Dollars and sense
Long faces might be the norm if the Hawks don't do the right things this summer.
HAWKSVILLE – We apologize in advance for interrupting your viewing of the NBA Finals with hypothetical questions about the Hawks, but admit it, you’ve seen enough of the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic to last all summer.
But what if Mike Bibby moves on?
And Zaza Pachulia, too?
What if Flip Murray finds a new home?
And Josh Childress stays in Greece?
What if all these hypothetical scenarios we’ve been speaking of recently go up in smoke between the draft and training camp?
What if the Hawks can’t keep their team together because of finances, dumb luck and the aggressive pursuit of their free agents by other teams?
Like most of you, I’ve (foolishly) been operating under several assumptions the past few weeks. But after speaking with several NBA players, coaches and other sources around the league over the last week, it seems we’ve all been a bit too optimistic about the chances of all these guys reuniting next season.
“Unless I’m mistaken, getting all these guys in uniform for next season will cost a whole lot more than the Hawks are used to spending,” one Eastern Conference front office man told me Monday afternoon. “Check their roster and see how many guys they spent serious money on. It’s a short list. They inherited Bibby’s big deal and now that’s gone. They signed Joe [Johnson] and Josh [Smith] to their deals. Beyond that, there wasn’t a single guy on their roster they spent mid-level money on, not one, and that says something.”
When I asked him to elaborate, he had an interesting take what we’ve watched the past few years, the last two in particular.
“They got more out of their money than a lot of other teams these last two seasons,” he said. “That’s good while it lasts. It just doesn’t last forever. Sooner or later you have to pay to win in this league. The Hawks have gotten away without paying that price the past two years. They’ve done some things that their payroll suggests they shouldn’t have. But those days are probably over, because the teams they leapfrogged in the standings the past two years are not going to stay down forever.”
There's a possibility Mike Bibby and Josh Childress have worn Hawks jerseys for the last time in their NBA careers.
That’s probably true. But maybe they just made wise decisions about how to spend. They didn’t spend the kind of money championship teams do, but you have to crawl before you walk. And the Hawks crawled for years.
One player pointed to last summer’s free agent season as proof that the Hawks didn’t exactly swing for the fences and insisted that their frugal ways will come back to haunt them eventually, perhaps as soon as this summer.
“They waited until the last minute on [Smith] and had to wait for Memphis to put something on the table to get a deal done,” he said. “They lost the other Josh to Greece and then filled the holes with role players. Let’s be real man, and I’m not disrespecting anybody but signing Randolph Morris, Othello Hunter and Thomas Gardner doesn’t translate into championship moves. That sounds more like a team worried about spending some real money. And to players, that’s the kind of franchise you don’t want to deal with when you’re a free agent.”
That’s the real question for the Hawks this summer. Are they going to spend the money required to compete at the level they’ve become accustomed to the past two years?
This summer is about dollars and sense. The Hawks have to spend their cash wisely or all the work they’ve done the past few years could disappear by Labor Day.
Keeping Bibby, if that’s what the Hawks intend to do, won’t be easy. Anyone expecting Bibby to work for anything less than the mid-level is dreaming. In a league where starting point guards are at a premium (and starters that shoot as well as Bibby command even more attention), the price usually starts at the mid-level and rises. The key in the Bibby situation will be the length of the contract. If three years works for both sides (and I can’t see why it would not), then I can see the negotiations having some legs. If not, get ready for a divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable (financial) differences.
Pachulia clearly wants to come back here. He said as much during our conversation last week. But he’s been here before, in free agent land, so he knows what a player wants doesn’t always jive with the reality of his situation. Unlike when the Hawks nabbed him from Milwaukee four years ago, teams aren’t spending as freely as they were then. Still, Pachulia was a bargain four years ago at $4 million per season. He’s a bargain at that price now if the Hawks can swing it. But with the lack of quality bigs running around the league these days, that $4 million price tag might not be enough to retain Pachulia’s services.
