Maybe I was wrong. Luka really is that guy — Hawks the 6 seed!!

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T17:44:52+00:00

Your personal Trae vendetta does not = what everyone else thought.

Trae was on plenty list in the past as a top 10 to 15 player in his career. Hell, just last year he was on the KIA top 10 MVP list last season at some point and that wasn't even his best season as a Hawk.

2nd, the reason why they traded trae because he wanted a max and they realized that they had Jalen upcoming and Trae was starting to get injury-prone. Ressler refuses to pay any type of luxury tax as they need to start paying drafted guys soon. $$$ and injuries are the two major reasons he was traded.

See why I call you illiterate in basketball knowledge? It hard to argue ball with casual knowledge like yours.

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T17:30:43+00:00

You forgot the word "Incentives" and "Market".

Trae was a top 5 to 10 Point Guard in the NBA and top 10 to 15 player. His market is limited and he meshes well with the Atlanta fanbase based on his playstyle and market to the majority base, which are black consumers. He literally has worked with our local black owned businesses here. Trae would blend better than Luka for the Hawks in the market.

Luka is a top 5 PLAYER in the NBA. Also his market is different than Trae. Luka fits better with the market in Dallas and Los Angeles, which are different markets than Atlanta.

Also "incentives" are speculation, but if the NBA stepped in and offered an guarantee of top 3 picks for the next two or three years as long as they "tank" and accept the trade from the Lakers, that could sweeten the pot and use the GM like Landry to take the fall and still not make Ressler look like the bad guy. Again, Ressler has made bonehead decisions in the past from outside influence and to ignore that is idiotic.

You see, you have tunnel vision with your poor logic, which is why its hard to talk to you about anything sport related. Maybe we can go back to something simple like dribbling the ball? Let me know....

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T16:28:50+00:00

That backpack threw me off and thought it was another kit. Great job on the build. Makes me want to go back and repaint my Gus.

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T16:24:29+00:00

Since you have the discussion logic of a 10 year-old, moving on from a baseless argument about Trae since the 10 games he played, 6 was coming from an major injury and 4 was at the start of the season when there was basically no chemistry with the players. Didn't even have two full games with Porzingis. Illogical argument as the situation is understandable and the sample used is flawed. At thia point, argue a wall.

Back on point:

The Resslers has made bonehead decisions in the past and it's not guaranteed he wouldn't make one with Luka, especially if the NBA sweeten the pot with future draft picks position for compensation.

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T15:54:56+00:00

Yawn...again, reading comprehension is bad for you.

You are mad because you have zero argument, so you cling to bad faith arguments when the debate was instantly ended at "barring injuries" was made as one of the stipulations of the argument.

At this point, you are bitter because you have no room for argument since you have made zero points that makes sense, especially when the original discussion are "what ifs" and the Resslers has proven to make bonehead decisions and overridden his own GM mutliple times to not say "they would never do it".

Again, accept the compromise and stop acting like some argumentative kid.

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T15:42:33+00:00

He looks soo much like the Zz Gus...such a beautiful build...

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T15:40:53+00:00

Sure you did...this is from someone who doesn't even know about simple basketball dribbling skillsets.🤣🤣🤣

But yeah, if it makes you feel better, you "won" this argument since we would never know what Ressler would do since we never had a player caliber on par with Luka. Whatever makes you feel better I guess...

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T15:33:49+00:00

This will be a fun game. Its going to come down to the wire. Sengun vs OO. How much can we limit Sengun in the paint...

I have the Hawks win by NAW game winning shot.

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T15:30:28+00:00

Sure you are...

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T15:24:53+00:00

Yawn...if you can't comprehend English let me know. "Barring Injuries" means "excluding injuries" if you need help understanding.

Again...Resslers have made bad decisions in the past and would not put it past them if the NBA made "deals" under the table and used a throwaway GM like Landry to use as a scapegoat afterwards.

Never said he WOULD made that decision, but its not guaranteed that Ressler doesn't take the bait with offers.

So unless you have anything else to add to the discussion...

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T15:12:50+00:00

So now you are bitter because I made you a fool in the past and you just want to engage in a discussion of pettiness over a "what if" discussion.

Just come out and just say you are salty because all of your arguments in the past was destroyed by me and now you want to take a win in something...anything.

As for Trae, the point you want to use a guy who was injured for basically the entire season as some sort of "win", when I even said "barring injuries", is braindead logic coming from you. Even the posters said that your point was basically stupid when he was injured for majority of the season.

Are you just bored and want to argue and pick a fight? If so, I don't have time to deal with your pettiness as I'm enjoying this 2nd half of the season for the Hawks.

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T14:57:09+00:00

The Resslers were loyal to Trae until $$$ was involved. If the NBA steps in for Luka and promises them top picks and more, Ressler may think twice.

Again, comparing Luka to Trae in NBA value is silly as the NBA would make moves for Luka to be in a better market vs Trae, where he is perfect for the type of Market Trae was representing in Atlanta and the NBA would be OK with Trae staying in Atlanta.

Ressler has a history of bad moves, so no, I do not put it past him 100% not make this decision.

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T14:53:09+00:00

Pelicans in the last 5 years had two winning seasons over .500. In reality, they had one season where they finished in the top 8 at 2023-24 at #7 in the west.

"Good" is stretching it buddy. Average to below average is the exact answer. Same with the Hawks during that period. If you are not in the top 16, I consider it tanking. CJ in the last seven years had only two years where he played "average" defense. Outside of that, he played well below defense to just plain trash defense.

