Atlanta Hawks
One Fell Swoop
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
In a blockbuster move that stole headlines all across the United States of America, the Atlanta Hawks traded for Oklahoma City superstar and future NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony.
Okay, that might have been disingenuous way to start this article but I just couldn’t resist.
Plus, it’s technically true. Melo was sent to the Hawks from the Thunder. It’s just there’s a caveat that Melo won’t be donning an Atlanta jersey anytime soon. Or ever, probably. Let’s back up a little bit, shall we?
It was pretty much the exact moment after the sound of the buzzer that ended the Finals faded away that the rumor mill started cooking up the notion that Dennis Schröder was not long for Atlanta.
Schröder himself stoked the flame by removing all mention of the Hawks from his social media (granted that has never meant anything relevant, but it was noteworthy at the time). Turns out, those prognosticators were right and Schröder has left Phillips Arena, never to return again. Except as a visitor from the Midwest, of course.
The visiting team will have to be the Oklahoma City Thunder, where Schröder was shipped off to in exchange for Melo, one of the biggest NBA stars of the century, as well as a 2022 first round pick.
The Philadelphia 76ers contributed to the swap as well, sending Justin Anderson to Atlanta and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot to Oklahoma City and receiving Mike Muscala, also from Atlanta.
To be fair, while this was a headline-grabbing trade due in large part to Anthony’s involvement, it doesn’t exactly come as a surprise for those paying attention. It seemed inevitable that the Hawks would make a move like this one.
And it’s a doozy. In a good way. They acquired some breathing room in their salary cap going forward and in turn gave themselves plenty of routes to play with their roster.
For the more immediate future, Muscala and Schröder will be missing from the roster, and that is not a benefit. They managed to keep the Hawks afloat last season, or as much as the Hawks could be kept afloat, anyway.
They have been Atlanta staples for the past several years and with good reason. They were consistent in their performances on the court, in the regular season and in bright spots during the playoffs.
But despite the hurt that their being traded will reign down on the team’s quality, let’s not forget that this is a rebuild and eggs must be broken before omelets can be made.
This was a trade for the future and that draft pick is half the battle. The other half is Justin Anderson. Anderson is a young player with potential that Philadelphia failed to unlock.
This was also a trade for financial flexibility so that the team can maneuver as needed in the months to come, having less than half of the $109 million they can spend committed for the 2018-2019 season.
That’s three goals: draft pick, young talent, cap space, accomplished in one fell swoop.
There’s no way to argue that this is a trade that made the Hawks better for the upcoming campaign, it did not. It made them worse.
But that’s okay, because they weren’t very good to begin with and this trade, while immediately detrimental to the team’s win-loss prospects, sets Atlanta up for the future in a big and bright way. It’s the kind of trade that needed to be made, and Atlanta pulled the trigger at seemingly the right time.
Oh, and Carmelo Anthony was immediately waived. Had to get that salary cap space. Sorry.
Who’s Next?
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The NBA season is almost over and we already know the draft order for the upcoming 2018 draft.
One of the weaker divisions is the Southeast. Three of the teams (Atlanta, Orlando & Charlotte) are picking in the top eleven. Another southern team (Memphis) is in the Western Conference and they have a top five pick. Let’s take a look at the biggest needs for each of these teams.
Atlanta (24-58) had the worst record in the East so they can improve in several areas. The Hawks actually have three first round picks (No. 3, 19, 30) so they have a chance to vastly improve the talent on their roster. In the NBA you need a superstar player to win and sell tickets.
A big man would be the biggest need, either a power forward or center. The top option if available is Marvin Bagley III from Duke. He’s a 6’10 center/power forward that averaged 21 points per game, 11.1 rebounds per game and made 61.4% of his shot attempts. He is a great rebounder so he will get easy shots. He can help the team win now and give them a marquee franchise player for the first time since Dominique Wilkins.
I expect Atlanta to select a guard with the 19th pick. By that time all of the big names will be off the board. I believe someone like Anfernee Simons will still be available. He was the No. 7 player in the class of 2018. The 6’4 guard from Orlando played at IMG Academy this past season.
He will be able to go straight to the NBA through a loophole. He graduated from Edgewater High in his hometown and spent a post-grad year at IMG Academy. He has talent but he has not faced college competition, so he is a mystery.
I think Atlanta will trade the 30th pick so I’m not sure who they would select.
Memphis (22-60) had the second worst record in the league. They also are forced to play in the tough Western Conference even though geographically they don’t belong. Michigan State center Jaren Jackson Jr. might be a good fit. At 6’11 and 235 pounds, he needs to put on weight in the NBA.
He averaged 10.9 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 3 blocks per game. He is able to step outside as well as protect the rim. He is probably a couple years away from making a consistent contribution. If he can mature physically and mentally, he can become a perennial All-Star.
Orlando (25-57) was the second worst team in the East. The Magic have had some amazing players in their fairly short history like Shaq, Penny Hardaway, Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis. Hopefully, they can get another transcendent star with this pick. Duke center Wendell Carter would be the ideal selection.
Wendell was overshadowed by Bagley at Duke but he was not far behind him in terms of production. He averaged 13.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG and 2.1 BPG. He’s 6’10 and 250 lbs. so he has a frame ready for the NBA. I think he can become an elite player that the Magic can build around in the future.
Michael Jordan’s team (36-46) just finished another subpar season. The Hornets franchise has not had much success after they were resurrected as the Bobcats. Alabama guard Collin Sexton would be a great pick. He will be Kemba Walker’s successor at point guard.
