Okay, right off the bat: last summer's whirlwind of trades and signings may have felt like the way of things to come, but I'd say quite the opposite. The players that moved were generally so high profile, so expensive that it more or less calcified the labor market probably through next summer. I'd be pretty surprised if we see many moves at this year's trade deadline because the buyers and sellers just aren't in sync at the moment. The teams that want to dump salary don't want to take salary back and the teams that want to thicken their rotations don't have the cap space or trade assets to make moves. In short, no one's got much room to move this season.
But it seems to me there is a potential method that could emerge: teams with lots of cap space could take on long-term salary instead of waiting for the summer to dig into the free agent class, which doesn't look so strong this year. So with that in mind:
Hawks get
Andrew Wiggins (4yr/$121m), Gorgui Dieng (2yr/$33.5m), Wolves 2020 and 2021 2nd rd picks; Wolves get Chandler Parsons (1yr/$25.1m), Allen Crabbe (1yr/$18.5m)
This is a long-term vs. short-term deal. This gets the Wolves off two big contracts and allows them to start rebuilding around a core of Towns, Culver, Okogie and Covington (who I would hold on to even though he'll likely be one of the hottest rumors out there). Obviously getting off Wiggins would be divisive but it'd save them a ton of money and giving up on a playoff run (eh, is there really any value in being 8th in the West?) would push them up toward a top five pick (is Daniel Oturu (Minnesota) a good fit?). So how do they re-build this summer? Well, the free agency market looks pretty skimpy, but Mike Conley has an ETO in Utah (where he hasn't been a good fit), which feels like a great vet to pair with Town for a year or two and if they could lure Evan Fournier to decline his option in Orlando, then right away they'd have something seemingly more reliable than what they've had with Wiggins and Teague (whom I'd trade for anything resembling a 2020 1st rd pick). Make no mistake: for Minnesota this is purely a salary dump but it would dump an awful lot of salary!
The thing about the Hawks is that their cap for next year is so small that they kinda have to spend money. So even if you think Wiggins is a bust and 4 years at that price is a boondoggle, that don't matter to the Hawks, they just need to lay some money out there. And personally I think Wiggins is actually a pretty good fit for them: he's been through the media ringer already and though his production leaves a lot to be desired, he's gonna play a ton of minutes in the next four years and the Hawks needs minutes. Going forward he slides right into the Vince Carter slot. As for Dieng, he's another player that I find criminally underrated (I think Coach Thibodeau pretty much knee-capped his career) and that deal is not as bad as it looks--and, again, the Hawks got money to burn so who cares? Bring back Alex Len and that becomes the Hawks platoon at PF/C to back Collins and Fernando. As for the two 2nd rd picks, the Hawks need everything they can get and the Wolves get so much cap relief that it's worth it.
Obviously the Wolves don't do this is they truly love Wiggins (and I suspect they do) and even still it leaves them a lot of holes to plug in the off-season. But at least it gives them some money to make moves and clears out room for vets that like the look of Towns. As for the Hawks, they need everything and Wiggins, expensive as he is, will at least check SF off their list for the foreseeable future and adds reliable athleticism to an exciting but young team and I think Dieng (more of a baseline shooter type) meshes well with Collins and platoons nicely with Fernando. And it gets the Hawks up off the salary floor (oh yeah, they'd still have a shit ton of money to spend).
The idea here is for the Hawks to use their expiring contracts to get long-term depth and for the Wolves to get off their long-term commitments to get a new crew around Towns. I dunno, seems like it could work.
Showing posts with label hawks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hawks. Show all posts
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
2019-20 NBA Pre-season (Southeast Division)
Heat
Out:
Ryan Anderson, Hassan Whiteside, Josh Richardson, Yante Maten, Dwyane Wade, 2022 2nd rd pick, 2025 2nd rd pick, 2026 2nd rd pick, 2023 1st rd pick (top 14 protected)
Tough to lose that 1st rd pick but the rest are better off gone.
