Superman’s return!
Superman has put the entire league on notice with his performance in these playoffs.
HAWKSVILLE - Next time I’ll listen.
In the wake of the Hawks’ being swept out of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Cleveland, people that watch NBA basketball as much and as hard as I do kept warning me that Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic would end the reign of the King (LeBron James).
No one was more vocal about it than Tracy Johnson (Joe Johnson’s uncle) of Little Rock, Ark. He warned me several times, and he actually started during the Magic-Celtics series, not to put too much stock in Cleveland’s four-game demolition of the Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The “matchups” would carry the Magic, he said. And he was right. The Cavaliers never did find an answer for Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. I’m not sure they made a sincere attempt to find an answer.
Well, there is no answer, at least not a one-man answer, for Howard, who has stolen James’ thunder as the youngest and most promising NBA talent in these playoffs.
Tracy’s warnings went beyond the playoffs, though, extending to the Hawks’ issues in the Southeast Division – if you haven’t noticed already, there’s a big bad bully on the block now in the division and the Eastern Conference and it’s not the King (who remains the most mercurial talent of his generation).
It’s Howard.
Even worse for the Hawks and everyone else, there is no Mickael Pietrus for Howard. Pietrus effectively harassed James long enough on the defensive end to allow the Magic’s other matchup advantages to swing the series. And when given a choice between defending the Magic’s 3-point shooters or double-teaming Howard … the phrase pick your poison doesn’t do it justice.
Now, the rest of the division, the Eastern Conference and perhaps the league (depending on what happens in the NBA Finals) must figure out how to build a team capable of beating Howard’s Magic.
YOU WON’T FIND A SOLUTION FOR HOWARD IN THE NBA DRAFT. No one stacks up physically, shoulder to outlandishly buff shoulder to the former Southwest Atlanta Christian star.
And the measurements from the NBA’s pre-draft combine in Chicago made that abundantly clear. Our friends at DraftExpress (one stop shopping for all things draft) were kind of enough to compile and share this handy chart for our viewing pleasure. To say this draft is light on big bodies would be an extreme understatement.
By my count, there are only 12 players that measured a legitimate 6-9 or taller. Just 12. That’s not exactly a smorgasboard of options for teams in need. The bigger question is where have all the big boys gone?
That shallow pool of bog bodies makes the prospect of locating a quality big man in this draft extremely difficult for teams picking outside of the lottery (teams like the Hawks).
Chasing a big man in the draft can be a dangerous proposition. Exhibit A, Shelden Williams.
Still, I’m hearing rumblings that North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough is one of this draft’s risers right now. The Hawks are in need of help along the frontcourt but I was thinking someone bigger than Hansbrough. Still, if they’re on the board at 19 and have Hansbrough rated higher than any of the point guards available …. it’s happened here before folks (Shelden Williams over Brandon Roy ranks up high in the draft gaffe Hall of Fame). You know it as well as I do. NBA executives always tend to value size over anything else, to their own detriment most times.
My two favorite point guards in this draft, North Carolina’s Ty Lawson and Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn, are nearly identical in every department (a shade over 6-foot, a couple ounces over 195 pounds depending on what they ate for breakfast that day). I’m a lot less interested in their combine numbers than I am in what they do when the big lights come on. And both of these guys get it done come game time.
IN ADDITION TO THE DRAFT CHATTER, FREE AGENT AND TRADE TALK IS HEATING UP around the league. That’s always a good thing for us, since the prospect of something that’s virtually impossible always seems to generate a greater response than anything remotely possible.
The Hawks won’t be the only team scouring the NBA landscape for frontcourt help this summer. Apparently the team that vanquished them in the playoffs is in need of a little updgrde up front as well, per my man Bob Finnan of the News Herald in suburban Cleveland.
One player mentioned in Bob’s story that will no doubt be mentioned in many others as the summer drags on is Hawks reserve center Zaza Pachulia.
Every playoff team in need of a depth along the frontline is going to be interested in a player like Zaza, for obvious reasons (he has the size, experienced and ability needed to play a vital role for a contender plus he’s going to be affordable for most teams because he’ll command a salary around the mid-level exception over the course of the next three or four years – similar to the four-year $16 million deal he just finished up with the Hawks).
