Dissecting the Draft

Ok, so the NBA Draft is almost here, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I’m super pumped. Draft days in general are the best, nearly as good as game days themselves. Anyway, my beloved Magicians from Orlando have the second overall pick, making an already exciting night that much more interesting for me. With the Magic in mind, my board consists of just three guys: Nerlens Noel (if he falls), Victor Oladipo (if Orlando can swing the Afflalo-for-Bledsoe trade) and Trey Burke (assuming the Magic trade back). There are specific things about each guy that I love, and I’d be happy with Orlando landing any one of the three.  

            OK, with my selfish concerns aside, we move on… There’s been so much talk about how weak this draft is, which I think is a waste of time. Sure, there’s no LeBron James, Tim Duncan or Shaquille O’Neal…no obvious franchise-changing player to be taken No. 1. But that’s fine. There are still plenty of good players to be had, and I’m confident a few All-Stars will develop from the bunch.

            Fans shouldn’t get too caught up in how strong certain drafts are, anyway, because their respective team picks only once, maybe twice. So while there may not be 20 stars from which to choose, as long as your team has quality scouts at its disposal, there will always be a good player available.

            For example, the Hawks enter Thursday with picks at No. 17 and No. 18, not usually considered ideal spots to land top players. But check out the impressive list of guys recently taken with those picks: David West, Danny Granger, JR Smith, Gerald Green, Marco Belinelli, Roy Hibbert, JaVale McGee, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson, Eric Bledsoe, and Iman Sumpert. I think it’s safe for me to say Atlanta would be happy to have just about any of those aforementioned talents. Of course, the Hawks could also package their two picks together and move up with finding a true difference maker in mind (Perhaps a Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, or CJ McCollum would be available).

            Again, I think this draft has some really intriguing talents despite its lack of a franchise-changing guy at the top. With that said, below I address the top players in some very specific categories, as well as the guys I think Atlanta is circling at 17 an 18, assuming it stays put. 

Top Offensive Player – Trey Burke: Burke has quickly become one of the more polarizing prospects in the draft. Scouts knock him for his lack of height and elite athleticism, and that’s fine, because Burke has absolutely everything else. First, let’s establish two things: Burke is not that short (just over 6-1 in shoes, with LONG arms) and is a fine athlete. He may not hold up to Russell Westrbook comparisons, but he’s every bit as athletic as say Tony Parker. More importantly, he’s a tremendous basketball player. He has great handles, sees the floor incredibly well, and shoots lights out. Trey’s also smart, knows when to find his own shot as well as when to create for others and feed the hot hand. He finishes strong at the hoop, and runs the pick-and-roll to perfection, which just so happens to be a staple in the NBA and a requirement of top-notch PGs in the league. Above all else, Burke has the head for being a star, works as hard as anyone, and wants the ball down the stretch.

Top Defender – Victor Oladipo: This could easily go to Nerlens Noel, but since he’s hurt I decided to go with Oladipo. He’s quick, he’s strong, he’s smart, he can rise to block shots and, most importantly, he wants to be an elite defender. In fact, because Victor is so obviously an elite defender, he also happens to be the safest pick in the draft. 

Safest Pick – Oladipo: I hate to list the same guy twice, but I just can’t envision the words Oladipo and bust sharing the same sentence. Not only is he a lock to be a lockdown defender (alliteration intended), but he is extremely effective moving without the ball on offense, and has vastly underrated skills as both a shooter (44% from 3 in 2012) and scorer.

Most Upside – Nerlens Noel: Most people would go with Ben McLemore here, citing his athleticism and picture-perfect jumper. I, however, don’t buy it. The kid just isn’t a gamer, and that may not prevent him from being quality, but will prevent him from being great, that’s a near certainty. Noel, on the other hand, never shies away from the action (see the play on which he was hurt), and combines unique athleticism with a truly special skill: the ability to block shots unlike anyone we’ve seen in quite some time (he could very well become the best shot blocker in the game). I must also point out that Noel has extremely soft hands and solid body control, two important, though often overlooked traits that should help the Big Man become more than respectable on the offensive end of the floor.