Re-signed:
Duncan Robinson (guaranteed final year of his contract; 1yr/$1m), Udonis Haslem (1yr/$2.6m), Derrick Jones Jr (team exercised option; 1yr), Kendrick Nunn (guaranteed final year; 1yr/$150k), Bam Adebayo (team exercised option; 2yr), coach Erik Spoelstra (multi-year extension)
Haslem is still around, huh? I've grown into the notion that sometimes coaches are more effective as players, that paying Haslem $5m to be a coach wouldn't be as effective as $2m to be a player, but I can't help thinking that whatever Haslem does it could be done outside of the salary cap. But I guess they must love him. I'm a big fan of Adebayo, think he's gonna have a big year. And Spoelstra is a great coach, more years is a great thing. The other dudes are reasonably priced.
In:
Jimmy Butler (4yr/$140m), Tyler Herro (4yr/$7.5m guaranteed), KZ Okpala (3yr/$4.2m), Chris Silva, Daryl Macon, Nuggets 2022 2nd rd pick
I think Butler is problematic but this looks to be the ideal spot for him, so hopefully he'll going back to just being a player; if so, the Heat could be really good this year. Herro looks like a stud, looks to fit nicely in that rotation. Okpala is a good value at that pick. Don't know Silva or Macon.
Over/Under (43.5): I'm going over (just barely)
I don't love this team but I think this division is kinda awful, so that alone should net the Heat a pile of W's, and they have a lot of trade options, so I think their flexibility will serve them well this season. If Butler keeps his head on, if Herro challenges for ROY, if Bam blows up, if Dragic has a killer walk year, then the Heat could really be great, even kinda dangerous in the playoffs. But that's a lot of ifs, so I think banking that they'll be good not great is much more reasonable.
Magic
Out:
Timofey Mozgov, Troy Caupain, Jerian Grant
Meh. Nothing to worry about on this side of the ledger.
Re-signed:
Nikola Vucevic (4yr/$100m), Terrence Ross (4yr/$54m), Khem Birch (2yr/$6m), Michaeal Carter-Williams (1yr), Jonathon Isaac (team exercised option; 2yr), Markelle Fultz (team exercised option; 2yr), Mo Bamba (team exercised option; 2yr)
Seems like a lot of money to spend on bringing back guys that got comfortably bounced in the first round last year, but there's a lot of talent here and if it's available to the Magic then they're probably wise to scoop it up (even if they gotta overpay). I kinda love Vucevic, he can be the anchor of a good team. Ross is a reliable veteran swingman. Birch is an underrated scorer down low. MCW can be useful off the bench. I've been skeptical of Isaac and Bamba but they'll play this year so we'll see what they can do. This season for the Magic is all about Fultz: if he can be anywhere close to what he was supposed to be then all of the sudden this looks like a really good team, with flexibility to make a deal.
In:
Al-Farouq Aminu (3yr/$29.2m)
Aminu's on-ball defense is among the best in the league, not a bad player to have around and very affordable, too.
2nd rd draftees, 2-way contracts, Exhibition
Josh Magette, Amile Jefferson
Not sure what depth these guys provide but they're there, so good for them.
Over/Under (41.5): I got them just under
If everything goes right for the Magic, they could be really good next year, they've got all the pieces to really surprise people. That said, it would be a surprise. So while I like them to finish 7th in the East, I don't foresee them going deep in the playoffs (but, again, a shock is on the table for them).
Hawks
Out:
Alex Poythress, Isaac Humphries, Justin Anderson, Taurean Prince, Miles Plumlee, Omari Spellman, Jaylen Adams, 2020 1st rd pick (top 10 protected), 2020 2nd rd pick, 2021 2nd rd pick, 2023 2nd rd pick
Prince and Spellman were nice young players but they were moved for better parts. The others are just others.
Re-signed:
Vince Carter (1yr/$2.6m), John Collins (team exercised option; 1yr), Trae Young (team exercised option; 1yr), Kevin Huerter (team exercised option; 1yr),
I'm cool with bringing back Vince for his farewell tour. As for Collins, Young, and Huerter, they're the future.
In:
Allen Crabbe, Bruno Fernando (3yr/$4.7m), Chandler Parsons, DeAndre Hunter (4yr/$14.5m guaranteed), Damian Jones, Jabari Parker (2y/$13m), Cam Reddish, Evan Turner, 2026 Warriors 2nd rd pick, 2020 Nets 1st rd pick (top 14 protected), Pelicans 2023 2nd rd pick (top 45 protected)
Hunter, Reddish and Fernando are three more rooks for the youth movement. Turner, Crabbe and Parsons will choke the salary cap but just for one year. Parker and Jones are solid vets that could look really good in this rotation.
