The Hawks, in their current state, look to be a team that could make it into the playoffs as a seed 5-8 depending on injuries, streaks, etc. But just think if the Hawks were to add a missing piece, somebody who could create a very successful Big 3/4, then it would finally break the curse.
As an Atlanta sports fan, things are always the same, go into the season with championship contender labels, and then exit with pretender written all over our logo. This could be because Atlanta sports teams are simply too conservative and not willing to take risks. It's nice to make the playoffs every year, but it becomes more and more frustrating to watch our performance in the playoffs. But right now, I think it's time to seize the moment and go capture(or at least seriously contend for) a championship.
The situation in Phoenix with Eric Bledsoe is eerily similar to what happened 9 years ago as Joe Johnson wanted his way out of Phoenix. They even have the number 2! Similar to Joe Johnson, Eric Bledsoe is a restricted free agent who wants to get out of Phoenix to make more money. The teams had different circumstances as the 2005 Suns were loaded with talent and at the top of the Western Conference. Meanwhile this Suns team is nearing NBA purgatory and not vastly improving. On top of that, the Suns got an insurance signing with Isaiah Thomas and drafted Tyler Ennis just in case Eric Bledsoe wanted out.
Now onto how the Suns could let go their best and brightest player to the Hawks. Eric Bledsoe will come at no cheap cost, but he will also not require our top players as well. The current rumor is that the Hawks could offer Dennis Schroeder, last year's 1st round draft pick, Adrien Payne, this year's 1st round draft pick, and our '15 1st round draft pick. The flaws with that trade is that the Hawks are trading away all of the future talent that could be developed. Not to mention that Lucas Nogueria, 2013's other 1st round draft pick, was traded to the Raptors along with Lou Williams for John Salmons, a player that we cut mainly for cap space.
Our 2015 1st round draft pick is a very high risk to give up. The Nets are still suffering from the Joe Johnson trade and we are able to switch draft picks with them this year. With the departure of Shaun Livingston, Paul Pierce, and Jason Kidd, the Nets are in severe trouble. This bodes well for the Hawks and we could land a lottery pick without having to make any moves, but giving it to the Suns along with other valuable players is very nonsensical.
Eric Bledsoe's contract will have to be at least over 4 yr/60M. If he is denying to play for the Suns at 4 yr/48M, then I doubt he will take anything barely above it unless he wants to play for a playoff contender in the East. Going off of assumptions, Danny Ferry will not sign him for an unruly amount that is over 16M a year. The highest Ferry will take Bledsoe for is 5 yr/75-80M with a player option as the last year. But again, if we want Eric Bledsoe, we will have to take and extra 10M risk.
There are other approaches the Hawks could take that doesn't involve trading away the future. These proposals may be a tad heartbreaking and angering if you get attached to players very easily. The tough part about making these trades is that the Hawks and Suns have managed the salary cap well and really don't have many bad contracts on the books.
Jeff Teague, Mike Scott (via S&T) 2016 1st round pick for
Eric Bledsoe and a 2015 2nd round pick
This trade is for those who believe that Jeff Teague is still being floated around by Danny Ferry. I'm not a big fan of this trade as a Teague-Bledsoe backcourt would be highly explosive and very fun to watch. I threw in Mike Scott since he hasn't been "officially" signed and is still technically a free agent, but the reason why Mike Scott might not be signed yet is to give the Hawks leverage for trades like this.
Predicted Line-up: Eric Bledsoe, Kyle Korver, Demarre Carroll, Paul Millsap, Al Horford, 6th Man: Thabo Sefolosha
Paul Millsap, Dennis Schroeder for
Eric Bledsoe
This is a pure straight-up deal which is bound to have extra pieces thrown in there. If this trade were to go through, there would have to be draft picks put in place just for a GM's needs, but this trade doesn't need much specificity. Paul Millsap, an All-Star who is on a very lovable expiring contract, and an unproven foreign point guard for a high caliber point guard. It would hurt to see such a great contributor and leader in Paul Millsap, but Millsap will want a significant pay raise and I don't think the Hawks could sign him to that past 30.
Predicted Line-up: Eric Bledsoe, Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, Adrien Payne, Al Horford 6th Man: Thabo Sefolosha
Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague for
Eric Bledsoe, T.J. Warren, and Gerald Green
This trade hurts the most when writing it but it would most likely be the best if the Hawks are looking towards the future. The Hawks give up two keystones of the franchise, but give fans more hope. T.J. Warren was a name that kept on coming up for late 1st round steals and he is definitely a solid role player and could fit into Coach Bud's system very well. Gerald Green is also a very good wing player that can shoot threes and play solid defense.
Predicted Line-up: Eric Bledsoe, Kyle Korver, Demarre Carroll, Adrien Payne, Horford, 6th Man: Thabo Sefolosha
The recurring theme is that if the Hawks decide to trade Paul Millsap, then the Hawks are left with no power forward to play with. Adrien Payne is a solid player, but are we even sure his game can translate to the NBA and whether or not he is good enough to be a starter yet. Mike Scott's defense is nowhere near good enough to play against the top power forwards in the NBA. The Hawks could move Al Horford to the 4, but then there is no one to play center unless we were to bring back Elton Brand, which isn't a bad move, and have him split minutes with Pero Antic.
There is no real reason to trade Al Horford at this point. The market for starting centers is becoming high since the league is becoming enriched with more wings and dwindling with in-the-post centers. Unless Mike Muscala has a breakout year where he is averaging double-doubles or the Nets are terrible and we land a Top-3 draft pick, there is no reason to trade Al Horford. His contract is simply too valuable for a "Face of the Franchise."
The real trouble with trading for Eric Bledsoe is that we only have a sample size of what he has done as a starting point guard. After playing second fiddle to Chris Paul in Los Angeles, Bledsoe has recieved less than ample playing time. Also his injury history is troubling considering his meniscus injury last season left him hampered for two months, but he returned valiantly and finished out the season strong.
Overall, I think a move for Bledsoe would be a great move for the future of the Hawks franchise, however it may have to come at the expense of some of Atlanta's most prized players.
Comments or suggestions?