Dollars and sense

Sekou I am so with you on Wayne Ellington. As I posted recently he is much more athletic than he has been given credit for to go with his killer jump shot. Very nice blog, just don’t wait so long next time dude.

• Link
• Report this comment

thanks sekou…it has been too long but nice blog

hearing anything on marvin?

• Link
• Report this comment

“Is there a more disappointing player in all of these playoffs than Andrew Bynum?”

Bynum’s just the tip of the iceberg… even if the Lakers win the title they will go down as one of the year’s most disappointing teams to me. When you have 7-time All-Defense selection Kobe Bryant, two 7-footers down low, and two athletic and versatile forwards in Ariza and Odom who can guard multiple positions well, there is absolutely no excuse to give up over 60% from the field to any team… let alone a team whose entire offense is based on spotting up for 3-pointers. If the Lakers played with half the discipline and toughness last year’s Celtics had, I don’t think they would have lost a game yet in these playoffs. It’s amazing how many stupid mistakes they make, particularly on defense, in every game, and Kobe Bryant is not excluded from that.

• Link
• Report this comment

1st off,what is all this talk about having childress signing back with the hawks,like he would have made more of a differnce than us signing flip after he left..he went for the money,and felt that he had a better chance of winning in another country than if he’d have stayed here in Atlanta,let him stay where he’s at or trade his rights to another team who is drinking the childress “cherry punch”kool aid,like u and others who comment on these hawks blogs.

2nd,you wrote,”and I’m not disrespecting anybody but signing Randolph Morris, Othello Hunter and Thomas Gardner doesn’t translate into championship moves.”
with all do respect,how do u know?

you have a coach who is too lazy to teach and develope his bench..

hunter=young,energetic,rebounder/scorer,excellent passer/needs better coaching on defense,but has the biggest upside and asset that you can’t coach,and thats having a nose for always being around the ball to make plays..

gardner=shooter/scorer/decent on defense/team player/leader..

my reference’s for my opinion on their skills are:
college play/2008 summer league play/3 games in d-league this year/brief time in game 3 to help bring the hawks back against the cavs..

summer league and d-league play are no match for nba play,but they did what they were supposed to do in both league play,and thats outperform others on the court,by playing well above their competition..
we as hawks fans should be worried if they hadn’t done so..

randolp morris,my opinion is still out on him..

but my thing is,by the comment you made about them is unfair,because if they had the playing time to get familiar with their team,there is no telling how (because we would have had a deeper bench)many other games we would have won!!

hunter and gardner would have had more of a positive effect than a negative one,and we would have been a better team if we have played them..

• Link
• Report this comment

Astro Joe,

I zigged, you zagged, LOL! When I chimed in after Melvin and RealSquawk, I thought it was a bit obvious what I was doing. The subject matter was something I think we both recognize as being beaten to death on this blog already. How many times have we battled over Smith and what he does/doesn’t do on the court? You and I alone probably own the record for the number of times we’ve tangled on the issue. How many times has “Joe Johnson sees double and triple teams” been a topic?

When I threw those two questions out there, it was for the purpose of illustrating what a relentless (yet tired) hot button the subject matter was. Even after having won ten more games and accomplished so much more, we still are talking about the same issues, because the same issues still exist, no matter how tired of talking about them we might get. And even though we say we’re tired of talking about them, we STILL talk about them!

Hence the comment “think before you answer.” I didn’t mean, think ABOUT your answer, but think before even BOTHERING to answer something that has been questioned here a million times before.

Here’s where things took a left turn at Albuquerque. I knew somebody would jump all over that post. I didn’t think it would be you, as I figured any regular who has discussed this ad nauseum would probably either bypass it or say “Oh for cryin’ out loud Ray, this AGAIN?” To which I would reply with a mischievous grin….

As it was, only Melvin seemed to get it by replying, “Do I have to think if my answer to your question is LMAO”

• Link
• Report this comment

The Majic shot 60+ percent for the entire game but barely won the game. To think that Kobe is going to go scoreless a 2nd half again or play as horrible is “wishful” thinking. Orlando is skating on very thin ice.

• Link
• Report this comment

Here is the Hawks perfect off season. Let Bibby walk. Sign Ben Gordon. Sign Flip. Sign ZaZa. Sign Marvin Williams. Now the big one. Trade Josh Smith, Speedy’s expiring contract and #19 in the draft for Stoudemire from Phoenix. New line up: PG – Gordon, Law SG – J.J, Flip SF – Marvin Williams, Mo Evans PF- Al Horford, ZaZa, C – Stoudemire, ZaZa This team could compete for it all. Built much like the Magic. Down low with Stoudemire and Horford and shooters like M. Wiliams, J.J. and Ben Gordon. The trade salaries work and the Ben Gordon would sign for not much more than the $10 million that Bibby played for last year. Your thoughts?

• Link
• Report this comment

We all know Sekou’s upcoming blog:

“Solomon Jones is looking ripped as hell. Has added 20 pounds of pure muscle and is ready for the Hawks to resign him.”

“Scouts are saying that Smoove is looking stronger than ever and may be the MVP next year”

“Marvin is working on his African Studies Degree and has added 30 pounds of muscle

———
It’s very annoying to me that there is hardly any replay used in NBA games. It’s so obvious that in every game there are 3 egregious calls by the refs which should be reviewed. Why is most of the reviewing done in MLB? Nobody watches baseball anymore

• Link
• Report this comment

We have to address our center needs?

Can Woodson or Sund please finalize our center position? Is Horford a center or PF? Is Smoove a PF or SF? Are we going to get a real center? I know Sund likes Horford at center

What a mess

• Link
• Report this comment

At some point, someone will have to explain to me how acquiring the last year and a half of Bibby’s monster contract and refusing to overpay for Smoove qualifies as “on the cheap.”

Assuming the Hawks maintain payroll this year, they’ll be fine. Bibby will be getting at least a $7M paycut, Speedy gets a $500k paycut because of his frontloaded contract, and that can be used to give the necessary raises to Marvin, Flip, and Zaza without increasing payroll. I admit that they need to do something else to have a real shot, but I really think that “something else” could be done just be acquiring one decent player for near the mid-level, a move that would be payroll-neutral if we find a way to trade Speedy’s expiring contract.

Anyway, I’ve seen no evidence that the ASG rolls on the cheap ever since it became clear that Belkin wasn’t going to be able to buy them out. Anyway, for anyone who is interested, here’s a recent article based on an interview with Gearon, talking about the Spirit’s finances.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ray,

You know me – I love guys like Reggie Evans who play tough, smart basketball and leave all on the floor whenever they’re out there. I think every team needs at least one scrappy guy like that in their frontcourt, and it just pains me to see the Sixers give up their only one for a guy as soft and one-dimensional as Kapono. I admit that the trade looks good on paper. But I think Evans is one of those guys whose value doesn’t show up on the stat sheets.

• Link
• Report this comment

Thanks Sekou, what you lack in quantity, you make up with quality. Lots of good stuff.

The Hawks organization is cheap, leaderless, directionless and they have sub standard coaching. We went through many years of lottery and we have a group of forwards to show for it. Everyone knows that PG and Center are the hardest positions to find. We have one PG and yet our coach chooses to simply have a slow, no defense PG shoot threes so that he does not have to have the responsibility to develop a PG.

Woody has a poor offense and poor player development because he has nothing to offer. There is no evidense of him having anything.

Perhaps Sund has a plan, as of yet I can not tell that he does. He says that he is looking for wins and that is all. I hope that he surprises me.

The Hawks need help at PG and at Center and a shooter off of the bench.
Once we have a balanced team, perhaps we can coach them to another level.

I read as much as possible about the Hawks, I love pulling for the Hawks but being a Hawk fan is painful.

• Link
• Report this comment

niremetal,

we had to wait for another team to offer Smoove before we did. That means we are so d*mn concerned about money that we can’t even come up with an offer on our own for a team star, so we had to use poor Memphis in order to get it done

the problem isn’t that our owners are cheap…The problem is that no good FA’s come here.

Can you believe the only “good” FA to come here in years is Joe, who we had to give the max deal to, plus he was the 4th best on PHX (which is why he wanted to leave)? The only FA’s we have gotten are Lorenzen, resigning T.Lue, ZaZa (no one knew who he was), Speedy, and 9-12th men so bad that they wouldn’t make another roster.

That’s the problem

• Link
• Report this comment

Good stuff Sekou. I definitely like the concept of the “best shooter available”. That also suggests that the Hawks need to bring back Marvin, a young shooter who will likely become more consistent in the next year or two.

Here’s the one thing I don’t understand about the Childress situation… is it better to come back this summer or next summer? If I had a choice of going to a party with Denzel, George Clooney and Terrance Howard or going to a party with Mo, Larry and Curly, I’m choosing the latter party because I think the odds of me pulling a dime piece grow exponentially. So why would Chill return to the NBA when LeBron, Wade, Kobe, Amare (maybe), Bosh & Joe (among others) are in the Denzel/Clooney role of pulling the best offers next summer? Seems to me that if stays this summer, he needs to plan on staying until his Greek contract expires in another 2 summers. That, I think, is what he and his agent need to contemplate.

And like Ray said, many of us have been complaining about cats like RandMo, Hunter, West & Gardner occupying almost 33% of the roster positions for several months now. Throw in Solo and you in fact have a third of the roster full of potential/hopeful/maybe/someday. That just does not seem like a team built to win a title.

• Link
• Report this comment

great article. who was the talking head that crowned Jeff van Gundy as the expert basketball commentator. Seems like someone would realize how grating it is to indure 3 hours of listening to Jeff. The college game is worse thoughwith Dickie V………..

• Link
• Report this comment

Last thing and then I need to go across town for a meeting. It is hard to believe that the 7th PG in a draft could be better than the 2nd PG in the draft. Maybe it is a “system/fit” issue. Acie seemingly excels when he keeps the ball like a traditional PG. But our offense is more like what we see with the Lakers, in the sense that the PG isn’t the primary distributor and is mostly needed (at least in the half court sets) as a shooter. So if the 7th PG chosen is more of a short SG with PG dribbling skills, then he could, in theory, be a better fit in our current offensive scheme. That sounds a little like Toney Douglas to me (but not at #19, trade down 3-4 spots and grab him).

• Link
• Report this comment

The Hawks, like 80% of the teams in the NBA, are NOT going to go over the luxury tax.

I’m not exactly sure what you are implying they should’ve spent more on over the past few years. Until this past season, they’ve not had a team WORTHY of spending money on. And, when it was finally time to add quality depth, they added Flip and Evans, two players who had a significant impact on the team.

As far as the draft, I can easily see the Hawks taking a catch-and-shoot guy like Ellington or Thornton. That is, if they’re still committed to Acie Law. That’s the real question of the offseason to me – what to do with Law.

• Link
• Report this comment

“If I had a choice of going to a party with Denzel, George Clooney and Terrance Howard or going to a party with Mo, Larry and Curly, I’m choosing the latter party because I think the odds of me pulling a dime piece grow exponentially.”

The other way to look at it is what ladies are showing up if the Stooges are all there is to pick from? Teams are creating cap space for 2010, and only one of them is going to sign Lebron. After all the big signings are done, maybe there will still be more money available then than this summer.

• Link
• Report this comment

Sekou, who would you rather have as Hawks point guard next season if salaries were all equal? Bibby, Hinrich, Sessions, Luke Rid ( who I think Sund will go after), Jack, Andre Miller or Acie ( I know he is much cheaper but he is on our team so I had to throw him in there)? Please choose only 1 and tell us why. Thank you.

• Link
• Report this comment

How can people put Hinrich and Sessions/Jack in the same sentence? Hinrich makes like 8 mill a year–Jack will never make more than 3 or 4 mill…Easy choice

And why are teams so scared about going over the cap/luxury tax? These owners are supposed to be RICH MILLIONAIRES. $5 million for them is like us spending 20 bucks on a steak dinner. It’s neither here nor there

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] to Sekou Smith, NBA teams will be willing to spend even less money this summer: “Three different sources I’ve spoken to in recent days insist that they [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

Sekou

Any chance the hawks try to move up from the 19th spot to get one of those point guards? If it was me I would move up & see if I can get a guy like Jrue Holiday or Jonny Flynn.

• Link
• Report this comment

First we dont need to waste money on jarrett jack or no hinrich or session or bibby thats waste money in my opinion put that money to good use and sign flip zaza and solO first.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Quest, it’s always easier to spend someone else’s money.