Walker was explosive last year, averaging 19.2 PPG and 3.6 APG. He may only be 6’1 but he should be able to score at will at the next level.
Hawks Rebuilding Nest
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Only a few seasons removed from having the best record in the NBA and only one season after a go-for-broke acquiring of superstar Dwight Howard, the Hawks have begun the process of breaking it all
down and rebuilding.
Generally any team in the midst of a rebuild can be counted on to be out of contention come playoff time and while that is likely to be the case for Atlanta, playing in a weak conference (and in a league where so many teams get into the postseason) means that those hopes aren’t completely dashed.
Back To Ground Level
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
By now it is obvious to anyone paying attention that the Atlanta Hawks are in rebuild mode, despite newly appointed GM Travis Schlenk‘s comments about staying competitive.
Dwight Howard Trade Perfect For Charlotte Hornets
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Normally there are only a few times where you pay an athlete in excess of $20 million when he or she is on the downside of their prime, playing for their fourth team in five years, at a position that has almost become obsolete.
Either they are the local hero ending their career in front of the hometown fans; they are the last piece to what could become a championship team; or the player has photos of the team’s General Manager in compromising situations and is blackmailing their way into a lucrative contract.
Since none of those things seem to apply to Dwight Howard being traded to the Hornets (Rich Cho does happen to live a fairly private life though), it’s a little odd that I like this trade as much as I do.
Hawks Future Flight
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There’s nothing groundbreaking in talking about how important decisions being made during a team’s offseason will have far reaching implications on their future.
That said, it seems like whomever the Hawks decide to bring in as their General Manager this summer looms even larger than usual.
Super Schroder
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Atlanta Hawks made the playoffs yet again, but yet again they couldn’t push their way into the Finals.
This year the killing blow came in just the first round, a step back for a team that just two years ago seemed to be changing the way great teams were put together.
However, there was a bright spot for Atlanta during their losing series against Washington, the emergence of a certain young German point guard.
The Game April 15
Hawks and Wizards Preview
By: Drayton Hogarth
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The NBA playoffs are here and the Atlanta Hawks have another opportunity to bring home an NBA title.
Yea, there is also an opportunity to win the lottery but like the Hawks winning an NBA title, the odds aren’t in your favor.
Hawks To Make Big Move?
By: Drayton Hogarth
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Atlanta Hawks have been battling through an up and down season all year. The team started out hot, and it appeared as though the offseason signing of Dwight Howard would pay immediate dividends.
However, the team hit a rough patch to counter that great beginning and fell back into the cycle of being good enough to make the playoffs, but never good enough to take the step to achieve elite status.
The Hawks are hoping to make their tenth consecutive playoff appearance, which is second only to the San Antonio Spurs. The question is what good is that if you are never the last team standing?
Hawks head coach and team president Mike Budenholzer recently made it known that four time all-star Paul Millsap “will not be going anywhere” at the trade deadline. My question is why not?
This Hawks roster, as currently assembled, has likely peaked in the middle of the NBA’s Eastern Conference. The third seed is likely as high as they will attain, which would allow them to max out in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Hawks shouldn’t be afraid of any other team in the east, not named Cleveland. However, what good does that do? It prevents you from winning the NBA championship, while also keeping you out of the lottery with the chance to bring in a franchise type of player in the draft.
While dozens of NBA players make Atlanta their offseason home, the franchise has either been reluctant or unable to lure the major stars of the league to sign with the hometown Hawks; that is until Atlanta brought Dwight Howard home.
Paul Millsap is a tremendous player. Millsap seems to be a great teammate, but he is also the Hawk’s best bargaining chip. While I realize Coach Budenholzer said that Millsap “isn’t going anywhere,” I believe that is more of a negotiation tactic.
It is now known that if a team wants to bring Millsap in to be their missing piece for a championship run, that team had better bring their best offer, or Atlanta won’t even entertain the notion.
Hopefully, the Hawks learned their lesson last season, allowing Al Horford to walk and not get anything in return. If Atlanta allows their best player to walk away two seasons in a row, it could lead to that rebuild mode much faster than anyone anticipated.
Here’s the thing, Atlanta will never get out of the Eastern Conference without making a huge move. There are two potential trades that work monetarily that would provide Atlanta with a legitimate bonafide NBA star.
The first would be for Phil Jackson’s punching bag, Carmelo Anthony. Anthony is the same age as Millsap and is under contract for three more seasons. Carmelo also has a no trade clause that would have to be worked out before a deal could be reached.
On the court, Carmelo is a high volume shooter, and the wonder is would he fit in Coach Bud’s offense where sharing the ball is its biggest strength. The other move would be to send Millsap to the LA Clippers for Blake Griffin.
Griffin would likely be the better fit at power forward. Griffin has good range on his shot and would bring athleticism not seen from a Hawk since Dominique Wilkins. Griffin is oft injured, and is a free agent this offseason, but the Hawks would retain right to pay him the most money in free agency. It would fill a lot of needs in Atlanta.
While there is enormous risk moving a player as stable as Paul Millsap, the possibility of taking that next step is too enticing to just sit back and mire in mediocrity.
It is time for the Atlanta franchises to follow the Falcons lead and quit playing the role of small market team. Atlanta is as desirable a place as any to live, and if a franchise will take a risk to win a championship, the fans will reward them monetarily. In the words of Dale Carnegie, “Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.”
