All the right moves
The Hawks will have Mike Woodson back to start another season in the fall.
HAWKSVILLE - Hawks coach Mike Woodson is not going anywhere.
Hawks general manager Rick Sund made that clear on at least three different occasions Tuesday, on two different sports talk radio shows in the morning and later to me in his office.
Not that it was an issue or anything (laugh track goes here).
Woodson has one year remaining on his contract and Sund, while not confirming or denying any details pertaining to said contract, insisted that the Hawks would indeed “honor Woodson’s contract.”
(Last summer there was a legitimate question about Woodson’s future since his contract had expired. But when a coach signs a two-year deal, wins 47 games, a top four seed, and guides his team to the Eastern Conference semifinals in the first, questions about his job security, no matter what any of us here think of his performance, don’t register with the folks in charge of hiring and firing).
Read into that what you will. But it should be noted that several times throughout the nearly 60 minutes we spent talking, Sund praised Woodson and his staff numerous times for the job they did this season.
Sund’s making all the right moves leading up to the July 1 free agent frenzy. He hasn’t closed the door on anything (more below) and hasn’t thrown anyone or anything under the bus heading into the draft and what looks like it might be yet another long summer for the Hawks.
Those of you interested in continuing the debate about Woodson’s future are welcome to do so, but anyone else interested in moving off that topic and onto a few others, the rest of this blog is for you:
AFTER ALL, IT IS DRAFT LOTTERY NIGHT around the rest of the NBA.
And after years of being a major player in the lottery, the Hawks are on the outside looking in for the second straight year (which is a good thing if you’ve also made the playoffs for the second straight year).
Blake Griffin knows that all the ping pong balls in the lottery are pointing toward him as the No. 1 pick!
The Blake Griffin sweepstakes (win at your own peril) are almost over for those lonely teams like Sacramento, Washington and the Los Angeles Clippers – the three teams with best statistical odds of snagging the top pick in what doesn’t have the makings of anything other than a mediocre (at best) draft.
There’s no doubt Griffin is the big prize. But outside of the Oklahoma superstar power forward (and Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet, Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio and Smyrna native and Arizona star big man Jordan Hill), there’s a consensus that teams will do a whole lot of reaching for impact players in this draft.
“This is basically a two-man draft and Rubio,” a wise Eastern Conference executive told me today. “It’s Griffin and Thabeet and you have to figure out where Rubio fits in there, too.”
So where does that leave a team like the Hawks with the 19th pick (in a draft that is already light on big men and point guards)?
Basically in limbo.
Because if they hold on to their pick and wait and see what shakes out of the lottery and down into their hands, the best they can hope for is the proposition of choosing between the best player available and and someone who strictly fills a need (as opposed to an elite talent at a position that fills a need).
That’s if they hold on to the pick and don’t package it with another asset and move them for something they need more than a rookie swingman (again, you have to figure the best point guards and big men will be gone by 19) or project at another position.
“What they’ve got to do is find a player at 19 that makes the coaching staff play him every night,” that wise Eastern Conference exec told me.
I couldn’t agree more.
The last three players chosen at 19 in the draft:
Cleveland (and Marietta’s own) J.J. Hickson in 2008, Washington and (Atlanta’s own) Javaris Crittenton in 2007 and Toronto’s Quincy Douby in 2006.
Not one of them started a single game during his rookie season.
So if we go on recent history alone, the chances of the Hawks finding anything more than a rotation player at 19 are pretty slim. And in a weak draft, even that might be a stretch.
THAT’S WHY I CAN’T IMAGINE THE HAWKS ARE BANKING ON THEIR DRAFT PICK MAKING – OR BREAKING – THEIR SUMMER, as has been the case in years past.
You can’t with that sort of empirical data as your guide.
Besides, the Hawks have far more pressing issues in free agency, where they’ll have to deal with what Sund referred to as “moving pieces.”
