Trade season in full swing
The only place Josh Smith will have to worry about guarding Jamal Crawford next season is in practice, now that it appears Crawford is headed for the Hawks via trade.
HAWKSVILLE - One by one the texts and phone calls started coming in late Wednesday afternoon.
Hawks players wanted to know if what they were hearing was true. So did other team’s players, scouts, coaches and an assortment of other people.
“Are we really going to get Jamal Crawford?” one player asked via text. “Is this serious?”
“You really think this is going to happen?” another asked. “Man, he gets buckets. Major buckets. We could be explosive with him and all our other cats coming back.”
“This is a crucial move for them,” a Western Conference scout told me, “because it was obvious in the playoffs that they needed another scorer with some size that could create a shot.”
Not a single player, coach or executive from anywhere that I communicated with Wednesday objected to the move for the Hawks. Not one person.
Truth be told, they were going crazy about it, with one guy calling is a “master stroke” since the Hawks moved two for one without sacrificing draft picks now or in the future.
For years folks have complained around here about the Hawks not being active enough during trade season (the time before the draft through the start of training camp when all the league’s best wheeling and dealing is done). Well, you’ve got your wish.
And you can dissect it every which way now that it appears that Crawford will join the Hawks in exchange for Acie Law IV and Speedy Claxton being sent to Golden State (the only detail left is for Crawford to sign an agreement saying he won’t exercise the opt-out clause in his contract).
Of course, the Hawks aren’t the only team working the trade season to their advantage. Deals are to be had for teams looking to add and subtract players and salaries in an effort to retool for the coming season. LeBron James and Shaq appear to be headed for a whirlwind season in Cleveland. Mike Miller and Randy Foye will bolster the playing rotation for Flip Saunders in Washington after the Wizards pawned off a lottery pick and some spare parts for real players in a deal with Minnesota. And Richard Jefferson’s arrival from Milwaukee (for scraps) breathes new life into a San Antonio team that seemed headed for an eternal ice bath in the playoffs.
There will surely be more craziness to come, perhaps even during tonight’s draft. But make no mistake about it, the teams moving and shaking now are the ones positioning themselves for the future (immediately for teams like the Hawks, Spurs, Wizards and Cavaliers and not-so-immediately for the Timberwolves and Warriors).
I’m an advocate of bold moves. I’m a fan of bold moves that produce immediate results. And for a franchise that for the longest time was immune to them, the Hawks have a decent track record on their most recent deals of that nature.
In the summer of 2005 they went after Joe Johnson, then a restricted free agent in Phoenix, and immediately changed their fortunes (it didn’t happen overnight but going from 13 wins to 47 in four years started with that bold stroke). 1-for-1.
They swung for the warning track with Claxton the following summer, hoping like crazy that he could solve their point guard quagmire and deliver them to playoff contention faster than a rookie or youngster only to have that plan blow up in their face after Claxton’s knee’s gave out. 1-for-2.
They gambled on Mike Bibby being able to get them over the proverbial hump and into the playoffs at the trade deadline two years ago and cashed in with back-to-back trips to the playoffs, including home court advantage this season en route to a trip to the Eastern Conference semifinals. 2-for-3.
The Hawks' point guard of the future could be Wake Forest star Jeff Teague.
The played roulette last summer with their own free agents, Josh Smith and Josh Childress, allowing the market to set the price on what they should be paid and lost one (Childress to Greece) and hung on to the other one (Smith, who signed an offer sheet from Memphis that the Hawks matched before the ink dried), and then followed that up by adding veterans Flip Murray and Mo Evans to help fill the void. Murray finished in the same spot in the Sixth-Man voting that Childress did the year before and Evans stabilize things late in the year when Marvin Williams went down with a severe back injury for the final month and half of the regular season. 3-for-4.
This deal for Crawford makes sense for so many reasons, as the digital tag-team duo of Mark Bradley and Jeff Schultz have already pointed out in separate takes on this latest roll of the red, white and blue dice.
Crawford certainly sounds like he’s pleased with the move, especially when you consider the situation he’s coming from in Golden State. And just like when the Hawks acquired Bibby and the skeptics wondered how he’d fit, things worked out because Bibby was a seasoned pro that knew what was expected of him when he came here and he delivered. I suspect Crawford’s situation will be similar in that he’ll come here realizing that this is his chance to shut up his doubters and prove that he can be a part of a winning operation.
Much like Bibby was when he arrived, Crawford might be a short term solution to a problem in need of a long-term answer. There’s no doubt the Hawks are still in need of their “point guard of the future.” And that’s where the true beauty of this deal for Crawford has been a bit overlooked. The Hawks didn’t have to include the 19th pick in the draft to get the backcourt insurance needed if unrestricted free agents Bibby and Murray aren’t re-signed this summer (and Crawford’s arrival doesn’t necessarily signal the departure of either guy. In fact, the Hawks would be best suited to find a way to keep them all in the fold if they want to solidify their ranks).