It’s a lot easier for me to say you should go to Bone’s for lunch today and get a spinach salad, not a steak.

The reality is that it is more than the money. There is also a level of flexibility in team planning that you lose. Look at the Knicks. The owner, James Dolan, has cash & spent way over the cap. That did not mean more wins, just more luxury tax payments to other owners.

BWAF

• Link
• Report this comment

Sekou ,Im with you on Bibby as well. How quickly folks forget where this team was without Bibby.I would love to keep Bibby and somehow move up to get Curry in the draft to develope behind Mike for a year or two. I hear people compare Curry to Bibby in a negative fashion. They say the best he can be is another Mike Bibby. How fast we have forgotten just how good Bibby was in his early Sactown years. He was one ” mysteriously refed” game away from likely leading his team to winning an nba title. Id love to know who your fill in the blank guy is and if there is a realistic chance of the Hawks aquiring him.

• Link
• Report this comment

The ownership situation is no longer really in doubt. Belkin is gonna get bought out. The only Q is who does the appraisal and how much it’ll be. That certainly will make some impact, but I can pretty much promise you that the Hawks’ spending won’t be affected by that. Assuming you have a minimum level of assets (which ASG most certainly does), team salaries are set based on cash flows, not fixed assets. So the buyout of Belkin won’t affect the Hawks’ payroll, because it won’t alter whether the Hawks turn an operating profit. The state of the economy and how that affects ticket sales and other operating revenues WILL affect payroll, but that is true of every team.

That being said, $5M is not chump change if you’re not making the operating revenues to back it up. Just as the underlying assets rarely affect payroll, the fact that these guys are rich won’t really affect their willingness to pay the luxury tax. As MannyT implied, these guys are businessmen. They won’t spend money unless they know they’ll earn it back. So going into luxury tax land – where every $1 spent means you have to earn $2 more in order to justify the expense – is not a move that a smart business would make unless they’re pretty sure they’ll make that money back.

• Link
• Report this comment

Niremetal,

No, the ownership situation certainly is NOT in doubt. And nobody cares about Belkin anymore, I’m sure. Perhaps now with Bibby taking a paycut (assuming he’s re-signed here), we can wisely spend money elsewhere, in places it’s needed.

Well, once we’re guaranteed to earn back what we spend, of course. I’d sure like to know how to guarantee such a thing…

• Link
• Report this comment

How about Smoove + Speedy + picks for Kaman + Zbo?

Lets get some real bigs in here

Can we please see a freaking trade for once

• Link
• Report this comment

Yes, let’s get Kaman and Randolph. Then the Clippers won’t look like the most stupid organization in the league anymore. Kaman is twice the big man that Horford and Smith are. Twiced the missed games per season that is. Randolph is twice the big man too. Twice the headache for the coach and between him and Kaman probably twice the price of Horford and Smith combined.

• Link
• Report this comment

Niremetal,

Very insightful response. I wasn’t just thinking about the financial position of the ownership group, but I think any organization would be better off if they could get a distraction like a lawsuit among the partners resolved.

Doesn’t anybody want to bite on SSI’s suggestion that ASG has quietly put the Hawks, Thrashers and Philip Arena on the market?

• Link
• Report this comment

Bibby for 3 years? No way. 2 at the most. And if we trade #19 and go out and get another aging pg(Lue, AJ, Craig),I’m done with this team. PERIOD! I’m sick and tired of all of these stop-gap pg’s. We need our pg of the future. We have to take a chance this year, with the draft being so pg heavy. We just have to. If we miss, we miss, but we better take one. Fire Woody’s dumbass if he has a problem with it.

• Link
• Report this comment

And can ANYONE tell me how much longer we have to pay Speedy Claxton for nothing?????

Speedy Claxton is to the Hawks; as Mike Hampton was to the Braves

• Link
• Report this comment

Mike Bibby will be a Laker next year. IMO. A STOP-GAP of course, but he’ll be a Laker.

• Link
• Report this comment

I say we do a sign & trade on Bibby, #19, & Claxton’s contract to get Johnny Flynn from Syracuse. Mark my words, he’s going to be something in the pro’s, along the lines of CP, & athletically, he is probably a shade better than CP, according to the #’s he put up at the NBA’s measurables camp. He’s also a leader. Law will be a good back up, but he doesn’t have the X factor, he didn’t have it in college either. In college, he was a scoring point guard but struggled to put the ball in the hoop, his stroke is suspect. He reminds me of a small Jalen Rose, which if he can get some fire lit inside of him, would make him a great pro as Jalen was.

• Link
• Report this comment

Hell no to Ridnhour!

• Link
• Report this comment

Sekou, I’d have to go with Hinrich over Bibby. He’s faster, he can shoot just as good as Bibby, considering Bibby is on and off like a light switch. And he plays DEFENSE, unlike the before mentioned.

• Link
• Report this comment

The problem is the offensive philosophy. We hear Sund say that he wants to model this team after the 2004 Pistons, but this team leans on Joe Johnson to much for offense. When we get a coach that has a grasp of what it means to utilize and develop players then we can start addressing free agency. Does Sund go with the guy that is best for the team? Or does he go with the guy Woodson wants? An already hard process becomes even harder when you have a coach that refuses to reimagine his offense.

• Link
• Report this comment

I’d rather just draft a pg and let Acie, Flip, and the rookie battle it out.

• Link
• Report this comment

TERRELL,

accordin’ to all of the sites that i have been readin’, none of the guards comin’ out are as accomplished as acie law was comin’ out of college?

why waste a 19th pick on a guard? package it with somethin’ else is what i say.

• Link
• Report this comment

HawkKigBibby, taking nothing away from Mike Bibby, as he has definetely helped this team, but when you’ve been trotting out guys like Tyronne “dribble,dribble” Lue and Anthony “old enough to be my grandaddy” Johnson, you cant go anywhere but up.

• Link
• Report this comment

There’s a rumor going around that the Jazz will let Boozer walk, use his salary to re-sign Milsap, and go after a FA like Zaza Pachulia with the leftovers. Good luck Zaza. Tell us how it feels to play for a real Head Coach.

• Link
• Report this comment

Sekou, what would have been the answer for the fill in the blank? You know we’re anxious to see.

• Link
• Report this comment

Read a rumor that said Utah will let Boozer walk, re-sign Milsalp, and sign a guy like Palchulia with the leftovers. It this comes to fruition, Good luck Zaza. Let us know how it feels to play for a REAL Head Coach.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ramon, in a heartbeat. CP3’s dont come around that often. He’d turn Horford and Smith into All-Stars, just like he did David West. Can we have Chandler instead of Peja if we throw in #19? lol!!

• Link
• Report this comment

*25ppg for Granger

• Link
• Report this comment

From DraftExpress.com. An assessment on the Hawks, and the upcoming draft:

NBA Team Needs: Southeastern Division

First Round Candidates: Ty Lawson, Eric Maynor, Jeff Teague, Earl Clark

• Link
• Report this comment

Ramon,

IM sure most anyone would trade for CP3, he is a special player, and I think New Orleans is looking to dump some salary, but CP3 is their one true drawing card. He is into New Orleans, what Lebron is to Clevaland. I am sure they would almost give away Chandler or Stojakovic if they could, but CP3 is untouchable.

• Link
• Report this comment

A few comments about the ones made on Draftexpress:

1)Interesting that they mention Bibby and what they think his contract demands might be.

2)Also interesting that they mention Ramon Sessions by name.

3) I don’t see Childress coming back to Atlanta, at least not this year. Not only will the money be less than what he could’ve gotten last year (as far as I know, could be wrong), but he’s also not coming back to 30 mpg either. I could be wrong, though.

4)I think the comments about the bench are dead on. Just about all of them, in fact.

5)Interesting that it mentions how we “had trouble replacing injured combo forward Marvin Williams” and didn’t have guys to step up when Joe wasn’t doing so well. Those comments speak for themselves, despite those that still say otherwise.

6)I think the comments are the pg issue are dead on as well, even where Law is concerned. Time to move on with the youth infusion movement, but also time to be very careful about it. Don’t do too much youth, just for the sake of youth itself.

7) The comments on the draft are pretty solid, too, in my opinion. Anything falling out of the lottery should be considered. As for the rest of it, it’s a crapshoot, and I think everybody knows that. I’m more up for a guard than a forward, though…

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

I wouldn’t be suprised to witness an Ando sighting on this blog hehehehehe…..

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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….

• Link
• Report this comment

The Hawks will be crazy to let Filp go to another team. tHEY NEED TO RESIGN

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

JJ, Al, Bibby and draft picks for Dwight Howard, Jamier Nelson and Anthony Johnson.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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).

• Link
• Report this comment

Trade Morris too, and sign Solo/Zaza/Sheed

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

There is no one the Hawks can draft at pick #19 who can lead the Hawks to a championship next season so they should draft someone they can groom to replace a key performer three or four years from now; after all, isn’t that what the draft is really all about.

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

AJ, come on now……Sweet Lou is a good spot up shooter. He just needs to learn to balance himself off the dribble.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

What in the hell did I just say? lol!

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

DING!

• Link
• Report this comment

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”

• Link
• Report this comment

or you trade AC Law and first round pick for Jonny Flynn

• Link
• Report this comment

The Hawks need a Center big time get Greg Oden or Roy Hibbert and all would be good

• Link
• Report this comment

Hawks all you got to do is draft Toney Douglas with the first pick and Jonas Jerebko in round 2

• Link
• Report this comment

I think the Hawks need to grab Craig Heinrich – everybody knows that the Atlanta Hawks need some “Vanilla Thunder”

• Link
• Report this comment

Here’s Sekou’s latest draft published today

Sekou Smith
06/10/2009
Blake Griffin
Hasheem Thabeet
James Harden
Ricky Rubio
Jordan Hill
Jrue Holiday
Stephen Curry
DeMar DeRozan
Tyreke Evans
Jonny Flynn
DeJuan Blair
Earl Clark
Brandon Jennings
James Johnson
Terrence Williams
Gerald Henderson
B.J. Mullens
Ty Lawson
Wayne Ellington
Tyler Hansbrough
Eric Maynor
Austin Daye
Chase Budinger
Gani Lawal
Jeff Teague
Darren Collison
Toney Douglas
DaJuan Summers
Sam Young
Marcus Thornton

• Link
• Report this comment

It wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see the Hawks pass on drafting a PG. As Sekou mentioned, and I’ve mentioned before, their’s no reason to believe the PG’s in this yrs draft are potentially any better than Acie, especially any that would be available when we draft. Why waste a 1st rd pick on a PG unless their’s some certainty he’ll get better treatment, and/or a better opportunity to succeed than Acie’s gotten.

We’d better go all out to resign Zaza, because failing to do so would leave us with RMorris as our only viable option at C off the bench. It’s a virtually a given that Solo will leave.

• Link
• Report this comment

I say Joe for the #1 or #2 pick and lets draft Thabet. Sign Marvin, Flip, Chills, Solo, and Sheed. Draft Wayne Ellington with the 19.

pg-flip
sg-marvin
sg-chills
pf-jsmoove
c-Sheed

pg-Acie
sg-Ellington
sf-evans
pf-Solo
c-Thabet

• Link
• Report this comment

We need Greg Oden or Roy Hibbert Trade Marvin Williams and AC Law for one of theme

• Link
• Report this comment

Why the hell are we going for best player available? That is so stupid–we need a PG or center–not another talented SF

My god

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] Three different sources I’ve spoken to in recent days insist that they don’t expect Josh 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. Will the Hawks do the right things this summer? | Hawks Blog [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

The thing the Hawks need to be concentrating on most, if they stay at pick 19, is just to find a guy who can stick around and contribute for a long time. It’s nice to address needs, but by pick 19 there are no guarentees that a guy who supposedly fills a need will be a quality NBA contributor. Acie Law supposedly filled a need. Basically the Hawks should take the best prospect regardless of position at 19.

The best thing they could do however, is try and trade for Chris Kaman. He would give the Hawks a solid, long term 7 footer.

• Link
• Report this comment

Judging from Rick Sund’s history of drafting foreign players (actually drafting period), I’m not holding my breath for any major moves. Honestly, Sunds trackrecord isn’t that impressinve IMHO.

• Link
• Report this comment

Clyde, where is Horford in your lineup?

