**Lauren Williams**
Hawks GM Landry Fields is addressing the media post trade deadline and similarly to Media Day in Oct., *internal development continues to be a key focus for this team.*
Fields noted when asked about weighing the option of the team “getting worse” in the short term to make them better in the long term that he had *”no interest in tanking”*
I did ask him about the benchmarks they may have in place that will inform them on when to do something. *”It’s the measurements, it’s the things that we value. At the end of the day, some of that stuff is tangible. Some of it is intangible.”*
He talks a lot about patience and that they have to weigh the short vs. long term impact and that right now their focus is on the long term.
When asked if he could envision this team without Trae Young in future, Fields said,* “I haven’t even sat down and thought about that. I’m focused on what’s in front of me.”*
I asked about the TPE (which they have a year to use) from the John Collins deal, “it’s an important tool. It’s a helpful tool as we go into the summer post draft, free agency & when everything comes back into where we have these opportunities to externally change our team.”
I also asked about his philosphy on adding some size to the roster, “it’s definitely a focus of ours. It’s part of our objectives for the future.”
Regarding the buyout market, he said there’s nothing they’re doing right now but that they’ll keep they’re “keeping a pulse on that market, for sure.”
**Brad Rowland**
But Fields just noted recent “upticks” from players like Johnson, Okongwu, and Bey as factors in standing pat.
**Kevin Chouinard**
Landry Fields noted upticks for Okongwu, J. Johnson and Bey as factors in staying where they are at the deadline.
Landry Fields noted that AJ Griffin’s personal issues posed setbacks to his season and that he could see time in College Park soon. Also said that defense was a growth area for him.
Landry Fields on whether or not the pairing of Trae and Dejounte would work out out, and on the numbers on the sample size to date not looking great:
The sample size is getting larger and larger and larger, and assuming you’re looking at specific lineups, and defensive and offensive ratings, which can always be debated as well. Yeah, you’re starting to see that more and more. And, yeah, I can’t lie to you. The numbers speak for themselves on that. But we’re also interested in, well, let’s say they’re on the court together and based off the numbers, it’s not working out. Why is that? What are things that we can do for them in the development aspect to make it look more like the on/off lineups that I’m assuming that you’re looking at? And ultimately that then lays something out that is measurable. Those are things now that from a development standpoint that you can look at and say, ‘OK, can you progress in these areas?’ If f you can’t, then yeah, those are times like that – I’m not saying that’s exactly how’s going to happen – with any player where you have to consider the changes that everyone would then be asking and looking for at the end of the day.
Landry Fields, on his confidence Trae/Dejounte pair works out:
“I think those guys are competitors. I think that at the end of the day, they want to do what they need to do to win. And I would bank on that. I’m very confident in that. If that changes, then we’ll see changes.”
**Others**
When asked about if he could envision this team without Trae Young on it, Hawks GM Landry Fields said that is something that he has not thought about
Hawks GM Landry Fields to @MarkZinno & @sportsandra “patience is key”
**Hawks Fan TV**
Landry during this media conference was adamant on the fact that getting worse in the short term to help their long term plan is not something they envision. “No tanking” essentially.
Seems like we’re stuck in purgatory. Don’t want to tank, but don’t want to fully invest in the roster to be in a position to become a contender. Just in the middle (or slightly below mid)
[Full Audio](https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/atlanta-basketball/episodes/Ep–302ATL-and-29-Landry-Fields-2024-Trade-Deadline-Press-Conference-e2fj32n)
by Shade_Raven
11 Comments
His line on “resulting” killed me.
Is there anywhere we can watch this?
It definitely is disappointing as a hawks fan to see us not make a move this deadline after all of the rumors, but the key thing is that some of these rumors we heard were legit trash, so in a way it is good that we stood our ground and didn’t let our players get stolen from us for a trash return. For example, the Lakers wanted DJM for a pair of socks while the Pelicans tried to pull a fast one on us by trying to pry OO from us for a can of beans and a half eaten apple.
The off-season will be different. I expect moves to be made then.
Weighing the option of not getting worse in the short term to make this team better in the long term is exactly how we are stuck in this mid bowl. This FO and ownership think the fansbase are morons. Pick a fucking direction.
Defense is an area of growth. We could all tell by how you have done absolutely nothing to address it. Tony is going to employ a bunch of bums next year to avoid the tax. It’s becoming pointless to root for this team
Got Landry up there tellin bold face lies about using the TPE lmao
Where was this?
Invisible airwaves crackle with life, bright antennas bristle with the energy. Emotional feedback on a timeless wavelength, bearing a gift beyond price, almost free….
I’m pretty sure that Trae has something to do with the not tanking part.
All of this reads like the same ole corporate spiel nonsense. Legit nothing was actually said to justify the lack of ANYTHING being done at or before the trade deadline. If you can’t see the writing on the wall, Landry is nothing more than a yes man for the Resslers. The dude is not qualified to be a GM and I guarantee you he’ll be the fall guy in 2 seasons when the team inevitably is in the same hole we started from. The Ressler’s and the Hawks FO in general are a joke to the rest of the NBA front offices. This organization has no clue how to buy low and sell high.
So Bey has 3 good games and that counts as development? OO can’t grab a defensive rebound but that’s development?
Keep downvoting me but the days to Traes trade request is closer than appear.