They surprised everyone by pushing the number one seed to seven games, but this is still a team that finished with a losing record and underachieved maybe as much as any team in the Eastern Conference so where does Atlanta go from here?
Atlanta doesn't have their first or second round draft picks thanks to the Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby trades. The major decisions that need to be made are 1.) both Woodson and Knight's contracts run up next month and 2.) Smith and Childress are free agents.
Do you re-sign both Childress and Smith at whatever costs it takes, or do you try to work out a S&T if the asking price is too high. Also, do you try to trade Mike Bibby? He is entering the final year of his contract. Atlanta still needs a Center. Al Horford did a nice job playing out of position, but there is still a huge need for a starting quality big man. Marvin might want a contract extension, what would you do with him?
PG: Mike Bibby / Acie Law / Speedy Claxton
SG: Joe Johnson / Salim Stoudamire / Mario West
SF: Marvin Williams / Josh Childress
PF: Josh Smith / Solomon Jones
C: Al Horford / Zaza Pachulia
I think you try to sign Childress/Marvin Williams to moderate contracts at around 6 mil a year. If either one refuses then try to sign and trade (trade for Marvin) whoever that wants more money and get some veteran help.
I think with Childress you might just have to let him walk. Josh Smith will likely demand close to 10 mil a year which will put the Hawks slightly over the cap. So basically whatever you pay Childress you will end up paying the same salary tax and I doubt the Hawks want that.
I would like us to add more depth to our bench, while resigning both Childress and Josh Smith.
Then I would try to work some trade like this (involving Toronto and GS):
Atlanta trade Marvin Williams and a resigned Salim Stoudamire to Toronto and Solomon Jones to GS;
GS trade Brandan Wright and resigned Pietrus and O'Bryant to Atlanta;
Toronto send Andrea Bargnani and Joey Graham to GS;
I think that these players can do pretty well here. They would be adding a lot of versatility to our roster. Who knows, maybe even O'Bryant could turn himself into a good NBA big man...
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I would like us to add more depth to our bench, while resigning both Childress and Josh Smith.
Then I would try to work some trade like this (involving Toronto and GS):
Atlanta trade Marvin Williams and a resigned Salim Stoudamire to Toronto and Solomon Jones to GS;
GS trade Brandan Wright and resigned Pietrus and O'Bryant to Atlanta;
Toronto send Andrea Bargnani and Joey Graham to GS;
I think that these players can do pretty well here. They would be adding a lot of versatility to our roster. Who knows, maybe even O'Bryant could turn himself into a good NBA big man...
Pietrus is an unrestricted free agent, I'm not sure that Golden State has Bird Rights to him. I know they don't with O'Bryant because they renounced him. In other words, Atlanta can sign POB outright. Pietrus, too.
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honestly...go for jermaine o'neal.
with o'neal, horford, and smith uptop that makes a strong defensive presence. if bibby can stay solid throughout a full year, him and joe johnson give you a underrated but extremely talented backcourt.
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Blowing it up seems a little extreem. They took a one of the teams thats playing on Thursday to 7 games. They just need to move one of the many tweeners on their roster for a legit big and some outside shooting. Future here looks brighter than many places IMO.
honestly...go for jermaine o'neal.
with o'neal, horford, and smith uptop that makes a strong defensive presence. if bibby can stay solid throughout a full year, him and joe johnson give you a underrated but extremely talented backcourt.
That's a pretty good idea. That would be one crazy frontcourt.
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Horford still hasn't come close to his ceiling, so who's to say how far this team can go? Josh Smith and Marvin also still have room to improve.
I feel like this year is just the beginning, they're a young team. And not young in the sense that they're all in their primes, beyond Joe none of them have even reached their prime level of production.
The one thing they need is a defensive minded center. I'd try and trade Childress or Marvin for one. Marcus Camby maybe?
why trade for camby though? camby's old and this is a young team. i think a better trade would be to trade one of childress or marvin williams for a guy like hilton armstrong+second rounder or something. hilton armstrong should have a lower market value but i think he's going to be one of the better defensive bigman if a team gives him some playing time.
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