Hawks Picks: Some GMs draft on need, others take the best player available. This year, I think it’s safe to say the Hawks will draft with talent in mind, considering they only have three players on the roster. In other words, the team has needs absolutely everywhere, doesn’t need to worry about redundancies or duplicating talent, and thus has the luxury of taking the best players to fall their way. Assuming the team doesn’t trade up, it will most likely grab the best guard and big available at 17 and 18. With that in mind, I think Atlanta should closely consider Mason Plumlee and Gorgui Dieng – two active bigs with athleticism and upside – and hope like hell that either Shabazz Muhammad or Shane Larkin fall its way.

OK, that’s all I’ve got for now, but if you’re interested in doing so, you're more than welcome follow me on Twitter @BrainTrain9.

Sizing Up Game Six

-While hugely disappointed by the result – not just because I’m quietly rooting for the Spurs but also because that game was blown by San Antonio more than it was won by Miami – last night’s Game 6 was undeniably amazing. Seriously, it was one of the better basketball games in recent years and just so happened to take place on the biggest of stages, Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The dramatic turnarounds, from LeBron throwing away what seemed like the Heat’s final possession (still not sure if it was a shot or just a horrible lob pass/idea in the area of Chris Bosh) and Championship aspirations, to a scowling Bosh moments after the forgotten Big sealed the deal with a block on Danny Green’s desperation three (on which, by the way, he was definitely fouled).  If people are wrong when they say only title-winning games are remembered, last night’s Game 6 won’t soon be forgotten.

-With all that said about the game’s brilliance, I simply can’t escape that the game was over, that the Spurs had the thing won and lost in the end not because James and company were brilliant down the stretch but rather because San Antonio couldn’t get out of its own way. When the game was on the line, LeBron missed both big shots he took and committed two horrible turnovers. If Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobli or Tony Parker could make free throws down the stretch, if the Spurs could have rebounded either of Miami’s two missed desperation threes in the closing seconds…if any of those things happen the game’s over, the Spurs are NBA Champs. And LeBron knew it, even in the moment. The look on his face seconds after the missed lob to Bosh (for which LeBron completely blamed Chris) was unmistakably one of defeat.

-In many ways, this series has been defined by tremendous play from role players and at times underwhelming performances from the stars. Speaking of the latter, two marquee guys struggled in big ways last night. The first that comes to mind, Dwyane Wade, was not only average from an individual standpoint, but also a major reason his team struggled. At this point it’s pretty well documented that San Antonio is driven to clog the lane in an effort to slow LeBron, and that James and the Miami offense respond better to that defensive strategy when they can spread the floor. It’s no coincidence, then, that Miami went on huge runs last night in the fourth and in Game 2 when Ray Allen and Mike Miller were in the lineup and Wade wasn’t. And it’s not because either of those guys are better basketball players than Wade (though Allen’s been sensational in this series, a true difference maker), it’s because they are significantly better long-range shooters. When the Spurs have to follow Miller and Allen to the corners, the paint opens wide from LeBron. When the Spurs defenders stick to LeBron, Miller and Allen have killed them. Of course, for all Wade does well, he’s never been a great shooter, especially from three, and his inability to spread the floor against the Spurs has really hurt James in particular and the Heat in general. The other “star” that needs to be mentioned here is Manu Ginobli, who has absolutely killed his team all series. He had a nice Game 5, but who’s to say San Antonio doesn’t get that one without him considering they won going away? In every other game, he has been horrendous, and that includes his EIGHT turnovers last night and his ill-advised attempt at a last shot in regulation (most are focusing on the fact that Manu was fouled, but he took close to five steps before any contact arrived). I’m not one to use hindsight to question great coaches, and going with Ginobli in Game 5 worked well for Popovich, so it’s hard to criticize him for going back to the well in Game 6. But there’s also something to be said for in-game adjustments, we use them to define our football coaches all the time, and at some point Pop had to see Manu was closer to his Games 1-2-3-4 form, that at this point Game 5 was an aberration. Again, Pop is an amazing coach, arguably the best in the game, and taking out a former star is hard for a coach because of the “what he may do” factor, but Ginobli’s kind of bad Tuesday went way beyond considerations like that.