• Link
• Report this comment

Terrell,

Clyde thinks Horford traded for a bag of chips. I guess he figures that we need the bag of chips more than Horford so that Thabeet can put on some weight once he gets here.

• Link
• Report this comment

The Hawks must draft Ty Lawson. He’s too driven not to succeed. Plus, he’s a wonderful character-type guy and a great leader. He’ll be the face of the franchise in a few years. I truly believe that.

Roy Williams basically handed him the team, and he was the team leader (not Hansbrough).

I met him at the team hotel at the Regionals in Memphis. Most of the top players ignored the fans, but Ty stopped and talked to everyone and signed as many autographs as he could. Because he was running late, he couldn’t give everyone an autograph, but he promised he’d come back after practice if they met him there. And sure enough, he was there when he said he would be.

• Link
• Report this comment

Toney Douglas could help, too. Great true scorer, think Flip Murray, but better. Let’s not waste time on some pick that has potential that Woodson cannot develop.

• Link
• Report this comment

Terrel whats wrong with C.Budinger-he’s athletic -can get his own shot and has a stroke from deep, Who would u pick at 19 if all the good PG’s are gone……
Please dont tell me BJ Mullens-I saw a cupl OSU games this past season and I was like ahhhhm thats him -whats all the hype about -the man dissapears alot -I didnt even know he was in the game half of the tim

• Link
• Report this comment

Questions for the bloggers.

What is the worst case scenario for the Hawks this offseason?

and

What is the best case scenario?

• Link
• Report this comment

And Imus, no way all of the good pg’s will be gone when we pick. This draft is loaded with potential at the pg and combo guard position.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ken, how do we know Sund even has the authority to say “you’re outta here”? B.K. said it, but the idiot is still here.

• Link
• Report this comment

Come on Kenbud…. -trade Josh Smith for an unproven player……. Wow- Our best playoff performer for an unproven Euro. I get frustrated with that yung’n alot but i wouldnt do that trade.

Terrell im going to shoot Sund an E-mail to let him know you wont be happy with any selection other than PG and see what he thinks……HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH LOL

• Link
• Report this comment

Imus, Teague and Evans are combo guards, Ellington is a sg, and Earl Clark is a sf/pf, so why would you tell Sund a big ole lie?

• Link
• Report this comment

Trade Marvin and Chills rights and David Andersen rights to Portland for Greg Oden

• Link
• Report this comment

Or problem is Commmitment. O.K So we stick with Acie. Draft Ellington in the 1st rd. Danny Green in the second and sign Gerald Green. We now have a Legit bench Full of SG/SF who can come in if Marvin and/or Joe get injured. They were run into the ground this past season…..if it happens again Marvins back may be in a lot more pain that it’s currnetly in.

Then you re-sign Marvin/Flip/Zaza/ Solo and Sign Sheed…….No Bibby….Like Ray said, Woodson needs to be taken away from his crutch in order to Play the younger guys.

• Link
• Report this comment

Or 6′3 PG Lester Hudson out of Tennesse-Martin (27ppg)

• Link
• Report this comment

People thought Artest would be a cancer for the Rockets but it turned out just fine. You won’t know until you try. Smoove only had 3 thechs on the year….that’s hardly a complainer. I think he knows when enough is enough….unlike sheed maybe. But I will say hat Sheed is USUALLY right when he whines enough to warrant a tech…..

• Link
• Report this comment

Chris and Terrel, you both some nice ideas, but Greg Olden has not shown anything yet and is injury prone. IE – Sam Bowie and he is no where near the player Bowie was when healthy. Bowie was a 20/10 player before he broke bones in his leg. Again Kaman or Pryzbilla offer most realistic options for the 5 spot. No one is going to trade the # 2 pick for what the Hawks would offer.
A decision is going have to be made concerning Josh S. , Marvin, and Horford. Who’s the 4 and 3 and then move the odd man. Don’t resign Bibby and package Speedy(contract) and 19th for someting! With say Marvin’s sign and trade and Bibby’ money sign your top FAs. Period.

• Link
• Report this comment

If we sign a starting center then:

1 – Marvin or Josh must be moved
2 – Al goes to the bench

I like Astro’s idea of signing a big man to come off the bench. He can rotate with ZaZa to relieve Josh & Al.

Astro – you wrote on a previous blog that Woody would be criticized for playing people 38+ minutes in an overtime game. JJ would feel like he was rooming with Acie in the doghouse if he only played 38 minutes in a game – let alone an overtime game! LOL

• Link
• Report this comment

Trade AC Law, David Andersen, Speedy, Marvin to the Sun for AS

• Link
• Report this comment

Now this is what im talking about the cavs, management are thinking about letting mike brown go the coach of the year, the coach who took them to eastern conf. finals and they still talking about firing him now us ASG is hoping that mike woodson succed a coach who have no offense philosophy a coach who cant win on the road a coach who have never devolop his bench and the list goes on i want avery johnson to be our coach but ASG will always try to be cheap.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Starks, that’s because Cleveland is trying to win a Championship, and not to mention, they’ll do anything possible to keep LJ. We’re just happy to make the Playoffs.

• Link
• Report this comment

What are we going to do this season only time will tell.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Then go get Roy Hibbert if you can’t not get Greg Oden

• Link
• Report this comment

AROISE every body love al i do to but this off season he better get his a$$ on the blocks and learn some post move just like you say he is to mechanical i want to see some improvement from him this year.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

I still say trade marvin big al and the 19pick for bosh only if chill come back so he can started at the 3position i like chill better than marvin at the 3.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

I wonder when Joe’s gonna step up and decide to actually be a leader for once. WIll anyone decide to be the leader of this team?

If anyone saw Kobe: Doin’ Work, regardless of how much you like or dislike him, you saw him leading his team in the huddle. Why is Joe so “laid-back” that he can’t freaking help guys out?

• Link
• Report this comment

My 2nd team for the hawks.
STARTERS ACIE, JOE, CHILL, JOSH, BOSH,
BENCH FLIP, MOE, HAKIM WARRICK, CHARLIE V, ZAZA
RESERVE WEST, SOLO.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

jhan, true.

No thanks on Patty Mills. Some of you all may not have noticed but this team really isn’t built for speed. We don’t rebound the ball well enough to play at the pace where Mills would be most effective. If Sund drafts Mills, then he better address our rebounding situation. Running fast breaks is less about the speed of players sprinting up the floor and more about defensive field-goal percentage and defensive rebounding.

Oh and don’t be surprised when Robert Swift is one of the first free agents signed by Sund.

• Link
• Report this comment

Y DOES EVERYBODY THINK BOSH IS A CENTER, HE IS NOT A CENTER!! A Y DOES EVERYBODY KEEP SAYING WE NEED A PG OF THE FUTURE. UM IF IM RITE THE LAKERS ARE IN THE FINALS WITH ONE OF THE OLDEST PG’S IN THE NBA.

1. We NEED TO TRADE FOR A STARTING CENTER. Przy or Caman or Thabeet somehow.
2. Keep Bibby, Marvin, We dnt need chills we need to include him in a trade. keep zaza but dont play him that many minutes because he has no offense but great in rebounding.
3. We need another superstar!! Nobody has won a champioinship with one superstar!!
Heat – wade, shaq
Spurs – duncan, parker, ginobli
Celtics – big 3
Pistons – Sheed (he was a superstar back then to me), billups

• Link
• Report this comment

Glad y’all like playing my draft. Keep it up!

• Link
• Report this comment

I just checked our stats from last season. We were the 10th in Offensive Rating, which measures points per 100 possessions. But we also were outrebounded on both the defensive and offensive boards. Our offensive success was due to making more free throw attempts, making more 3s and being very good in the TO category (we protected the ball). But again, we were not built to run just based on our inability to effectively rebound the ball. So if Sund wants a lightening quick PG, then he better get someone to clean the glass. And while I would welcome Villanueva to the team, I don’t see him filling that need.

• Link
• Report this comment

Astro Joe,

Careful using stats to bolster your argument.

No TELLING what niremetal will think!

I’m not sure that we couldn’t run a LOT more even with a rebounding minus. A lot of it is just PUSHING. Woody has these guys holding the reins in a strangle hold.

We also create turnovers with our D, giving chances to run. And even if we DO get out rebounded, IF we run and push tempo, we dictate to the other team and tire them out. It’s not like we get out rebounded 35-0.

One advantage our “smaller” bigs have is their mobility. If we pushed the ball and got Al and Josh 5 easy attempts each per game, we wouldn’t struggle to score so much overall. Of course JJ would have to be involved, so I’m not sure that will happen.

• Link
• Report this comment

Hey everyone. So I’m new around here, but I’ve noticed that a lot of other new posters have popped in and made some suggestions. I like their suggestions for improving the team, and they got me really excited. Now I actually realize that they didn’t go far enough – I just don’t think they realize how much teams will want our players! And the draft is soooooooooooooo loaded with guys who’ll be stars! Let’s get as many of them as we can!

SO HERE’S MY PLAN FOR THE OFFSEASON:
1) Let Bibby and Zaza walk, but keep Marvin and Flip. Marvin will be willing to re-sign for less than we think. After all, his stats have stayed the same year after year, so clearly he hasn’t gotten any better. Why should he expect a raise?
2) Use our mid-level exception to sign Kobe. He’ll opt out of his contract to come here for $5 mil – I know it!
3) Trade JJ for the #2 pick and take Thabeet. JJ isn’t a star, so we might as well trade him for a tall guy with no heart and no offensive game. Besides, we won’t need JJ once we have Kobe.
4) Trade Speedy and Acie Law for Chris Paul. The Hornets are looking to save money, so they’ll jump at the chance to take Speedy back and get a successor for CP3.
5) Trade #19 pick and Mo for LeBron James and the Cavs 1st rounder (#30). The Cavs know that they’ll lose LeBron next summer anyway, so at least this way they’ll get something out of it.
6) Pick Ricky Rubio at #30. He’ll fall to us there, trust me.
7) Sign-and-trade Chills and Randolph Morris to Orlando for Dwight Howard. They have Gortat, so why would they need Howard too?

PG: Chris Paul/Ricky Rubio
SG: Kobe Bryant/Who cares?
SF: LeBron James/Marvin Williams
PF: Josh Smith/Al Horford
C: Dwight Howard/Thabeet

I know that leaves us a little weak at power forward and Kobe’s getting a bit old, but I think that should be good for at least a few more wins. It’s totally doable! Go do it, Sund!

• Link
• Report this comment

Dang it, I just realized that a couple of my trades might be just a bit outside the salary cap rules. Doggone it! Those are so annoying. Because otherwise, my plan would be SO doable!

• Link
• Report this comment

O’brien & glw,

O’brien your plan may be more realistic than mine. However, I do like mine better. Chills will not come back from Greece this coming season. Why should he? He makes too much money over there and he can come back next summer as a FA. Another thought-Woody will not play Acie. So, trade him and get someone that he will play. If we cannot trade up for Curry, then trade up and get Jordan Hill to back up Bosh @ PF and don’t sign Charlie V. I still don’t think Curry will be chosen before the 8th pick.
As far as rebounding goes, you are right we must have better rebounding to be able to run. I think getting Bosh for Josh & Speedy gives us better size and rebounding. Play Bosh @ PF and use Horford and Zaza in the post. I probably cannot get Charlie V. with my plan because of the cap.
I like Sessions because he will push the break. We need more easy baskets! Get Bosh and Sessions and we will improve both our rebounding and our uptempo!

• Link
• Report this comment

Sautee, sure, but I just don’t see a Patty Mills being optimized if we simply quicken the pace. My vote is for a “half-court” PG, especially since that is what is played mostly in playoff games.

O’brien, I’m not smart enough to know which is the best way to defend the pick and roll. But I agree that some of the problem is related to effort. I just think we need to get better at cleaning the glass before we spend a 1st round pick on someone who may struggle with a poor rebounding team.

• Link
• Report this comment

Who said bosh isnt a center he plays both powerford and center and to me he is better at the center because he is quicker than most center and he goes right around them or post up at the top of the key and hit that shot every time go get bosh sund he will be the best player on the team plus he will be that leader that we desperately need.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Melvin,

By pretty much universal agreement, Oden has a incredibly strong work ethic. He’s probably skipping Hakeem’s big man camp because he has other training activities planned that he and the Blazers feel would be better.

I might add that Hakeem – great a player as he was – does NOT have a great record as far as developing big men at his “camp.” His best work has been the one-on-sessions he did with Yao Ming and Josh Smith. The free “camp” that he runs is more often attended by the Diops and Diogus of the world, not the top prospects.