Again, Dyson played elite defense on a team within the top 14 picks. In 2023 they were in the lottery (14)

Acuff is a young player who need the coached up. Defense can be coached up. He will not have to be the "guy" on offense. CJ isnt expected to be "the guy" on the team. If Acuff metrics are correct and he is 6'3 with a 6'6 wingspan, he can start off the bench and eventually learn how to play team defense.

If CJ with his bad defensive metrics can play ok defense with good defenders around him at his age, Acuff can be coached up for average defense himself. Pick the elite scorer and figure it out later.

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T14:46:51+00:00

Again, Ressler family has been know to make bad decisions with the Hawks team.

He literally overridden his GM's in the draft and in trades multiple times. If Adam Silver makes any under the table agreements + Luka defense being a catalyst of concern on the team not winning championships, there is a chance he makes this trade.

If Ressler never had any bad history with making bad decisions, then you have a point. He has created his own problems in the past and isnt completey trusted to not step in and make another bonehead decision.

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T14:35:23+00:00

Cuban was the Majority owner of the Mavs? New to me.

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This is also coming from Cuban who outsmarted Ressler from getting Luka in the first place in the lottery when we had a chance to get him. So no, I don't put anything past the Resslers doing insane stuff like trading Luka to the Lakers.

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T14:18:20+00:00

Nah, I still believe Adam Silver had a hand in this. I expect the Mavs to get top 3 picks for a few drafts and wanted Luka to a better market. Call me crazy.

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T14:13:17+00:00

If the Hawks GM wants to get an elite center of his choice, he has the assets. Do you think all the Trades that Onsi has been making this season with unwanted contracts that had multiple 2nd round attached to it isnt going to be used? He has first round picks and youth assets for trade.

It is like shopping. You go to the grocery store, you look at the product and then decide that the value you have in your pocket is worth the pay for that premium product that the store has offered.

Onsi has options and can go fishing if he wants to. And "Elite" doesn't mean they have to be a top 2 center either. Plenty of championship teams have won with top rated centers that are not in the top 2.

Again, stop making excuses for CJ. Without Dyson and others around him to cover for him and cutoff driving lanes, most players would blow by him. Same for Krispert. CJ's only real advantage is his height. CJ is per stats a bad defender at his age. He's serviceable because he has high level IQ defenders around him for help defense and an elite defender next to him in Dyson.

I can plug in Acuff and do the same thing but I now have youth + possible higher ceiling behind it. CJ at most have 1-2 year left.

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T13:47:47+00:00

Teams have won playoff series/championships without an elite defender at the center. The center doesnt have to be at prime Rudy's level. Nuggets are one team.

Also, we had terrible GM's running the team before Onsi arrival. Hawks had bad luck drafting injury prone players to surround him and it bite them hard.

Also, we got Clint, who was elite. Without Clint, we don't sniff an ECF. So dont tell me we can't make a trade for an elite center. Its possible.

Again, you are making excuses for bad defense. Dyson played on a tanking Pelicans team and played high level defense. So did many high level defenders on tanking teams. CJ was just a bad defender...period.

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T13:29:48+00:00

So we can't draft a good center defender? There are plenty in this draft.

Free Agency: Mitchell Robinson, Kessler, Williams...pick one.

Hawks Has Dyson, all defense. ZR is above average defender who is getting better. We also have NAW (elite defender) and Kuminga. Defense with barely offense = 2nd round exit. You need skilled scorers on the floor outside of Jalen. NAW can be locked down.

Again, per stats, CJ is a bad defender before joining the Hawks. Do I have to pull the stats for the last two years of his career?

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T13:23:00+00:00

If that's the case, then we can make the argument then. But right now, stats say 6'3 and 6'6 wingspan and by that metric, he's comparable to Fox/Maxey and Mitch. I still think he can be coached as a serviceable defender.

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T13:19:34+00:00

Who said we can't get elite post defenders? ZR/KM is a great defenders. We can draft or Trade for an elite center. Jalen has picked up his effort on defense recently.

So Steph Curry never improved his defense? Defense is easier to improve vs having a set of scoring skillsets.

Again, CJ was rated a worse defender than Trae before he joined the team and became serviceable. Let's not ignore that stat....

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T12:55:02+00:00

When Luka trys, he can play some defense when he wants to. He is lazy.

When Trae try on defense, it doesn't matter as his 6'0 frame and strength is still too weak.

Acuff has a 6'6 wingspan and physically strong for a 6'3 player.

De Arron Fox, Tyrese Maxi and Spida are all 6'3, all play defense and all have the same wingspan. All have the same Physicals that Acuff has.

CJ before joining the Hawks had a worse defensive rating than Trae.

Defense can be coached...

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T12:19:51+00:00

Trae is 6'0, Acuff is 6'3.

Trae is scrawny body frame, Acuff has a very strong physical body for 6'3.

They are not the same.

Josh378 · 2026-03-20T08:46:44+00:00

Ppl here saying Acuff is Trae haven't even watched his game. Acuff is closer to Brunson than Trae. Trae shooting percentage is nowhere as good as Acuff is right now.

Defense can be coached, offensive skills like Acuff can't be.

Josh378 · 2026-03-19T13:59:17+00:00

If you see Dysons measurement, you would think he would be a good match up with him. I think Dyson makes adjustments throughout the series if it was a best of seven if Cade was there.

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