The Hawks have more of those free agent pieces – Mike Bibby, Zaza Pachulia, Flip Murray, Solomon Jones and Marvin Williams (the only one of the bunch that’s restricted, as is Josh Childress, whose rights the Hawks still retain while he is living and working in Greece) – than any team likes.
A big summer for the Hawks could get even bigger if Josh Childress finds his way home from Greece! The Hawks still hold his rights while he's living and working overseas.
Tough choices will have to be made. And anyone not invested for the long run (don’t expect this process to be resolved quickly) is probably in for a tough summer.
I don’t suspect that Sund will be rushed into any deals. What with the tightening of belts all around the league, teams won’t be so quick to spend as freely as they have been in the past.
The free agent marketplace is sure to be constipated, just like all the other markets have been since the global recession began (no, the NBA is not immune).
That might actually work out well for the Hawks, if their quest is to keep the core of this season’s roster together as best they can. And from all indications, that’s exactly what their aim is this summer.
IN TODAY’S FINALE ODE TO THE NBA SUMMER, it seemed only fitting that I pass along yet another pertinent link to a home run story from my main man Steve Aschburner of si.com.
For all the bellyaching folks do about coaches and players (and officials, and beat writers and just about everything else), you at least know when you’ve got a good or a bad one.
But as the elder statesman points out, a good GM is really hard to find.
Here’s a taste:
“Hiring an NBA coach is like hiring a tax accountant: By the middle of April each year, you know exactly where you stand. Hiring an NBA general manager is more like hiring a financial advisor: He takes control of your entire portfolio, makes decisions for some distant horizon and assures you during the bumpy times that the plan is sound, that time and patience are your friends and, by the way, that past performance is no guarantee of future results.
And every once in a while, a franchise ends up flipping its keys to the basketball equivalent of Bernie Madoff.”
Make sure you read the rest!
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484 comments Add your comment
Publix
May 20th, 2009
5:37 pm
How is it that nobody is trading away JJ??? He has shown nothing but inconsistency. Take Joe and Zaza and send them to Indiana for Hibbert and Granger.
Resign Marvin and trade him plus the draft pick to Chicago for Ben Gordon.
Resign Bibby and trade him for Jack.
Now you look like this.
PG: Jack, Law
SG: Gordon, Murry
SF: Granger, Evans
PF: Smith, Lee David
C: Horford, Jones
PS: Trade Claxton for some Gatorade!
Rod from College Park
May 20th, 2009
6:01 pm
Melvin,
“Now only if we could get Marvin to be more aggressive like Melo.”
Please don’t hold your breath waiting on that. LOL
doc
May 20th, 2009
6:24 pm
funny do you notice folks are making trades with guys we dont have under contract or doing trades for draft choices under the same constraints of they are technically NOT on our team anymore? geez folks, wise up. right now the only tradable players under contract are jj, mo, speedy, josh, al, acie, randolph morris and the loose change of chills contract rights. any trade ideas has to come from within those boundaries if you dont want to show your severe ignorance or show us what a fantasy world you live in.
so what does that really mean?
right at this time rick sund has little to work with and that is why when we say he ha the fate f the hawks squarely on his shoulders, so he had better deliver or find a good alibi why woody forgot how to win with the players he has.
it also means we have little to talk about when it comes to trades.
SB
May 20th, 2009
6:25 pm
Would have liked to send Woody packing, but that’s a moot point now. I would like to see him bring in someone he trust to run the offense. He has to see his is horrible. Some one else said it already, It’s not how many games you won it’s how many you had a chance to win. The Hawks lost a lot of close ones that their offense lost down the stretch. They simply went to the same plays to many times. He should also do what Phil has always done and a-sign some one to watch Joe’s minutes. I think he, Josh and Al would be a lot better playing 35 or less min a night.