-I guess while I’m criticizing Pop I should also mention I disagreed with his decision to rest Duncan and Parker for so long in the fourth. The Spurs had the Heat on the ropes wit the title on the line. In those instances, you throw your haymaker…you don’t dance around the ring waiting for your opponent to recover. Many will argue Pop’s move was smart, that he of course knew Game 7 was a possibility and took a calculated risk in Game 6 to guarantee his team would be fresh in a potential final outing. That logic, though, doesn’t make much sense to me. At the time, there was one quarter and one game left in the entire season, with months of nothing but rest to follow. Not to mention they have Wednesday off before Thursday’s Game 7. If playing five extra minutes on a Tuesday means you won’t be ready to compete for an NBA Title on Thursday, you aren’t a champion, plain and simple. Also, I think Duncan has to be in the game late when you know rebounding will be key (and while he may not match up well with Miami’s shooters, his height helps him close out on threes, just as it helped Bosh later in the night). In Duncan’s 44 minutes of action, Miami managed a measly eight second-chance points. In his nine minutes on the bench, the Heat owned the paint with nine points off rebounds, including six in the waning seconds. 

-I’ll make this fast, but I hate when “big moments” late in games are called differently than every other moment in said big game. Really, it shouldn’t be allowed. Rules are rules. Baskets should be baskets…whether they come in the first quarter or in the fourth. The implication here is that certain possessions carry more weight than others and should thus be officiated accordingly, but how is that fair? Who’s to say the “late-game” rules won’t benefit one team and hurt the other? And how are the players and teams supposed to account for rules that don’t actually exist? Bosh’s shot block on Danny Green is an obvious foul in at least the first three quarters, but apparently wasn’t in last night’s overtime. But how is that fair when softer foul calls went in favor of the Heat earlier in the same game? The points Miami received in those earlier moments counted in the score just the same…they were no less important than would have been the three free throws Danny Green deserved. So why did the refs approach those moments with less discretion?

-I’ll close by admitting that I actually enjoyed watching the fair-weather Heat fans leave last night’s game early. It only further confirms the perception that Miami sports fans take a spoiled, bandwagon approach to their teams. They sort of reminded me of my father, who in attempts to beat traffic has missed countless classics. He’s more neurotic doctor (with a bedtime) than fickle fan, however. Last night wasn’t just any game, of course. It was Game 6 of the NBA Finals and, at the time, looked to be the last minute in Miami’s third consecutive memorable season. As a fan, at best you were going to see a classic NBA Finals comeback victory, at worst you were going to support YOUR team, one that by way has been good to you as basketball’s most exciting for three straight years. You stay because those are your guys and that’s what supportive fans do. Of course, those same fans will be back in “diehard” form for Thursday’s Game 7, which I expect to be another classic.

OK, that’s all I’ve got for now, but if you’re interested in doing so, you're more than welcome follow me on Twitter @BrainTrain9.

News and Notes...from the NBA Finals, Recruiting Trail and more

-Our by-the-minute coverage of and reaction to sports is nothing new. It started with ESPN and the internet, and has soared to new heights with social networks and mobile technology. In a way, though, we’ve failed (the media and fans alike) to consider or acknowledge how this new brand of coverage impacts perception and the way we talk about today’s athletes. Athletes in the 80s weren’t necessarily better, we just didn't care or have the means to criticize as harshly or as often. Michael Jordan, the greatest NBAer ever, missed shots and had bad games. They just weren’t obsessed over then like they are today. It’s one of the reasons we view the past through such a glorified lens, and find ourselves forever scrambling to reassess and redefine the athletes we cover today. I bring up this line of thinking because during this NBA postseason alone we have dramatically changed how we talk about and view the following players: LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Danny Green, Gary Neal, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Paul George Roy Hibbert and Steph Curry…to name a few. Personally, I think we often overreact to single plays and games, I believe players are defined over long periods of time and not by often random results in a single moment…but if that’s the approach you enjoy or the way you like to watch sports, more power to you. You can’t, though, take your by-the-minute calculations and observations and compare them to your relatively incomplete, romanticized perceptions of the past. And in the future, try giving yourself some time before you're so sure.