The Hawks can ill afford to lose a quality big man like Zaza Pachulia in these trying economic times around the NBA.
Pachulia’s an unrestricted free agent, meaning the Hawks will have to compete to keep him. And I’m not sure he isn’t there most crucial free agent they need to retain because of the dearth of quality and affordable bigs on the market.
I know several of the Hawks’ competitors in the Eastern Conference are interested, I’ve spoken to executives from four teams that have brought his name up in our conversations over the past two weeks.
There are other guys in that realm with higher profiles (guys like Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess, Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith and others) that are a bit of a risk compared to Pachulia because they’re older and perhaps will command a bit more money (in the case of Wallace).
I thought Pachulia was a monster bargain when the Hawks snagged him initially. The expectations were raised after his first season with the team, when he was thrust into a starting role and flourished after Jason Collier’s sudden and tragic death. Pachulia for anything near the same price right now is an equally monstrous bargain.
I know everyone is always interested in upgrading. But sometimes it’s not nearly as easy you might think to get a better bang for your buck. And whatever you think of Pachulia, he’s a good bargain for a player with his credentials.
BACK TO THE DRAFT BUZZ, the one player’s name that keeps coming up in all the conversations I’m having with people is Jrue Holiday. The UCLA point guard, who has yet to cement his draft situation by hiring an agent, is following in the footsteps for former Bruin and Oklahoma City standout Russell Westbrook.
Both players played alongside a pretty good point guard in his own right (Darren Collison) and both played in the ultra-structured system of Bruins coach Ben Howland, so like Westbrook, there’s likely a lot more to Holiday’s game that we haven’t seen yet.
Holiday’s work at the pre-draft camp, coupled with his fantastic size (6-4 and change and a solid 200 pounds) and tremendous ceiling (he’s just 18) has done wonders for his stock with NBA types. If he decides to stay in the draft, he’s all but worked his way out of the Hawks’ range at 19.
Holiday's stock is on the rise after impressive showings in workouts and at the Chicago pre-draft camp.
While the buzz about Holiday intensifies, the buzz about fellow California teenage point guard Brandon Jennings appears headed in the opposite direction. A less then stellar showing in Italy this past season didn’t help the preps-to-Europe trailblazer’s cause, though I can’t imagine what anyone expected of him making that kind of transition (I’ll be curious to see if their are similar, oversized expectations placed on Ricky Rubio if his first year in the NBA is next season).
Jennings reportedly spurned an offer to work out at the Reebok Eurobcamp (their version of the pre-draft camp), sending NBA executives scurrying to find answers as to why he would pass up an opportunity to “compete” in front of the assembled brass. But what more do you need to see from Jennings to make an adequate assessment of his game?
If you need more on the draft crop, though, check out the athleticism test results from the pre-draft camp (courtesy of our friends at nbadraft.net, yet another fabulous site devoted to all things draft).
SPEAKING OF EXPECTATIONS GONE AWRY, I CANNOT BELIEVE FOLKS ARE STILL groaning about the Marvin Williams-is-not-Chris-Paul madness.
I know it hurts for some of us to do this, even after all these years, but it really is time to let go. Just throw darts at your Billy Knight poster for the rest of your life. But let it go.
And for the record, Marvin wasn’t the No. 1 pick in that 2005 draft. That honor belonged to Milwaukee’s Andrew Bogut, who has yet to distinguish himself as anything other than a wanna-be-dominant NBA big man (I’d argue that Toronto’s Andrea Bargnani is looking like a better pick these days).
Marvin’s first four years have been respectable and far from bust material (anyone seen Darko Milicic in a uniform lately? Anyone. Anyone. Bueller?).
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552 comments Add your comment
I.MUS WRITE- INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY
June 5th, 2009
12:24 pm
Ant- All day long…… 7 ft jumping jack with a 7′9 wing span, I think he would be a good compliment to Horford and Smoove. Mcgee would give up 3 athletic long guys to man the paint. i would rather have him than any C/Pf in the draft with the exception of Blake Griffin
Good points about Ac/lawson…… I cant see woody playing any rook pg significant minutes,unless the guy is all world and just takes the job.