They still have that draft chip to snag the guy they want and need. They have studied all their point guard options up close and personal the past two months. They’ve seen Jeff Teague, Ty Lawson, Toney Douglas and Eric Maynor in person, had them all in for workouts at Philips Arena and had a chance to ponder what each one would look like alongside Johnson, Smith, Al Horford and the rest of the gang.
Whatever happens, they won’t go into next week’s open of free agency from a position of weakness where Bibby and Murray are concerned. They’ll operate from a position of strength with a chance to nail down the present and future at the position all at once.
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1,268 comments Add your comment
Ed
June 25th, 2009
3:19 am
My guess is the Hawks take Teague but my preference would be Lawson as there is just something special about him. Woody doesn’t like small PG’s so Teague has an advantage there plus I imagine they look upon him as a more explosive scorer.
Ed
June 25th, 2009
4:18 am
So James Johnson is your pick Sekou. He could be a beast but the weight gain translates to an obvious lack of concern for his own future.
matt
June 25th, 2009
4:49 am
wow, the draft seems so different with the hawks not being in the lottery. they need to shore up and hopefully find a pg. luckily this is a pg heavy draft and should have several options to pick from. i really hope we can get ty lawson. if not, jeff teague or brandon jennings should they be available be interesting options. alas, i really like maynor, as i feel he is one of the most complete guards and could contribute right away, but may not have quite the ceiling as the other 3 i have mentioned. all in all, it should be an interesting draft that could really keep the hawks among the echelon in the east if they can make this pick worthwhile in the future.
Marcus
June 25th, 2009
5:02 am
Great job. Getting a productive player/scorer in this trade for 2 players (Acie and Speedy) whose best assets are … sitting on their ASSE(T)S is a steal.
My only question is whether this changes the direction of the 1st round pick or is it full-steam ahead with whomever we originally coveted, presumably a PG “for the future”.
Marcus
June 25th, 2009
5:36 am
Sekou,
on your 6/25/09 mock, you have the Hawks taking Jeff Teague. Any reason why they take him over Eric Maynor (if all falls into place)?
buffalo bill
June 25th, 2009
6:04 am
how many years left on crawfords contract and at what price?
Wabe
June 25th, 2009
6:38 am
Please Mr. Sund,
NO BJ MULLENS! NO HANSBOROUGH!
It’s quite obvious if the Hawks take Mullens, he would be a developmental player. At this point with Woody, I don’t want the Hawks to waste another pick on a player who needs time to develop while Woody is at the healm. Just take a look back to the draft a few years back, the Hawks were slammed for taking another forward at the #4 pick, Al Horford. Most experts assumed the Hawks would take Mike Conley Jr. out of Ohio State and instead the Hawks passed on the raw but talented gaurd and took Horford – and then came back with the #11 pick and took what experts called the most ‘NBA READY’ POINT GAURD available in that years draft – Acie Law. We saw how the development process carried out for Acie with Woody calling the shots, and I would honestly conclude that Acie never had a chance here in ATL…
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Hawks tried landing Hansborough solely based on his ‘hard working attitude’. His talents are made out for the NBA either, but his ‘hard working ethic’ and the time he puts in to study the game is something teams like the Hawks looked at when they worked him out and they would be the type of team to take him based on that. I wouldn’t be surprised if they took Hansborough to replace Zaza – who i would assume will not be resigned if they take another big.
But please, BOLSTER THE BACKCOURT. Even if the Hawks finalize the deal for Crawford, the Hawks still need to surround JJ with some talented gaurds. The Hawks relied too much on two guys – Bibby and JJ – to produce solid numbers in the backcourt. I would go PG or someone to back JJ up, maybe a Wayne Ellington. If the Hawks can pull off a trade to move back a little and take a Wayne Ellington, maybe try and pull off a trade with Sacramento seeing that they and the Mavs seem to be chasing the same prospect – I think it would help add much needed DEPTH to the backcourt.
JJ, Bibby (if we resign), Crawford (if we finalize), Marvin Williams.
Depth – must add depth to this group. I’m not sure if guys like Flip will be back IF we finalize a deal for Crawford, but it’s obvious even with the addition of Crawford, we still need help in the backcourt!
Wabe
June 25th, 2009
6:40 am
I meant Hansborough’s talents AREN’T made out for the NBA.