-With that said, LeBron, perhaps more than anyone, is regularly hurt by our overly aggressive coverage. The dude can go from champ to chump faster than any athlete I’ve ever seen (note: after his dismal performance in Tuesday’s Game 3, he’s currently back in a chump phase). And, sure, he sometimes lacks aggression at the most puzzling of times, but his struggles aren’t that simple. The game plan for defending LeBron has always been the same: sag defensively, deny the paint, turn him into a jump shooter. And that task, a usually impossible one, is far more manageable when he’s short on help, which the Spurs have proven. The truth, then, is that Dwyane Wade is killing LeBron James and, in turn, the Heat. And Wade’s lack of production (43 points in 3 games on 19-43 shooting) is only part of the story. When defenses don’t have to worry about Wade’s explosiveness – in addition to his long-range shot, which has never been a huge threat – it disrupts the Heat’s floor spacing and offensive flow, making it a whole lot easier to neutralize LeBron. Simply put, Wade’s clogging LeBron’s paint (where he’s at his best) and doing so without producing points or occupying defensive attention. And the postseason numbers from NBA.com back it up: just 37.8 percent of James’ field goal attempts occur in the restricted area when he’s playing next to Wade, but that portion soars to 44.9 percent when Wade leaves the court. And for more proof of Wade’s hazardous affect on the Heat, check out this stat: For the postseason, Miami has outscored opponents by a mere 3.3 points per 100 possessions with James and Wade on the court together. When James is playing without Wade, however, that number skyrockets to 21.8 points per 100 possessions. Not surprisingly, then, when the Heat went on a 33-5 run in Game 2, James was on the floor, leading the show. But guess who wasn’t? Dwyane Wade.

-Speaking of perceptions, and just how wrong they can often be, the 2013 NBA Finals were supposed to be all about The Big 6 (LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Duncan, Parker, Ginobli) when in fact the first three games have been all about the role players…and in a big way. Not only did Danny Green and Gary Neal combine for 51 points in Game 3, but out of the aforementioned six, LeBron and Parker have each had just one great game (Games 1 and 2, respectivel), Duncan’s had two decent ones and that’s it. It’s all about the benjamins…and the role player.

-In national recruiting news, America’s top prospect, Da’Shawn Hand (Woodbridge, Virginia), cut his list to a Final Three on Wednesday. In somewhat surprising news, the 6-4, 248-pounder eliminated hometown power Virginia Tech, in addition to South Carolina. Left when the dust settled: Florida, Alabama and Michigan. What’s more interesting? First, Hand becomes the fourth DE in the last five years to rank at the top of Rivals’ recruiting rankings (he joins Robert Nkemdiche, Jadeveon Clowney, and Ronald Powell). To me, this has to say something about the DE position in general, as well as the way in which the high school game is setup for dominant athletes to excel as edge rushers. At the very least, it’s clear that DE is the most glamorous position on defense, and among the most glamorous on the field altogether. Also, as good as Hand appears to be, he’s not even my favorite player at his position. Personally, Norcross DE (and Georgia 5A State Football Champion) Lorenzo Carter is where it’s at. It’s worth noting, Carter has already visited Alabama and Georgia and will take in Gainesville and Tallahassee in the coming weeks.

-Speaking of Georgia, even though it’s months away, I can’t stop thinking about the Week 1 battle between UGA and Clemson. At first I really liked Clemson here. The game pits a dynamic and veteran-land Tiger offense (see Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins) against a startlingly young Georgia D (replaces 9 starters). Then the Josh Harvey-Clemons suspension news came and I really lost hope in the Dawgs. But the more I think about the game, the more I’m starting to like Georgia. I still have no faith in Todd Grantham and company, and tons of it in Chad Morris’s (Clemson OC) unit, but I can’t stop the visions of Gurley and Marshall running wild from reoccurring in my head. And if Clemson can’t at all slow the Bulldog run game, its oh-so lethal offense won’t be on the field enough to matter.

-With the French Open not too distant in our rearview mirrors, I want to finish this thing up with a bold tennis claim: Rafael Nadal is the greatest male tennis player to ever live. He’s playing in arguably the sport’s most golden of ages and doing so in dominant fashion. His all-time resume is still a bit behind a few of his top competitors, including Roger Federer, but Nadal’s just 27 and far from done. Roger has perhaps the game’s greatest resume, but he’s four years older than Rafa and had the same number of majors (12) at 27 as Rafa does now. So considering his resume is all-time impressive and still growing, it’s Nadal’s record against the world’s other top players that has me convinced. In fact, no player of any worth has ever posted a winning lifetime mark against Rafa. He’s 20-10 against Roger, 20-15 against Novak, and 13-5 against Andy Murray, to name a few. He’s the only player ever to win a single major (the French) eight different times, and dominates the game’s best when the game’s never been better. Long live Rafa.

OK, that’s all the captivating insight I’ve got for now, but if you’re interested in doing so, you're more than welcome follow me on Twitter @BrainTrain.