• Link
• Report this comment

Why is SVG forcing that midget back into the playing rotation…

• Link
• Report this comment

Alston leads the team to a game seven victory on the road against the champs. Follows that up by defeating the team with the league’s best regular season record, MVP and COY. So what does his coach do? Steals his confidence by going to Jameer in The Finals.

Like I have said numerous times, everyone has warts.

• Link
• Report this comment

Now who was asking about Courtney Lee and playing time? And I said if Pietrus hadn’t been injured, dude would have been competing with Reddick for cameo appearances? Pietrus is a playa… on both ends of the floor.

• Link
• Report this comment

Slow down Astro. Lee has contribute important mins thur out the playoffs…

• Link
• Report this comment

It feels like 3 years ago since the Cavs playoff series. Right?

• Link
• Report this comment

My goodness, Dwight Howard is a beast. He’s one effective left hand move away from being unstoppable…

• Link
• Report this comment

Ball Movement

Options

Game Plan

O have I missed you.

• Link
• Report this comment

Does Nelson have some incriminating pictures of SVG or something. He’s pull a Woody move tonite. Bench a player that played well in the previous game.

• Link
• Report this comment

Oh Kobe.

• Link
• Report this comment

Skip to the lou.

• Link
• Report this comment

Always hurts, when you miss 15 FTs. Make just 1 more in regulation and the game never sees OT!

• Link
• Report this comment

Orlando has shot 18 free throws in the 4th quarter and overtime while the Lakers have shot zero. Clearly, the only explanation can be that the refs are biased against the Lakers. This must all be part of David Stern’s master plan…

• Link
• Report this comment

Pau Gasol doin’ work. Game AND series pretty much over. Pietrus might as well knock his block off. Ain’t much left for Orlando to lose.

• Link
• Report this comment

Just like a missed Magic FT, I’m gone! Goodnight, everybody.

• Link
• Report this comment

The Lakers are just better! I want the series to go seven, but it looks like the Lakers in 5. That’s two games in a row that missed free throws have cost the looser the game. Kobe is Kobe. Fisher stole the show, but Ariza came up big!
Maybe the Magic will get mad @ Pietrus and trade him to the Hawks!

• Link
• Report this comment

The Magic choked but then again the Lakers didnt exactly seize the moment either. The refs kind of seized it for them. Thats 2 ot games won by LA where there were horrible calls in the Lakers favor. DWIGHT HAS GOT TO MAKE ONE OF THOSE FREE THROWS THOUGH. As much as I would love to see the Hawks in the nba finals, if they were losing OT games like this I dont think my heart could take it.

• Link
• Report this comment

Looks like the Magic have been going to the Mark Price school of FT shooting. You don’t deserve to win. Pietrus should get suspended for that last foul. That leaves C Lee on Kobe all night in game 5. It’s ova.

What was SVG thinking by leaving Nelson in the game on defense that last play.Should have gone with Lee.

Forget Patty Mills. “No more midgets please”!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Astro Joe,

I wasn’t responding to your “lack of rebounding” post because I was in the Patty Mills camp. Not at all.

I just fail to see why we don’t take advantage of a nightly mismatch we have with our young bigs, and put them in a position for easy baskets. It’s insanity, when all it takes is effort and energy. And THAT could be done even at our current rebounding rate.

And to be clear, I’m NOT advocating some kind of “D’Antoni get a shot off in 7 seconds bull”.

Just take advantage when we can a few times a game, and not make offense SO hard. You KNOW our bigs can consistently beat their man down the court, so if THAT is an advantage WHY, OH WHY do we not use it? Insanity.

• Link
• Report this comment

I had been giving SVG much credit in making adjustments in the previous games despite some losses. But that bone-headed move of having Nelson in the game for all of the forth quarter exceeded any previous level of criticism compared to Woody. Nelson was ineffective on offense, a liability on defense in addition to being too short and injured. An example of this was when he gave Fisher too much space for an easy three with 11 seconds to go in the game. Rafer Altson should have closed the game out based on his play-off contributions. SVG is more interested in his player’s role status than winning a championship. To snob Altson this way in a critical playoff game may go down as the worst coaching move in the history of the NBA finals.

• Link
• Report this comment

Sautee, I agree with that approach. When you do get the rebound, run. I have no problems there. Unfortunately, unless things change, that “run thing” won’t happen nearly as often with the poor board work. It’s the double edge sword of having a smaller, quicker front court who can’t/won’t put in the work to create more offensive possessions. How many times did we see the Cavs grab offensive rebounds and get multiple shots? I recall a former Hawk player who was really good at fighting on the boards. Had a really big afro and was also a very good finisher on the break. Oh well. He was real easy to replace.

• Link
• Report this comment

Looks to me that the HAWKS will have a tough time getting any value out of Speedy’s expiring contract. Their aren’t that many teams that need to clear space for the 2010/11 season. Hopefully teams have seen enough of Speedy to think he’s health and can produce something. Otherwise his 5M won’t bring back much. I still think we should keep Acie and draft Mullen or Tyler H. with the 19th pick. If they’re not available, then picking the best player on the board is fine with me.

I think our starting five, (if they keep Bibby) can play with anyone. But they need another score off the bench. Especially a guy that sub for JJ. Villanueva can sub for Marvin or JS but that still leaves JJ playing a lot of minutes. Evans can play SG, but not like JJ. Flip is a combo guy, but Woodson likes subbing him for Bibby. Acie plays like a combo guard also, which I think is another reason he didn’t play much. Hopefully some team will be willing to part with SG for Speedy + someone else.

GO HAWKS!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Obrien,

Wasn’t Nick Anderson part of the open ceremonies for the game. Talk about poetic justice…dah

• Link
• Report this comment

Sekou, there are rumors floating on RealGM about olympiacos offering a huge contract to marvin. is that real?

• Link
• Report this comment

CP, A.J Price reminds me a lot of Mo williams. A scorer by nature and a deadly spot-up shooter. Maybe we should draft him? That way we can Nab Ellington in the 1st round…

• Link
• Report this comment

Not sure price is a great playmaker though….but Bibby is the same way, save for the occasional lob over the top of the defense….

• Link
• Report this comment

Van gundy made a bad decision by not putting Alston back in the game. Nelson looked Timid out there, and other than Howard, Alston is the only other player who can consistantly score inside….

• Link
• Report this comment

Hawks need a point guard so they will likely draft a 6ft 9in swingman.

• Link
• Report this comment

The more I think about the players Rick Sund drafted in Seattle the more I think WE SHOULD TRADE THE PICK. This guy is a terrible drafter.

• Link
• Report this comment

If Woody is a good coach because we went from 37 to 47 wins:

Doesn’t that also mean Sund did a good job of swapping Mo/Flip for Childress? He also saved several million dollars in the process.

We didn’t win 47 when Childress was here did we?

Some may argue that we would have been better with Childress & Mo/Flip. I wouldn’t disagree. I also wouldn’t disagree with the argument that we would be better with a different style of coach.

Aren’t stats awesome? You can use the exact same stats to argue multiple sides of an argument.

• Link
• Report this comment

Where the heck is Doc? Unlike for him to be MIA this long…

• Link
• Report this comment

Niremetal,

What exactly is anybody risking by reading an article on a “new site?” Are there some “old sites” we should be going to? If you’re worried about false information, don’t watch the news, don’t read a newspaper or magazine, and run down the streets with your hands over your ears yelling “I’m not listening, I’m not listening!”

I don’t recall anybody (and certainly not myself) saying that anything printed anywhere was the gospel. Just interesting. Lord knows I don’t want to lead anybody astray….

By the way, should we also so vehemently censor those links you posted a little while back? Just askin’.

• Link
• Report this comment

cp, I’m sure Ariose remembers as well, but on draft night when we selected Salim (ever early in the second round), Dickie V said he was a steal, based on his production numbers (and 3pt % from college). We have selected Solo in the second round (he gets little PT, although he is productive), we have selected Andersen and Cenk Ayol (looks like 2 wasted picks).

I’m just saying that I am not confident in the Hawks (Sund/Woody) that they will do a good job with their draft picks.

• Link
• Report this comment

“Aren’t stats awesome? You can use the exact same stats to argue multiple sides of an argument.”

Yeah, I found a colorful way of bringing that up a few days ago. It started an argument. Go figure. Oh wait….no, DON’T go figure. It will only get you in trouble.

Oh, and we’ve also found that stats become inexplicably contextually- challenged when they become suddenly inconvenient to the party who was originally using them to try and prove a point. Heh heh heh….It’s not exactly a rare disease.

• Link
• Report this comment

What game was SVG watching(coaching)? That midget shouldn’t have been playing in the game at all. Then SVG wants to used the excuse that he was part of the group that was playing well. Uh, wasn’t Rafer playing with the group that created a double digit half time lead? Then he use a weak excuse that the guy sat too long on the bech to comeback in the game. As if Rafer sat there by choice. Whew, we thought Woody can come up with some lame excuses…

“Van Gundy had a different take.

“I thought we had a very, very bad third quarter,” he said. “And then it wasn’t so much one guy over the other, it was just we had a unit in the fourth quarter that I thought was playing real well. And then you get down to the point where Rafer hasn’t played in 10 or 12 minutes, I thought it would be hard to bring him back.””

• Link
• Report this comment

Ray, we’ll leave some bread crumbs for you… or better yet, popcorn kernels for you to find your way back to the website of happy Hawks fans who wear rosed-colored glasses and enjoy the beauty of their own front yard.

• Link
• Report this comment

I can’t believe how poor-quality these NBA teams are.

The Lakers have to be one of the most underachieving teams that will ever win the NBA Championship. The same team that couldn’t finish off the Rockets (who were without Yao, T-Mac, Mutumbo and mostly Artest with his mediocre performances) in less than 7 games. They stole Gasol from Memphis for freaking mustard packets.

The Magic have the most panicky coach I’ve ever seen. The guy yells and yells and yells and won’t let his players do anything on their own–I guess Phil Jackson is a unique coach who lets his players figure things out

The Hawks: Were they really the #4 seed? That’s a testament to how awful the East was. To think the Hawks would win 1 game in a series vs. the Lakers, Celtics, Magic, Cavs (Lol), Rockets (probably), Spurs, Nuggets is just laughable..

David Stern should be ashamed of the mediocre quality of the NBA teams this year. Gonna have to see Luke Walton and Adam Morrison wearing championship rings…

Kobe the arrogant r@pist who yells at teammates and curses at them

• Link
• Report this comment

Melvin

Regarding your June 12th, 2009
4:28 pm post:

I’ll co-sign that; my sentiment exactly

• Link
• Report this comment

Oh, and we’ve also found that stats become inexplicably contextually- challenged when they become suddenly inconvenient to the party who was originally using them to try and prove a point

Geez Ray, that made my head hurt…lol! I think it is interesting, speaking of context, how the use of stats vary from sport to sport. I don’t know anything about fantasy basketball, but fantasy baseball has ushered in a myriad of new, and supposedly more precise and “enlightened”.

But I think all would be best everyone remember that stats are simply data, and we should all be guided by the old saw that ,”data isn’t in formation, information isn’t knowledge, and knowledge isn’t wisdom.

Then again the only stat that really matters is W-L!

Go Hawks!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Found the assessment of Rick Sund…it isn’t very encouraging as the article is about the worst GM’s in the league.

Rick Sund (Seattle Supersonics)
[trade: +5, re-sign: +3] 2/03 – Sund took advantage of the Ray Allen/Michael Redd situation in Milwaukee by stealing Ray Ray away, only giving up a washed-up point guard (Gary Payton) and a guy who still can’t shoot (Desmond Mason). However, Allen is a guy who commands max money but doesn’t provide max results, which is why the ’05 Allen re-sign gets a +3.

[+1] 7/03 – He did a fair job landing two serviceable players in the unspectacular Nick Collison (#12) and the wispy Luke Ridnour (#14), but neither guy has developed into an established starter. In that draft, Sund passed on the likes of David West, Boris Diaw, Leandro Barbosa and Josh Howard. He’d trade both Collison and Ridnour for any of those guys in a heartbeat.