HawkKingBibby
June 25th, 2009
6:44 am
This trade reminds me of the one BK hoodwinked Philly into when we dumped Big Hog Robinson on their behinds. Now we are having slop dumped on us. Crawford is just like Hog he refuses to even try to play D. How is that going to mesh with Woody? Bibby is a bad defender but he at least gave effort on defense.
Kevin
June 25th, 2009
7:26 am
Maynor is the real deal!
mountain_jim
June 25th, 2009
7:44 am
Get Jack, not Bibby, to get tougher defense from the PG position and save dollars for a big defensive Center in FA.
chuckw/deadjournalist
June 25th, 2009
7:48 am
Sekou –
Will you be blogging at all during the draft?
I’m shocked to still see four letters with B. Jennings at 19. If he’s there, he HAS to be the pick. He’d be the ultimate swing for the fences pick.
After sleeping on it, I do like the Crawford move, but let’s not put this in focus as a game changer yet. It will be a great move if:
- A quality point is signed/resigned/acquired trade
- A quality center is signed/resigned/acquired via trade
- A back-up power forward is signed/acquired via trade
- Three additional rotation players are signed/resigned/acquired via trade
Right now the roster looks like this – based on players under contract and assuming the trade goes through:
1) ?
2) Joe Johnson
3) ?
4) Josh Smith
5) Al Horford
6) Jamal Crawford (if the trade goes through) (1/2/3)
Mo Evans (2/3)
7) ?
9) ?
10) Draft Pick ‘09
11) ?
12) Randolph Morris
13) ?
14) ?
15) ?
So before everyone goes all happy-happy, take a look at this roster. No quality back-ups at 4 or 5. A huge hole at the 1. No starting 3 (because that’s sure as hell ain’t Mo Evans). And no rotational depth.
Is it better with Crawford and without Claxton and Law? Yes. Is there still too many unknowns to think this team could with 47+ game in ‘10? In my opinion- yes.
chuckw/deadjournalist
June 25th, 2009
7:52 am
And before anyone points it out, I left out Marvin Williams on purpose. While he is restricted, there isn’t a guarantee that he’ll be back. Feel free to slot him in as the starting 3 – but it still doesn’t address the majority of the issues (although it does solve one of them).
chuckw/deadjournalist
June 25th, 2009
7:59 am
And because I feel like it – as a comparison – here’s the roster IF all significant current free agents were resigned (which they won’t be):
1) Mike Bibby
2) Joe Johnson
3) Marvin Williams
4) Josh Smith
5) Al Horford
6) Jamal Crawford (if the trade goes through) (1/2/3)
ZaZa Pachulia (4/5)
7) Flip Murray (1/2)
9) Mo Evans (2/3)
10) Draft Pick ‘09
11) ?
12) Randolph Morris
13) ?
14) ?
15) ?
I left Solomon Jones, Mario West, Thomas Gardner and Othello Hunter off. It’s amazing how little anyone mentions Solo on here.
rainman
June 25th, 2009
8:08 am
I still think our best chance to get a quality defensive center would be Marcus Camby.
Sekou Smith
June 25th, 2009
8:18 am
There will be a blog dedicated to the draft up later Chuck, no question.
Teague over Maynor is just an educated guess based on all the conversations I’ve had with folks in the know. I think Teague’s better myself. More explosive and has a chance to be a more dynamic scorer and player in the NBA … just my two cents, though.
tribe called quest!
June 25th, 2009
8:31 am
excellent excellent excellent excellent move!!!!
we gave up NOTHING for a player who has a sick crossover move patented and can score 50 in any game! so bibb is guess is obviously gone. lets keep flip. holy cow is jamal starting for us???? forget shaq. this is an outstanding move. YES
Clyde
June 25th, 2009
8:31 am
Jeff Teague and Jamal Crawford ain’t gonna help our soft interior defense. When they drive right past them Horford is just gonna move out the way like usual.
Mike is back
June 25th, 2009
8:32 am
Sekou, I just want to say I like the trade…Crawford can lighted up…the writing was on the wall for Acie. I like Teague too. If it was to go down like this in the draft with Siler in the second round…need less to say I would be a very happy camper…I’m all about the team…FOLK!!
tribe called quest!
June 25th, 2009
8:36 am
Come on we traded NOTHING for a sick and prolific scorer.
i am not worried about cleveland getting shaq. as chad ford said, all lebron has around him are veterans. they are not built to beat the celtics and after this coming season, everyone on the team will be 40 and it’ll fall apart
tribe called quest!
June 25th, 2009
8:37 am
Is jamal an automatic bench player for us or do we start him at the 2 and joe at the 3 and let duck walk? or do we resign marvin and let jamal be our 6th man? gonna miss flip if he leaves us
Sekou Smith
June 25th, 2009
8:42 am
All that stuff is possible tribe, that’s the beauty of the deal to me. You can in any number of directions with this one.