Murray’s destined for a substantial raise from the $1.5 million the Hawks paid him last season. You don’t put together the type of season he did without seeing a surge in interest for your services. The Hawks have the benefit of being the one team in the league willing to take a chance on him last year. But sentiment crashes into reality and loses all the time in the NBA, particularly during free agency. If the Hawks want to keep Murray, a serious raise is in order.
Childress added to a bench that includes Pachulia, Murray, Mo Evans and whatever player the Hawks could take with the 19th pick in the June draft would be a massive upgrade over what they used during a 47-win season. But three different sources I’ve spoken to in recent days insist that they don’t expect Childress to return to the NBA this summer (he has until July 15 to opt out of his Greek contract or remain there for another season). The dynamics of his situation in the NBA haven’t changed from last summer. He’s still a restricted free agent and would be subject to dealing with a Hawks organization that couldn’t get a deal done with him last summer. So it was a serious miscalculation of mine to blindly assume he’d bolt Europe for the comfort of the states.
“I don’t know why he would come back,” a Western Conference scout told me. “There’s so much uncertainty in the league this summer. Teams are holding back because of the economy and plotting for the summer of 2010. Plus, he’s still bound by restricted free agency, which means he can’t really come back and shop around for the best situation. If the Hawks didn’t get a deal done with him last summer I don’t see any way they get one done now. No way.”
Two years into his NBA career no one is sure if Acie Law IV is the answer at point guard for the Hawks.
With Childress subtracted from the potential mix, that leaves the Hawks with gaping holes on the roster heading into the draft and free agency. And from all the conversations I’ve had, the Hawks are torn between using the 19th pick and Speedy Claxton’s contract (along with other potential considerations) to grab an established point guard or gambling that the player they deem worthy will still be available at 19.
Another split, from what I’ve gathered, is that there remains some debate as to whether any of the point guards available in this draft are better prospects at the position than Acie Law IV, who despite having spent two years on the roster still has to answer major questions about his readiness to not only be a potential starter but a solid rotation player.
The Hawks’ previous front office regime was notoriously unimpressed by point guards in past drafts. Chris Paul was “too small,” Deron Williams worried them because his “body looked too soft” and Rajon Rondo was a “reach” with the fifth pick, just to highlight a few of the explanations given for passing on three big time NBA starters at the position. That sort of faulty logic led the Hawks to draft picks like Shelden Williams (a reach if ever there was one) and botched free agent signings like Claxton (who was Paul’s backup when the Hawks whisked him away from the Hornets for a cool $25 million).
I won’t pretend to speak for Hawks GM Rick Sund, who has not indicated that he has any sort of prejudice against rookie point guards. But I also won’t assume that he’ll address the Hawks’ point guard situation in the draft.
There’s just so much work to be done in such a short period of time. For once, I can honestly say I wouldn’t want to be the Hawks’ general manager right now.
MY SPLIT SCREEN IS WORKING THESE DAYS. I’M WATCHING THE FINALS, TOO. I’m watching Orlando suffer through the same things the Hawks did when they faced Cleveland in the Eastern Conference semifinals and the same thing the Cavaliers did when they fell to the Magic in Eastern Conference finals.
Some teams just present matchup nightmares for other teams. The Magic and Lakers are about as evenly matched as two teams could be in the Finals. Spot for spot up and down the rotation there are compelling matchups (my man Mickael Pietrus did his thing again, pushing Kobe Bryant late, sinking two free throws in the final 30 seconds to help seal his team’s Game 3 win). You can’t ask for much more than that at this stage of the season, save for the somewhat tiresome Van Gundy family reunion going on every game night (Stan’s a riot from the national anthem to the post game presser but I’ve listened to just about all I can take from Jeff on the broadcast).
One thing I noticed that’s been bothersome I have to ask you to weigh in on. Is there a more disappointing player in all of these playoffs than Andrew Bynum? I know the Lakers’ big man has already had to battle back from two serious knee injuries in his young career, but he doesn’t have any bounce at all.