[-14] – In the next three drafts, Sund picked three project centers: Robert Swift (#12) in ’04, Johan Petro (#25) in ’05 and Saer Sene (#10) in ’06. In drafting these guys, he passed on Al Jefferson, Josh Smith, Delonte West, Tony Allen, Kevin Martin, David Lee and Marcus Williams. Swift is injured while Petro and Sene are combining for a dreadful 7.5 points and 5.4 rebounds this season. What a brutal draft run.

[trade: +3, re-sign: +1] 2/06 – Turning short timer Vladimir Radmanovic into Chris Wilcox was a nice move, though he hasn’t developed into a 15/10 guy like the Sonics hoped. The team may eventually regret re-signing him last summer.

[+1] 2/06 – Sund acquired Earl Watson for Reggie Evans, trading toughness in the frontcourt for toughness in the backcourt. I’m convinced that Watson can anchor a bench, but he’s not yet a starter.

[-5] 2/07 – Sund’s biggest mistake was not to trade Rashard Lewis before the deadline after deciding not to sign him to an extension before the season. Now it looks like Lewis will opt out this summer, which means the Sonics may get nothing in return for their stud swingman.

Final score: -5

In fairness, Sund has had to deal with franchise’s fiscal problems and potential ownership change, though it’s clear he’s better at trading players than he is at drafting them. And that Lewis debacle is going to hurt.

• Link
• Report this comment

ED,

The assessment of Sund is funny b/c it reference him passing on two Hawks players which was drafted by his predecessor (BK). The same guy that many on here dispise of… Good Luck Hawks…

• Link
• Report this comment

kwooden1,

In response to your concerns about Speedy, I would like to suddest that the Hawks make this trade and really get something good from Speedy’s contract:
Trade Josh for Bosh and add Speedy to make the contracts work per NBA trade rules. Toronto should go for this because they know that they will loose Bosh next summer(expiring contract). They get Josh for the next 4 years and Speedy’s expiring contract. The Hawks should go for this because it makes them serious contenders right away and they will have two serious expiring contracts for next summer in JJ & Bosh. That’s over 30m to use on the FA sweepstakes of the summer of ‘10. If the Hawks can make a serious run @ the Finals with JJ & Bosh, they will probably both be real interested in resigning with the Hawks. If the Hawks can’t resign both, then they have over 30m to get other really good FA.

If we don’t make this move, we will not contend next year or the year after because JJ will walk!

• Link
• Report this comment

Hoops,

I feel like the whole “free agent sweepstakes of 2010″ is overblown. Okay, so if we trade for Bosh, we’d have two expiring max contracts for 2010. Now what? Who do we get in this free-for-all, and how can you guarantee that we’ll get them?

Problem #1: If you’re banking on getting one of the high profile players in the summer of 2010, you better be adding him to a roster that already has a good/very good player or two on it. If not, then what’s the motivation for any high profile free agent to come here? We’d essentially be starting over or rebuilding. Want an example of the need for more than one high profile player? Try the Cleveland Cavs. They added a good player in Mo Williams, to play alongside Lebron James. Still wasn’t enough, as the Cavs didn’t make it to the NBA Finals.

Problem#2: Which two big-time free agents can you really expect to get? Can you afford both, and still maintain a reasonably good supporting cast, along with a serviceable bench? Remember, both free agents (again, you will need TWO of these guys to compete among the elite) have to fit together. Best case scenario is that one is a frontcourt star, and the other is a backcourt star. Even then, they still must fit. Fit the team, fit the coach, fit each other. Want an example of a not-so-great fit? How about Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala, and the Sixers. That one might still be worked out, but there is no doubt that Iggy and his teammates struggled with Brand on the floor.

Problem#3: Swinging for the fences is like trying to shoot the devil in the back. What if you miss? Now you have $30 million to play with, but where are you going to spend it? Probably on some guys who aren’t going to give you your money’s worth.

• Link
• Report this comment

Big Ray,

I hear what you are saying and you have a good point. I still say that if trade Josh for Bosh and throw in Speedy to make it legal that we become serious contenders next year! Where do we go from there? Success will bring JJ and Bosh back to us. If not, we have the money and money talks!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

You know, Bosh has had knee problems in the past and J-Smoove has a clean Bill of health……

• Link
• Report this comment

Ray

“Let’s say there are a few players he likes better than any others in the draft. ”

And there lies the problem. I don’t think the guy is a good judge of talent. Just look at his draft history…

• Link
• Report this comment

Hoops,

Trust me, I’m not thumbing my nose at the Josh for Bosh trade. I’d do it. Of course, now Josh will kick me off his online entourage, but I’ll cope somehow.

O’brien,

Actually, that makes sense. I can see JJ being happy with a veteran all-star on the squad with him. Really, this is more about fit than anything else. Is it still JJ’s team, or is it now Bosh’s? Does either guy really care about all that? And who now becomes the #1 option, and who is #2? I know, I’m nitpicking, but this stuff exists. Well, either way we are looking at two max contracts, and the trick will be sandwiching all the right pieces around them. I like the idea of getting Charlie V and re-signing Zaza and Flip.

It really wouldn’t make sense for JJ to have an issue with that. After all, he’s been whining and b!tching about veterans (with talent) ever since he….left a team full of them to come here…but that’s besides the point. Glad he’s here, despite the bad taste his playoff performance left, along with all the tire marks he left on his teammates throughout the year. Wow, never knew he had a CDL. Anybody get the number on that bus?

Melvin,

Don’t even go there with the history of Sund’s draft picks. I’ll have nightmares all the way up until June 25th. My guess is that two of his favorites in the draft are BJ Mullens and Tyler Hansbrough. Mullens probably goes before we pick. Hansbrough may be right up his alley, but then I could be wrong (he could like a SG better). You never know. But I wouldn’t be suprised to see either guy don a Hawks hat at the podium if either is on the board at #19 (and its likely that Hansbrough will be).

Whether or not either guy is the best pick is another story altogether….

• Link
• Report this comment

Ray,

Technically, it would still be JJ’s team (Boston is still Pierce’s team, although KG is the emotional leader). JJ would still be team captain, but Bosh would be the guy who speaks up. The Hawks would take the next step, because we would have 2 legit Robins, 2 guys who are arguably top 5 at their positions. Feed Bosh the ball, and that would lead to open shots for JJ and Marvin.

And even with $36 mil in 2 guys, the Hawks should still be able to have a decent team around them, if Sund knows what he’s doing.

Speaking of Sund, I am also concerned about his track record in the draft.

• Link
• Report this comment

Hoops, I’d say Mullens in your scenario. Sund has shown that he is willing to draft projects at the center position. And we all know that bigs are more expensive in free agency. So financially, drafting one is cheaper than signing one. Also, Sund could take the approach that Acie has a better chance to develop into a viable contributor than any young big on our roster. Lastly, if he is concerned with Howard, Lopez and Philly’s collection of bigs, then investing in a young big makes sense for the long-run.

• Link
• Report this comment

O’brien,

I hear you. That makes sense as well (It’s JJ’s team, but Bosh does all the talking/leading).

Yeah, the tricky part is putting all the right pieces around the two starts. But the two stars is a concept all to itself. It would be nice.

• Link
• Report this comment

RaJaH I don’t know how credible that article is but it sounds like something the Hawks would do.

• Link
• Report this comment

RaJah,

Yep, saw that article on DraftExpress.

But you do realize you just read something emminently evil, don’t you? Websites like that send virtual demon viruses that will eat away at your brain cells, destroying any basketball knowledge you have. You are at risk! Here’s the cure:

1.Throw half-full salt shaker over left shoulder (or is that the right one? I forget).

5. In the event that an exorcism must be peformed, there are a few procedures to follow. First, refill the salt shaker and put it back where you got it from. Then clean up the spilled salt. Why? Because if you tell your wife or girlfriend that an ancient draftsite-ology demon infestation is the reason for the spilled salt everywhere, she may try to assist with the exorcism. Unfortunately, severe beatings have not been medically provent to help with all exorcisms, though it does seem to work for some. After cleaning up the salt, you must go to the blog site of your most hated pro basketball team and blog there for the next two days. This will drive the demon within you absolutley insane. Instant cure!

• Link
• Report this comment

LOL @ Big Ray!

• Link
• Report this comment

I don’t see Mullens being there at 19. I think he is impressing guys with his workouts. I said a few weeks ago he could be the Partick O’Bryant in this draft. A guy who didn’t really impress people that much in college but use their athletic abilities to wow scouts and gm’s in a workout such as Yi did two years ago. Its crazy how guys don’t like to work out against each other. They rather face a chair or shoot uncontested jumpers in front of the gm’s and coaches. I like the guys who challenge other players and want to face other guys. Its easy to look great in a gym alone shooting uncontested shots or dribbling when nobodies hounding you on defense. I’m sure a lot of guys would have gone lower in the draft if they faced guys during this process.

• Link
• Report this comment

This Laker team would not win more than 1 game against any NBA Championship team from 1981-2008.

Overrated, overpaid, and poor quality teams in the NBA this year

• Link
• Report this comment

David Andersen is a hold-over from the Billy Knight era. For that reason, he may become another lost asset. Perhaps “never had” asset is more accurate. Kinda like Cenk Aykol, the Turkish pg we drafted, who never came over (is the guy even alive still?).

I don’t know what Andersen is asking price-wise, but he has to understand that he has yet to play a single NBA game. And we’ve all seen how European play doesn’t always translate to the NBA. We could probably use him, but I won’t lose sleep at night if we lose him altogether.

• Link
• Report this comment

I need another year to evaluate. Suckers!

• Link
• Report this comment

Exactly, Najeh. I think last year’s Celtics were light years better than any team in the NBA this year. The Hawks I believe overachieved at home and to have us at the #4 seed is a bit high I think. Cleveland massively overachieved. I am really mad Kobe will get that ring, especially since we killed them at home this year and he didn’t even try in that game, plus Phil isn’t the most active coach out there but will get his 10th.

UGH

• Link
• Report this comment

Perfect Offseason: Resign Pachulia, sign free agents Villaneuva and Jack, trade Horford and Williams with 2nd rd pk to Toronto for Bosh, trade Childress and Law for Camby, and draft Teague.
Starting Lineup; Camby, Bosh, Smith, Johnson, and Jack
Bench; Pachulia, Villaneuva, Evans, ? , and Teague
very well possible and would solidify them as contenders

• Link
• Report this comment

The way I figure it, NOBODY is supposed to know precisely ALL of what front offices are thinking (that goes for beat writers as well, since they are also media personnel). What DOES get leaked out is not easy to trace unless it’s a direct quote, because sources do not want to be cited or traced.

And that is another explanation (besides a lawsuit) for not citing a source. If somebody drops a bit of information to you on the promise that you won’t tell on them, the smart thing to do is to USE those so-called “weasel words”, rather than use direct quotes from your source (even if you don’t name them), whom you will most certainly lose as a source if he sees his own words in print anywhere.

That’s why on websites like HoopsHype, you see the section labeled as “Rumors.” Nobody is playing anything false here, and if you’re somebody who is taking all of this stuff too seriously…I really don’t know what to say. The rumor mill is all for the sake of circulating noise to talk about. Kinda like a blog…just something to talk about. After all, isn’t it possible that most people realize that something titled “rumors” or something to that effect, might actually be just…rumors? Again, it’s just something to talk about.

Some of us are bored to death with topics like JJ gets doubled and tripled, JJ is tired, JJ is asked to do too much, JJ needs somebody to play with, when are we going to extend JJ, JJ’s foot might be hurting, JJ is our best player, what’s JJ doing today, is JJ on Twitter, JJ, JJ, JJ, JJ, JJ, JJ, JJ, JJ, JJ….and JJ. Oh, and Woody sucks.

• Link
• Report this comment

Uh-oh, here’s another one, and this one is by Travis Heath (BS Alarm Inc. rating unknown as of yet):

Fixing The Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks were irrelevant in the city of Atlanta and the NBA for nearly a decade until the 2007-08 season when the team finally made it back to the NBA Playoffs for the first time in nine seasons. The Hawks took another step forward in 2008-09, securing homecourt advantage in the postseason and advancing to the second round. Unfortunately for the Hawks, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were their reward. This led to a very quick second round exit.

Niremetal,

about this: “The area where they’re freaking clueless is what the NBA front offices are thinking.”

Got a source for that?

Or should you let us know that it was conjecture on your part?