Mike is back
June 25th, 2009
8:42 am
I didn’t think it was a guarantee that Bibby would come back for that mid-level stuff…not when you a BIG TIME SHOOTER like that…there just not many PGs that can shooted on a dime like’em.
Sekou, have you heard anything about the head winds surrounding his negotiation…Crawford would definitely help filled the void.
Rock Preston
June 25th, 2009
8:42 am
http://www.contracostatimes.com/sports/ci_12684265?nclick_check=1
Trade can’t go thru until July 1
tribe called quest!
June 25th, 2009
8:43 am
jamal crawford scored 50 points in a freaking game. how many players in the nba have done that? who cares about his defense? i don’t recall the lakers being an amazing defensive team throughout the year. \get the best possible pg in the draft who can HOPEFULLY play well \come on sund, get us a good pg\ and resign our bigs
KevinA
June 25th, 2009
8:43 am
Sautee has it right, if the front court dosen’t recieve more touches and if we don’t take advantage of our young studs, there will be chemestry problems.
A couple of weeks ago I was in favor of trading for Jefferson. The Spurs did. Which trade do you like better? Crawford is a good player but shoots like JJ, Bibby and Flip. Their shooting percentage is not good enough to go to the next level.
Everybody keeps talking about signing another big. ZaZa and Solo don’t get enough minutes now because of Woody rides his starters so much. Why would a big want to come here if he dosen’t start.
We keep talking about a deeper bench, why would a good player want to ride the bench. With the addition of Crawford will Flip and Evans be happy? If we added Charlie V, would ZaZa be happy?
Is this the real reason Chills didn’t resign?
If a better big man is needed and If Crawford is to stay, why not package Flip, ZaZa and draft picks together for an upgrade on a back up center.
chuckw/deadjournalist
June 25th, 2009
8:47 am
tribe called quest! –
i hear ya on crawford and 50pts, but keep in mind two ex-hawks who put up 50 in a game before coming here:
willie burton
tony delk
no comparing the three as players, just saying that flukes happen.
NekiEcko
June 25th, 2009
8:49 am
I think that Hawks may have another deal going for tonight draft or later on in free agent period. I think that this trade will work wonders more than Crawford can 1/2.
1. If you can bring everybody back including Marvin, find a way to bring Chill back from Greece (I know that it wont happen but man can dream right) and bring David Anderson as well, you can have a very deep bench that can spell major relief for the starters and much more. Plus more pieces to move around if need it.
2. It shows that ASG is committed to try to get the Hawks over the hump into ECF, and it is now or never for Woody next year, Win or Go Home
For the draft tonight I think is going to be Eric Maynor as our pick, but Jeff Teague is a close second but if Brandon Jennings drops down to us, I will take him in a heartbeat but you will have to keep Bibby until Jennings is ready.
hawksfan
June 25th, 2009
8:54 am
Sekou, is there any particular reason why you bolded Horford’s name along with the point guards?
darrell starks
June 25th, 2009
8:55 am
Jamal crawford will be the best move asg have made since they took over.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!
chuckw/deadjournalist
June 25th, 2009
8:58 am
financially, this doesn’t change this year much, and ownership will not go into taxland. if more two of the four bigger free agents are retained i will be shocked. realistically, marvin and bibby will probably make similar salaries as will zaza and flip. i just don’t see the ownership putting another 12M on the cap (assuming 7M for bibby/marvin and 5M for filp/zaza). that’s why i think that unless marvin signs an offer sheet early, we’re in for a long, slow summer with the hawks waiting for other teams to make a move first. why overpay if you don’t have too?
darrell starks
June 25th, 2009
9:02 am
who will be there at 19 ? ty lawson i hope.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 25th, 2009
9:05 am
Please no jeff teague.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!
Dan
June 25th, 2009
9:05 am
I think we should figure out a way to either get Tyson Chandler or Marcus Camby….trade for Childress and maybe a draft pick
Anakin Joe
June 25th, 2009
9:07 am
Sounds like we plan to outscore teams, especially if we’re looking at Teague (described as an indifferent defender).
I’m expecting Sund to add front court players who won;t require touches, guys like Chris Wilcox and Stromile Swift. Guys who will be content rebounding and getting the dunk off dribble penetration, but won;t have a single play run for them.
KevinA
June 25th, 2009
9:07 am
PS I did like the trade. Getting rid of the Speedy contract was smart. Acie under Woody was not going to work. Crawford becomes the new Flip. A nice up grade.
As stated Woody won’t play more than 8. If playing time is a ship, will Flip and Evans be jumping off to get more playing time on another team? If we find a better back up center, don’t you think ZaZa will want off the ship to?