He’s a shell of the dude the Lakers refused to give up in any deal a couple years back and for the life of me, I don’t see why. I don’t see anything in Bynum that would make him untouchable other than he’s a legitimate 7-footer. And these days, that’s just not enough.
Shooters like Ellington could find themselves in demand on draft night.
Like most people whose team of interest is already do for the season, my attention has shifted dramatically in the direction of the NBA draft.
I know it’s fool’s gold, thinking teams are going to find answers to all their problems in a shallow draft. But what else can we bank on?
Combining my two pet topics of the month, I came up with another theory that requires your input.
After watching the Magic shoot a blistering (and Finals record ) 62.5 percent from the floor to win Game 3, I wonder if some teams will have the guts to rethink their draft strategy and identify the best shooters available?
For a team like the Hawks that would mean giving serious consideration to a player like North Carolina’s Wayne Ellington with that 19th pick. If Ellington’s still on the board, chances are there won’t be a better shooter or offensive player the Hawks could take in that range. I know he doesn’t address a particular position need for the Hawks (point guard or center) but he does address a skill need (the Hawks are in desperate need of more quality shooters).
Some teams aren’t going to wait until the draft to start adding shooters. Philadelphia pulled off a trade Tuesday for one of the league’s best shooters, stealing Jason Kapono from the Raptors for Reggie Evans.
Kapono, even in limited minutes, can change the game for the 76ers just by parking on the perimeter and posing as a deep threat. That’s a weapon teams will need, especially in the improving Eastern Conference. I suspect this won’t be the last trade of this kind we’ll see between now and draft night. Teams are going to be forced to explore every option they can to improve without adding salary.
Finally, and before I forget, the best NBA news of the week comes not from the Finals or the draft but from the real plague of the league – brutal officiating. We’ll have three fewer relics to pick on next year if this report in the Boston Globe is true.
Reportedly Jimmy Clark, Luis Grillo and Jack Nies are taking their combined 73 years of experience/service to the retirement village with them. Adios fellas, the hecklers will miss you.
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514 comments Add your comment
chris
June 10th, 2009
5:00 pm
David Andersen is still out there and trade the 19 pick to Portland for all there round 2 picks
with the 33 pick we take Toney Douglas and with the 38 pick we take Jonas Jerebko and with the 48 pick we take Vyacheslav Kravtsov and trade AC Law to Detroit for there 35 pick and take Rodrigue Beaubois the kid can play people. Than we trade the 55 and 56 pick and Speedy to the Lakers for there 42 pick and we take Josh Heytvelt and now with Marvin Williams we trade and David Andersen and 2010 first round pick trade it to the Portland for Greg Oden.
glw
June 10th, 2009
5:02 pm
Ramon,
Sure, no harm in proposing it. just not much chance of it happening. I agree about them the Hornets, they put themselves in a bad position giving all that money to Stojakovic. I woudlnt mind trying to pry Chandler away from them by offering spare parts, but since we are capped out, we couldnt reallly offer much salary cap relief this year. I get the feeling they want instant relief.
O'brien
June 10th, 2009
5:14 pm
Ray, what if Sund likes Sessions, but Woody doesnt like him because last season he only shot 20% or so from the 3pt line. Then what?
Jack might be a better fit because he plays solid D, and he can hit the 3. (0.339% for Jack, 0.220% for Sessions), and Jack might cost less. I dont think Indianna will match an offer for Jack, but Milwaukee might match an offer for Sessions.
bigdave
June 10th, 2009
5:18 pm
LET BIBBY WALK…
Ariose
June 10th, 2009
5:19 pm
I wouldn’t be suprised to witness an Ando sighting on this blog hehehehehe…..
moboman
June 10th, 2009
5:27 pm
The Hawks had a better year because they brought in two guys that could SHOOT. Bringing back Chills and playing 4 against 5 on offense again next year wont do anything to help us. Package him for what ever you can get. If orlando has shown us anything, its that you have to have shooters. Chills is just a better Stacey Augmon.
niremetal
June 10th, 2009
5:31 pm
Ray,
The Ramon Sessions things set off my BS alarm like crazy. Whenever you see someone saying “reportedly” without citing who “reported,” it generally means they’re talking out of their butt and playing fantasy GM.
