - Next season, he seriously needs to get some playing time. I still have no idea what this kid is capable of because he hasn't gotten shit for playing time his entire career.
• Austin Daye - I don't think I ever saw this guy play for more than two minutes. I have no opinion on him.
• Elton Brand - Let him go. He's probably going to retire anyway.
• Mike Scott - Find a way to ship him. He's not doing shit for us and he's eating up cap space.

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ATL96Steeler said:

Very good read Demon!

Not much I don't agree with either, but I'll add my thoughts here.

On the season...1st full disclosure...20 yrs ago, I used to be a NBA junky...just could not get enough it...today, not so much, just too many games, but I still love NBA playoff basketball.

No one alive can tell you they honestly expected this...I know I didn't...I watched parts of about 2 dz games in the reg season...I saw how the team shared the ball, and were on a path to be the Spurs of the east. Even getting swept by CLE was not a total downer even though I felt they had a very good chance to reach the finals...but they needed to be at 100% health and obviously that wasn't the case.

To take the next step...I agree with you...they must have a legit big who plays like a big...far too many tips, and loose balls, or outright OFC rebounds against the Hawks...all season really, and it continued in the playoffs. It really deflates a DEF to defend to 18 to 20 secs and cause a missed shot only to have them get a 2nd chance...they have to correct the boards.

Go to guy...looking back at the model Spurs...in spite of the team concept they had finishers, Parker off the dribble, Leonard, or Duncan down low to force a dbl team creating an open shot. The Hawks have no one that you must double...I like Teague off the dribble, and Milsap should be the Leonard for this team but it didn't click in the post season.

Definitely need another shooter.

Starters.

1...imo Teague is the man...very few people in the game can stay in front of him when he's a attacking....keeper.

2...this is the weak link. Korver is good player, but he's really a 25 min a night player...agree he should be a 6th man...too limited off the dribble to be a starter in this kind of OFC...as much as I don't like Ginobli's game...he makes you respect the drive (to the left especially) and that helps him get off his shot and we can probably count the times on one hand the Korver took anyone to the hole...keeper

3...I like Milsap, but I need more production from the small forward...I've heard the shoulder was more of an issue than what hit the national media...he has the skillset to get to the basket, has some post up game, but needs a better jumper...keeper, but not at max

4...see to me the Hawks really have two power forwards...Carroll, is great...the gritty defender that has improved his OFC game...you need that type of player to succeed in the playoffs...would've liked to have seen him at full health in the Cavs series....sign him.

5...Horford imo is really a 4...smart player, not as athletic as I would like, but as a 5 he doesn't present a big enough mismatch...imo he needs to score more...can't disappear like he did in game 4...keeper

Instead of paying Milsap & Carroll, I would go get Mark Gasol and move Carroll to 3 and Horford to 4. Backup PG is a keeper...rid Petro...coach Bud can manage the rest if he had a legit big like Gasol.

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Demonjoe93 said:

I think going after Marc Gasol would be a solid alternative to signing Aldridge. By signing Gasol, you can move Horford to the four spot and resign Carroll.

The only issue this presents is not having a go-to guy that can create his own shots; however, I think the Hawks could live with just having a beast center like Gasol.

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ATL96Steeler said:

Aldridge is a baller, but wouldn't that be another "almost big" or do you consider him a legit low post C that can also play facing the basket? These west coast players I don't see that much.

Go to...yeah, imo those guys (the good ones) are mostly lottery picks or very expensive FA...Milsap is closer to being that guy, but can't keep them all and add a M. Gasol or Aldridge.

He's going to want too much money for his age, but I wouldn't mind seeing DWade chase one more title in ATL.

1. Teague 2. Wade 3.Carroll 4. Horford 5. M. Gasol

Schroder, Korver to mix in with the rest of the bench...wet dream!

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Demonjoe93 said:

In a three-way trade, we got Tim Hardaway Jr. I'm not sure how I feel about this move. His defense was horrible in New York, from what I read. Maybe the Hawks can fix this guy. I like that he's cheap and has potential.

We also drafted a Swedish PG by the name of Marcus Eriksson, and Greek PF Dimitrios Agravanis.

My take: Like I said, I'm unsure of the Tim Hardaway trade. I've come to trust our front office, even it Ferry isn't in charge anymore (his assistant is, which is okay). I think there's a lot of potential to turn this young, developing player around with our system. However, this is a gamble.
I also think this is a sign the Hawks are going to be aggressive in free agency. With the acquisition of these two guards, it's almost a guarantee that Shelvin Mack, who is paid about $3 million a year, is going to be shipped for cap purposes. Also, it is widely believed that Mike Scott, who is paid a similar amount to Mack, will also be traded.

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ATL96Steeler said:

Offseason Update...

Hardaway deal...I think we saw that in the playoffs the Hawks had OFC lapses that we didn't see in the reg. season. I like the trade...Jr. is a legit 14-18 ppg player...more importantly how he does it, he can hit the outside jumper, and create his own shot off the dribble. He allows Korver to be what he really should be...a 6th man, instant OFC kind of player. Not a ton, but I can see times when Teague, Hardaway and Korver will be on the floor.

Losing Carroll...you never want to lose a good DEF player that can score also, but assuming it was one or the other, Milsap is recovered from the shoulder...he gives you more on the OFC end....Toronto overpaid imo for Carroll.

Splitter...I'm not sure what to expect from Splitter but he is active, understands the system and he's a legit big, meaning he plays likes a big... that will allow Horford to move to his natural 4 spot, and hopefully improve the rebounding.

Ferry...I think the new owners wanted to move on from the old regime for the most part. I see coach Bud as being far more valuable than Ferry, even though I still applaud his move to get rid of Joe Johnson.

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Demonjoe93 said:

I think Korver has played SF in the past, so the idea of putting Teague, Hardaway, and Korver on the floor at the same time is something I could see happeneing.

I love the Splitter trade. We now have a true center that could start. The only question is can we start him? Having him start would move Al to PF and Paul to SF, and I don't know if Paul can play SF. He might have to lose some weight.

Toronto overpaid for him definitely. I was not expecting him to get that big of a deal.

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ATL96Steeler said:

Splitter...honestly I've only seen him as that hustle guy in the playoffs for the Spurs, but I like his skillset. If he's a 10 & 8 kinda big scoring inside...coach Bud has to move Al to 4, and Milsap can play some big 3, but I do see that rotation of Teague, Hardaway and Korver working if that lineup can hold their own on the boards. He would have the option of going small with Al @ 5 at times as well.

CLE is looking strong too, but the Hawks are quietly getting better too. Junkyard dog got paid...good for him, but that was too much for him.

Milsap...I saw your comments after my earlier post...I agree, the money seems to high for a 30something coming off a shoulder, but unless they were seriously in the running to get Aldridge they had to keep PM I think to build on last season....the combination of Splitter and Hardaway addresses two major needs...an athletic #2 with a jump shot & off the dribble game, a big that can rebound and score inside. They're missing the grit and DEF that Carroll brought, so coach Bud has to make that up somewhere else.

I'm hoping that Shroeder closes the gap on Teague, if so ATL might have the best PG tandem in the league. Better decision making, and finishing stronger at the basket will help complete his game.

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