If we keep Bibby or trade for another starting pg, how happy will Crawford be? Where do Chills and Marvin fit in? AAhhhhhh so many questions and so few minutes to spread around.
darrell starks
June 25th, 2009
9:08 am
WITH this trade it only make sense to bring back marvin to balance it out.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
mudcat
June 25th, 2009
9:13 am
It is being reported at Yahoo Sports that it was WOODSON who didn’t like the Crawford for Law-Claxton trade. Could this possible be true? Is Woodson really that big of an idiot?
tvsportscaster
June 25th, 2009
9:14 am
Sekou, I still believe if he’s available because how you mentioned they went gaga over him during the workout, that if Hansbrough is available the Hawks will probably take him. We’ll see though, none of the point guards really knock my socks off.
tvsportscaster
June 25th, 2009
9:15 am
mudcat, Woodson was skeptical of the trade because he was worried about Crawford opting out of his deal, which Crawford has already now assured him he will not do.
tribe called quest!
June 25th, 2009
9:15 am
Good point anakin. wilcox is a very nice piece who was borderline-allstar material a couple years ago.
and to people who think we can resign everyone and bring back chillz and get david anderson, come on. we dont have the moeny for that
Mz. Hawkdafied
June 25th, 2009
9:16 am
I think the trade for Crawford is a good move for the Hawks. I was surprised when the Knicks let Crawford go. I remember him with the bandage on his shoulder lighting the Hawks up. Boy was he making me mad because he was so good and scoring on the Hawks like it was so easy. I’m not so sure about the guy’s defense cause I was so blinded by all the points he was scoring. LOL
darrell starks
June 25th, 2009
9:17 am
We have our starting point guard bibby is gone.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!
Anakin Joe
June 25th, 2009
9:19 am
ESPN’s Hollinger gives the trade a thumbs up because we gave up nothing (I certainly agree) but expresses these concerns about Crawford (again, I agree):
“I’m in Nelson’s camp in my distaste for Crawford — though he is one of the more talented one-on-one scorers in the league, this was probably all Golden State could get for him due to his contract and his inability to defend, pass, or take quality shots. In nine seasons in the league, he’s yet to play on a team that had a winning record or made the playoffs. He’s picked up terrible habits on those forlorn squads, becoming a pure gunner who needs the ball in his hands to create lots of shots at average efficiency and defending with as little effort as any player in the league.
Yet it must be pointed out that Atlanta gave up absolutely nothing of value here, and his arrival allows the Hawks to go in a couple different directions in the backcourt. The best alternative would be to bring Crawford off the bench in the sixth man role that Flip Murray filled a year ago. Murray, like Crawford, is a one-dimensional scorer who can play either guard spot, but Crawford is a bigger, more effective version of the same player, albeit one who likely will give up as many points as he scores”.
tribe called quest!
June 25th, 2009
9:27 am
Flip did cost 15 % what jamal crawford will cost…oh well. who cares if he cant play defense? name one starting pg we’ve had over the last 5 years who has played defense. royal ivey?
darrell starks
June 25th, 2009
9:27 am
Jamal can play the point he is 6′5 and aggressive player thats we need i no he is a shoot first past 2 but he will be a playmaker at the point that will make every one better.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
doc
June 25th, 2009
9:34 am
aj, didnt we have that in bibby, but it was one who gives up more points than he scores?
Daniel
June 25th, 2009
9:34 am
Great move for the Hawks. Not only does it give a solid scorer in exchange for two non-players, it also improves our negotiation position with Flip and Mike. Two questions.
1) How does the impending Shaq trade affect Zsa’s market?
2) I have seen Toney Douglas all over the place on draft boards, any chance he makes it to 49?
Daniel
June 25th, 2009
9:36 am
darrell and tribe-
I hope that the Hawks have no intention of using Crawford as our starting point guard. He is much more likely to fill the Flip role with better offensive output. We could still keep Flip, because his salary just went WAY DOWN with this move.
darrell starks
June 25th, 2009
9:38 am
Sekou do you have any report on woody not agreeing with the trade if so his a$$ is gone next year sund will get rid of him quick how can you not like this trade as a coach its not like he is a genius being a coach.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
fudd21
June 25th, 2009
9:45 am
As Hollinger states he is one of the better one-on-one scorers in the league. Last time I watched a Hawks game that wa our offense. Pass it to someone and let them go one-on-one. Woody also likes PG’s who are spot up shooters like Bibby. JC can run the point and be a spot up shooter or run the 2 let JJ get some rest and take over the scoring. I’m giddy about this trade.
darrell starks
June 25th, 2009
9:47 am
Rick sund please bring in avery johnson to coach this team dont waste a another year with woody he will be lost on the side line with his arm fold shaking his head not understanding whats going on.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Daniel
June 25th, 2009
9:50 am
darrell- where are you getting that?