So I don’t find it the least bit interesting.
Melvin
June 10th, 2009
5:33 pm
Big Ray,
I have posted similiar thoughts to the Hawks as Kyle Nelson in previous blogs. I think if the Hawks could resign their top 4 FAs and bring over Chills and Andersen then I would be satisfied…. However, better acquisitions are welcome two…
Ariose
June 10th, 2009
5:42 pm
Childress WOULD improve our reboungingon both eds of th floor though. let’s not fogt about Danny Green and Robert Dozier in the second Round…..
Sekou, Just thinking about Ellington is tempting. Maybe we can draft him and teade Acie to whichever team drafts th PG that we want in the draft? Of corse we can add Morris and/or speedy to sweeten the deal….
Melvin
June 10th, 2009
5:45 pm
Chris,
So you want to improve our current weak bench with a bunch of 2nd rounders???
Nire,
Like you, I always consider the source(s) of reports….
Big Ray,
Out of the names listed in that article post. I would go with Earl Clark then Maynor….
Trent
June 10th, 2009
5:52 pm
The Hawks will be crazy to let Filp go to another team. tHEY NEED TO RESIGN
Trent
June 10th, 2009
5:55 pm
If you let Bibby and Flip go we are back at square one. I say let Bibby go and keep Flip Murray. We can not go young at the point position..
Big Ray
June 10th, 2009
5:57 pm
O’brien,
I say hell yes, he does go after Sessions anyway, unless they can find a way to compromise on a good young pg who can meet our needs from elsewhere. Also, the money factor has to be considered. Woody might want Bibby, but if I’m Sund, how do you go to the ASG and convince them that they should continue to pay a lot for a guy on his downside, when you can get a much younger guy who might actually give you more, for a longer period of time?
I say that unless they’re convinced we can crack the top 3 and compete for a championship with Bibby, I’d let him go (we still don’t know his asking price, but it won’t be low, I’m sure) and go with the younger Jack or Sessions, who will also be most likely a GOOD bit cheaper, and still give you comparable or better stats. Even then, you can’t pin it all on stats, as a pg who has less of a need to score and can make more plays for others (this does not describe Bibby) will be what we need for our other guys to develop into more reliable scoring options.
What tends NOT to be lost on a lot of people is the simple fact that when Bibby arrived, he gave us something we hadn’t had in a while: a decent/good pg, and a deadly shooter (mostly when open…kinda like Kapono..hmmm). What DOES tend to be lost in the mix is the fact that while Horford’s scoring went up (something he did by himself), Josh and Marvin’s scoring went DOWN, and the fact is, both guys actually improved in their scoring skills. Josh shot a higher percentage from the field than he did in previous years, and Marvin added a three point shot. It’s not like they played less minutes. I’m just sayin’….
Okay, got off track. I’ll say this: Sund is the boss. Don’t ignore nice cheap, young assets (Sessions) that have already been given better opportunities and have shown an ability to blossom far more than your current assets (Law). Jack and Sessions will still get less money than Bibby, even if you cut his just-expired contract in half. And they will play for longer. Woody would have to have a VERY convincing plan to do otherwise, for me to ignore a guy like Sessions, if I’m Sund. I’m talking something that would involve promising 50-some odd wins and a 2nd round playoff victory.
Yeah, I know that sounds crazy. But this is the same guy who didn’t care too much for certain current all-star pgs. Pardon me if I don’t trust his opinion above all others.
