If you missed it, Babcock has stated, now publicly, that he wishes to pull off another major deal before the draft this year, like the one that hauled in Shareef Abdur-Rahim and the #27 pick in 2001 for Lorenzen Wright, Brevin Knight, and the #3 pick in the 2001 draft (Pau Gasol).

He also stated he wishes this player to play alongside Jason Terry, Theo Ratliff, and Abdur-Rahim. And since he is likely to keep DerMarr Johnson in the backcourt with Terry, that leaves the small forward position to fill.

Of course, Babcock has built the Hawks based on flexibility in talents and roles, giving Lon Kruger the ability to mix and match based on the talent available. And with Abdur-Rahim able to trade roles in some instances with the small forward, one shouldn?t rule out acquiring another player as diverse as Shareef.

This all brings two questions to mind:

1. Who are the Hawks going to try and trade?

and

2. Who are the Hawks going to try and trade for?