I think there are pg’s that we may be able to get at 19 -who are better players than Mr.law .
1.Flynn
2.C.Jerrels
3.E.Maynor
4.T.Rice
When are we gonna wake up and just admit that Ac was not worthy of the 311 pick….What has this guy done, to make people fall in luv with him???? We pulled the plug on Sheldon and deservingly so, Itz time to take Acie off the breathing machine……FLATLINE…
Sum people are truly kidding themselves if the think Law is the answer to our Pg situation
ant banks
June 5th, 2009
12:42 pm
celts are shoppin’ ray allen and rondo for a package deal. would they take marvin, law, and speedy?
that’s the diff between our gm’s and other teams. they ain’t afraid to pull the trigga to get a deal done.
darrell starks
June 5th, 2009
12:45 pm
ANT BANKS i have a team that can compete with the CELTICS, CAVS, SIXERS, MAGICS, PACERS, WIZARDS, BOBCATS, BULLS, HEAT.
STARTER ACIE, JOE, CHILL, JOSH, BOSH
BENCH FLIP, MO, HAKIM WARRICK, CHARLIE V, ZAZA,
RESERVE SOLO, WEST.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
G-Man
June 5th, 2009
12:46 pm
ant banks,
Really? Where was our gm when amare stoudemire was coming to atlanta? What about when we could have had barbosa or calderon for chill in a sign and trade?
G-Man
June 5th, 2009
12:49 pm
I.MUS,
I like jonny flynn too, unfortunately I don’t see him dropping to 19. However, you never do know for sure
darrell starks
June 5th, 2009
12:50 pm
Lets pull the deal ANT BANKS horford marvin 19pick for bosh lets do it now rick sund raptors will take that deal in a heart beat knowing that bosh will be gone in 2010.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!
Astro Joe
June 5th, 2009
12:55 pm
If we have nothing better than a #19 PG, who will likely be the 7th or 8th PG chosen, then sure, Woody will play him. He played Smith, Marvin, Horford, Salim, Childress & Shelden. He played Law before he got a clear upgrade at the position.
And maybe, the difference between Lawson and Acie could be jump shot and distribution skills. And if it makes anyone feel better, Woody has certainly been willing to play rookies who are coming off of NCAA championships (Marvin & Horford).
Astro Joe
June 5th, 2009
12:58 pm
Trading 3 more years of Horford at less than $6M per season for potentially one year of Bosh is straight STUPID. Whew, had to get that off my chest.
G-Man
June 5th, 2009
1:03 pm
Astro Joe,
That is an interesting statement about woody playing championship winning rookies.
darrell starks
June 5th, 2009
1:14 pm
I have a rumor thats going around that i heard from satelite sport show in philly JOE JOHNSON FOR THADDEUS YOUNG AND SAMMY DALEMBERT if RICK SUND make this trade fire his a$$ now.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
O'brien
June 5th, 2009
1:20 pm
If I’m not mistaken, Acie had a very good jumper (including 3 pt range)his senior year (Mr. Clutch at A&M), so to say Lawson has a better jumper, we just dont know how he will shoot in the NBA.
I hope Sund has a crystal ball, because he needs to have an idea of what will happen after July 1, in order to make those draft picks.
The bad thing for the Hawks, is they could be left holding the bag. Or they might be forced to overpay if they really want a guy to come here.
darrell starks
June 5th, 2009
1:22 pm
This rumor is true if rick sund make this trade this will be the worst trade in the history of this franchise fire his a$$ now.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
I.MUS WRITE- INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY
June 5th, 2009
1:49 pm
I would love to have Bosh here but only if he signs a deal first….Not intrested in a one year rental. Rondo? Allen…. Hmmm If we could give Marvin, Speedy expiring,Law,future pick.
Im all over that trade. then we could go out and get Charlie V before Cleveland does -he could easily replace Marvins production.