J-Rock
June 10th, 2009
5:58 pm
Is Ellington better then Gardner? Is Lawson better then Law? Is there any wings or point guards in this year drafte that are better then Gardner and Acie? Woody just wont give these guys a chance to really show what they can do. I seen both players play in college in summer league and then glimps of them in games this season in last season. Gardner – Shooter..that was obvious in game 3 against cleveland. You dont score 40 points in college without being able to shhot and score. He has potential to be an impact player in the league, just needs an opportunity. He also can score, defend as he is a bigger wing at 6′5 225 and could play well in the Hawks system. (if he hawks really have one)
Law- have you seen any team keep him out the paint this year? this guy gets to any spot on the court that he wants. I agree that he may be turnover prone or lacks the court awareness of starting point guards in the league but this guy can really play and help win games for the Hawks. Mario West at point guard this season?? Are you serious? Acie can pass, great on ball defender and with time and reps will be able to control the game from the time he subs in until he goes back on the bench. I say these 2 guys can play big roles in hawks future.
KevinA
June 10th, 2009
6:28 pm
JJ, Al, Bibby and draft picks for Dwight Howard, Jamier Nelson and Anthony Johnson.
KevinA
June 10th, 2009
6:30 pm
Dwight and Josh are buddies. Resign ZaZa and Solo. Front court we can believe in.
Sautee
June 10th, 2009
6:49 pm
J-Rock,
I agree that Acie could help IF Woody will give him a chance.
But I’ll have to disagree when you say he’s turnover prone. In the 12 games where Acie got at least 15 minutes he scored 7.2 pts., grabbed 2.4 rebounds, and dealt 3.1 assists to .08 turnovers. That’s almost a 4:1 ratio which is top notch. 2:1 is considered good.
Ed
June 10th, 2009
6:53 pm
This is Ian Thomsen’s (Sports Illustrated)latest mock draft pick for the Hawks.
19 PG Jeff Teague Wake Forest Soph. 6-1 175
The Hawks will need to take a patient approach in developing Teague’s leadership and skills at point guard, but he has the athleticism and scoring instincts that will force defenses to respect him.
O'brien
June 10th, 2009
7:07 pm
Ray, Woody has been on record saying that Bibby should retire a Hawk, and how Bibby made his job so much easier, so I can imagine that Woody would be pushing hard to resign Bibby. (We’ve seen the look that Woody gives Acie when he misses a shot or has a turnover, although Flip/Bibby gets to do whatever they wants).
But there is no way I sign Bibby for 3 years, $21 mil, when I can get Jack or Sessions for 4 years, $23 mil.
Ramon
June 10th, 2009
7:09 pm
Ra’mon Sessions may end up being great. But I must ask what is the difference between he and Speedy (when Speedy signed)?
O'brien
June 10th, 2009
7:23 pm
Ramon, quick differences are:
1) Speedy was injury prone and 27, Sessions is only 23.
2) Speedy is 5-11, 170. Sessions is 6-3, 190.
3) Speedy was a backup (to CP3), Sessions is starter (Ridnour is backup).
Ariose
June 10th, 2009
8:05 pm
Lang Whitaker sees us Takig Patty Mills at no 19. I couldn’t Agree More
Link:
http://www.slamonline.com/online/blogs/the-links/2009/06/slamonline-mock-draft-patty-mills-no-19/
But We need to find a way to nab Ellington also……and Get danny green in the second Round. Injuries to the SG/SF positions will never be a problem again. Also this takes pressure off Joe with other playmakers around. Also, if he leakes in 2010, it won’t be too devestating. We also have to sign Gerald Green to sure up the end of the bench. Then re-sign flip. Trade Speedy, and trade the Chills Rights, Andersen Rights, and Ankyol Rights.
Ariose
June 10th, 2009
8:07 pm
Trade Morris too, and sign Solo/Zaza/Sheed
Ariose
June 10th, 2009
8:19 pm
Anthony Parker is an option as well.
Big Chris
June 10th, 2009
8:24 pm
Philedelphia didn’t steal Kapono from Toronto. Kapono is signed for 3 more years at over 6.5 million a season and played 15 mintues a game.
Kapono was thought to be considered even more untradeable than Marcus Banks. Kapono does bring an elite skill to the table, and Philedelphia gets some help.
Toronto fans are happy just to get out from under Kapono’s massive contract. Colangelo would have traded him for a stick of bubble gum.
