At what point do the Hawks tank it?

[Gaddabout]

If I'm the Hawks GM, I'd feel better about my chances landing in the top 3 of a great draft than competing this year and losing the pick. Atlanta currently has the fourth worst record, half a game ahead of Charlotte, who are capable of reeling off a few victories in the second half of the season. And with the trade deadline approaching, I'd feel I'd need to move soon to make a credible trade and have plausible deniability.

Talk about a poorly run organization. Diaw was the best player they've drafted in years, but they didn't know it. Childress is so-so, and Sheldon Williams hasn't looked like he should start for anyone any time soon. He may end up being a career backup or a journeyman. If I were Billy Knight, I'd probably look to move Childress and try and find someone that could compliment Josh Smith in the draft.

But I'm not Knight, and I'm a bit baffled why the Hawks don't seem to have anything cooking. If they let this opportunity slip through their hands and hand over their pick to Phoenix without improving their odds in the lottery, Stern should remove the entire ownership and management team for sheer stupidity.

 

[Skumbag]

shhhhhhhh!

 

[F-Dog]

I don't see it happening.


Mike Woodson and Billy Knight are both young enough that their resumes are worth something to them. Since they'll both probably be canned after the season regardless of what happens, it's important for them both for the team to show some sign of progress right now.

That way, the groundwork will be laid for the litany of excuses they'll have to come up with when they're interviewing for their next big-decision jobs, six or eight years from now.

 

[Griffin]

I hope they don't tank. I hope they show some heart out there and for the rest of the season play with the kind of determination that won't let them finish with one of the three worst records in the league. But around fourth to eighth worst would be fine. Get it done, JJ!

1. memphis (11-32) --
2. boston (12-29) 2.0
3. philadelphia (13-30) 2.0
4. charlotte (14-27) 4.0
   [*]atlanta (14-26) 4.5
5. seattle (16-26) 5.5
6. new orleans (16-25) 6.0
7. milwaukee (17-25) 6.5
8. new york (18-26) 6.5
9. portland (18-25) 7.0
10. sacramento (17-23) 7.5
11. miami (19-23) 8.5

 

[jbeecham]

Hawks won tonight against Orlando so they're not tanking yet.

 

[scotsman13]

the area that the hawks biggest weakness is point guard. lets face fact here this years draft isnt going to have jack for point guards in it. but next year is going to have o.j. mayo who is a dwayne wade type player. i think they would rather give up this years pick and try to answer their biggest problem next year then to get someone in this draft who wont be that big of a help for them.

 

[jbeecham]

That makes some sense, but I wouldn't pass on a chance at Oden because they're really not strong at C or PF either. At C they've got Lorenzen Wright & Zaza Pauchilia and at PF they've got Shelden Williams, Marvin Willaims (kind of a SF) & Slava Medvedenko. Not exactly a strong group of players and none close to a Greg Oden. I don't know if Durant would be great for them because they've got a lot of SF/SG's with Josh Childress, Josh Smith, Joe Johnson & Marvin Williams.

 

[pokerface]

If Atlanta is tanking they're doing a rotten job of it. Plus other teams like Boston and Seattle are jumping in the tank...especially Boston. Other teams are close to Atlanta as well.

Things can change a lot in the upcoming months but my gut feeling is we'll get the #6, #7, or #8 pick.

 

[Gaddabout]

Charlotte beat the Lakers last night in LA, so you figure they're primed to climb their way into mediocrity the second half of the season.