The Hawks should take the best player their at 19, and concentrate on free agency. Ramon Sessions and Anderson Varejao are the 2 players I would like to see the Hawks sign. I like Bibby but he was a defensive liability. His shooting is a huge plus but when the shots are not droping he’s useless. Sessions will push the ball a lot more and get Smith closer to the hoop. He can also put pressure on the ball and penetrate, 2 things we can’t do right now. Varejao is just all out hustle and will expect the same for everyone on the team. I would resign Marvin and Zaza. Flip’s role would heavily depend on Childress’s decision. Flip should not be the starting pg, he’s good in the role he is in. Also Flip looks for his shot first it would make our offense worse than what it is. He’s very good as a scorer off the bench and that’s where he belongs. If it where my choice I’d rather have Chill’s he’s not the scorer Flip is but a better all around game and Defender. I also think Flip will get some offers, If he’s willing to sign cheap I’m all for it. That said I think Flip will be back and the right to Chill’s traded. AC will likely be traded, Woodson has no plans for him. That’s not Sunds fault, Woody is in charge of playing time. I’d also like them to take a flyer on Robert Swift. He hasn’t done much in the NBA but he is a big with talent.
Starters
PG Ramon Sessinons
SG Joe Johnson
SF Josh Smith
PF Al Horford
C Anderson Verajoa
Bench
Flip Murry
Mo Evans
Marvin Williams
Robert Swift
Zaza Pachullia
others to fill out the roster
Mario West
Othello Hunter
Draft pick
These are not big moves but could be very good ones. I think this will improve us defensively and give us a better fast breaking offense. Woody would also play at least 9 of these guys nightly, lightening the load on JJ,Josh, and Al.
O'brien
May 20th, 2009
6:58 pm
Fellow Hawks fans, Check out Mr. Bradley’s article (Q and A with Rick Sund). To be honest, I was not impressed by most of Mr. Sund’s responses.
v8dreaming
May 20th, 2009
7:00 pm
my idea of trading j.smith and the draft pic to memphis to gasol wasn’t meant as a two for one…. gasol is the main guy… i’m just not familiar with who they have to throw in with him….
i would trade smith before marvin though. marvin is a better all around player than smith will ever be.
with horford then playing as a forward with marvin and gasol at center, johnson and bibby in the back court, (and a good bench player thrown in from memphis in the trade for smith) i see this team being at least 5 wins better than this year.
the icing on the cake would be to get chills back on top of it all.
then again, i’m just some random dude, not a gm. haha
Hoops
May 20th, 2009
7:10 pm
SB,
I like your proposal! I’m not so swift on Robert, but he is better than Solo!
The big concern that I would have with this lineup is the lack of outside shooting. Josh Smith has no outside jumper!
terrell barron
May 20th, 2009
7:23 pm
Hey Melvin your’re right. It sure felt like we lost 3 games in Miami. lol!
braveshater
May 20th, 2009
7:46 pm
Who cares! The Hawks will never win a NBA championship.
The Truth
May 20th, 2009
7:51 pm
When I wrote my comments regarding Sund I anticipated his answers based on the vibes I was getting from Mark prior to his Q&A acticle. Now that I read the acticle, he validated my points. Enough Said
JMar
May 20th, 2009
7:59 pm
Everyone is saying Memphis would be foolish to not draft Rubio and trade Mike Conley Jr. What do you think about trading our first round pick for Conley?
O'brien
May 20th, 2009
8:09 pm
The Truth, I couldn’t agree more.
Rick Sund said he would have been happy to make the playoffs without a winning record. Are you serious? We won 37 games last year, had Bibby for a whole season, added Mo Evans and Flip (lost Chills), but he would have been happy with a losing record and a playoff appearance?
Rick Sund feels that Horford is a center, and he believes the Hawks as a team, are big enough. Really?
I really appreciate the fact that Sund will take the time to speak to the media (unlike Billy Knight), but I am not impressed by his responses. Actually, I’m disappointed.
darrell starks
May 20th, 2009
8:22 pm
FIRE RICK SUND.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
niremetal
May 20th, 2009
8:31 pm
You folks are reading way, way too much into Sund’s “happy with 37 wins” statement. From context, it’s pretty clear that all he was saying is that the team’s W/L exceeded his expectations, given the loss of Childress and our home/road record last year.
niremetal
May 20th, 2009
8:33 pm
Also, you’re just foolish if you think that Sund (or any other decent GM) will tip his hand as far as what he plans to do. Just because he doesn’t say that he plans to go after a big-time free agent or make a blockbuster trade doesn’t mean that there actually will be no action. Smart GMs stay mum on their plans. So you can NEVER read anything into their silence.