The Summer of Hawks: Five Offseason Moves to Make

Now that Danny Ferry and the Hawks have their new head coach in Mike Budenholzer, they must turn their attention to filling out what is currently a three-man roster. Below I’ve listed what I think are the top-five moves the team should consider this offseason:

1. Make a Run at Dwight: He may have had a disappointing 2013, and will likely never return to the level of dominance he displayed in 2010-11, but make no mistake about it, Dwight Howard is still one of only a few max-contract players in the NBA. When motivated and in the right situation, Howard is the world’s best big man; he’s the NBA’s top defender, demands double teams on nearly every offensive possession, and makes all around him better. Moreover, Atlanta has struggled to attract big name free agents and may actually have a chance with D-12 for multiple reasons. Not to mention his acquisition would allow Coach Bud to move Al Horford to the four – his more natural position – and would make Josh Smith dispensable. We’d also be remiss to ignore Budenholzer’s success with aging bigs (see David Robinson and Tim Duncan).

2. If at first you don’t succeed, try again: There isn’t exactly a bevy of top bigs on the market this offseason, but Atlanta really needs a true five and has tons of money to spend. With that said, if Danny Ferry and company can’t convince Dwight to come back home, there are three other centers the team should consider. The first is Andrew Bynum, who before multiple knee surgeries was considered clear and away the second best center in basketball and a franchise talent. His recent injury history will make him considerably more affordable than what was anticipated this time a year ago, but he also comes with tremendous risk (many think his knees are degenerative and will never withstand a full NBA season). I’d probably pass on Bynum, but not everyone sees eye-to-eye here. Additionally, though he’s undersized, Utah’s Al Jefferson provides another quality option for the Hawks at the five spot. He averaged 17.8 points and 9.2 rebounds this season, is still just 28, and would give the Hawks a serious banger down low. Finally, if all else fails, the Hawks could also make a run at 7-footer Chris Kaman, who is aging (31) but still more than serviceable and rather large.  Note: Minnesota’s Nikola Pekovic is a restricted free agent, and the Wolves would likely match just about any qualifying offer, but Pek is a big-time talent and a guy the Hawks could, and should at least consider making a run at.

3. Improve the Perimeter: With only three players under contract heading into next season (Horford, Lou Williams, John Jenkins), Atlanta has the money to sign at least two high-priced free agents, including one of the aforementioned bigs. With that said, some of Atlanta’s money should go toward improving on the perimeter. Chris Paul is on the market, and the Hawks would of course love to have him, but let’s just assume that doesn’t happen. Unfortunately, there are no other max money type players out there, but some attractive options nonetheless. The list of guys that would upgrade Atlanta’s backcourt is as follows: Andre Iguodala, Brandon Jennings (restricted FA, but an option if Jeff Teague walks), Monta Ellis, OJ Mayo, and Tyreke Evans (restricted FA). Again, none of these guys are franchise-changing talents, but they all would serve as an upgrade over what the Hawks currently have and are reasonable targets to boot. 

4. Deal with your own: As mentioned above, the Hawks have 12 of their own free agents to deal with and new management must decide how to do so. Of course, a lot of what Atlanta does here will have to do with how successful there are with the free agents listed above, and there are no real obvious guys worth keeping. The first, and most important player under consideration will most likely be Jeff Teague, a guy Atlanta really can’t afford to lose if it doesn’t land Jennings or another top PG on the market (Jarrett Jack is an option here, so is Mario Chalmers). I also think it would be worth bringing back Kyle Korver (if not, FA JJ Redick would be a nice replacement) and Zaza Pachulia, as the first provides some necessary shooting while the latter handles dirty work off the bench when healthy. Moving on…Devin Harris is on the wrong side of 30, only appeared in 58 games this year and is no longer a legitimate starting PG around which a team should build, so I don't mind letting him walk, along with any of Atlanta’s other average pieces. Finally, the Hawks must figure out what to do with Josh Smith. He wants more money than he will most likely manage to get, so Atlanta might be able to re-sign him at a relatively affordable rate, which is something I’d consider if the team strikes out most everywhere else. Otherwise, J-Smoove’s days in Hotlanta are as good as over.