• Link
• Report this comment

O MY BAD FATHERS DAY NEXT WEEK.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

My new Hawks offseason:
1.Sign Sessions or Jack
2.Go bpa at #19
3.Sign and trade Marvin to Portand for Prizbillia and a 2nd rdr
4.Trade Josh Smith and our 2nd rdr to Toronto for Bosh
5.Let Bibby, Zaza, and Solo walk
6.Re-sign Flip Murray
7.Bring back Chills
1st team: Sessions/JJ/Chills/Horford/Bosh
2nd team: Law/Flip/Mo/Hansborough/Prizbillia

• Link
• Report this comment

They say Shaq going to the Cavs will bring Cleveland over the hump vs. Orlando, but this is an invitation for disaster for Cleveland. I remember years back when Portland and Sacramento would think that 1 big move would bring them over the hump vs. LAL, then they forgot the rest of the conference (top echelon that is) was making big moves. In other words, Cleveland might fix their team for a matchup with Orlando by making this trade, but they will not improve their chances of beating a HEALTHY Boston team.

I heard this was also reported on ESPN radio. Is it BS if you HEARD it was reported, but weren’t actually LISTENING to the radio YOURSELF? I get so confused.

• Link
• Report this comment

If Shaq does end up going to the Cavs, the point is Cleveland is not standing still and just waiting for their players to get better as a team and individually (as JJ put it). Moves have to be made. Don’t just resign everybody and hope they get better. Get some extra reinforcements.

Ray,

I agree with you. If we resign Bibby, I hope its not for more than 2 years. Because his defense and penetration skills are lacking as it is. Can you imagine 2 years from now?

I wonder what kind of market is out there for Bibby? As one blogger pointed out, I think he would be a good fit for Philly. With Elton Brand down low (and Eddie Jordan’s movement offense), Bibby should get some easy shots. And Brand and Dalembert play decent man defense, so that might help to compensate for his shortcomings.

• Link
• Report this comment

Come on guys! My Papaw had a saying that fits the Hawks, “How long do you want to suck hind tit”? We have to make some changes this off season or we will finish no better than 5th next year in the East and JJ will walk!

I can’t believe we are going to resign Bibby! He was a great sign for us 1 1/2 years ago. Not now! We need a younger and more athletic PG that will play defense! Sessions is available and Acie needs to be given a chance as well.

Josh Smith can’t shoot a jump shot for crying out loud! That’s why he is always open! Horford plays inside and Josh can’t play out. Make this trade – Speedy & Josh for Bosh! Toronto would go for that trade! They know they will loose Bosh next summer. Why not get something for him?Why are we afraid to make a move?

Resign Flip, Marvin, and Zaza. Now we have a contender for the Finals! The Cavs are making plans for the Finals by getting Shaq. Why can’t we?

This lineup can be had for the same money that we are now spending:
PG-Sessions, Acie
SG-JJ, Flip
SF-Marvin, Evans
PF-Bosh, David Anderson
C-Horford, Zaza, Morris
Draft Pick-Mullens(if available), best player available, or Pendergraph

• Link
• Report this comment

I don’t even think adding Shaq really solves Cleveland’s biggest problem with Orlando, which is that they can’t guard Turkoglu and Lewis at the same time. Yeah, Howard is way too athletic and strong for Ilgauskas and Varejao, but until he actually develops post moves, stopping him shouldn’t be Cleveland’s immediate concern over acquiring another athletic defensive-minded forward. I honestly think signing Trevor Ariza in free agency would make them much more dangerous to Orlando than trading for Shaq, and Ariza would be a hell of a lot cheaper too. Throw in Shaq’s recent injury history and I don’t think he alone will put them over the top.

• Link
• Report this comment

WTF I wrote a 3 paragraph long entry like 2 hours ago and it didn’t post?

Anyway, I was very impressed with what Tim Legler said on ESPN yesterday about SVG and Dwight. He said you NEVER double team anyone when you’re up 3 and there’s 20 seconds left.

More importantly, he was talking about how Dwight’s free throw hand formation is off, that he doesn’t extend the elbow. Also, he elaborated that Ewing never had a jumpshot till he worked on it and Dwight is only a back-to-the-basket player. Dwight has to learn how to hit a 12-footer from Ewing if he wants to become a more dominant and better all-around big man. Right on, Legler

• Link
• Report this comment

Hoops, I really like JS’s energy and effort but I would go for the Bosh trade. But I honestly don’t think it would happen. If Toronto does that trade, they will be telling their fans that next season means nothing. They would be stuck with some kind of a line-up like Evans (C), Smith (PF) and Bargnani (SF). They would lose all their inside scoring, while not addressing their defensive issues at all! Besides that, their front office would look pathetic for not even trying to keep Bosh. The longer I look at this off-season the less options I really see that we have.

terrell b, I was on the Prizbillia bandwagon not to long after the HAWKS season ended, but from what everyone has said on the blog I don’t think it would ever happen. Portland can’t afford to lose him because Oden is to injury prone.

I really think a good summer for the HAWKS would be:
1) Resigning Bibby,Flip and Solo (Total of 12M/yr)
2) Let Zaza walk
3) Wait out Marvin, match anything below (9M/per)
4) Sign and Trade Speedy + Evans for Mo Pete
5) Sign Gerald Green with the rest of our Mid-Level Exception
6) Draft Tyler H.

I don’t think this solves any of our problems, but I guess I will keep my fantasy trades to myself. (Josh Smith for Lebron James sounds good in my mind!!) My only hope for next year is Josh Smith, Marvin Williams and Al Horford take substantial steps forward. The HAWKS were top 8 in the league this year and have a lot of room for growth with their core players. They have good chemistry, if they keep Bibby. Minor offensive philosophy changes along with improved games from Smith and Horford, would immediately help this team compete better with the elite teams in the league. I’m not certain at all that the HAWKS coach will change his ways or Horford/Smith will get any better, but I can just hope.

GO HAWKS!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Kwooden1,

I agree. If no big moves are made, so much depends on our younger core players coming back better than before. And that has to be perfectly aligned with our head coach taking advantage of that, and not running everything for and through the backcourt. Of course, that’s a two-edged blade. If their roled are expanded and less pressure is put on JJ to score (and he plays less minutes), then if he doesn’t do well (or better), the “tired” and “asked to do too much” mantras are no longer there. And we just can’t have THAT…

• Link
• Report this comment

Ray,

If Toronto holds on to Bosh, and then he walks next season, what do they tell their fans? Sure, they’ll have cap space, but which big name free agent is going to sign with Toronto? And I dont see Bosh staying in Toronto.

Josh is an exciting player, and I think the Toronto fans would understand, based on his potential and his salary, and the strong possibility of Bosh walking (he refused to sign an extension). Plus if Speedy is the other piece, his contract would be expiring, so they still have some cap room next season.

• Link
• Report this comment

I agree that Cleveland had a bigger problem defending the 3 than they did the post. At the same time, you really can’t adjust your roster to defend Rashard and Hedu and then use that same set of defenders aginst KG and Pierce. I wonder if they could convince Shawn Marion to take the MLE. He and LeBron could certainly defend the Magic tandem.

• Link
• Report this comment

Niremetal,

About this:

“If the statement is presented in terms that could serve as the basis for a defamation or libel suit, it should have a source – be it a primary source (e.g. Rick Sund) or a secondary source (e.g. Sekou, Reuters, etc).”

OK, Fair enough, and good job explaining why YOU need a BS alarm.

Is this a potentially defamatory statement? “The area where they’re freaking clueless is what the NBA front offices are thinking.”

Are you not “defaming” the DraftExpress site with a specious claim? Or do you have a source? Or “proof” that they are “freaking clueless”.

Or if it’s your OPINION that they are “freaking clueless” shouldn’t you have told us it was your opinion? You made it as a statement of fact. Can you explain?

• Link
• Report this comment

Big Ray, it’s not that we don’t find your BS Alarm thing funny.

It’s that we don’t find you funny.

• Link
• Report this comment

Let’s see, I haven’t posted in a while, and I want to get attention…….

I know, I’ll slam Big Ray and everybody will think I’m soooooo cool.

• Link
• Report this comment

“That being said, I have become a Trevor Ariza fan (and some bloggers even prefer him over Marvin).”

I know you didn’t present this as your own opinion, so don’t take this as a personal response, but I think if Marvin was in a well-defined, limited role like Ariza, he would be just as effective. It goes back to one of my biggest criticisms of Woody, that nobody in the front court is given a defined role in the offense. Don’t get me wrong — Ariza has really impressed me in this postseason and I think he would be able to give any contending team 25-30 quality minutes per game, either as a starter or off the bench. But a big part of that comes from the fact that the system calls for him to do two or three specific things (spot-up 3-point shooting, disrupting passing lanes, and man-to-man defense) that he’s really good at doing, while limiting the situations in which he would have to do other things. Constantly being put in a spot where he can utilize his strengths also means his confidence skyrockets and he becomes more aggressive.

When I suggested Ariza for the Cavs, I pictured him coming off the bench as part of a small lineup in which LeBron would be guarding the other team’s PF, when the Cavs played teams like the Magic (or the Hawks for that matter) with non-traditional PFs. Considering his spot-up shooting ability, he could also contribute some minutes at the 2. But no doubt, Lamar Odom or Shawn Marion could address their inability to guard the Magic front court as well. Like Astro Joe said, though, Ariza wouldn’t help them defend more traditional lineups like Boston unless they were willing to play LeBron extended minutes at power forward, and although he’s probably strong enough and athletic enough to guard the Garnetts of the league, it probably wouldn’t be the smartest way to use him.

“I think Orlando will have trouble retaining Turkoglu, and recovering from losing him would be difficult.”

The way their system is set up, it would be damn near impossible to recover from that, since everything runs through Turkoglu offensively. Who knows if a healthy Jameer Nelson would take over the offense-initiating responsibilities (side note: I think Nelson is a little overrated) but they would have to seriously reconfigure their offense to compensate for potentially losing Turkoglu. Really, if salaries are not taken into account, the Magic should get rid of Lewis before they lose Turkoglu, but Lewis’ immovable contract won’t allow that to happen. The criticism of Magic GM Otis Smith over the Lewis contract has decreased a little this year, but if that results in Turkoglu leaving, he’s going to look like a complete fool.

• Link
• Report this comment

Magic won’t finish this game with 90 points. I agree with the previously stated sentiment that neither of these teams are historically elite. But the same was true for the Heat team that won it a few years ago. And it doesn’t make the trophy any less gold or the moment any less thrilling for the Lakers. And I’m happy for Kobe.

• Link
• Report this comment

OK, I lied, they will score 90.

• Link
• Report this comment

I can’t freakin’ believe that Adam Morrison has a championship and Barkley, Malone, Ewing, Stockton…

• Link
• Report this comment

Melvin, Dont be surprised if you see a kobe puppet commercial rubbing lebron’s face into winning another ring.

• Link
• Report this comment

I’m not sure drafting Shelden Williams at pick 5 or passing on Chris Paul was the worst thing Billy Knight did to the Hawks. It sure would be nice if the Hawks could take back the Pau Gasol for Shareef Abdur Rahim trade.

• Link
• Report this comment

Sautee,

Contextually, you can tell that when I said “The area where they’re freaking clueless” was my opinion rather than an attempted statement of fact. It couldn’t serve as the basis for a defamation suit.

Do you really want me to give you a dissertation on the law of defamation? Because I’d be glad to. Have to learn it for the bar anyway.

• Link
• Report this comment

And PS, Sautee:

I dunno why you get such a perverse pleasure out of picking apart my words and throwing them back at me, but I’m done with it. If you want to argue about something basketball-related, I’m happy to. But I’m done with arguing over my methodologies and not-always-carefully-chosen words that I use when posting on a blog that’s supposed to be for fun. I really am done this time after this post, on my “BS alarm” topic or any other “How niremetal views the world” topic. So if you want to continue this argument (or any other like it), have a good time talking to yourself.

• Link
• Report this comment

Astro Joe,

You know how it is. There’s always some lucky scab who gets a ring, and did absolutely NOTHING to earn it. So Morrison gets a ring, and he should be thanking the Bobcats for it. Meanwhile Radmanovich is cursing Mitch Kupchak…

Niremetal,

MJ was playing alongside an all-star/superstar SG/SF, but he was also one of the very few backcourt players to dominate the game FROM the backcourt for several years in a row, to include winning titles, WITHOUT a dominant or even notable big man. To me, that is one of the things that makes him unique. Realistically, with the exception of one of the greates role players ever in Dennis Rodman, all MJ ever had was Pippen. No other teammate, not really even Ron Harper or Horace Grant, was much more than a side-bar role player, though both of the aforementioned players were decent players. Again, MJ dominated the entire game from the 2-spot, with no big man that was anywhere close to dominant. Can’t name another who did that offhand, and even Kobe and Wade can’t claim such a thing. While Gasol isn’t as dominant as Shaq, he’s an all-star and a threat that has proven difficult for any team to stop (and really…who’s stopped him in the last few years? Nobody..), and he’s the reason why Kobe and the Lakers have made it to the Finals two years in a row.