2nd rd draftees, 2-way contracts, Exhibition
Brandon Goodwin, Charlie Brown
Don't know them (can neither confirm nor deny that Brown is in fact a clown).
Over/Under (33.5): I got them under
I'm a fan of youth movements so I'll be watching this squad. And while I think offensively they might take a real leap this season, I think defensively they're gonna suck pretty bad. This is try-out season for Denadre Bembry and Alex Len (and Jabari Parker, too, for that matter) and they'll get their chances. The future is looking good (and they have Brooklyn's top 15 protected pick coming, too) and next summer they'll have big money to spend (though next summer will not be nearly as exciting as this past summer was). One more year, Hawks fans, then you get start getting your hopes up.
Wizards
Out:
Trevor Ariza, Sam Dekker, Jeff Green, Jabari Parker, Tarik Phillip, Bobby Portis, Chasson Randle, Devin Robinson, Tomas Satoransky, Dwight Howard
That's a lot of names that feel like ought to have contributed more. Ariza was not a good fit for them, I still believe in Dekker (though clearly no one else does), Green is nice but not enough for the Wizards, Parker just didn't have it, Portis wasn't the right fit, Satorasnky is a tough loss for them, Howard was never gonna get it done in Washington. Lot of interesting names but the Wizards are better off without all of them (except maybe Satoransky).
Re-signed:
Thomas Bryant (3yr/$25m), Mo Wagner (team exercised option; 2yr), Troy Brown Jr (team exercised option; 2yr), Bradley Beal (extension; 3yr/$100m)
Signing Beal is a great move (and doesn't make him any less trade-able, by the way), they need him and Wall to make it happen--it's they're only hope. As for the others, well, I dunno, sure why not?
In:
CJ Miles, Davis Bertans, Isaac Bonga, Morittz Wagner, Ish Smith (2yr/$12m), Isaiah Thomas (1yr/$2.3m), Admiral Scofield (3yr/$4.2m), Justin Robinson (3yr/$4.2m), Chris Chiozza, Anzejs Pasecniks, 2022 Lakers 2nd rd pick
Thomas might be fun (or he might done), otherwise I'm not feeling much for these pick-ups. I think this team is brutally bad and no matter what they do, they will probably be pretty awful.
Over/Under (26.5): I got 'em way under
Yeah, this team is not good, not going to be good any time soon. Wall getting healthy and/or a big Beal trade bringing back a crazy haul is all they got to hope for.
Hornets
Out:
Frank Kaminsky, JP Macura, Jeremy Lamb, Kemba Walker, Shelvin Mack, Tony Parker, 2020 2nd rd pick
Yeah, losing all these guys should kill them, right? (Oh, wait, they weren't any good when they had all these guys)
Re-signed:
Willy Hernangomez (team guaranteed final year), Dwayne Bacon (team guaranteed final year)
I'm in on both of these guys, rooting for them to each have a good season.
Newly signed:
PJ Washington (2yr/$7.9m), Terry Rozier (3yr/$57m)
I can totally see PJ being the alpha dog of this team right away, he's big and tough and pretty good at everything on the court, this is a terrible situation for him to start his career but this team should offer him plenty of opportunity. Rozier...$57m...whooch....really? I'm not seeing it. Not seeing this guy as the playmaker that gets it done.
2nd rd draftees, 2-way contracts, Exhibition
Robert Franks, Caleb Martin, Cody Martin (3yr/$4.5m), Jalen McDaniels, Joe Chealey, Kobi Simmons
Curious to see if those Martin twins can get it going in the NBA.
Over/Under (23.5): aw, hell no! No way this team gets to 23 wins!
Yeah, this is not a good squad at all. And they're in with the Wizards and I still don't think they'll get any W's! Keep your eye on PJ Washington, Mikal Bridges and the Martin twins and just pass the time til the $45m worth of Williams, Biyombo and MKG finally become spendable again.
Out:
Ryan Anderson, Hassan Whiteside, Josh Richardson, Yante Maten, Dwyane Wade, 2022 2nd rd pick, 2025 2nd rd pick, 2026 2nd rd pick, 2023 1st rd pick (top 14 protected)
Tough to lose that 1st rd pick but the rest are better off gone.