Rondo/Allen/JJ/Smoove/Horford … Thatz a trip to the conference finals if not the finals, but itz not gonna happen becuz -we are reactive instead of proactive…We never get in the mix of things -just sit around and wait all summer- to see who we can get for the cheap cheap….JEEZUZ
cp
June 5th, 2009
1:55 pm
darrell starks I read about that Joe to Philly rumor yesterday. That would leave us with no sg and I don’t see one in the draft helping us that much at all. I like Thadeus but we already have Marvin. Dalembert has an ugly contract. The only way this would work is to sign and trade Marvin for a sg but I just don’t see Sund making this move.
The scouting report I have read also say they don’t like Lawsons low release. Say he might have trouble at the next level because of his height and low release. To be honest Law was regarded as a better pg than most of the guys that will be available when we pick at 19 so I don’t see how people think a pg at 19 will start or get major pt over a guy who was regarded as one of the better pg’s coming out of college. Woodson wants a vet pg not a rookie running the show.
ant banks
June 5th, 2009
2:00 pm
ASTRO JOE- i 2nd that emotion, tradin’ jj for dalembart
Darrell Starks and Astro-do you think that 18 other teams will let ty lawson fall into our laps?
SWAT Native
June 5th, 2009
2:02 pm
@ Melvin,
Toronto’s problem is that I hear that Canada has something like a 60% income tax, so even if they pay a market salary a player gets to keep less of it. Compare that to playing in Florida where there isn’t even a state income tax and it’s a big difference.
ant banks
June 5th, 2009
2:04 pm
ASTRO, OBRIEN, STARKS- have you all heard that celts are shoppin’ rondo and ray allen? would you trade jj/marvin/1st rnd pick for that?
I.MUS WRITE- INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY
June 5th, 2009
2:05 pm
G-Man -Flynn is my guy, i’ve been following him since highschool/ All American game. I like his athleticism and ability to run a team, good passer too- that man just plays with a swagg and I think who eva passes him up will be kicking themselves later.
Rondo and Ray on the blocks huh? I wonder if they would take Marvin,Speedy,Chillz rights,Future pick. Probably not but a line up of
Rondo/Ray/JJ/Smoove/Horford would be sumthing serious. Then we get Charlie V before Cleveland does to replace Marvins Production
LLAW/Flip/Charlie V/ZAZA/ Terrence Williams/Toney Douglas
I dont think I would do the JJ trade to Philli unless they gave us -Thad/Louis williams/ and their 1st…… Woah even that doesnt seem like equal compensation
If were talking trades -JJ for Rondo and Ray -then draft a Sg to replace jj and eventually Ray
I can see talent all over Austin Daye but im not sure becuz of his weight and strength- 6′11 -192 He couldnt bench 185 once- which is a red flag to me but as i recall Durant couldnt either and we all know his story……Jus sumthing to think about
darrell starks
June 5th, 2009
2:19 pm
That trade joe for young and dalembert make no sense rick sund unless they are cutting payrole ASG NEED TO SELL THE TEAM.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 5th, 2009
2:21 pm
HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH THIS ASG STUFF PLEASE SELL THE TEAM.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
O'brien
June 5th, 2009
2:28 pm
ant banks, I would not make that deal. Isnt Ray Allen like 34? JJ is still a couple years from 30, and Rondo would not be as effective on this team (no KG and Kendrick to defend the paint), and playing for Woody (Rondo’s jump shot is inconsistent).
Astro Joe
June 5th, 2009
2:30 pm
Ant, I don’t think Lawson is that highly regarded by the talking heads, relative to the other PGs in the draft. So yes, I think there is a very good chance that he is available at #19. But keep in mind, there would likely be 6 PGs chosen ahead of him. Excuse me if I don’t get overly excited by having the 7-8 best player at his position. Pundits are claiming that the top PGs include Rubio, Jennings, Holiday, Flynn, Curry and Maynor. Supposedly, Teague and Lawson will battle for the next spot.
Law had a clutch jumper but I’m not sure that he had a more consistent jumper. It’s rare to see someone who can consistently knock down a 20-footer in college but can’t hit that identical shot while wearing an NBA logo. No doubt, dude was super-clutch and carried a no-name team into national prominence.
