Official NBA Playoffs Discussion/Prediction Thread

[Chicago]

Thing is, neither Conley nor Yi will still be on the table by the time the 11th pick rolls around.

Apparently, four teams are currently interested in Yi:

1) Atlanta - #3
2) Boston - #5
3) Golden State - (would need to trade up)
4) Chicago - #9

If Atlanta passes on Yi, I expect for Boston to take him at #5, but who knows what'll go down with trades and whatnot before/during Draft night.

Without a doubt, though, I'd say picks 3 - 5 will consist of two of the following three: Conley, Yi, Horford.

[T R W]

I wonder if anyone between 4-10 is interested in trading down to 11 for one of our many forwards.

[Chicago]

Word is that Philadelphia, with their four draft picks this year, is looking to trade with someone and move up into the 'teens.

Currently, they own the #12 pick, but they aren't willing to part with Korver or Iguodala, so I don't know what they play on using to initiate a trade, other than draft picks.

[Jean-Ralphio]

Thats why the Hawks just need to take Conley #3 and take the best available player at 11.

If the Celtics take Yi, I will become a Bobcats fan

[T R W]

ralpho316 said:

Thats why the Hawks just need to take Conley #3 and take the best available player at 11.

If the Celtics take Yi, I will become a Bobcats fan

Ultimately, that's what I want them to do.

Of course, if they had taken PAUL like I was SCREAMING for them to do....we wouldn't be in this dumbass situation with Speedy ing Claxton.

But I guarantee you, Billy Knight will not do the smart thing.

[Jean-Ralphio]

Lets say they take Conley and Hawes/Green, Marvin Williams turns into a legit full time stud the Hawks are loaded

1. Conley
2. JJ
3. Smith
4. Williams
5. Williams/Hawes

Zaza, Green. Draft pick off the bench

[Chicago]

Ford's latest Mock Draft on ESPN, updated just now, has Horford going 3rd overall to Atlanta, Conley to Memphis, Brewer to Boston, B. Wright to Milwaukee, Green to Minnesota, Noah to Charlotte, Yi to Chicago, Hawes to Sacramento, and Crittenton to Atlanta.

[Jean-Ralphio]

Jarvis Crittenton is a solid PG too, either way Atlanta is doing well in this draft.

Im not a huge Brewer fan just because we have 29 2 guards on our team

[Chicago]

Personally,

I don't see Yi falling that low to the number 9 pick, and I know Horford is probably the third best player in the draft, but Atlanta needs to address their biggest problem, at the point guard position.

Supposedly, if they don't take Conley at #3, Atlanta will either pick one of the second or third best pg's in the draft or trade the pick to Portland for Jarrett Jack.

Jarrett Jack? Atlanta can't be THAT stupid, come on now.

[Chicago]

Potential Phoenix-Clippers trade in the works?

Ford mentions in his updated mock draft that the following could be brewing:

Phoenix gets: LAC #14 pick and Corey Maggette

LAC gets: Boris Diaw, PHX's #24 and #29 picks, as well as a first-round pick in 2008.

Doesn't really seem that fair too me, as Phoenix would be getting off with SO much more, especially since next season their first rounder would be in the 25-30 range.

[T R W]

I have heard a lot of rumblings of them trading for Jack. I don't like that idea. I actually prefer taking Conley and best available, or Horford and best available PG.

[Chicago]

I think the Horford/Crittenton scenario is most likely, without any outside trades interfering, to go down in Atlanta if Conley isn't taken at #3.

Can't believe the Draft is just 9 days away; should be an interesting final week leading up to the big event.

Higher ratings than the Finals?

[T R W]

rko23 said:

I think the Horford/Crittenton scenario is most likely, without any outside trades interfering, to go down in Atlanta if Conley isn't taken at #3.

Can't believe the Draft is just 9 days away; should be an interesting final week leading up to the big event.

Higher ratings than the Finals?

Ultimately, I think that is the best thing to do. I hope they can find something to do with our other forwards if possible, maybe trade for a veteran or something. Honestly, I want a new coach. I haven't been impressed with Woodson. The Hawks actually have better talent than their record.

[Chicago]

The Hawks organization has not been managed properly over the years and repetitive draft picks support that belief. Changes definetly need to be made, especially as far as the head coach is concerned.

How many more 30 win seasons do the Hawks need in order to realize that maybe Woodson, 69-177 over a three-year period, isn't connecting with his young talent and does not know how to coach the team effectively for an 82-game marathon. Of course, Joe Johnson had a rather uneventful season, what with being injured and playing only 57 games, but everyone else given big minutes has hardly stepped up. Atlanta did pick up a decent bench player in Anthony Johnson from Dallas around the trade deadline, but there are too many conflicting position-players on the team that it doesn't seem the organization knows what to do with.

However, it's not like they don't have the talent to compete in the East; they do have young ballplayers with upsides galore, it's just they're not being addressed properly. I see a good amount of potential in young guys like Royal Ivey and Salim Stoudamire, but overall, there is just TOO much youth in the team's roster and that could be addressed through potential trades for a vet/impact player, especially this offseason with either the #3 or #11 draft picks in this years draft.

It's gonna take a while before Atlanta rights their ship from its steadily wrong course, but if they start taking small steps NOW, especially with all their options in this years draft, they could be competing for the 7th or 8th seed in the East come 2 or 3 seasons from now.

[T R W]

Honestly, with a better coach, I think we would be getting more out of some of these guys.

[nyk9327]

Is Yi the new Fredric Weis?

[nyk9327]

I just heard some potential trade talks that involve Kobe Bryant to the Knicks for 1 past their prime player who never won anything and two young players who will never start on a deep round playoff team.

[Chicago]

nyk9327 said:

I just heard some potential trade talks that involve Kobe Bryant to the Knicks for 1 past their prime player who never won anything and two young players who will never start on a deep round playoff team.

Sounds about right.

Seriously, though, anyone who thinks Isiah and the Knicks even have a glimmer of a chance at trading for Kobe should probably have their "reality" license revoked.

[nyk9327]

Or anybody who thinks Kobe will go anywhere but Detroit, Chicago or Minn.

[T R W]

Kobe is coming to Atlanta, so shut it!