Re-signed:
Duncan Robinson (guaranteed final year of his contract; 1yr/$1m), Udonis Haslem (1yr/$2.6m), Derrick Jones Jr (team exercised option; 1yr), Kendrick Nunn (guaranteed final year; 1yr/$150k), Bam Adebayo (team exercised option; 2yr), coach Erik Spoelstra (multi-year extension)
Haslem is still around, huh? I've grown into the notion that sometimes coaches are more effective as players, that paying Haslem $5m to be a coach wouldn't be as effective as $2m to be a player, but I can't help thinking that whatever Haslem does it could be done outside of the salary cap. But I guess they must love him. I'm a big fan of Adebayo, think he's gonna have a big year. And Spoelstra is a great coach, more years is a great thing. The other dudes are reasonably priced.
In:
Jimmy Butler (4yr/$140m), Tyler Herro (4yr/$7.5m guaranteed), KZ Okpala (3yr/$4.2m), Chris Silva, Daryl Macon, Nuggets 2022 2nd rd pick
I think Butler is problematic but this looks to be the ideal spot for him, so hopefully he'll going back to just being a player; if so, the Heat could be really good this year. Herro looks like a stud, looks to fit nicely in that rotation. Okpala is a good value at that pick. Don't know Silva or Macon.
Over/Under (43.5): I'm going over (just barely)
I don't love this team but I think this division is kinda awful, so that alone should net the Heat a pile of W's, and they have a lot of trade options, so I think their flexibility will serve them well this season. If Butler keeps his head on, if Herro challenges for ROY, if Bam blows up, if Dragic has a killer walk year, then the Heat could really be great, even kinda dangerous in the playoffs. But that's a lot of ifs, so I think banking that they'll be good not great is much more reasonable.
Magic
Out:
Timofey Mozgov, Troy Caupain, Jerian Grant
Meh. Nothing to worry about on this side of the ledger.
Re-signed:
Nikola Vucevic (4yr/$100m), Terrence Ross (4yr/$54m), Khem Birch (2yr/$6m), Michaeal Carter-Williams (1yr), Jonathon Isaac (team exercised option; 2yr), Markelle Fultz (team exercised option; 2yr), Mo Bamba (team exercised option; 2yr)
Seems like a lot of money to spend on bringing back guys that got comfortably bounced in the first round last year, but there's a lot of talent here and if it's available to the Magic then they're probably wise to scoop it up (even if they gotta overpay). I kinda love Vucevic, he can be the anchor of a good team. Ross is a reliable veteran swingman. Birch is an underrated scorer down low. MCW can be useful off the bench. I've been skeptical of Isaac and Bamba but they'll play this year so we'll see what they can do. This season for the Magic is all about Fultz: if he can be anywhere close to what he was supposed to be then all of the sudden this looks like a really good team, with flexibility to make a deal.
In:
Al-Farouq Aminu (3yr/$29.2m)
Aminu's on-ball defense is among the best in the league, not a bad player to have around and very affordable, too.
2nd rd draftees, 2-way contracts, Exhibition
Josh Magette, Amile Jefferson
Not sure what depth these guys provide but they're there, so good for them.
Over/Under (41.5): I got them just under
If everything goes right for the Magic, they could be really good next year, they've got all the pieces to really surprise people. That said, it would be a surprise. So while I like them to finish 7th in the East, I don't foresee them going deep in the playoffs (but, again, a shock is on the table for them).
Hawks
Out:
Alex Poythress, Isaac Humphries, Justin Anderson, Taurean Prince, Miles Plumlee, Omari Spellman, Jaylen Adams, 2020 1st rd pick (top 10 protected), 2020 2nd rd pick, 2021 2nd rd pick, 2023 2nd rd pick
Prince and Spellman were nice young players but they were moved for better parts. The others are just others.
Re-signed:
Vince Carter (1yr/$2.6m), John Collins (team exercised option; 1yr), Trae Young (team exercised option; 1yr), Kevin Huerter (team exercised option; 1yr),
I'm cool with bringing back Vince for his farewell tour. As for Collins, Young, and Huerter, they're the future.
