That stretch where they won 6 straight during the toughest part of their schedule was such a gut punch. LMAO beating the 1 loss Cavs 2x in a row
While the Hawks have played one of the easiest schedules so far in the league, the benefit of being in the East is that it doesn't figure to get much more difficult throughout the rest of the season.
https://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength
That's the 13th easiest schedule in the league for the rest of the way. They've currently played the 9th easiest schedule so it WILL get harder, but not by much. I don't think Atlanta is a playoff team regardless so I think the Spurs are still in good shape in a deep draft but they are not going to be a bottom 4 team unless they get hit with massive injuries. And even then, with no motivation to tank they will probably not fall apart.
That stretch where they won 6 straight during the toughest part of their schedule was such a gut punch. LMAO beating the 1 loss Cavs 2x in a row
Atlanta is likely to get into the playoffs. They have no reason to tank and send the spurs a lottery pick and they have enough talent to pass the tanking teams in the east.
1. Getting a high pick from the Hawks is absolutely still on the table.
2. Nobody knows jack about draft strength, as history has repeatedly shown, and next years' and the year after can well end up being better drafts than this one. Having control over their future three years is exactly why panicking halfway into the first one is a bad idea.
ATL are looking like contenders??? I want some of whatever you're having, man
Roster turnout and change is very high in the NBA. Look at the playoff teams from 2 years ago, and where they are today. Sixers are the obvious example, but plenty of teams implode/degrade over a season or two - , the Spurs included.
Having said that, I obviously wish ATL would crash and burn, like everyone else. But people ITT are already jumping to judging the outcome of picks like they've been slotted already, and it's just wrong, no matter what Atlanta's record ends up being.
Yea man....Atl proved they can beat anybody in the east.I would say that is a team that can contend in the playoffs.A young team
playing pretty good with talent.The future looks great for them.
Atlanta is overachieving right now and blindsiding underestimating teams. I doubt they be successful in a 7 game series. Just the same, I don’t wish them well and get a higher return on our 2025 FRP with them.
Agree to disagree I guess. I don't trust Trae Young in the playoffs at all.
I think Castle would lock him up over a 7 game series, nevermind an actually playoff-worthy team. And the rest of the team is not all that, either... Impressive wins, yes, but bad losses too.
We'll see what they're made of after the ASB.
Need to Zaza their guys when we play them
Couldn't agree more.
All these future picks are calculated gambles but IMHO well worth. The draft is always a crap shoot and you never know what next year brings.
For instance- an injury with Atlanta and they go from .500 to much lower pretty quickly.
Also what if Atlanta towards the end of this year or next decides they're on a treadmill (which they are) and blows it up- starts trading for future picks?
Next years swap and following unconditional looks really good.
In the meantime, CHI is on a 3-game winning streak beating the Celtics last night behind Lavine’s 36 pts, and currently conveying CHI 2025 pick.
man hope they dont start making trades to tank.
None wants their $30-40M chronically injured or washed players.
I’m pretty sure teams may want a few of their players.
I’m pretty sure no one wants a rickety Zach Lavine and his $90M+ over the next two seasons or a 34 YO Euro center who can’t defend at the rim or in space making $30M.
One thing that many fans haven’t yet processed is how risk averse teams will become with the second apron. You just cannot afford to make a mistake on a Lavine coming to your team and missing a season or season and a half. It will set your program back years.
It's true. I'm sure the FO is happy to have manageable contracts and wait to see how the young guys develop a little longer.
Vecevic is have a career season so far averaging nearly 20/10 while shooting 59%. He's making 20M per season not 30M. His deal us up next season so its short and team friendly for his age (34). Bulls should get a Jak level haul for him. He's a very nice piece. Bulls should trade Ball for a matching expiring plus seconds. They might be able to get out of the LaVine deal this summer as the market continues to reel in his contract.
You are acting like the Bulls front office is competent. These are the same bozos who could have made the Derozan trade without involving the Spurs at all and got that unprotected Sacramento swap for themselves, but were too inept and short sighted to make it happen. If there is one thing we can count on, it's the Bulls front office screwing up their roster. These idiots can't even tank correctly.
Nah Bulls are getting ready to tank as they should. The DDR pick wont convey if they do.
You’re correct on the dollars. I’m correct on the fact that he can neither defend the rim,nor defend in space. Very few teams, or none, will want a 34YO one way player, no matter what his counting stats are.
I do think they’ll be able to offload him next summer as an ending contract, but I think they’re stuck with Lavine.
For sure that's what they should do, but if they are sniffing around the play-in near the deadline, their front office is so cheap that they might just go with the cash grab of a playoff game instead of what's best for the franchise long term.
Lots of teams could use a scoring C at the deadline. Golden State, Lakers, Grizzles, Mavs all make sense to varying degrees. Plus he's career 34% 3 point shooter so he can space the floor on offense. Despite poor defense his ORTG is almost 15 points higher than his DRTG.
Wishful thinking on your part. Bulls FO isn't that bad they just got very unlucky with the LaVine injury/contract and ended up stuck in the mud. The Lauri deal was bad but nobody saw that breakout coming.
Lots of smoke that the Bulls are getting ready to blow it up as they should and will. Bulls will blow it up and tank for Flagg.
Lavine is having one of his best seasons in years. He'll have value on the trade market tbh.
Bulls will absolutely start tanking soon, one way or another tbh.
I agree but i still struggle to see the team that is a Zach Levine away from deep playoff run. I’m not convinced a Porter-Levine swap addresses DEN’s needs (Porter is important to what they do, Murray is the issue) and not clear the Lakers blow their precious picks for him.
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