tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8912756.post683606994010085341..comments2023-06-09T11:52:06.321-04:00Comments on Hoopinion: Trade Deadline Thoughts and Open ThreadBret LaGreehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12000566742639583055noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8912756.post-72896816181611766762010-02-19T10:18:17.576-05:002010-02-19T10:18:17.576-05:00Anyway, the main reason for this comment was - I&#...<i>Anyway, the main reason for this comment was - I'd actually like to know what evidence you have to believe that the fan base as a whole and the organization in general has given you to believe that they aren't going to be ok with a 2nd round appearance in the playoffs.</i><br /><br />I think there are two fan bases: the smaller one follows the team year-round, watches close to 82 games a year, and is transitioning from appreciating the new-found competence of the organization to wanting the organization to attempt to compete for a title. That fan base won't be satisfied with a second-round playoff exit. I believe you to be the most eloquent exemplar of this group.<br /><br />The larger, more general fan base, watches an occasional regular season game, most of the playoff games, and might even attend a playoff game. NBA basketball is a brief, entertaining diversion between football and baseball seasons. (Or, between the football season and the football pre-season.)<br /><br />I suspect that this highly risk-averse organization is content to make their profit off the latter group over a few weeks in the Spring rather than risk that profit to make a bold move that might not improve the team or its bottom line.<br /><br />As for Joe Johnson and the draft, I always got the impression that Billy Knight genuinely believed that once he got Joe Johnson he just needed to fill in around him and did not need to acquire a better player or an equally good player. He was wrong.<br /><br /><i>I haven't heard ANYTHING that makes me feel like we don't believe we're 4th in the Big 4 pecking order nor have our goals been anything other than make playoffs and win 50 games.</i><br /><br />Me either. Above Woodson and maybe Sund I don't think they even care about the 50 wins.Bret LaGreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12000566742639583055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8912756.post-69094366859969652342010-02-19T09:15:37.001-05:002010-02-19T09:15:37.001-05:00I think, as far as making a bold move to get past ...I think, as far as making a bold move to get past the second round of the playoffs, that a lot of the older-school fans (and remember, some of the owners are fans) remember the Steve Smith for JR Rider trade that the team made after it was decided that 50 wins & a second-round exit wasn't enough. That's what started the Hawks' slide into mediocrity/utter crapitude, and Hawks management may still be a little gunshy about making a big trade.<br /><br />What about Drew Gooden? He's a proven rebounder and scorer, and I think he'd be an improvement over Joe Smith.The Caseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03323030436625176444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8912756.post-36391996180597627112010-02-18T23:01:29.023-05:002010-02-18T23:01:29.023-05:00Two quick notes - 1. we see that Bret doesn't ...Two quick notes - 1. we see that Bret doesn't soak up the HS8T blog when I'm actually doing reporting (like interviewing Rick Sund) and 2. that he doesn't think what I think as it pertains to getting Joe Johnson. <br /><br />Most of our draft mistakes came AFTER Joe Johnson was signed - not before, so I would say that our biggest mistakes weren't around getting Joe Johnson - it was not giving him a talent (particularly a strong PG) to take away the entitlement he thinks he has as the franchise player. Take that away and Joe Johnson was a terrific pickup. Yes, it was expensive, but the alternative is one I'd rather not assume. I 100% think our mistakes in back to back drafts are why we are where we are today where we don't have assets to trade that are worth anything.<br /><br />Anyway, the main reason for this comment was - I'd actually like to know what evidence you have to believe that the fan base as a whole and the organization in general has given you to believe that they aren't going to be ok with a 2nd round appearance in the playoffs. Again, not saying we DESIRE a loss...i am saying we are NOT going to blow up anything, fire anyone, do anything other than stay the course b/c we don't believe this is the year for anything. I haven't heard ANYTHING that makes me feel like we don't believe we're 4th in the Big 4 pecking order nor have our goals been anything other than make playoffs and win 50 games.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16838862137960043254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8912756.post-52955690541764223882010-02-18T17:15:24.198-05:002010-02-18T17:15:24.198-05:00Xavier --