In:
Allen Crabbe, Bruno Fernando (3yr/$4.7m), Chandler Parsons, DeAndre Hunter (4yr/$14.5m guaranteed), Damian Jones, Jabari Parker (2y/$13m), Cam Reddish, Evan Turner, 2026 Warriors 2nd rd pick, 2020 Nets 1st rd pick (top 14 protected), Pelicans 2023 2nd rd pick (top 45 protected)
Hunter, Reddish and Fernando are three more rooks for the youth movement. Turner, Crabbe and Parsons will choke the salary cap but just for one year. Parker and Jones are solid vets that could look really good in this rotation.
2nd rd draftees, 2-way contracts, Exhibition
Brandon Goodwin, Charlie Brown
Don't know them (can neither confirm nor deny that Brown is in fact a clown).
Over/Under (33.5): I got them under
I'm a fan of youth movements so I'll be watching this squad. And while I think offensively they might take a real leap this season, I think defensively they're gonna suck pretty bad. This is try-out season for Denadre Bembry and Alex Len (and Jabari Parker, too, for that matter) and they'll get their chances. The future is looking good (and they have Brooklyn's top 15 protected pick coming, too) and next summer they'll have big money to spend (though next summer will not be nearly as exciting as this past summer was). One more year, Hawks fans, then you get start getting your hopes up.
Wizards
Out:
Trevor Ariza, Sam Dekker, Jeff Green, Jabari Parker, Tarik Phillip, Bobby Portis, Chasson Randle, Devin Robinson, Tomas Satoransky, Dwight Howard
That's a lot of names that feel like ought to have contributed more. Ariza was not a good fit for them, I still believe in Dekker (though clearly no one else does), Green is nice but not enough for the Wizards, Parker just didn't have it, Portis wasn't the right fit, Satorasnky is a tough loss for them, Howard was never gonna get it done in Washington. Lot of interesting names but the Wizards are better off without all of them (except maybe Satoransky).
Re-signed:
Thomas Bryant (3yr/$25m), Mo Wagner (team exercised option; 2yr), Troy Brown Jr (team exercised option; 2yr), Bradley Beal (extension; 3yr/$100m)
Signing Beal is a great move (and doesn't make him any less trade-able, by the way), they need him and Wall to make it happen--it's they're only hope. As for the others, well, I dunno, sure why not?
In:
CJ Miles, Davis Bertans, Isaac Bonga, Morittz Wagner, Ish Smith (2yr/$12m), Isaiah Thomas (1yr/$2.3m), Admiral Scofield (3yr/$4.2m), Justin Robinson (3yr/$4.2m), Chris Chiozza, Anzejs Pasecniks, 2022 Lakers 2nd rd pick
Thomas might be fun (or he might done), otherwise I'm not feeling much for these pick-ups. I think this team is brutally bad and no matter what they do, they will probably be pretty awful.
Over/Under (26.5): I got 'em way under
Yeah, this team is not good, not going to be good any time soon. Wall getting healthy and/or a big Beal trade bringing back a crazy haul is all they got to hope for.
Hornets
Out:
Frank Kaminsky, JP Macura, Jeremy Lamb, Kemba Walker, Shelvin Mack, Tony Parker, 2020 2nd rd pick
Yeah, losing all these guys should kill them, right? (Oh, wait, they weren't any good when they had all these guys)
Re-signed:
Willy Hernangomez (team guaranteed final year), Dwayne Bacon (team guaranteed final year)
I'm in on both of these guys, rooting for them to each have a good season.
Newly signed:
PJ Washington (2yr/$7.9m), Terry Rozier (3yr/$57m)
I can totally see PJ being the alpha dog of this team right away, he's big and tough and pretty good at everything on the court, this is a terrible situation for him to start his career but this team should offer him plenty of opportunity. Rozier...$57m...whooch....really? I'm not seeing it. Not seeing this guy as the playmaker that gets it done.
2nd rd draftees, 2-way contracts, Exhibition
Robert Franks, Caleb Martin, Cody Martin (3yr/$4.5m), Jalen McDaniels, Joe Chealey, Kobi Simmons
Curious to see if those Martin twins can get it going in the NBA.
Over/Under (23.5): aw, hell no! No way this team gets to 23 wins!
Yeah, this is not a good squad at all. And they're in with the Wizards and I still don't think they'll get any W's! Keep your eye on PJ Washington, Mikal Bridges and the Martin twins and just pass the time til the $45m worth of Williams, Biyombo and MKG finally become spendable again.
