[外電] Who fits Hawks' dream team?
Who fits Hawks' dream team?
By SEKOU SMITH
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/07/06
Hawks co-captain Joe Johnson doesn't care if anyone agrees with
him because he's already made up his mind.
"If we add a few key pieces to this team, just a couple of big
men and another point guard, I truly believe we're a playoff
team this time next year," Johnson said earlier this week. "I
don't think there's any question that with what we already have,
if you add the right guys to the mix, we're challenging for one
of the top eight spots."
Saying it doesn't make it so, no matter how deep Johnson's belief
in the Hawks' future might be.
For the sake of our own imagination, let's say Johnson is right.
The Hawks add several players and finally return to the postseason
hunt after a seven-year absence.
But what players fit? And what about the current nucleus,
headlined by the versatile Johnson, whose all-around game should
make it easy to build around?
Here's our plan to help Johnson's playoff dreams come true:
THE GAME PLAN
‧ Biggest needs: Starting point guard, veteran frontcourt
players to add depth and another backup wing player.
‧ Who's in (players signed through next season and beyond):
Johnson, Zaza Pachulia, Josh Smith, Josh Childress, Marvin
Williams, Salim Stoudamire, Tyronn Lue, Esteban Batista, John
Edwards
‧ Who's out (players whose contracts will be up at season's
end): Al Harrington, Royal Ivey, Donta Smith, Anthony Grundy
THE DRAFT PLAN
The Hawks will be assured of one of the top picks in a draft
widely regarded as light on franchise-player talent. So the best
option might be to trade down, where the ability to identify a
particular need trumps the take-the-best-talent-available mantra
of the top five to seven picks.
Snagging a quality big man in the first round might be easier
than finding a top-flight point guard, unless Florida's Joakim
Noah, Al Horford and several other high-profile underclassmen
declare. Since the list of players who will be available is still
unknown — underclassmen have until the end of the month to
declare their intentions and can pull out a month before draft
night — we'll have to go with what we already know.
DRAFT OPTIONS
‧ UConn point guard Marcus Williams could very well be the best
talent available at his position. The sophomore reminds many of
a left-handed version of Deron Williams, who was taken third
overall last summer by Utah. He's a deft playmaker who can score
when needed (he averaged 20 points and eight assists in the NCAA
tournament). The only drawback: character issues.
‧ Italian forward Andrea Bargnani is a 7-footer who lacks the
defensive prowess the Hawks need but he's an undeniable offensive
talent that won't go ignored high in the lottery. Whether he fits
into what the Hawks need to make a marked improvement from this
season to the next is hard to gauge with such a limited view of
his pre-NBA exploits.
‧ UConn shot blocker Hilton Armstrong should be available late
in the lottery and perhaps even in the mid- to late first round.
He's 6 feet 11, 250 pounds and the rugged big body the Hawks covet.
He's also limited offensively, which won't hurt him on a Hawks
team that has plenty of proven firepower.
‧ The Hawks' second-round pick could be just as valuable as it
was last year, when they stole Salim Stoudamire at the top of the
round. If a player like Michigan State's Paul Davis, Nevada's Nick
Fazekas or UCLA project Ryan Hollins is floating around after the
first round, they'd be no-brainer picks.
FREE AGENCY OPTIONS
For all the fuss about what the Hawks gave up for Johnson (Boris
Diaw, a $5-plus million trade exception and two lottery-protected
first-round picks), no one mentions the other move that was made.
Atlanta got the steal of the summer in Pachulia, who has exceeded
expectations the organization had for him when they took a chance
on the untested third-year center. So maybe the Hawks will chase
big names again but snag another hidden gem while no one's paying
attention.
Consider this:
‧ Denver big man Nene, a restricted free agent who'll be coming
off an injury that sidelined him all season, is the obvious target.
But underrated Nuggets 7-footer Francisco Elson could be a steal.
He can play forward and center, be a starter or come off the bench
and having played four seasons at the highest level in Spain prior
to his three-year stint with Nuggets, he's far more proven than
Nene, who has played in just 55 games the past two seasons.
‧ L.A. Clippers veteran Sam Cassell still has plenty of tread
left and there are few players in the league more willing and
able to take clutch shots than the two-time NBA champ. Cassell's
age and his desire to play on a playoff team at this stage of his
career could add a different wrinkle to the situation were the
Hawks to fall short of their postseason goal. On the flip side,
Cassell isn't interested in a long-term deal and he and Johnson
in the backcourt together would be an unstoppable combination.
‧ Toronto's Mike James would be an ideal fit and has played
under Hawks coach Mike Woodson, when they were both in Detroit
during the Pistons' title-winning season in 2004. James is the
sort of vocal floor general the Hawks could use, and combined
in a backcourt with Johnson he'd give the Hawks one of the most
explosive guard tandems in the league. But his price tag will be
high. And he's not as young as some might like.
TRADE OPTIONS
This is where there the possibilities seem endless. After all,
who at this time a year ago envisioned the Hawks engineering a
trade for Johnson? But with Harrington one of the most coveted
free agents on the market this summer, it'd be foolish not to get
something for the polished veteran. And since there are few teams
that will be able to afford Harrington's price tag without a
sign-and-trade, the Hawks are in an excellent position to pick
and choose what they want.
What if they:
‧ Deal Harrington to Seattle for point guard Luke Ridnour and
veteran enforcer Danny Fortson. Ridnour is the young, pass-first
point guard the Hawks so desperately need while Fortson would add
the muscle inside that has been largely absent this season. If
the Sonics figure out they can't afford restricted free agent
Chris Wilcox, he could become an option in this deal instead of
Fortson.
‧ Deal Harrington to Portland for a combination of players that
includes Darius Miles and at least one of the Blazers' three point
guards — Steve Blake, Sebastian Telfair or Jarrett Jack. Teams
carry three point guards but never three at basically the same
stage of their careers. Jack, the former Georgia Tech star, has
obvious local appeal while Telfair might be the best fit with the
Hawks current talent.
‧ Deal Harrington to Chicago for Chris Duhon and Othella
Harrington. This is clearly the scenario with the least amount
of star appeal. But it address two very critical needs — point
guard and a veteran big man to add to the playing rotation. And
while Duhon lacks the buzz of some of the other young point
guards in the league, he's proved all his doubters wrong after
they passed on him in the first round of the 2004 draft.
資料來源
http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/hawks/stories/0409nbanotes.html
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