I think they did. A team that's not...Xavier --<br /><br />I think they did. A team that's not going to spend a lot of money in total can't afford to give a max contract to a guy who's a good player but not good enough to make an All-NBA team. <br /><br />I think the argument could be made that the Hawks are (likely) going to be a 50-win team as much because Billy Knight was right about Josh Smith or the team getting lucky in the 2007 draft lottery as by investing so much in Johnson.<br /><br />Factor in that it also cost two first round picks and Boris Diaw for the opportunity to pay Johnson such a large percentage of the team's payroll and you're a long way toward the current situation: not good enough to contend for a title and too few assets to package in a trade for a quality player or players.<br /><br />You're absolutely right that the latter half of that dilemma <i>is</i> deeply influenced by draft mistakes (though I believe the decision to take Shelden Williams instead of Brandon Roy was keenly influenced by the organization overrating Joe Johnson), free agency mistakes (both of commission and omission), player development disappointments, and the failure either to keep Childress or to turn his rights into something useful for the team.<br /><br />I don't think the Hawks would necessarily be worse off and their future could be less uncertain had the organization gone the Presti/Pritchard route and stockpiled all possible assets. And if they would be worse off that would clearly be down to the questionable cooperative competence of those in charge in the middle part of the decade.Bret LaGreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12000566742639583055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8912756.post-49740917124224649372010-02-18T16:14:45.227-05:002010-02-18T16:14:45.227-05:00Brett did the Hawks really overspend for JJ consi...Brett did the Hawks really overspend for JJ considering how bad they were? Bad teams have to normally overspend for free agents. I think the draft selections have hurt the Hawks more than the actual acquisition of JJ during the time he has been here.Xavierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05292355642716305495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8912756.post-6678873778229017012010-02-18T12:42:50.854-05:002010-02-18T12:42:50.854-05:00McGrady's played 46 minutes in the last 374 da...McGrady's played 46 minutes in the last 374 days. I have no idea if he has anything left nor am I sure that, if he does not have anything he left, he wouldn't take minutes away from the existing, superior options.<br /><br />He also might <i>want</i> to stay in New York and have the opportunity to play more minutes so as to attract more potential future employers.Bret LaGreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12000566742639583055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8912756.post-77812285714912969922010-02-18T12:37:13.400-05:002010-02-18T12:37:13.400-05:00McGrady- Should the Hawks go after Tracy if he get...McGrady- Should the Hawks go after Tracy if he gets bought out by Sactown? Wouldn't he want to play here instead of the knicks? I think there is a lot of upside and limited downside if we sign him for the minimum. . What do you think? We could use a swing man in case any of our guards or small forwards go down.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06493039860236957982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8912756.post-40920710594381162852010-02-18T12:26:20.984-05:002010-02-18T12:26:20.984-05:00Yeah, if they weren't willing to spend more th...Yeah, if they weren't willing to spend more than the vet minimum in the offseason on a free agent, I doubt they would be compelled to now. <br /><br />And I agree with Bret, if they can't be on the floor with Al/Smoove, why bother?Jason Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05622741233643856856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8912756.post-52612900343984172252010-02-18T12:22:22.842-05:002010-02-18T12:22:22.842-05:00The only move the Hawks could possibly make would ...The only move the Hawks could possibly make would be to sign a player that was bought out after trade, like perhaps Z. But even this is not likely.The Beardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09100561538933425390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8912756.post-3198705140633268562010-02-18T12:12:04.851-05:002010-02-18T12:12:04.851-05:00Rick Sund told Larry that they could not trade Chi...Rick Sund told Larry that they could not trade Childress' rights. <br /><br /><i>Final note, you can't move Josh Childress' rights at the trade deadline. Josh has to opt out of his deal in Greece before he can be moved. GM Sund did mention that he wishes the rule that prevents a team from trading a player's rights would be changed.</i>Jason Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05622741233643856856noreply@blogger.com