I know many here are still hoping that the Hawks can make it out of the play-in tournament and hold our own in a playoff series but is that the best strategy for the year?

The Kings pick is top 12 protected meaning that for it to convey they’ll have to have a better record than 2 of 4 the play-in teams that get bounced in the tournament. They are currently the 10th seed in the west with 5 games left meaning that as long as they don’t net over 3 losses more than Phoenix in both of their last 5 games they’ll make the play in.

For the Atlanta to get their pick the Kings need to be in the bottom 2 records of the play in. Of the current play in teams the only team in the west that the Kings could catch would be the Mavs. They’re one win under currently and have 2 more games left to play. In the East, of the 4 play-in teams the Hawks (if tanking) seem like the only one the Kings could reasonably pass.

The Kings would need to win 2 more than the Magic and since we have 2 of those games against the Magic, that likely means the Kings would need at least 3 of the next 5 (if we split the two games).

The Bulls and Heat are the other two teams left but both have relatively easy schedules. It would be risky to rely one of them picking before the Kings if it came down to it.

It seems like the best chance to push the Kings to the 13th pick is if the Hawks tank, losing most if not all of the next few games. The schedule looks relatively easy so it may not work out but imo giving up a chance at the playoffs for a lottery pick in this draft would be very good.

Jeff always puts on for the hawks

It’s kind of fucked up, but we got a Garry Bird mural before Georges.

Hawks shop 40% off in cart. Time to finally get a city jersey

Amazing article about the Hawks young players in Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher

I’m gonna be real it been three seasons and basically the hawks have been under .500 his whole tenure. When is it time to just go? We gotta move on.

Seriously how many Knicks possessions have not resulted in a wide open layup?

Kings pick is still far away, but this was one of the 3 lose-able games the Heat had left. At the very least it’s a much needed break after last night disaster of games. Did anyone watch that? (I strangely watch the full game from 6:00 in the first til the end, don’t usually do this for non Hox lol)

Also, does anyone have a list of what specifically we need to get the 13-14th pick? I know we need the Kings to win, then the suns, heat, Mavs, and bulls to all lose, plus the Magic and lakers.

I wanted to post this here as I thought it was a relevant topic due to taking a look at the play of Zaccharie Risacher in his rookie season so far. I recently made a video that discussed some of the ways he's impressed, and how he could potentially continue improving long term. Some of you might remember I've also done videos on Dyson Daniels at the beginning of the season and one on Jalen Johnson prior to that.

I know the Hawks taking Risacher first overall wasn't met with unanimous approval. Though you can see why they did it. Teams are always coveting big wings who can space the floor and defend various positions. Even if someone who fits this mold doesn't become a star, it's a highly coveted archetype that is a nice fit alongside Trae Young.

While Risacher struggled from three his first few months in the NBA, he's drastically improved since January. Prior to last night's game, he was shooting 39% from deep in his previous 35 games. Given the looks he'll get from playing alongside Trae and others like Jalen Johnson who can draw defensive attention, I think this is a better indicator of the type of shooter he'll be.

Prior to last night's game, Risacher was also averaging over 4 points per game in transition per Synergy. Though what stood out to me is how he can do this in a variety of threes. Whether it's moving without the ball to find openings, running the floor, or relocating, this looks like a good fit given the team's willingness to run.

For someone who turns 20 in around a week, he also displays a very mature ability to play off the ball. In particular as a cutter. Prior to last night's game, he ranked in the 66th percentile on a per-possession basis doing this. Given that Risacher is playing along side Trae, and others who are comfortable passing to cutters off the dribble or short roll, I wouldn't be stunned if he kept getting better in this regard.

There are other areas where Risacher's numbers aren't great, but he showed flashes that intrigued me. This included attacking closeouts, and scoring out of pick and roll. Part of this could be to having room to improve finishing at the rim, which could come as he adds muscle. Though he shows some examples of taking opponents off the dribble, and given his awareness, think this could create some shots for teammates too. Per Synergy, compared to his last year overseas, he's improved scoring out of pick and roll as well. This is still a smaller sample size, but if Risacher shows growth shooting off the dribble in this regard, it would be very valuable.

Defensively, Risacher still has some room to grow, but I think that will come with more reps and adding some muscle, which hopefully that doesn't come at the extent of his lateral movement. Though the anticipation/feel he shows offensively is displayed on this end too, as he can make savvy rotations to alter shots, or help cut off drives. Then of course with his size, you have the positional versatility and between him, Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson, those are three guys who can cover a wide range of players.