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
2019-20 Atlanta Hawks
2018-19: 29-53
Draft picks: 8,10,17,35,41,42
Signed for next season ($56.9m): Kent Bazemore (player option), Allen Crabbe, Miles Plumlee, Trae Young, Alex Len, John Collins, Kevin Huerter, Deandre Bembry, Omari Spellman, Jaylen Adams
Bringing back last year's team that overachieved looks like the right move and throwing two extra top ten picks just makes it all the more intriguing.
But they went ahead and moved Waller-Prince for Crabbe, taking on a lot of salary and picking up the #17 pick in the bargain (and a protected 2020 1st rd pick, too). Crabbe and Bazemore become their best two trade chips, I wouldn't be surprised if Bazemore moved this summer and then for Crabbe to be available at the trade deadline (although two 1st rounders to get rid of him suggests he's not ready to play?). And if anyone wanted Plumlee, I reckon he can be had.
That said, I liked the Hawks last year and I think they can get going quicker next year and actually compete for a playoff spot--or be in line for an upgrade at the deadline rather than a salary dump.
This summer's free agents: Dewayne Dedmon, Justin Anderson, Vince Carter, Isaac Humphries, Deyonte Davis
I can see the Hawks bringing back Dedmon but I don't see any reason for the Hawks to focus on bringing back any of the others. I'd rather take a run at a guy like Jared Dudley: lovable, hard-working vet to keep the youngsters facing forward.
Draft: First off, 8,10 and 17 feels like a trade chip. If they actually exercised those picks they could end up with, say, Jarrett Culver (Texas Tech), Rui Hachimura (Gonzaga) and Keldon Johnson (Kentucky), which would be a nice haul to go with Trae Young. Perhaps PJ Washington (Kentucky) and Bruno Fernando (Maryland) would be more to their liking just to add some toughness. But, really, I expect a trade for at least two of those picks, so who they got their eye on? (Does any of that get them Gary Harris from Denver?)
Pointless trade idea: Wolves get #17, Miles Plumlee; Hawks get #10, Gorgui Dieng
Wolves get rid of the 2yrs/$34m they owe Dieng for 1yr/$12m for Plumlee, who probably fits what they want to do better anyway. Giving away #11 to get back #17 isn't a huge move, they could still get a shot at Bol Bol (Oregon) for example.
The Hawks get an underappreciated big man who I think fits better with Trae Young than Plumlee does and get to slide up the draft board, too. Take back some salary, get another draft pick, cha ching! (I know, I know: this doesn't look like a great deal for the Hawks, but I'm telling ya: Gorgui can shoot and pairing him with Trae works better then Plumlee)
Next year's lineup:
PG Young, SG Huerter, SF Bazemore, PF Bembry, C Collins with #8, #10, #17, Adams, Crabbe, Spellman, and Len off the bench.
This team was better than they were supposed to be last year suggesting that Trae Young is a for real cornerstone to build around and that Collins, Bembry and Huerter are nice pieces, too. Next season was meant to be another rebuilding year with another batch of rookies to throw in the mix. But because the current lineup is ahead of schedule, the desire is to go ahead and make moves--and they do have a ton of money to spend. Do they swap some combination of #8 and #10 and #17 for a proven player? Does that get them Blake Griffin from the Pistons? Personally, I prefer youth movements and I'd take the picks, go minimal in free agency, let these youngsters figure it out and then go hard for stars next summer (especially since there isn't any particular star that seems to match what they currently need).
But I will make a--potentially godawful--free agent suggestion: go get both of the Morris twins. I'll bet if you take them both as a package you can get them for 4yr/$40m each. It could be that putting these two together is too bizarre to work and it destroys everything and crashes your youth movement and makes everyone hate basketball in Atlanta or it could be that they're so insular that no one even notices them outside of the games. And another--potentially godawful--suggestion: Jimmy Butler. He's either the perfect addition for this scrappy batch of youngsters or he sucks up all the oxygen and destroys the locker room. Are the Hawks ready to roll the dice on that combustible next step or do they sit tight for one more year of youth as they originally planned?
If I'm the Hawks I think I might be willing to overpay for a guy like Danny Green: hard-working vet, just won a championship, endured hard times, had an unorthodox entry into the league, he's another vet that give the youngsters a whole new way of seeing the league, might be really good for that locker room.