5. Figure out the Draft: The Hawks have two picks this year, No. 17 and No. 18, and should have their pick of few good players once they’re on the clock. Again, who the Hawks take here could be dictated by what they do on the free agent market as well as by who they re-sign, but I’d bet on the team taking one big and then a promising perimeter talent. One scenario the team may explore would include packaging the two picks to move up. If that’s the case, I’d target UCLA dynamic freshman Shabazz Muhammad, Lehigh star C.J. McCollum (will likely go too high) or Pittsburgh 7-footer Steven Adams. In my opinion, all three have serious star potential (especially the first two) and fill Atlanta needs. Should they stay put, talents like Louisville C Gorgui Dieng, Miami PG Shane Larkin, San Diego State’s Jamaal Franklin and Cal SG Allen Crabbe are all reasonable options. In the end, the Hawks need difference makers at the 3 and 5, and will use the draft to fill whichever hole they can’t plug via free agency.

Stan should be the Man

When I worked on air (790thezone.com) with The Dean, Beau Bock, two Saturday’s ago (the day after Atlanta was eliminated from postseason play), I outlined a few routes the Hawks could take in an effort to get at least on track toward competing for an NBA Title. Of course, with only three players (Al Horford, Lou Williams, John Jenkins) under contract heading into next season, discussions concerning personnel were, are and will be paramount in this discussion. But the Hawks don’t get a top pick in the upcoming NBA draft, have forever struggled to sign big-name free agents and, in my opinion, have an established culture that is more about mediocrity and playoff exits than championship aspirations.

Of course, Atlanta’s inability to attract elite free agents is a major issue, but its also a rather complex one that most likely wont be solved until the franchise first does something to rectify issue No. 3, the team’s culture of losing. Once the franchise becomes a credible one, elite players will flock to Atlanta, a city they already love to frequent with spare time.

Developing a strong franchise culture, then, is in my opinion where former Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy enters the discussion. He’s out of a job and on the market, but is also the consummate winner. In the past, Van Gundy has been called a frontrunner, criticized for panicking when the going gets tough, under the brightest of lights. But whether these accusations are true is beside the point. The point is that Van Gundy and his teams are almost always there, under those bright lights, competing for conference and league titles.

Stan got his first NBA head-coaching gig in Miami and led Dwyane Wade, Caron Butler, Lamar Odom and an upstart Heat team to an ultra-exciting postseason performance in his first season. After Pat Riley cut his time there short two seasons later, he moved on to Orlando, where he groomed and mentored Dwight Howard, developed the likes of JJ Redick, Ryan Anderson, Courtney Lee, and Marcin Gortat, and led a Howard-Rashard Lewis-Hedo Turkoglu-Courtney Lee-Rafer Alston starting five to the 2008-09 NBA Finals.

Van Gundy’s impressive resume, however, is not even his most appealing quality. Instead, Van Gundy’s value in Atlanta would be twofold: Stan develops young talent about as well as anyone in the league (just ask Dwyane Wade, who has said as much on more than one occasion) and, perhaps more importantly, demands consistency and professionalism from his players. His team’s are forever among the best defensive units in the league, they always overachieve and for the most part play sophisticated, assignment-based basketball. For a team and franchise that doesn’t expect anything better than second-round playoff exits and is content when they transpire, Van Gundy’s detail-obsessed approach would represent a culture shock and, eventually, a culture change.

Sure, Stan’s constant moaning, yelling, and complaining can get old after awhile, but consider that it will be awhile before the Hawks are contending again, and when that time comes the team can move in other, more even keel coaching directions. For now, though, Stan’s basketball genius (really, he knows the game as well as anyone and is a legitimate top three coach along with Pop and Doc), high standards and expectations, league-wide credibility and brutal honesty are just what the Hawks need if they ever plan on mattering again. Quite simply, landing Stan Van Gundy would be the best thing to happen to Hawks basketball since they traded for one Dominique Wilkins in 1982.

Now, with all that said, there is one caveat to signing Stan: stars mean far more than coaches in the player-driven NBA and hiring Van Gundy would all but eliminate the Hawks from the Dwight Howard sweepstakes. D-12 called for Stan’s firing when they were together in Orlando, he likely wouldn’t sign up to play for the coach again, and despite his disappointing 2013 season, Dwight still one of only eight (by my count) established franchise players in the NBA. If Atlanta can sign Dwight, it’s an absolute no-brainer…and if hiring Stan prevents the aforementioned from happening, it would be a huge mistake. But if Howard isn’t a part of Atlanta’s future, Stan Van Gundy better be.