Philly was the league worst 3pt shooting team last year. Toronto still has Calderon, Parker and Bargnani in the starting line-up launching 3’s at a great %.
Toronto didn’t need a 4th 3pt shooter, so they trade the guy who was the slowest, and worst defender of the group.
Ariose
June 10th, 2009
8:44 pm
Or we could take Ellington in round 1 and Tryrese Rice or the 6-2 Brazillian Guard in Round 2……
Jay
June 10th, 2009
8:45 pm
1) In professional sports, you play to win the game! Coach Woodson has led this team to more wins in each season of his five year tenure, including back-to-back playoff appearances. Like many who post on this blog, I have questioned his coaching “chops”. But he has over-achieved with the roster he’s been given each year. Whether you like it or not, Woodson’s not going anywhere anytime soon so you might as well learn to get used to it.
2) Winning 47 games and reaching the second round of the playoffs with an 8-man rotation when half of the 8 guys are under 25 years old is an impressive achievement (being swept by Cleveland when 3 of those 8 guys were hurt in no way detracts from that accomplishment). Having half your roster consist of players who are projects (Law, West, Gardner, Jones, Morris and Hunter) or haven’t played for 2 years because of injuries (Claxton) is more typical of a team that is rebuilding; not the approach of a team seriously competing for the championship.
3) Of the 8 Hawks who are free agents, Marvin Williams is the only one who must be re-signed; preferably to a long-term contract (about $7.5M/year). Despite the criticisms about where he was drafted and who should have been drafted instead, Williams is quietly becoming one of the better small forwards in the league; one whose continuing improvement directly mirrors that of the team.
4) Flip Murray could be re-signed (at about $2.5M/year) to play back-up shooting guard. However, a better option would be to use part of that money to sign Phoenix unrestricted free agent SF Matt Barnes to a 3-year, $4.5 million contract and let Maurice Evans play the back-up SG position. Barnes will bring solid defense, energy, toughness and a solid 3-point shooting touch to the team. Signing Barnes would allow Evans to move to his natural SG position where he would be a more effective defender and allow Coach Woodson to give more rest to Joe Johnson.
5) While it certainly wouldn’t hurt to re-sign Zaza Pachulia as a back-up center, you’ll probably have to spend about $5M per year to do so. Instead, why not sign Utah free agent center Jason Collins, who does the same things as Pachulia, for about $3M per year, and partner him with a PF who can score from the low post, such as Drew Gooden, for $2.5M per year. That’s about $5.5M for a solid, veteran center and PF–and that’s after giving each player a significant raise from last season’s salary–and less than what you would spend to re-sign Pachulia and Solomon Jones for the up-coming season.
6) Before last season started, I thought Philadelphia and Atlanta should have traded point guards. Now, Philadelphia and Atlanta should sign each other’s free agent PG. Mike Bibby is most effective in a half-court offense when he is free to shoot as a result of the passing by someone who can command a double-team on the low post and Philly wants to get better shooters (the reason they traded for Jason Kapono) around Elton Brand. Andre Miller is at his best in an up-tempo offense where his drives to the basket, for scoring and/or distributing, maximize the effectiveness of the other four starters. Since both are veterans with defensive liabilities, each team can expect an improvement on offense with no significant change on defense and the money needed to sign them would be similar.
7) Until or unless Acie Law develops into the type of PG that Woodson wants, securing the services of a veteran back-up PG must be top priority, even though it is rarely talked about as such. New Orleans’ Antonio Daniels is a veteran, a playmaker, has good size and is available because New Orleans wants to reduce payroll. In light of his previous success there, Speedy Claxton’s expiring contract should be enough to get the deal done.
9) Josh Childress is not coming back to Atlanta. He’ll make $10 million euros ($12.5 million US) a year for 2 years to play for a team whose style is conducive to his talents. Why would he give up at least $6 million US dollars a year just to come back to the Hawks? Would you?