Blast
May 20th, 2009
8:35 pm
Maybe Sund was trying not to play his hand, but I can’t believe he said he was happy with Hawks rebounding effort! Hawks were killed by Cleveland in rebounds! And AL is not a center. Sund better have something(s) up his sleeve.
And that stuff about making the playoffs on a losing record? That’s crazy, man. That’s just plain nuts!
Big Ray
May 20th, 2009
8:45 pm
Co-sign what Niremetal said.
O'brien
May 20th, 2009
9:20 pm
Big Ray, I agree that he wont tip his hand. I was just surprised that he would have been okay making the playoffs with a losing record this year.
One thing that we have talked about a lot on here is the bottom line. And the bottom line is Woody led the team to 47 wins, and it seems like thats all Sund cares about. So for those of us who complain about a lack of an offensive system, or lack of development, I get the impression that all Sund cares about is number of wins.
Blast
May 20th, 2009
9:34 pm
Refs straight up killing the Magic right now, just as they did Hawks. Come on! Cavs are good enough without needing help from refs. Guess NBA refs are equal opportunity screw ups! Screw everybody else. Favor the team you want to advance.
doc
May 20th, 2009
9:42 pm
read the sund report and wasnt too disappointed in any of his responses after all i had heard it on the radio plug aj made available to us yesterday. he didnt change a thing he said as if he had rehearsed it well. he is affable and talks within certain boundaries he makes and holds to them.
what you can see is his philosophy and maybe his preferences but the market doesnt let him do what he wants to do anymore than our playing fantasy gm for a day unrealistic to expect him to say something negative at all or comment specifically about a player. we have already seen how he can be smoked if he isnt careful. maybe he learned a bit from the chills fiasco. i really dont want to hear him say, i didnt see any possibility of that one, again.
this time next year we can make some conclusions of the job sund did, for now we can “observe”.
Hoops
May 20th, 2009
9:47 pm
JMar,
I would rather keep our pick and try to sign Sessions as a FA. We could pick the PG from St. Mary’s if he is still available.
Astro Joe
May 20th, 2009
9:54 pm
I think the other thing Sund was saying is that getting into the playoffs is far more important than the regular season record. And that is pretty obvious. The bottom line is getting invited to the party, not having one of the better looking invitations. So I read his statement as meaning that if he had his choice, winning record no playoffs (Phoenix) or losing record playoffs (Detroit), he would choose the post-season.
Mike is back
May 20th, 2009
10:32 pm
Man what a difference a game make…all you hear is the ref blowing their whistle. No wonder Cleveland is such a dominate team…they have the freedom to play aggressive on both ends of the floor without the threat of the refs. They can get up in u on defense without getting to BS foul calls…having said that …LBJ is one bad MF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My opinion of Sund interview… No wonder the Sund and the ASG adores Woody…they got the measuring bar on the ground. Heh heh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay Sekou, Woody is coming back not a big surprise…I will not digress. Sund and ASG needs to give the fans olive branch to help us get through another lame duck season…I say bring back Chill…give us Chill back and that will help ease our pain.
I say, if Sund could get Camby or KMan…via trade…plus get Chill and Anderson back in the fold…that would be an very impressive off season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For the last time…Acie is our answer for PG…don’t waste no more time drafting PG…we need help at the pivot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sekou I’m impressed…I didn’t think there was no help for Bradley…I stand corrected…HE’S STARTING TO COME AROUND…U THA MAN BROOOOOOOO!!