I MUS WRITE
June 25th, 2009
9:51 am
Good trade IMO …………… Good luck to Acie out thur on the west coast. I hope he can pull it together and atleast become productive. I know Nellie likes shooters and Ac isnt that but we’ll see what happens. Crawford is a flat out scorer- big time ,but he is also turnover prone and takes a high volume of shots. With that said the man has to be on a short leash. He will definitely improve our bench scoring – this deal is really a steal considering it only took 2 bench warmers to get the guy.
I still want us to get a vet PG as well as draft one- Jarret Jack and Lester hudson in the second
Then we draft Derek Brown from Xavier to be our Ariza type – Find a way to get another second rounder to get the yung’n G Siler.
J Jack
J Crawford
Derek Brown
G.Siler
Lester Hudson
Sign ZAZA S&T Marvin for a C
Now this is probably just wishful thinking but ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!!!
O add Charlie V to that list lol
bill
June 25th, 2009
9:58 am
you guys are dumb if u think we’d pay 8 mill for a guy to ride the bench Crawford is starting at 1 plz every1 get that str8 now.
1) Crawford
2)Johnson
3)Marvin- if we resign him/ or we dont trade him
4)Josh Smith
5)Al horford
what the hawks could do is
resign Flip and Zaza
Trade Marvin and a draft pick for for Chris Bosh or Amare and we’d b looking like
1) Crawford
2)Johnson
3)Smith
4)Horford
5)Bosh or Amare
6)Flip
7)Zaza
8)Evans
9)Solo
10)Hunter
11)Gardner
12)Morris
13)West
14)?
15)?
we can add some free agents and b fine or pick up some undrafted players
kwooden1
June 25th, 2009
10:02 am
Anakin Joe, I understand your problems with Crawford, but the end of your last post is what I’m thnking. The HAWKS need to use him like Denver uses JR Smith. Tell Crawford you’ve got 20-25 minutes to score 50 points GO!!! This doesn’t solve their problem of getting a PG for the future or more rebounding help, but it should take a lot of weight off of JJ in terms of scoring! Of all the moves that have occurred so far (Spurs – Bucks, Wizards – Minn, Clev – Phoenix) I definitely believe the HAWKS is the best!
chuckw, I see what your talking about, but the HAWKS can’t make Free Agency moves until after the draft, so as for now this is a great start. A lot of work has to be done, and we’re going to loss some players. I personally think Zaza and Flip are gone, which I can handle if we keep Bibby and Solo. Draft a PG in the 1st and the biggest body you can get in the 2nd. Use the MLE to get another PF. If that gets done, I think it will be a successful off season.
As for being able to compete with Orlando, Cleveland and the Celtics; that’s up to JS and Horford. Horford has to develop some better go to moves and JS has to rebound better and develop a jump-shot.
GO HAWKS!!!
Anakin Joe
June 25th, 2009
10:07 am
doc, yes. But just because you had a broken Pinto doesn’t mean that you go out and get a broken Gremlin. And it sounds like, we may ultimately have both the broken Pinto AND Gremlin. Again, I thought the point was to fix problems, not maintain them. It seems like many are defending this trade by saying “hey we’re no worse than we were”. And that may be true… we go from one-dimensional Bibby and Flip to one-dimensional Bibby and Jamal. So I guess Sund’s evaluation over the last season was “this formula works, let’s stick with it”.
darrell starks
June 25th, 2009
10:08 am
BILL your right jamal is a starte at point thats why they made the trade not for him to come of the bench if thats the case they would have made the same trade for jarret jack.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
G-Man
June 25th, 2009
10:10 am
IMUS,
I agree with you, but how do you suspect we are going to get three second round picks. Do you think the Lakers will give us their 29th pick so we can snag douglas?
adam keefe
June 25th, 2009
10:18 am
Good trade, but we will regret giving up on Acie Law, just like with Diaw. Woodson is a complete idiot. Law has a lot of talent and the few times woody gave him some playing time he delivered. remember the first Boston game, Who do you think made the key pass to Marvin for the 3 pointer? Acie Law. But after that game Woody took Acie Law out the rotation. until we get rid of Woodson we will never win big. No nba team can win with a 8 man rotation. Woodson lets personal issues dictate playing time. think about it woodson could have had a good bench right now but he didnt like most of these guys..
