Lang Whitaker is many things - executive editor of Slam Magazine, a columnist for SI.com, and most importantly, a die-hard Hawks fan. For 2007-08 , Lang will be sharing his thoughts on the team in an exclusive column for Hawks.com. Check back every Wednesday throughout the season to read his latest musings, and read him every day at www.SLAMonline.com

"Shaking Things Up"
by Lang Whitaker

I wish I had better news for you, Hawks fans. In a perfect world, I would sit before you today and talk about new Hawks center Pau Gasol, who would anchor our middle and run the floor like the wind. Or perhaps I could come to you and talk about how the Hawks acquired Shaquille O'Neal from the Miami Heat.

But no. Gasol went to Los Angeles and Shaq appears to be heading to Phoenix. (Hey, what about the Hawks/Heat replay we're all going to have to endure just because the Heat bench couldn't count to six and they took Shaq off the floor? The NBA should make the Heat choose: cancel the trade or cancel the replay. And I think I know what they'd choose.)

Last week, when I wrote about how something definitely needs to change for the Hawks, I thought for sure something would happen this week. We were coming off a 1-4 road trip out West, ending the trip with back-to-back losses by a combined 40 points. And of course, when things seemed to be at the worst, they turned around and we won our last two games (against Eastern Conference teams, but still). Now we coast into the All-Star break with the seventh Playoff seed, but also still struggling to reach .500.

So why should the Hawks make a move? The Hawks are better than they were last season, aren't they? We're progressing, right?

Yes and yes. But we still need to make a trade.

See, the Hawks are currently operating with a margin for error slimmer than Josh Childress in spandex. The 762 remaining members of Atlanta Spirit are not trying to get locked into paying any crazy contracts, and I can't say that I blame them, and neither should you -- hopefully we all learned something from the Chris Crawford incident. And while Billy Knight's done a great job not getting us wrapped up in any ridiculous long-term deals -- and Speedy doesn't count, because you better believe we wouldn't be paying him what we're paying him if his knee had been a concern back then -- there are still players on our bench who aren't producing at a rate commensurate with their salaries and/or draft positions.

At the same time, the Hawks have a very specific need: three-point shooting. The Hawks are next-to-last in three-pointers made this season. Outside shooting spreads the floor, which leaves other guys open. And there are plenty of dudes floating around the NBA who can, above all else, make three-pointers.

The trade deadline is approaching. For the Hawks to be certain we're going to the Playoffs, which we've talked about all year as an attainable goal, we have to improve our team.

From the outside-in, in more ways than one.

MAILING IT IN…

This week we hear from reader Farrell, who writes…

Lang,
The Hawks are just not at an elite level. I just saw them blow a huuuge lead to an even younger Trail Blazers team. In my observations of the Hawks, it has come to my attention that what we really lack is a true superstar. As much as I love our group right now with JJ, J-Smoove, J-Chill, Mar-Will, Al Robot, AC Slater, they are all just second bananas. None of these guys are ever going to truly become legitimate go-to guys in the NBA and that is what you need in order to succeed in the Playoffs and become true contenders. The only counter to that is to have one big time nucleus, i.e. "the Boston three party," and I don't think we have that, so here is my suggestion. It's wild but I want to know what you think of it: Dwyane Wade. The Heat are greatly struggling and will just keep going down especially with what Shaq said about his retirement. They are going to have to start rebuilding and with the way things are going right now you have to think Dwyane Wade is going to opt out of his contract. For the Heat, why not get as much out of it as you can? As for the Hawks it's perfect timing to make the trade before next season. Wade has battled injuries and seen his stock take a fall. The Heat also will begin the rebuilding stage this year. So with that having been said, why not try and give the Heat an offer they can't resist. We should offer them up Joe Johnson plus Marvin Williams. Both are great players and Williams has started to live up to his number 2 overall pick status, while Johnson has developed into an All-Star. With a high draft pick they can pick D-Wade's heir apparent, Eric Gordon. It'd work for the Heat. Plus, we have so much talent we could even throw in Zaza, or, in dire circumstances Josh Smith. None of these guys for the Hawks are future go-to guys but All-Stars nonetheless, however I can see Gordon fitting that mold. For the Hawks D-Wade could come in to a place with enough talent to contend in the JV league. He's D-Wade and we saw what he did in the Finals, but the Heat need to start over. Let's take a chance, Huh?

P.S. I don't have any basis on the financial part of the trade

You don't have much basis on any part of this trade, dude. JJ and Marvin? For a guy who might opt out of his deal? Come on. Next thing you'll tell me the Suns will take an aging Shaq in exchange for Shawn Marion!

Anyway, it looks like the Heat have started getting better on their own, without taking all our young talent. Now we've got to figure out where to get our help from. It doesn't look like it's coming from within, so we've got to scour the League and bring in someone, anyone.

It's time for the Hawks to pull the trigger and become a better team.

We're waiting...

Lang Whitaker is the executive editor of SLAM magazine and writes daily at SLAMonline.com. He can be reached at lang@harris-pub.com. The best email he receives each week will run in this column.