Dwight is actually having one of his better years since Orlando in terms of advanced metrics and per36 numbers. It's his best rebounding year ever and his highest ts% ever too. Not sure what's going on that they suck though, not watching their games.
They would've either won two titles or went up in a dysfunctional blaze of glory. I can see Draymond getting suspended for conduct detrimental to the team after punching Dwert in the face at practice. Its hard to go back in time and play butterfly effect...I think the hawks should trade Dwight as soon as possible instead of this Milsap nonsense, while he's still showing off his rebounding skills and the best place for him is Orlando.
I don't think Dwight is to blame for what's happening in Atlanta honestly. He seems more willing at last to play the type of ball he should play. That roster just isn't a good fit. He doesn't have a great creator and they don't have great shooters all over the roster. The great "what if" about Dwight is that team in Orlando. They had it setup perfect and they gave up on it.
That was an interesting note in that "Ringer" article today, Stan Van G accidentally ended up with a modern pace & space team due to injury in 2008 with an athletic P&R big in young Dwight but they didn't know how to keep it going.
Yeah read that. Dwight hated that system apparently because he wanted to be Shaq or Hakeem with post ups and they blew up a great system that got them to the finals. Was such a waste. I think Dwight has finally come to a place in his career where he sees the value in that system. Of course now he isn't the PnR defender he used to be and he's on a team without the elite shooting and it doesn't matter anyway.
He has been one of the best centers in the league by most stats. Its just centers don't matter anymore. He is 4th in PER. Tied for 1st in Rebr. 7th in RPM. 5th in RPM wins.
This really is the tragedy of Dwight's career. He could have been an All-Timer if he would have played to his strengths. It's baffling that he is so adamant on playing like Shaq and Hakeem when it's obvious that is the wrong approach for him.
Their main problem is their PG. When you have someone whose never started so far and now he has to play 30 plus minutes and he is still learning from the go, that's a huge issue. The performance from their PGs are very erratic. Of course, both Bazemore and Krover were playing like shlt and it doesn't help at all. This was a overachieved team couple years ago and now they are falling back to earth and it really should not surprise anyone. Lastly, their coach is overrated, I watch quite a few of their games, some of the in game adjustments were about the same level of JBB.
I like how after booing, Dwight sheepishly looks around at the other guys on the court like, "you guys see that? Wasn't that funny?" Dude's the Michael Scott of the NBA.
Dwight signs and everyone else bolts. Horford gone, Korver traded, Millsap next, Sefolosha soon after. Howard, Baze & Schroder? What are they doing in Atlanta? Rebuilding? Retooling? Spoiler
No the first time they did this. If you are not elite, get some return for expiring contracts is the way to go. I bet Morey will do the same or even more in the same situation.
In the east, from the 3rd spot all the way down to the 11th or 12th spot is a complete mess. There is no clear sign of any consistent good teams, so while it probably won't harm your chances to get into the playoffs and you also don't have much chance to win it all anyway. Why not grab some value for the expiring contracts? Which pretty clean those players you won't keep or they won't be back.