C. SOLO
PF.DIAW
SF. EVANs
SG. SALIM
Pg .ACIE LAW
Salim will also have a breakout year with Mil. I think Crawford should start at Pg, because in woodson offense JJ has the ball 75% of the time.
darrell starks
June 25th, 2009
10:19 am
Kwooden1 excellent point about horford he have to work on some post move this summer and dont be so mechanical and josh have to work on his fundamental of basketball and play smart and learn how to position him self when rebounding on the board and play above the rim.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!
rainman
June 25th, 2009
10:21 am
Sund will be the man if he can land a quality center (i.e.Camby, Chandler, Amare, Bosh). Who can say what we would have to give up?
If we had this piece, the team would be quite versitile (Horford 4/5, Smith 4/3, Crawford 1/2), and could be pretty good.
I wonder what the plan is with Joe Johnson — with him being on the last year of his contract.
Hawks73
June 25th, 2009
10:28 am
I certainly like the move for Crawford, but I am still a little skeptical. I believe this signals the end of Bibby (unless he would a agree to a super discount). The money Jamal is making would make me believe he is our starting PG. I would argue that Flip was just as important to the Hawks overall success as Bibby…without solid play from Flip Bibby would have been exposed (due to fatigue and poor defensive play). Also, Zaza is/was the only player on the Hawks roster willing to the “dirty work” needed in the playoffs…even in limited time.
I would hope we keep at least Flip & Zaza and add some depth through the draft and or free agency.
Billy Nite
June 25th, 2009
10:29 am
i would go with blair with the 19th if he is there a young pg wont play for woody n u can get a project in secong round maybe lester hudson
Craig Claxton
June 25th, 2009
10:31 am
I hear that Oracle Arena has a comfortable bench.
Looks like it’s time to buy some new suits!
doc
June 25th, 2009
10:31 am
man aj, you comparing bibby to a pinto? come on man, where is the love dude? jag he not but pinto? give the man at least mustang cred, makes good noise but doesnt handle like a porsche. remember this is basg land and see what sund has done? got something better because acie was a broken model and speedy was on the junk pile. i’ll say crawford at least a 2010 camero folks are drooling over. good trade but it seems unless it is kobe you got some issues with almost anything.
swatguy
June 25th, 2009
10:32 am
Crawford as a starter. The guy can bust 40 pts twice in a week. I do not want to think Flip is not needed. Flip is needed. Flip is neccesary on the court and the locker room. So, do sign Murray also. The movement this week changes all possibilities. Washington getting two starter quality guards mean Javaris is more than expendable. Jarvis I believe can be a second-third 1/2 guy on the bench. Expanding Joe to the 3/2 position opens up moving Marvin towards a Felton/Sessions/Hinrich acquisition. Signing Chillz to back up the 3/2 positions would solve the “Move Marvin” scenario. If Chillz is not signable a Rodney Carney or Jarvis Hayes to back up Joe at the 3. All of this makes #19 a BAP pick.
Jim Burn is Roaming
June 25th, 2009
10:33 am
Ok, Hawks fans!! You won 47 games last year. How many wins does Jamal Crawford translate for the Hawks?
I still see the Hawks battling for the 4th or 5th seed.
1.Clev 2.Orlando 3.Boston 4.Hawks or Chicago or Miami
What do you guys think?
Rod from College Park
June 25th, 2009
10:35 am
All of you who continue to think that Jamal Crawford will be a bench player on the Hawks are delusional. He is probably the best offensive weapon on the team now. Joe does not have that killer mentality like Jamal Crawford. All of you stat guys, who know so much, look up how many game-winning shots Crawford has hit in his career, and I promise you no one on our team is even close. You can’t blame him for the teams he has been on. Blame Isaiah, Nellie and whoever coached the Bulls at that time. This guy is an upgrade for Bibby, and I think he will be our starting point guard. He not only can shoot, he has the ability to penetrate and get to the rim, which is something Bibby could not do. If Bibby is resigned, he should be used like Jason Terry is used in Dallas.
O'Brien
June 25th, 2009
10:35 am
Bill,
Just because he makes $10 mil per year doesnt mean he cant come off the bench. There are other player who came off the bench making big money. For example:
Manu Ginobli, Jason Terry, Wally Zerbiack, Lamar Odom (just to name a few).
As long as the Hawks are willing to spend money, I love this move. Draft a PG, sign Jarret Jack, resign Zaza, and use the midlevel to sign a PF who does not need the ball (like AJ suggested). And resign Solo. JJ can play the point for a few minutes, Crawford can play the point for a couple minutes as well (Bye Bye Flip). We can also sign another cheap/serviceable PG for insurance.
Our team:
Jack/serviceable PG/19th
JJ/Crawford
Marvin/Mo Evans
Josh/Free Agent PF (Wilcox, Bass)/Solo
Horford/ZaZa
doc
June 25th, 2009
10:38 am
rod, now dont fall over … ditto/agree WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
see, i am not all bad, heh heh, just mostly.