10) I have two words for all of you who think that the Hawks need to trade either Josh Smith or Marvin Williams in order to make the team better–Stop it! Do you really know what you have in these three guys? I find it ironic that the arguments many of you present as justification for trading one guy rather than the other are the very reasons why you need to keep all of them. You trade guys when their skill-sets are identical to one another and you keep guys when their skill-sets are complementary to one another. They are only 23 years old! If at all possible, these guys need to be kept together for at least the next 7-10 years because they are three-fourths of the team’s core!
11) With a salary allocation similar to the 2008-2009 season, the Hawks will have a far better chance of legitimately competing for a championship if next season’s roster has Horford, Smith and Williams in the frontcourt with Johnson and Miller in the backcourt with veterans like C-Collins, PF-Gooden, SF-Barnes, SG-Evans, and PG-Daniels on the bench with Morris, Law, your first-round draft choice and a re-signed Hunter and either West or Gardner as projects.
terrell barron
June 10th, 2009
8:49 pm
How can Kyle Nelson do an assessment of the Hawks upcoming draft, when he cant even get the players positions right?
Astro Joe
June 10th, 2009
8:49 pm
Terrell, I did not watch any Wake Forest games last season so I have no opinion of Teague. Did he play off the ball? That’s what we need (IMO). A guy who is more used to playing off the ball than having it in his hands and being “the man”. That’s why I thought about Douglas, because I seem to recall that he was effective off the ball. One would think that finding a combo guard late in the first round should be fairly easy. I think the challenging part is someone who can bury the open jumper AND defend. What we DON’T want is a Lou Williams type who can only score by attacking the basket, that won’t work with this squad.
Ariose
June 10th, 2009
9:00 pm
Please just say no to Matt Barnes. The guy is a chucker and eevey time is saw him play this season he brickes A TON of threes….not that great defensively either. I’d rather take Grant Hill.
Ariose
June 10th, 2009
9:02 pm
AJ, come on now……Sweet Lou is a good spot up shooter. He just needs to learn to balance himself off the dribble.
O'brien
June 10th, 2009
9:08 pm
Paul Westphal is the new Kings coach. I look forward to seeing their offense next season (although it probably wont transfer into wins). I know we have some Paul Westphal fans on here. He is one of the guys I would have loved to see Woody bring in as an assistant.
Jay, I am a fan of Matt Barnes as well. Another backup PF option is Anotnio McDyess. I also like Charlie V, because he can play backup PF and backup SF.
terrell barron
June 10th, 2009
9:08 pm
Suppose we draft a combo guard like Douglass, who fits Woody’s so called system, let Acie Law go elsewhere, the Hawks stink it up, and Woody gets fired. Then what? Back to square one. The only way I go with Douglass is if Sund thinks Woody is the man that can take this team to the next level. If he’s uncertain about Woody’s future, we better go ahead and get our TRUE pg of the future.
Big Ray
June 10th, 2009
9:12 pm
O’brien,
Believe me, I feel you on that. But as you say, I’m not up to paying Bibby that kind of money (or more, which is what I think he’ll want). I know he makes Woody more comfortable, and I can’t blame any coach for that. But money talks, and so does production. I, too would rather have Jack or Sessions for the money (and for more years).
Astro Joe,
Excellent point about the challenge of finding a point guard (or lead guard, if you prefer) who can both defend AND hit that open shot. You’re right, this is no cake walk. But it can be done. Here’s to hoping Sund gets it done.
Niremetal,
I’d check the batteries in that BS alarm. I’m just sayin’….
Ariose
June 10th, 2009
9:14 pm
Other than his speed and owning of the Redeem Team in Bejing, the hawks should consider the fact that they will get a whole new country as a revenue stream if the get Mills – He is by far the most loved player in Australia and it is pretty much an un(der)tapped NBA market.
Just a thought.