If Sund trades Joe for Young & Dalembert (which is likely wishful thinking coming out of Philly), then he needs to fire Woody and hire Keith Smart or someone who will constantly push the tempo. And he better draft someone like Budinger or Terrance Williams at #19, and he better get Philly’s #17 pick as well. That way, he could conceivably “re-build” around a roster that includes Dalembert, Horford, Smith, Young, Eric Maynor, Terrance Williams/Chase Budinger and whatever pieces he adds around those guys.
Astro Joe
June 5th, 2009
2:35 pm
I wouldn’t touch Ray Allen. He made some clutch shots in the plyoffs but he also showed that he is clearly at the end of his career. And I just read that the Celtics are considering trading Rondo because his teammates aren’t big fans. Evidently, dude has too many mood-swings. If he ticked off an easy-going coach like Doc Rivers, well, heaven only knows what would happen with Woody around.
ant banks
June 5th, 2009
2:41 pm
personally, i would not mind doin’ a one yr rental on bosh. we made the 4th seed without him. i think that with him, and non of our main players missin’ time due to injury (smoove, horford, marvin) i think that would be 12 more wins a possibly a 3rd or 2nd seed.
his 15 mil would come off jus’ in time for the f/a class of 2010
newkid
June 5th, 2009
2:46 pm
Joe, careful about reading too much into the evaluations done by talking heads. Most had Marvin ahead of Paul and Williams; Rondo was picked south of #20; Monte Ellis didn’t make the 1st round, nor did Agent Zero. Why would we spend the time and dollars to build an effective player evaluation system if we’re going to simply rely on opinions of talking heads?
Melvin
June 5th, 2009
2:57 pm
SWAT,
Good point…
Astro,
I’m sure Woody wants no part of Rondo especially while he got his hands full with JSmoove. Besides, wasn’t Josh and Rondo teammates at Oak Hill? I can see them putting the double team on Woody now… WAF
Melvin
June 5th, 2009
3:01 pm
Newkid,
Good point…
Astro Joe
June 5th, 2009
3:12 pm
newkid, sure, talking heads can’t judge the intangibles of a player. But since I don’t have the time nor resources to perform my own scouting, what other choice do I have? So I’m left with the standard resources most others use.
O'brien
June 5th, 2009
3:14 pm
ant
No way the Hawks give up Josh Smith for a one year rental for Bosh, and I dont blame them. If Bosh doesnt resign with the Hawks next year, then we are looking for a power forward again (although Boozer might be there if he doesnt opt out).
The Hawks should trade for Bosh only if they plan on offering him a near max deal next season. Bosh is looking for a (max) deal. Will the Hawks give it to him, and have the money to resign JJ, and resign Marvin? I doubt it…and the ASG is not going to spend that kind of money).
ant banks
June 5th, 2009
3:29 pm
this hype over the f/a class of 2010 reminds me of the hype of the new millenium. my grandmother still has cans of potted meat and bottled water that she bought waitin’ for doomsday to strike on at midnight of dec. 31, 1999. then the next day came and nothin’ happened!!
i don’t think that there will be any major moves durin’ the f/a of 2010, because the original team can offer the MOST money. watch what i am tellin’ you, the f/a period of 2010 will be jus like the day after dec. 31, 1999, NOTHIN’ HAPPENED!!
Astro Joe
June 5th, 2009
3:47 pm
Hmmm, potted meat! Reminds me, I wonder if those vienna sausages are still edible? Will find out this weekend.
Melvin
June 5th, 2009
3:48 pm
Ant,
LMAO at your 3:29 post. I remember expected Doomsday (1/1/00)…
Obrien,
Why do you find it hard to believe that the ASG wouldn’t pay
Bosh/Joe the max? Didn’t they pay Bibby/Joe the max this past season along with the approval for Sund to spend over the cap to pay Chills…
Melvin
June 5th, 2009
3:50 pm
Astro,
If these gas prices continue to rise, I may be eating vienna sausages too..
newkid
June 5th, 2009
3:58 pm
For my part I’m a results guy Joe. When a system that’s employed to effectively evaluate players and yield the best decisions and results consistently produces marginal to poor results, I stake out my ground by criticizing the system. Like you, I haven’t an independently developed player evaluation system, but the results produced by the ‘professionals’ in ASG-land don’t often escape the naked untrained eye. Sund shouldn’t listen too much to my player evaluations, but he ought to be held to account if he – using his highly priced system – continues to fail, fail, fail. Something or someone (or perhaps both) needs to go if the combination of owners, in-house basketball intelligentsia, GM decisions, coaching prowess, or players’ performances aren’t moving us expeditiously to competing for – and winning – the O’Brien trophy.