Can’t argue with the comments on Magic Johnson, as he was a unique player all to himself, and even Lebron is not like him.

As for Duncan, he’s one of the best big men in the business, to ever hit the court. He’s even better than the guy he eventually replaced, and probably the best team leader I’ve seen at his position (his cerebral ability and versatility put him over Shaq, who dominated by having the athleticism to match his “bigger and stronger than everybody else” frame).

• Link
• Report this comment

Funny watching Phil Jackson after games just give a cold handshake and not even talk to the other coach.

Guess that’s what happens when you’re “the greatest of all time”

• Link
• Report this comment

The lesson learned from this serise is that big is back and bigger is better.
The inside outside play of both teams,although the Lakers bigs as a gruop were better, and the rumored Shaq to the Cavs deal places a premium on big men that has to give the Hawks “braintrust ” some concern. Especially with their stated goal to model the franchise after the 2003-4 Pistons.

Me,I just can’t see Al succesfully going up against the Howards,Shaqs and Perkins on a regular basis and the Hawks winning these contests.
And I don’t see how adding either Bosh or Amare helps since neither of them is a center or over 6′10” and 250 lbs, roughly Al’s size.

Well congratulations to the champs and here’s hoping someone somewhere has some clue as to where this franchise is going.

• Link
• Report this comment

I’m a fan of Josh Smith. And to be honest if it would benefit him to be in another system besides this one, then I’m happy for him. But everyone who is saying Josh for Bosh, needs to remember Toronto already has Josh Smith playing for them. His name is Marion. There’s no reason for them to make a trade to get the same exact player they already have. Especially when they could at least trade him to the west and not see him so much during the season.

Also don’t forget interior defense was one of the Hawks biggest problems. And Smoove is STILL a better defender than Bosh. Bosh comes here, and someone gets injured for the season, then you still lose him and JJ (who wants to go to NY hands down). What do you gain then besides looking at the balls bounce around in the lottery for another 4-5 years?

• Link
• Report this comment

Astor,Ray,Nire

Did you all catch Magic comment after the game. He said “Gasol is arguably the most skill big men in the game next to KG”. I almost fell out of my chair. Put both of their rings together and Duncan still has more. Heck, you add Rasheed in there as well and Duncan still trumps them all. I like Magic and no knock against the other 3 players (well, maybe somebody needs to knock Rasheed upside the head, heh) but they don’t come close to Duncan as he ate them all for lunch on his title runs… Hmmm, I got a feeling that Duncan heard Magic statement and I would be surprise if we see the Spurs back in the finals in 2010…

Oh yeah Ray, I think KG made Gasol look pretty bad in the finals last year and I believe had he not been hurt this season, that title could have stayed in beantown….

• Link
• Report this comment

On the flipside, if the Suns trade Shaq for 2 now-scrubs, how many fans will they have left? If Nash is traded for Rondo and Amare is unhappy/dealt, this team will take years to recover

• Link
• Report this comment

Just for a little perspective, Pau Gasol was the guy the Hawks took at #2 in order to effect a trade with Memphis to get Sharif Abdur-Raheem. The Lakers’ big man more than offset Dwight in the finals this year, and to me that just provides all that much more impetus for the Hawks to continue to build this team through drafting and developing players rather than trading those picks for players whose worth is already maxxed out or waning.

I have no problem with adding role pieces through highly selective free agent signings, such as the additions of Flip and Mo this year. But I’d hate to give up the Hawks’ future in favor of a compromised present.

• Link
• Report this comment

Melvin,

Good points. KG outplayed Gasol, he didn’t stop him. For a soft guy, dude sure gets a lot of rebounds. I think what hurt Gasol and Odom last year was the fact that when KG and Perkins were out, they then had to deal with a very energetic tandem of Big Baby and Leon Powe. Both guys are more physical than even KG. But you’re right, KG got the better of that battle. No two ways about it. Gasol is just hard to deal with on offense, due to his level of finesse/skill.

And you’re right about Duncan. He trumps ‘em all. Definitely the most skilled. Shaq wouldn’t have dominated if he wasn’t simply bigger than anybody else. It wasn’t that he was more athletic than anybody else. Just a lot bigger/heavier/stronger. And no way could he actually LEAD a team like Duncan does. But that’s just my opinion.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ray,

I think Gasol gets all those rebounds b/c he’s the only guy that I know(or capable) that could touch his knee caps without benting over (super length)…lol

• Link
• Report this comment

Nire,

You said this: “Contextually, you can tell that when I said “The area where they’re freaking clueless” was my opinion rather than an attempted statement of fact.”

Actually, I COULDN’T tell, but I’m satisfied at your admission of opinion.

And then you said this: “Also, I’m some fool posting on a blog. If someone ever gives me a podium like HoopsWorld or DraftExpress, I’d be much more circumspect about what I say.”

Exactly. Some fool posting on a blog. As we ALL are. And as such, our words can be argued. YOU were the one demanding “source that” to other bloggers here. That’s OK, but you set yourself up for others throwing your own words back. If you don’t WANT to be more circumspect with your words on the blog, then don’t be surprised when they come back to haunt you. That’s YOUR decision, man. Don’t put that on me. It’s not like I’m the only one here who takes what you say to task.

And then this: “But I’m done with arguing over my methodologies and not-always-carefully-chosen words that I use when posting on a blog that’s supposed to be for fun.”

Well, first off thanks for admitting your use of “not-always-carefully-chosen words”, since THAT has been the thing that drove many of my responses.

As I recall, YOU were the one trying to dismiss my argument for comparing JJ with the 5 closest in salary by arguing that MY methodology was incomplete. At THAT point, were you not “throwing my words” back at me?

Pot calling kettle. Perhaps if you want the blog to be more fun, then start choosing your words more carefully. That was my ENTIRE point – your carelessness with words. Which seems to me a curious thing for an almost lawyer, but hey, apparently you can compartmentalize WHEN to be circumspect and I’m sure that’s a valuable thing in the legal world.

• Link
• Report this comment

F%$#ck Chris Bosh!!!! IS he a center? I love you guys and your educated analysis of our team, so it baffles me when you guys cry for soft, craky kneed former all-star PF’s like Bosh. I KNOW you guys have more sense than this.

You guys are the brightest of the blogging world, so i’m sure you won’t disagree with my idea that we need to get Rahseed. He may have lost a step or two but he’s certainly no softer than Pau Gasol. Actually, when has sheed EVER been called soft on the defensive end? Any scoring he does will be a bonus, we just need an anchor. We won 47 games DESPITE being out reboundede in almost EVERY GAME WE WON. That’s just hustle so you can’t blame J-Smoove and Al for being outrebounded(back in febuary) by the lakers when their giving up 5-6 inches.

If you want to trade for a Big, you’r going to have to give up talent. We can’t afford to do that. We just need to sign Rasheed. It’s simple. Eventually we will come across a steal in the form of a young and talneted CENTER, but for now just sign Rasheed. Woodson likes vets and he has former ties to Rasheed.

And don’t give me that immaturatity crap. We have high-character guys on our squad who want to win. He will fall in line behind our “”all action-no words” superstar Joe Johnson. Their job is to win ball games. If yor’re worried about character issues after you’ve watched our team over the past two seasons, then YOU need to grow up.

Re-Sign Marvin,Draft Wayne Ellington, Draft Danny Green, Re-sign Solo, Re-Sign Bibby and/or Flip(or sign Anthony Parker…..though I think he’s like 33), fill the bench out with guys like Gerald Green, Mario West, Pray Acie get’s his Sh$@!t together AND LETS WIN WIN WIN GOOOOOO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Besides, there is no guarentee that JJ will be back after this 09-10 season

• Link
• Report this comment

Rick sund make the trade for bosh marvin horford and the 19pick and build this team around joe josh bosh and bring back chill.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Snarf, I love the idea of Rasheed. He will be the one to actually teach our bigs how to play post defense. Also a big like him who can shoots, allows Josh to be able to be on the block. With he, Smoove, and Horford I would LOVE the swag that the front line would possess. All three of them aren’t scared to knock someone out if they’re skipping to the lane. Believe it or not that goes a long way in the playoffs. Another thing about Rasheed that is over looked is even though he’s older, he still doesn’t miss many games.

• Link
• Report this comment

Astro Joe, are you serious?

Did you watch Shaq play at all this year? Shaq is still a top 5 center and can score at will and out-muscle any other player in this league.

And I still can’t believe Kobe gets away with those dirty elbows that the refs don’t call anymore.
Adulterer.

• Link
• Report this comment

How can you complain about us being out rebounded then bring up getting Rasheed? With all his talents he is a poor rebounder. A lot of us complained about Josh’s rebounding this past year but he still was a better rebounder than Rasheed. Sheed also said he wants 8 million a year. I think we pass on Sheed. He would rather play on the perimeter than bang down low. And Sheed takes a lot of plays off. Watching some Detroit games this past season it was times when he was on the court where he looked like he did not even care. I don’t think we need that type of attitude here. Guys always complain about Josh so I wonder would they be mad at Sheed when he is launching jumpers, not rebounding, and acting like he would rather be elsewhere. I would rather go after McDyess.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ramon,

The idea that finding a serviceable point guard is easier than finding an athletic wing player is just…well, I don’t have a good name for it. I guess it depends on what your idea of “serviceable” is. Do you know who James Singleton and Gerald Green are? Two guys who rival Josh Smith in overall athleticism, and neither one is having an impact in the league. There are many more where they come from. Athletic wings are available in every draft, and many teams have more than one. We had two or three ALREADY, when we drafted Marvin…I agree that good defensive bigs (particularly good centers) ARE hard to find.

You’re right that we wouldn’t have the exact same roster if we had drafted one of those guys we’ve been talking about. I won’t pretend to know if we would have been a better team or not, but I suspect we would be. I can tell you what we wouldn’t have: a point guard problem. Took us forever to get a decent pg (Mike Bibby), now here we are AGAIN, staring our two vets who can play that position in the face as unrestricted free agents, and a guy who may as well be a rookie (Law).

And are you basing CP3’s ability on coaching alone? If that’s the case, everybody on Byron Scott’s team should be as good as CP3 is. I think if he got drafted by Minnesota, he’d be putting up numbers that are just as good. Except he’d have Al Jefferson to work with, versus David West.

Anyway, while it does haunt us to a point, it’s over and done already.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ramon are you telling me that you wouldnt trade horford and marvin for bosh i say do it bosh is 25 years of age who has become a better post defender over the years because he has picked up solid weight and thru out his career he avg 1.2 blocks a game plus 9.2 rebounds a game if you trade for bosh not only the team will be better the offense want be so stagnated while everybody standing around waiting on joe to dribble the ball 20 seconds of the 24seconds left on the shot clock the hawks will finally have that low post presents that we so badly need.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Nire,

I agree that the consensus in 2005 was that Marvin was going to be an all/super star player but unfortuately for the Hawks. He’s not the player that they thought he was going to be (at least up to this point). Hindsight, if they had to do that draft over. I bet the Bucks wouldn’t pick Bogut number 1 either. If thats the case, then both teams miss out on that draft….

• Link
• Report this comment

Ray, I respect that. But think about this. Eric Snow, Jameer Nelson, Alston, Kenny Smith, Rondo, Fisher, and Andre Miller, are those not serviceable point guards? Aside from Tony Parker, who was the last point guard to win MVP of the FINALS (I’m thinking probably Thomas almost 20 years ago)? Gerald Green and the others you mentioned can’t defend anything, other wise he would have a job.

• Link
• Report this comment

Big Ray,

Marvin didn’t need to start. His team won the championship. but I forgot: you know everything

• Link
• Report this comment

Ramon,

Why does everybody go to the extreme like that? I never said anything about a point guard winning the NBA Finals MVP. I don’t want that, and I don’t think we need it. Just wanted a good point guard, and we missed on that twice over. Yes, a serviceable point guard is fine if you have stars at other positions. Do we have stars at other positions? Other than JJ, the answer is no. Anyway, I feel that the position is very pivotal.