Big Ray
June 10th, 2009
9:15 pm
O’brien,
I don’t see Woody bringing in an assistant like that. Westphal is a former head coach, is he not? That makes him a “threat” if you know what I mean. Perhaps I’m pegging Woody the wrong way about this, but something tells me he would not particularly care for any former head coaches on his staff unless they were well and truly done with the idea of a being a head coach (as in, they plan to retire within the next year or two). Again, I could be way off base, but that’s my outside, uneducated point of view.
terrell barron
June 10th, 2009
9:17 pm
What in the hell did I just say? lol!
niremetal
June 10th, 2009
9:20 pm
Ray,
Just name me the last time a tip on the Hawks’ front office posted by someone other than Sekou turned out to be remotely close to accurate? And this guy couldn’t even get Marvin and Josh’s positions right. Also, two years ago, he said we’d be pursuing Pau Gasol and Monta Ellis.
I’m just sayin’
terrell barron
June 10th, 2009
9:22 pm
Jay, 6 million$ is not worth your life. It’s some damn fools over there. They were throwing flares for crying out loud. Coulda set that fro on fire or something.
Big Ray
June 10th, 2009
9:33 pm
Niremetal,
I have no problems with you discrediting the article or its author. As for my opinion on your BS alarm, I’ll stick with that opinion. No offense meant by it….just…an opinion.
Astro Joe
June 10th, 2009
9:34 pm
Terrell, sorry, I just don’t see the Hawks finding a “PG of the future” by choosing the 6th or 7th best one in the draft. Here’s my thought, trade #19 and our second round pick to the T’Wolves for their $28 first round pick and both of their second round picks. Sund could then choose Douglas at 28 and choose either some Europeans that he can keep overseas or someome like Aminu or Derrick Brown as projects to developinto rotational players. When I read the DraftExpress write-up for Douglas, he just seems ideal for our team. And I can’t wait to pick up his brother in Fantasy Football next season.
chris
June 10th, 2009
9:36 pm
Trade Marvin Williams and David Andersen and a 2010 first round pick to Portland for Greg Oden
Astro Joe
June 10th, 2009
9:42 pm
DING!
chris
June 10th, 2009
9:45 pm
Trade AC Law and Marvin Williams and David Andersen and a 2010 first round pick to the Sun for AS
Big Ray
June 10th, 2009
9:45 pm
Niremetal,
Couldn’t resist a return shot or two.
“Just name me the last time a tip on the Hawks’ front office posted by someone other than Sekou turned out to be remotely close to accurate? And this guy couldn’t even get Marvin and Josh’s positions right. Also, two years ago, he said we’d be pursuing Pau Gasol and Monta Ellis.”
1. It was reported (not by Sekou) that Billy Knight was going to take Sheldon Williams at #5. I don’t recall who reported that. There were so many….
2. Last I looked, the author of that article wasn’t the ONLY one who can’t seem to get Josh and Marvin’s positions right…according to half the blog, Josh can’t either…
3. Okay, so he said we’d be pursuing Gasol and Ellis. Correct me if I’m wrong, but PURSUING and CATCHING/ACQUIRING aren’t the same word are they? Didn’t think so. Wanna hear some REALLY good ones?
a) “Anna Nicole Smith married for love”
b) “Iraq is slap-full of WMDs”
c) “Wesley Snipes always pays his taxes”
d) “Re-signing the Joshes is our absolute, number one priority of the summer”
terrell barron
June 10th, 2009
9:49 pm
What about trading for Sergio Rodriguez? Portland has a log jam at pg, now that they’ve excersized the option on Blake.
chris
June 10th, 2009
9:50 pm
or you trade AC Law and first round pick for Jonny Flynn
terrell barron
June 10th, 2009
9:52 pm
Astro, what makes you think they’ll end up with the 6th or 7th best pg in the draft? Your’re basing that statement on projections, which can be thrown out the window where the NBA is concerned. Most of you guys want Sessions or Jack. I wonder where they were ranked when they came out?
chris
June 10th, 2009
9:55 pm
The Hawks need a Center big time get Greg Oden or Roy Hibbert and all would be good
O'brien
June 10th, 2009
9:56 pm
Astro Joe, I am not a fan of stashing players overseas. It works for the Spurs, but the Hawks still have David Andersen and Cenk Ayol overseas. 2 wasted picks so far.