The Hawks have taken a step backward with their offseason approach and moves, Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution opines. Rather than pulling closer toward the top of the Eastern Conference, Atlanta now looks like the sixth- or seventh-best team, Bradley continues. While trading point guard Jeff Teague to open up a starting job for Dennis Schroder was acceptable, Bradley points out that free-agent acquisition Dwight Howard doesn’t fit into coach Mike Budenholzer’s scheme as well as Al Horford, who signed with the Celtics. They also overpaid to keep Kent Bazemore, and the contracts of Howard and Bazemore will be hard to move if they wind up in a rebuild mode, Bradley adds.
In other Southeast Division news:
- Darvin Ham has been promoted to Budenholzer’s lead assistant, Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Ham replaces Kenny Atkinson, who was named the Nets’ head coach in April. Ham has been on Budenholzer’s staff since 2014.
- The Magic did the right thing by bringing in defensive-minded big men rather than standing pat this offseason, Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel argues. While Orlando has been criticized in some circles for its offseason moves, the additions of Serge Ibaka, Bismack Biyombo and Jeff Green gives new coach Frank Vogel an opportunity to play a more physical style, Bianchi notes. The Magic have floundered for four years with their young core and couldn’t wait any longer for it to blossom on its own, Bianchi adds, pointing out that coach Scott Skiles quit after one season because he didn’t like the roster.
- Dwyane Wade admits that the superior contract offer he received from the Bulls forced him to make a hard choice, as he told Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press and other members of the media. Wade agreed to sign a two-year, $47MM deal with Chicago when the Heat drew the line near the $40MM mark. “Moments like this, it [stinks],” Wade said. “The business side of the sport, sometimes it just [stinks]. That’s what we’re dealing with.”
I think Everyone Is forgetting Dennis Schroeder Is going to be an absolute monster Néxt season And will be a better shooter then Teague And more of a facilitator to work with Dwight. They are actually better now, Bazemore will be better, Dennis will make The Hawks a 3rd-4th seed. I really Believe he’s going to breakout
I think they could have just let Bazemore go to the Nets or someone of that ilk. A veteran like Arron Afflalo would have been better IMO, b/c same player, but it’d have given them flex in next season’s FA.
Schroeder a beast next year? Lmao. He’s a good backup, but he’s like the Hawk’s version of Matthew Dellavedova.
Wow Dellavadova? I got Dennis being a top 10 PG by 2018, he’s a phenomenal passer, can créate his own shot And has a perimeter game to rely on something which took Teague years to develop And he’s still only a respectable 3 point shooter, Dennis can be a 40-45 percent 3 point shooter.
Gauge it like this. No one is going to trade for Delly. Entire league would make an attempt to trade for Schroeder.
Good news is the story is garbage because Bradley is an idiot. I think this will be a great set of moves for the Hawks. Howard makes them legitimate in the paint. Bradley was the same idiot who criticized the Hawks for not having a true center. This should open up guys like Korver at the three.