Draft picks: 8,10,17,35,41,42
Signed for next season ($56.9m): Kent Bazemore (player option), Allen Crabbe, Miles Plumlee, Trae Young, Alex Len, John Collins, Kevin Huerter, Deandre Bembry, Omari Spellman, Jaylen Adams
Bringing back last year's team that overachieved looks like the right move and throwing two extra top ten picks just makes it all the more intriguing.
But they went ahead and moved Waller-Prince for Crabbe, taking on a lot of salary and picking up the #17 pick in the bargain (and a protected 2020 1st rd pick, too). Crabbe and Bazemore become their best two trade chips, I wouldn't be surprised if Bazemore moved this summer and then for Crabbe to be available at the trade deadline (although two 1st rounders to get rid of him suggests he's not ready to play?). And if anyone wanted Plumlee, I reckon he can be had.
That said, I liked the Hawks last year and I think they can get going quicker next year and actually compete for a playoff spot--or be in line for an upgrade at the deadline rather than a salary dump.
This summer's free agents: Dewayne Dedmon, Justin Anderson, Vince Carter, Isaac Humphries, Deyonte Davis
I can see the Hawks bringing back Dedmon but I don't see any reason for the Hawks to focus on bringing back any of the others. I'd rather take a run at a guy like Jared Dudley: lovable, hard-working vet to keep the youngsters facing forward.
Draft: First off, 8,10 and 17 feels like a trade chip. If they actually exercised those picks they could end up with, say, Jarrett Culver (Texas Tech), Rui Hachimura (Gonzaga) and Keldon Johnson (Kentucky), which would be a nice haul to go with Trae Young. Perhaps PJ Washington (Kentucky) and Bruno Fernando (Maryland) would be more to their liking just to add some toughness. But, really, I expect a trade for at least two of those picks, so who they got their eye on? (Does any of that get them Gary Harris from Denver?)
Pointless trade idea: Wolves get #17, Miles Plumlee; Hawks get #10, Gorgui Dieng
Wolves get rid of the 2yrs/$34m they owe Dieng for 1yr/$12m for Plumlee, who probably fits what they want to do better anyway. Giving away #11 to get back #17 isn't a huge move, they could still get a shot at Bol Bol (Oregon) for example.
The Hawks get an underappreciated big man who I think fits better with Trae Young than Plumlee does and get to slide up the draft board, too. Take back some salary, get another draft pick, cha ching! (I know, I know: this doesn't look like a great deal for the Hawks, but I'm telling ya: Gorgui can shoot and pairing him with Trae works better then Plumlee)
Next year's lineup:
PG Young, SG Huerter, SF Bazemore, PF Bembry, C Collins with #8, #10, #17, Adams, Crabbe, Spellman, and Len off the bench.
This team was better than they were supposed to be last year suggesting that Trae Young is a for real cornerstone to build around and that Collins, Bembry and Huerter are nice pieces, too. Next season was meant to be another rebuilding year with another batch of rookies to throw in the mix. But because the current lineup is ahead of schedule, the desire is to go ahead and make moves--and they do have a ton of money to spend. Do they swap some combination of #8 and #10 and #17 for a proven player? Does that get them Blake Griffin from the Pistons? Personally, I prefer youth movements and I'd take the picks, go minimal in free agency, let these youngsters figure it out and then go hard for stars next summer (especially since there isn't any particular star that seems to match what they currently need).
But I will make a--potentially godawful--free agent suggestion: go get both of the Morris twins. I'll bet if you take them both as a package you can get them for 4yr/$40m each. It could be that putting these two together is too bizarre to work and it destroys everything and crashes your youth movement and makes everyone hate basketball in Atlanta or it could be that they're so insular that no one even notices them outside of the games. And another--potentially godawful--suggestion: Jimmy Butler. He's either the perfect addition for this scrappy batch of youngsters or he sucks up all the oxygen and destroys the locker room. Are the Hawks ready to roll the dice on that combustible next step or do they sit tight for one more year of youth as they originally planned?
If I'm the Hawks I think I might be willing to overpay for a guy like Danny Green: hard-working vet, just won a championship, endured hard times, had an unorthodox entry into the league, he's another vet that give the youngsters a whole new way of seeing the league, might be really good for that locker room.
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