Big Ray
May 20th, 2009
11:20 pm
O’Brien,
I think all Sund was saying was that if you have a choice between making the playoffs and a winning record, then playoffs it is. Your team gets no playoff experience unless they play in them. Winning 42 or more games in a season when you’re 9th or 10 in the conference does nothing for you. You’re still the 9th or 10th team in the conference. You make the playoffs, you’re automatically at least 8th. I think it was an artful answer that is good for print.
In fact, Mark Bradley’s Q&A with Sund is full of those kinds of answers. I can appreciate a guy who moves like a savvy politician. Sund didn’t answer Bradley’s questions unless he wanted to. What he did was address the issues he wanted to, in the way he wanted to, and threw him a bone by answering the easier ones directly. He used some re-direction as well, along with a very small amount of misdirection that was disguised as re-direction.
A guy like that may sound like a politician, but he’s on the side you want him to be on.
Melvin
May 20th, 2009
11:21 pm
These refs may as well hand Lebron the trophy. This is murder. The Magic are getting the shaft….
Big Ray
May 20th, 2009
11:22 pm
Okay. I have to say it. After watching the Magic give as good as Cleveland can take, Lebron is now getting the calls in the last two minutes. Lebron is one point away from 50 for the game, and this follows on the heels of a 40-point outburst by Kobe against Denver.
Somewhere, David Stern is in a room alone with a bottle of lotion, and the friction is almost enough to start a fire…
Melvin
May 20th, 2009
11:24 pm
Big shot by R.Lewis. Now lets see if Lebron gets one of those phathom foul calls to end the game…
Melvin
May 20th, 2009
11:26 pm
Orlando stole game 1 from the Refs I meant the Lebronites, excludes me the Cavs…. I love it…
doc
May 20th, 2009
11:27 pm
good game and it shows we have a way to go. magic got what it takes.
terrell barron
May 20th, 2009
11:28 pm
How bout the Magic!
Big Ray
May 20th, 2009
11:29 pm
I think drafting a pg puts Acie on the spot, if he stays. If a “good one” falls to us, it’s not a bad pick. I don’t see any bigs in the draft that will fall to us, that we can make immediate use of.
Some have suggested Dajuan Blair, which may be the lone exception to that statement.
There is no guarantee that a pg picked up in the draft will get no playing time with us (yeah, I know, I laughed at the concept myself but hear me out). If Acie is still here, that will either push him to new heights, or push him out. That puts him in a win-lose situation, but it puts the TEAM in a win-win situation. Something tells me that a guy like Ty Lawson or Jeff Teague (or Johnny Flynn) will cause one of those two things to happen. Any guy like that who is brought in and is hungry/motivated/pushes hard, will earn his place as a backup or make Acie turn into somebody who cannot be denied court time.
The only other factor is how Woodson’s perspective on all of this, based on how many vets we have at that spot. Retain Bibby and Flip, and there may not be much reason to give any young, possible successors any serious burn.
This just in: The Magic just beat the “new NBA champion” Cavs in game 1, despite Lebron’s 49 points.
I’ll bet that stopped Stern in mid-stroke…
Big Ray
May 20th, 2009
11:31 pm
Melvin,
I figured they’d call a foul on the Magic at the jump-ball.
But apparently, Tim Donaghy is still in jail, and Bennett Salvatore only knows how to make calls on plays he can’t see….
terrell barron
May 20th, 2009
11:33 pm
And Lebron cramps up to avoid the interview. lol!! The Cavs offense started looking like the Hawks in the 4th qtr. Iso, Iso, Iso.
Melvin
May 20th, 2009
11:34 pm
Lets see what those Lebron jock riders TNT crew have to say about the Cavs lost….
Najeh Davenpoop
May 21st, 2009
12:04 am
Dang, am I the only person on this blog who wants the Cavs to win?
Mike is back
May 21st, 2009
12:05 am
GREAT GAME…HUGE WIN FOR THE MAGIC…DHOWARD WILL BE TOO MUCH FOR THE CAVS…PLUS HE HAS A BETTER SUPPORTING CAST…I HOPE LBJ IS OKAY…NO WAY THE CAVS CAN WIN WITHOUT HIM.