I enjoy watching and winning 47 games, but couldn’t care less about getting to 47, or 50, or 55 – and don’t get too enamored with the athleticism or other attributes of this or that athlete – if we’re not about doing everything possible (and not in 2015) to win the O’Brien trophy. Sund, Woody, and the ASG should fix those things necessary to arrange an impending romantic rendezvous with L. O’Brien, or get out of town.
Astro Joe
June 5th, 2009
4:28 pm
newkid, Sund failed when he was picking later in the lottery. Maybe he will find some gold where he’s picking later this month. BK obviously struggled at the front of the draft. Although he never had 3 consecutive picks as bad as Petro, Sene and Swift. I assume that the scouting/player evaluation staff changed when Sund was hired. And hopefully, he didn’t bring in the guys who convinced him that any of those centers were the right choice.
Frankly, the large contracts Sund gave to guys like Wilcox, Watson and Collison are just as disconcerting to me as his draft picks. I can forgive a draft mistake far more easily than I can a free agent error.
O'brien
June 5th, 2009
4:33 pm
Calling all cap experts, could you tell me what is the max (salary and number of years) Bosh could be offered next year (both from his current team, and from another team). Much appreciated…
Melvin, they traded for Bibby. And they had to pay Joe that salary to help entice him to come here. I just dont see them willingly paying Joe $16-18 mil, and also paying Bosh $16-20 mil. Especially based on Sund’s bargaining (wait and see approach) style
However, it can be done, because Orlando has a payroll similar to the Hawks, and they are paying Rashard $20 mil per year, while Howard gets $17 mil per, and Jameer Nelson makes almost $8 million. Thats $45 mil in 3 players.
ant
I’m with you. If I’m the Hawks, I make that deal for Bosh (giving up Josh and something else), as long as the ASG is willing to offer Bosh a big contract next year. How long must the Hawks (and Woody) continue to wait on Josh Smith to be more consistent, develop a jump shot, play within his limits, and get to the next level?
Big Ray
June 5th, 2009
5:00 pm
Newkid,
Agreed completely.
Astro Joe,
What I can’t get away from is how Law played in the preseason this last time around. He wasn’t just steady, he was good. Shot over 50% from the field AND the arc. And he was playing starter’s minutes. There was nothing wrong with his jumper then, and he was playing against other teams’ starters.
I really have no explanation for it all. Perhaps Law has spent more time trying to be a pure point guard, rather than the initiator and provider of offense that he was in college. The other thing is, when he’s on the court, I see a lot of well-controlled play. But I see a guy who’s also not looking to shoot most of the time. And who can blame him, considering who he’s on the court with.
On the subject of Rajon Rondo: I may not be the biggest Woody fan (you can laugh out loud at the understatement) but having a guy around that drags the mood down like that does NO coach any good, and no coach deserves to put up with that foolishness (unless he insisted on acquiring the guy, knowing about his problems ahead of time).
I don’t understand Rondo. He’s healthy. He plays on a GREAT team. He has a good coach. He has had the benefit of some very good veterans around him. He’s already got a championship ring. WTF is his problem?
I.MUS WRITE- INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY
June 5th, 2009
5:04 pm
Ant you wild’n out right now….lol Can Meat and bottled water,lol
People are so superstitious…I wuz living in Guam when the new millenium broke and those people swore the earth was coming to an end -I used to ride thru the residential neighborhoods and all u would see is white crosses on every lawn……. My goodness
Big Ray
June 5th, 2009
5:12 pm
Astro Joe,
Actually, Sund did bring in some of his old cronies. His right hand man is David Pendergrast. Like you, I hope he does not make any picks like he did with Sene, Petro, and Swift. Funny thing is, Swift really did have some solid ability, but damn if he could stay healthy. Collison had the same issues, to a slightly lesser extent.