Anyway, Gerald Green and James Singleton, among many others simply illustrate that athletic swingmen can be had in abundance. Serviceable point guards that fit your offense and can lead a team are not as easy to come by.

• Link
• Report this comment

Icycle,

Clearly you don’t understand what I was getting at. Of course, the fact that I wasn’t talking to you might have something to do with it. And if I knew everything, I would be doing something more productive than blogging. But I do love your logic: Marvin didn’t have to start. His team won the championship. What was your point? Adam Morrison didn’t have to start for the Lakers either. His team won the championship.

Ding…

• Link
• Report this comment

Ramon,

I have to agree with your last post completely. Gerald Green is with the Mavs (can’t remember where Singleton is, maybe Europe), but I can’t figure out what his issue is. Must be mental.

Gotta give Marvin credit for being the kind of guy he is. Great character. I think the pundits/experts comparing him to Grant Hill was unfair, but these things happen. Prior to injury, Grant Hill was about as versatile a superstar as there was in the NBA. He was freakin’ awesome. Capable of averaging 8 boards and 7 assists along with 21 or more points, he was a better and much more athletic version of Joe Johnson BEFORE there was Joe Johnson. Unfortunately for us, and for Marvin, he’s just not that kind of guy, though he will probably prove to be better than he’s showing us right now. Grant Hill’s impact was immediate.

• Link
• Report this comment

And I can’t for the life of me understand why Roy Williams, as great a college coach as he is, would bring such an awesome player off the bench all year long.

• Link
• Report this comment

The Hawks should trade Marvin Williams for Rafer Alsten since Rafer can’t seem to get the playing time he wants in Orlando. Plus with Jameer Nelson returning next year, Rafer will waste away on the bench. I think the Hawks should attempt to obtain three players in the off-season: 1) Rafer Alsten, 2) Antonio McDyess and 3) Amare Stoudemire. Acquiring those three guys while dumping Bibby and Marvin Williams should all but guarantee the Hawks win the NBA title next season.

• Link
• Report this comment

What is with this trading Josh Smith rumor?

Woodson is likely gone after this year (I think?), Smoove was our best player in the playoffs, and if he could develop a d@mn jumpshot might be a top 10 player in the next 18 months. Trade Bibby, Marvin, or Horford, unless you can get Amare or Bosh

• Link
• Report this comment

Big Ray, I agree with that. At the time, I wanted them to pick Chris Paul. But if not Paul, Marvin was my second choice. I won’t lie, I was one who saw Marvin’s potential and rated it higher than Deron who was (I think) the 3rd leading scorer on his team. And after seeing how much Deron struggled against UNC, I didn’t think he would be quick enough to be an all star.

You stated Hill’s impact was immediate, and you’re correct. And by no means, is Williams even close to what Hill was pre-injury. However, Hill was a 4 year starter, (I may be wrong). Four years of college and I have no reason to believe Marvin wouldn’t have been the number one pick when he came out, even over Durant and Oden.

All I’m saying is, I’d rather have Smooth, Williams, and Horford (adding in another veteran center), than to have one Deron or CP3. To be honest, with the right point guard, and more quickness by Marvin, that could be a potent line up as is now.

• Link
• Report this comment

Sekou,
Chad Ford says the Hawks have been working hard the past few weeks to find a taker for Smith. Maybe Sund has been reading the blog and working on a trade with Toronto for Bosh. Your thoughts?

• Link
• Report this comment

What exactly is a trade kicker? Does the 6 mill mean a team has to pay Smoove that up front?

• Link
• Report this comment

Sure sund go ahead. Trade 23 year old J-Smoove. I’ll be the first one to Crucify you in every way possible. Somebody tell Clyde to fire up the T-Shirts. If Smoove leaves then Bibby has to go too. Smoove is the only person who covers for Bibby inability to stay in front of his assignment with his weak-side help/Blocking. Besides, he gets his four assists per game by lobs of pick n’ roll plays w/Smoove.

No Josh=Useless Bibby…….I’m just sayin’.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ray,

I use that article because it’s representative. I remember Googling about a year ago and looking at the mock drafts that were posted before the lottery (i.e. before anyone knew who would hold the #2 overall pick) and all but one of them had Marvin at #1 or #2. You know I wasn’t just using that article because it was the only one that said it – I did it because it encapsulated the consensus in 30 words. There were more than a few mocks that had Gerald Green ranked ahead of Deron and Paul early on. The thing to remember is that Marvin STAYED at #2 through April, May, and June while Green and Granger slid down on people’s draft boards.

As for him not starting in college, it’s misleading to use that as a strike against him. He was a super-sixth man for UNC, kinda like Manu is for San Antonio or Detlef was for the Pacers of old. You gonna hold it against the young John Havlicek too? Hell, you don’t even have to look at hall of famers. You can just look at JT in Dallas, or even Tyronn Lue here (remember that Royal Ivey “started over him”). I’m prodding you for a reason. You know that saying “why didn’t he start” isn’t even telling half the story.

He played starter’s minutes. His coach just decided that he was better used as a jolt of energy off the bench, which seemed to work pretty damned well – a fact that prompted more than a few people around here to question why Woody didn’t try using him in the same way. I STILL don’t get why we don’t try that with him. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t take it as disrespect. And if he leaves this summer, I wouldn’t be shocked if some other team used him that way again.

• Link
• Report this comment

And Ray, if you’re gonna mock me by demanding that I provide sources to it or get back into my methodology, I’ll just tell you now what I said to Sautee – I’m done arguing those points. You know I’m not BSing about Marvin’s projected draft position being top 2 from the NCAA tourney onward, so don’t get into it with me on that. I’m not gonna bite anymore.

• Link
• Report this comment

Astro,

Until June 30, the BYC rules apply to Smoove but not thereafter. Sadly, the trade kicker rules are the one thing I just can’t seem to wrap my mind around still. Manny, do you get how those things work?

• Link
• Report this comment

OH MY GAWD!!!! GameTime has gone BONKERS over on youtube!!!! He just made 08-09 Mixes for all the Hawks starters+Flip….I think I just wet my pants lol.

LINKS COMING SOON!!!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

I saw the discussion with ray and some others. Green and Singleton both play for the Mavs. ray made a great point about those athletic forwards or swing-men or whatever you want to call them. If you remember Marv was called a once in 10 years type forward in the draft. Guess what, Rudy Gay was in the next draft. It is a lot easier to find a athletic small forward than a pg that fits your system. At one point we had Marv, Chillz, Donta Smith, and Josh Smith. And to add onto the Marvin discussion. If you watched those Carolina games it was easy to see why Marvin came off the bench, Jawad Williams was actually a better player. He played for Cleveland this past season. He was a underrated starter on that championship team.

ILL-logical great post. I have read so many rumors about guys on this team being traded that I just chalk it up to summer boredom. However the Marvin trade has been out there more. If we take a guy like Earl Clark this year I would not be shocked if we do try to sign and trade Marvin. It is going to be a crazy summer.

• Link
• Report this comment

Ramon you have to understand that in order for you to go to the next level you have to have atleast 2 or 3 stars and marvin is to awkward and horford have no low post move in the post he is to mechanical and that being said everyone is always pointing the finger at josh on defense he give more weakside help than any player on the team if josh play with in him self and play above the rim he could be a beast in the nba that can be coach and i do not trade that type of talent away we are trying to win titles.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Ramon,

That is about as honest and reasonable a point of view as I’ve seen on the subject. And I can certainly understand your thoughts in that last paragraph. Well, here’s to hoping we solve our pg situation in a reasonable way. All I really want is a guy who is the best fit, and somebody we can count on in that spot for years to come. I don’t like doing 1-and-a-half year rentals or crusty vets who can’t give you much. We’ll see what happens.

Niremetal,

Niremetal,

I’m not going all over this again, and I’m done explaining my position. The comments I made about Marvin not starting were of a suggestive nature, and clearly the suggestion never hit it’s intended mark, despite the fact that you arrived at some conclusions that I also arrived at. It’s pointless to tie both sets of thoughts in right now, as you are headed in another direction altogether.

As for the article you used. It was representative of what various media personnel, pundits, experts, etc were thinking. It was NOT representative of what was in the minds of League Execs at that point. For anybody to suggest that it was, would be misleading. That was my point. League Execs play all sorts of games when it comes to draft prospects, and if they came to a consensus about any particular draft pick, you could just about bet that each and every one of them is working some kind of angle, and is not giving you the whole truth and nothing but the truth. That’s all I have to say about it at this point.

“He played starter’s minutes. His coach just decided that he was better used as a jolt of energy off the bench, which seemed to work pretty damned well – a fact that prompted more than a few people around here to question why Woody didn’t try using him in the same way. I STILL don’t get why we don’t try that with him. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t take it as disrespect. And if he leaves this summer, I wouldn’t be shocked if some other team used him that way again.”

I’ll give you one reason why. Woody did not want either pg. He did want Marvin. He got Marvin. Marvin’s a #2 pick. You don’t draft a guy #2 to be your sixth man, super sub or not. Woody is stubborn, so he’s going to continue to start his #2 pick. In the meantime, who do you replace a future superstar in the starting lineup with? Uh-huh. Rhetorical question….

• Link
• Report this comment

GameTime-Flip Murray 08-09 Mix

Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2P3HaRWf0U&feature=channel

You’re gonna love this one….

• Link
• Report this comment

GameTime-Mike Bibby 08-09 Mix

Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUHvwwSZKj4&feature=channel

• Link
• Report this comment

GameTime-Al Horford 08-09 Mix

Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqIyBuLAymY&feature=channel

It’s been a while since ANYONE has made a Horford mix……not since right after he was drafted/part of his rookie campaign…..

• Link
• Report this comment

Last but certainly not least, the big head honcho Mr.$$70mill himself:

GameTime-Joe “Cool” Johnson 08-09 Mix

Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMnY4xJTzJk&feature=channel

S.B.D ALL DAYYYYY!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Ray,

I grant that the various media folks aren’t inside the brains of the front office folks, but you know that their projections (ie the mock drafts) nearly always end up tracking the end result (i.e. the actual drafts) pretty closely. I certainly admit that one mock draft viewed in isolation means very little, and I admit I was being hyperbolic when I said that NO would have taken CP3 or Deron over Marvin. But when you see the same projections over and over and over again for a particular player, odds are that the front office staffs are thinking along the same lines. After all, with the exception of super-private workouts (which usually are only done for foreign players under contract overseas), they are seeing the same thing the front office folks are.

In any case, we’ve talked about Marvin many a time. We have roughly the same view on where he is now and how he has been mishandled in the past. The big question is what happens with him now…

• Link
• Report this comment

Niremetal,

You are continually missing my point. I am not mocking you by demanding that you provide sources. I’ll explain this one point, and then that is it. I cannot explain it any further or any better, I think.

I never said you were BSing about Marvin’s draft position. You once said to me that the people on draftexpress and other sites were good about saying what they thought teams should do, rather than what those teams’ executives were really thinking. I understand that.

Then you give me this article, and tell me that Marvin was the consensus #2 pick quite steadily (and I believe it).

Then you tell me that every GM in the league would have picked Marvin at #2, and some would have picked him at #1.

The difference to me is that this “consensus” was of the “draft experts” and other personnel who are paid to write about this stuff. You are in effect telling me that you know what every GM in the league was thinking, and you’re basing it on what? For the last time, are you telling me that this consensus was based on what all League executives were thinking, or on what the various media-based individuals and web sites were thinking?

If these sites are more about their opinion of what a team SHOULD be doing, and less about what a team IS doing, then a consensus of such sources is NOT the same as a consensus amongst league executives, plain an simple. You claim to know, based on nothing that I can see more than that article, that you know what every GM in the League would have done in that draft. Your words. I don’t know how you can claim that with a straight face. But you did.

In effect, I am not mocking you. If there is any mocking going on, you are doing it to yourself. I simply said I was not buying it, and used a bunch of rhetoric and other stuff to say it without seeming like a too much of a putz. Didn’t work, I see. My mistake.

You’re right. Everybody else seemed to get past this. That’s largely because they didn’t care to bother with it in the first place. For once, I feel like I should have followed the crowd and ignored a lot of this.

• Link
• Report this comment

Yesss, come over to the Darkside Ray…..WATCH MY LINKS ISNTEAD BWAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

• Link
• Report this comment