Man Kenny the jet Smith may have to stop eating cheese and start eating some crow if this keeps up…I think both the Eastern and Western Conference Final will go seven games.
A big shout out to my home boy DHOWARD…HE’S A MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
May 21st, 2009
12:07 am
Here’s another draft-related question… is it worth committing a guaranteed $2-3 million per year and rising for the next four or five years towards a rookie who plays the same position as Acie who is already owed guaranteed money for at least the next two years? In an offseason where so many key free agent decisions need to be made, it seems like a pretty significant waste of money for someone like Jeff Teague to pick up ass-splinters next to Acie Law and Mark Price.
If the Hawks can’t find someone that can make an immediate impact in the draft trading the pick is probably the best idea.
doc
May 21st, 2009
12:22 am
melvin, i heard sir charles say last weekend after the celt game that the magic would win the series against the cavs.
najeh, i wouldnt go that far but people love the under dog and though the magic shouldnt be that since they beat the champs they are as most have already given the trophy to lebron after the light load they had to carry against the hawks. magic have the confidence to beat the cavs having won 2 of 3 in the regular season and the cavs record against the best was mediocre.
Publix
May 21st, 2009
1:03 am
This GM will make a big move just to prove to the fans that he is not what we had in Night. We will have a new C and probably a new PG come next season.
Kevin
May 21st, 2009
2:27 am
this update King james n his chokealiers lost badly to orlando so folks looks like king jmes be watchin orlando vs denver in NBA finals…ha ha and hawks may keep a loser coach fine he should been fired and get get the former knick center from georgetown coach here.Oh after the king of james his sweep he be a New york knick player next year!
doc
May 21st, 2009
7:43 am
synosis of 680 interview with sund replayed today i guess from the other day:
complimented the team for being resilient during the season with key losses with personnel injuries without compromising the outcome.
he set the expectation and felt the team needed to win more than they lost and make playoffs. (in other words foks took his comment about one or the other out of context as aj implored).
during playoffs marvin, al and jj had significant injuries that would have kept them out longer if not for the playoffs
of the core, marvin, al and josh can get better, jj you want to stay al the same level and bibby is not expected to get better but likes his abilities.
would like to tinker with the roster a little bit, only there are a lot of moving parts. that could be good may be bad and be juggling a lot of things here and many things are out of his control in what others look for or want.
a lot is expected of the coaches as far as paper work. they are not to be done until after a week away from the season to get some closure before diving into the evaluation process that includes each individual evaluating every player in the league. this past week has been spending time with the scouting staff bringing him up to date.
cant prioritize personnel needs this year because there are so many moving parts in this particular off season.
chills camp playing it close to chest, he has to leave greece, then we tender an offer.
got a good nucleus, would like to keep the core or change it if necessary to make it better.
it is a process along the way in development to reaching the higher levels during playoffs so not disappointed in team or individuals performance, specifically jj. only disappointed he couldnt evaluate the team heathy which they obviously werent.
east is interesting, magic has better team, cavs the better individual player.
probably lakers in west, weird playoffs in general.
likes the hawks team because they can play both tight and on the fly.
zaza is a nice piece, wants to keep him if they can, sounded apprehensive about who might come calling.
jhan
May 21st, 2009
8:58 am
Let’s hear from the Lebron bashers – he passed up the game winning shot last night. I seem to recall JJ taking tremendous heat for passing up a game winner this year (in the regular season).
Does that mean Lebron is no longer a superstar – just a good player?
Astro Joe
May 21st, 2009
9:23 am
doc, thanks for the recap. I missed the 680 interview altogether.
jhan, great point. Sometimes the right play is to “trust your teammate” and make the pass to the open player.
Sautee
May 21st, 2009
9:45 am
Good question, jhan!
Folks, last night should show us just how far we have to go. Cleveland absolutely made us look like middle schoolers. And yet the number 3 team in the Conference just beat them on their home floor.