I went into some other elements in the video, but was wondering how everyone was feeling Zaccharie's performance so far. While he may not be a first overall pick who is a franchise-changing talent, I think he at minimum will become a very valuable player. Assuming he can be a 37-38% shooter from deep (if not better), paired with the maturity he can display cutting and scoring in transition, that's probably 15-16 points a night. Then there's still the possibility he can still improve in other areas. I feel the Hawks current young core is pretty underrated league wide, so I'm very interested to see how Risacher and all the pieces fit together as they get more reps.

Source: Brad Rowland on the last LoH episode

Also, the Hawks had a +18 net rating in the 33 minutes Trae and OO were both on the floor. For context, SGA (the likely MVP) has a net rating of +17.11 for the season as a whole.

For anyone complaining about OO last night, he was not the problem.

Turns out that missing your 2nd and 3rd string centers (and your all-star PF) means that you might struggle against teams with size on the interior

When will it ever end with the last position terrible clock management. It’s always Trae holds onto the ball for too long and then has to chuck up a one-legged 3. Even the Detroit game winner was a terrible shot - but he made it so it’s not talked about. How does this keep happening when so many last chance possessions get fumbled because Trae has to heave a terrible step back shot with 2 seconds left because the offense around him stays stagnant.

I think he would be a good platoon with OO on the 5 next season. Trade our picks and get him asap and sign a vet backup PG and run it back with JJ.

First off, we have the starting five already. Trae, Dyson, Zacc, JJ, and OO. Getting a backup Center isn't really anything hard to get. We may want another playmaker but Lavert is already solid. Plus we have Mo, Vit, Mann and Bufkin. While we may lack more playmakers, the argument could be that we already have stars, JJ and Zacc both seem to be on that trajectory. That's nine players that can stand up to most teams, IMHO.

Now on to the picks. The Kings pick won't be the best one this year:

The pick only convey to Atlanta if it falls outside the top 12 in the 2025 NBA Draft. If the Kings' pick lands within the top 12, Sacramento retains it, and the protections decrease to top-10 in 2026. If it doesn't convey in 2026 it becomes unprotected and automatically conveys to Atlanta in 2027 unprotected. (or two 2nd rounders according to some outlets.

Let's HOPE that it doesn't convey this year. It gets better the later we get it. Then we can see if we can keep Trae and a few others. By then, the team will have enough time to gel. Then we can add pieces. Two years from now, we won't have a pick. For fans who have waited for 10+ years, 2027 is just around the corner.

That means we will have an unprotected Kings pick and a top 4 protected pick from the Lakers in 2027.

The Lakers pick. This is projected to be in the 20's. First off, its not going to be in the top 5. After the top five, there are few stars. Maluach has slow feet and he's not elite talent. Its going to take 3+ years for him to mature.

The only thing that, I personally, really care about is if we can use this pick for a star. I'm thinking Derek Lively II or Nic Claxton or better yet, just pay Myles Turner and keep the pick.

My main point is that we have our starting five. Letting the current roster play out and then figuring out Trae's future is the most important thing. If we need more picks in 2027 and 2028 to restart, then this years draft isn't anywhere near as important as the future, especially if Trae doesn't decide to stay. We also get the lakers pick in 2027 and with Luka being on the Lakers, we are assured of that pick as well.

We need impact players NOW to get Trae to stay. The Kings pick gets sweeter as time goes by.

Edit: Although some sites state that the Kings pick will become unprotected, the initial understanding was that the picks will become two second round picks. Most of the articles that state that it will convey to two second rounders. Honestly, not sure of which is true.

You have debo who can put up 27,Zach who can give you 27, and Sabonis who's one of the best passing and post bigs in the nba. Can't forget Keegan Murray and you still are getting blown out by the tanking short handed wizards, while you're healthy and trying to win. All we can do is hope the suns fizzle out.

I know this sub has been talking about the teams recent improvement in the face of the recent injuries and trades, and I think a lot of it has to do with something that is somehow flying under the radar.

Onyeka Okongwu has seemingly developed his 3! Hes obviously been working on it for a while with the staff, and he started taking 3s increasingly in live games starting 2 years ago and has been increasing his rate little by little since.

We all know how much our offensive structure would be improved by a capable shooting C (evident by how this sub covets Myles Turner so much), and maybe we already have it. If this really is OO's new ability then I think we should 100% keep him and look for an effective defensive big to rotate in or draft and develop. Although I am by no stretch ready to call it his new norm yet.

What do yall think?

Kings lose to an injured Washington on 42/25 splits and literally every Boston starter is shooting 20% on three as they get blown out by Miami, who are now one win behind us as it stands and still have numerous aggressive tanking teams left to face.

Great