Watch Sund try and move up…only to take Mullens…heh heh heh..
O’Brien,
Much as I like Josh Smith, getting Bosh is something I don’t think I could ignore. Sure, Josh may mature in the next year. Or he may not. It’s a gamble and a risk. Bosh is an all-star. A 22 and 10 guy. Every night. ‘Nuff said.
I like Hinrich. I realize getting him may not be feasible from a number of angles. Sessions looked good when given big minutes (Ridnour was injured), but I probably would lean towards Jarrett Jack. He’s a little bigger and tougher, with the capability of playing the SG spot in situations (at least defensively).
Big Ray
June 5th, 2009
5:21 pm
Not that I wouldn’t take Sessions. He plays uptempo, and that’s not something we do. Still, you don’t pass on a guy like this who won’t cost much. Especially since we already know he can play, and plays well. Hope it’s not a fluke.
Big Ray
June 5th, 2009
5:25 pm
Was reading up on Ramon Sessions some, and noticed how they said that the playing time/experience he got late last year did wonders for his development. I did a search and noticed that the PT he got was consistent. Yep….that and the time he spent in the D-League instead of warming up a bench seat.
What a concept.
darrell starks
June 5th, 2009
5:32 pm
PAUL PIERCE 18MILL RAY ALLEN 18MILL KEVIN GARNETT 24MILL thats 60mill for 3 players and the hawks salarie is only 68mill why cant we trade for bosh?
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
niremetal
June 5th, 2009
5:34 pm
Melvin,
One more kick and then I’ll walk away too.
Your last post on Hinrich responded to absolutely nothing from my last post on it. I agree that he’s expendable and that the Bulls may well look to ship him. All I was saying is that they could probably get significantly more for him than anything the Hawks would be willing to offer (since I’m assuming the Hawks rightfully would laugh if the Bulls asked for Smoove or Horford in return). Your last post said absolutely nothing that responded to that. You said nothing about why the Bulls wouldn’t hold out for a BETTER player with an expiring contract.
You brushed aside the idea that nothing better would be offered. That’s laughable. There are teams all over the league who salivate and overpay for borderline-starter PGs. I named 5 off the top of my head earlier and could name 10 more if I had the time and energy. Some team WILL offer more than two players who will be absolutely useless on the Bulls. So saying “Get it done, Sund” makes no sense.
O'brien
June 5th, 2009
5:50 pm
Big Ray, would you be okay with Jarret Jack as our starter, Flip off the bench, and then either Acie or our #19 pick as the 3rd PG?
I am okay with Jack as our starter. He will cost less than Bibby and less than Hinrich. He is much better defensively than Bibby, and much younger, and like you said, he can play some SG (when Flip is in at the point). The money saved on Jack can be put towards our bench (Charlie V, for example).
niremetal
June 5th, 2009
7:31 pm
Big Ray,
Re: Sessions, Acie, and the D-League: Woody seems to view unused bench players like friends with benefits – he won’t turn to them unless he need to, but he always wants them to be on call in case he does need them.
bigdave
June 5th, 2009
7:42 pm
If Sund were to pull the trigger on that trade involving Philly Id find him and off him myself…
you guys wouldnt have to worry about having him fired…
jhan
June 5th, 2009
8:39 pm
The whole tax thing is truly a variable on professional contracts. Unfortunately it looks like our country is trying play catch-up.
Ariose
June 5th, 2009
9:00 pm
Hmmm, save money or make a run for a title. Which will Sund Choose?
Hoops
June 5th, 2009
9:16 pm
Trade Josh Smith and Speedy for Bosh. The salaries are within $250,000 of each other. Toronto will go for that trade because they know Bosh will not resign with them next year. JJ will be a FA after next season and so will Bosh. Can the Hawks resign both? Maybe, maybe not, but that frees up 30.6 M for next summer when the big name FA’s come onto the market. That puts the Hawks in position to be big time players in the FA market. I say go for it!
Hoops
June 5th, 2009
10:12 pm
I just tried the Josh Smith/Speedy for Bosh trade on the ESPN NBA Trade Machine and I had to add R. Morris to the trade to make it legal because Josh is a BYC player. I still say this is a great trade for both teams!