We may be the #4 team in the conference (this year, maybe not next) but there is a HUGE gap between where we are and where we will need to be to realistically compete for a ring.
Part of me is in agreement with Astro Joe (and Sund apparently) regarding having a nice few years of making the playoffs and winning more than we lose.
I guess that’s what you get when you’ve been down so long that being merely ok looks like up.
But the other part of me RAILS at the idea of “settling” for merely being OK.
Too competitive, I guess.
Astro Joe
May 21st, 2009
10:00 am
Last season, neither Orlando, Cleveland nor Denver were in the conference finals. Orlando and Cleveland both lost in the second round last season (Denver in the first round). This league is about incremental improvement. Sure, there may be an exception here and there. But Daly’s Pistons had to take out the Celtics after years and years of trying. MJ had to overcome Daly’s Bad Boys. It’s typically an iterative process.
ILL-logical
May 21st, 2009
10:00 am
After checking his stats, I believe Chris Kaman-who Sund tried to acquire for the playoff run but was over ruled would be a nice fit and an upgrade over ZaZa.He may be available and Calvin Claxton’s contract and JChills rights(he is from LA and face it people, he will not play for Woodson again)could swing the deal. Ramon Sessions is another player who could be a good fit: a vet; is 6′3″ and is a FA , making 700K. Downside is that he is shooting less than 20% from 3 point land.
These moves obviate big trades(but Marvin is history).
Houston is going to offer Bibby 3 years; the Hawks only want to go 2, and putting him in Marvin’s salary slot of 7 mill. Flip gets Jchills 5mill slot and ZaZa is offered 5mill but he will get offers foe 3 years at 7mill by several teams because he is a 8 year vet but only 27.
O'brien
May 21st, 2009
10:01 am
Anthony Johnson actually had a decent game last night. And the Magic let Mo Evans go, they drafted Courtney Lee (out of Western Kentucky) and signed Mickael Pietrus. Pietrus hit a couple big shots last night. But I guess it helps when you have 3 all stars on your team to shoulder the load.
I like Hedo Terkoglu’s game. And he only made $6.8 mil last year. A 6′10″, 220 lbs SF (could Marvin be a poor man’s Terkoglu?).
Volman
May 21st, 2009
10:11 am
I think the difference in the game last night was Howard. He definitely clogged up the lane and seems to be one of the only guys who can jump in the air, make contact with LeBron, and not get a foul called on him (though he was called for fouls multiple times). If Horford were to do what Howard did (jump in the air, make contact, and keep his hands straight up) it would be a foul everytime (phantom call at the end of one of the games in the regular season)
Also, you look at the Cavs’ support players (who torched us in the playoffs) like Wally, Mo Williams, and Delonte West and they did not do anything really. I did not even really see anything from Illgauskus (mostly because Howard is on him). Illgauskus could always score on Horford or Zaza and West, Williams, and Wally were knocking down big shots left and right for the Cavs. Last night was not the case, except for that one shot from West (but he DID miss the game-winner…same with Williams)
Ah well. the Cavs lost… LeBron “cramps” up…I love how he plays into the fact that he is just “working SO hard” and can’t go another step forward but will light the matches at pregame and flex his muscles whenever he gets a chance!
MannyT
May 21st, 2009
10:15 am
Recalling that “styles make fights” thing, Orlando matches up with Cleveland better than other teams in the East.
While I am not calling Hedu a defensive stopper by any means, he is tall enough to force LeBron to evade up versus simply looking over him. The more LeBron uses his strength inside, the more crowded the lane. Give me a crowded lane with D. Howard in the mix and I’ll take my chances over the course of a series.
Offensively, the other forward (that LeBron is not guarding) will always have an advantage on the other Cavs forward.Because both can score, that is the mismatch to exploit.
BWAF
MannyT
May 21st, 2009
10:19 am
Volman, also keep in mind that Howard is heavier than Horford and can get those hands up to the top of the backboard when needed.
I missed most of the game, but would you put this loss on LBJ (unlikely) or his supporting cast?
BWAF