Melvin
June 25th, 2009
10:47 am
How many magic beans does Sund have left in his bag? Can he turn Mo and Randmo into Camby????
Rick
June 25th, 2009
10:48 am
Trade for Crawford is amazing. One of the most glaring problems with the Hawks is that the offense runs through Joe Johnson , you know, I-so-Joe. Joe runs around the double screen, gets the ball from the point guard whose only job is to turn the ball over to Joe. Joe waits for his defender to catch up, challenges his defender, double team forms, Joe challenges double tem, 12 seconds go off the clock, team stands around. What are you trying to do corner the market on shooting guards that don’t pass?
kwooden1
June 25th, 2009
10:53 am
If you start Crawford you defeat the purpose of bring him to the team. Anakin Joe is right, Crawford is a volume shooting, ball hog that rarely passes (even though his assist #s aren’t bad!!) But that is why you bring him off the BENCH FOR JJ!! Don’t make a player be something he isn’t! Crawford is a scoring machine! If he’s hot, he can score with anyone! If he’s not put him back on ice and bring him in again later! When Crawford’s on the floor he should have the green light to score at will!!
Daniel
June 25th, 2009
10:54 am
Anyone that thinks Crawford is a starting point guard for a contending team is crazy.
So Rod you are dead wrong.
Yeah, I love the idea of trading Marvin for Bosh. I also like to have millions of dollars fall out of the sky and into my lap.
O’Brien, I like your idea, but not Jack, rather have Bibby or Sessions, and no need to keep Solo.
Bass over Wilcox, no doubt.
Doug Edwards
June 25th, 2009
10:54 am
The Hawks traded for Chris Crawford?!?!?
Didn’t we try this before?
Sekou Smith
June 25th, 2009
10:54 am
I wouldn’t care if Crawford sat next to me every night or sang the national anthem, if you’re the Hawks you need a cat like that on your team.
Woody hasn’t held up and can’t hold up anything. So I don’t know where anyone got that started. I’m sure he wanted to make sure Crawford was on board with whatever role the team has planned for him. But a coach (not named Phil, Pop, Jerry or LB) holding up a trade, get serious.
Anakin Joe
June 25th, 2009
11:05 am
doc, I would have been thrilled with a better defensive backcourt and a few fewer shots for our backcourt and more offensive love for the frontcourt. I don’t think that is asking for much. But it appears that last year’s formula will remain intact.
Funny, I was more happy about last season than most around here. And yet I’m the one who is barking the most about essentially remaining status quo. And yes, while Crawford is better than Flip and hopefully #19 is better than Acie/Speedy, the formula is essentially the same.
And with that said, we need to move Marvin. If all we need from our SF is defense and 7-10 points, then we shouldn’t look to pay $8M+ for Marvin. Maybe we can get Bruce Bowen as soon as he is cut loose from Milwaukee. Or Devean George. We just need someone cheap and thick enough to avoid being run through by Pierce, Granger, Beasley, Caron and LeBron.
G-Man
June 25th, 2009
11:10 am
Have yall heard about the trade that might be going down today? Amare Stoudamire, Leandro Barbosa, and the 14th pick for T-Mac, Aaron Brooks, and Carl Landry. Who do you think would get the better end of the deal?
chuckw/deadjournalist
June 25th, 2009
11:12 am
I will go back to someone I mentioned a few weeks ago as a potential trade target – James Posey. If Sund could somehow, some way, craft a deal for Posey and Chandler, suddenly the Hawks could push Orlando. Since NO might dump salary, maybe they’d take Marvin or Chils (as a sign and trade), Evans and a future pick.
Too much coffee this morning, but that would be an exciting deal for the Hawks to add lock-down D with the offense Crawford could provide. Might it mean Horford would come of the bench of swing to the 4 with Josh Smith to the 3? Sure, but I could live with that.
Bertie
June 25th, 2009
11:15 am
Sekou: It seems that Brandon Jennings might be available at #19. If it was up to you, would you take him?
Ariose
June 25th, 2009
11:18 am
Teauge Has a Filthy Crossover and there weren’t many ppl who could stay in front of him and deny his penetration in college. I think that makes him the ideal fit for the Hawks coupled with his size and decent shooting stroke. We need a slaher to get crawford and Joe open looks teauge is probably the guy. Not to mention that by taking lawson, there will be pressure by outside media and fans to play him right away(I doubt he’s available when we pick anyway) because he’s very seasoned/experienced, whereas Teauge is a lttle more of a project so no one will mind if he sits. Which is great because Flip has been good for us, and Woody will spoon-feed him the minutes anyway.
Also, Teauge over Lawson/Mills like I said, he’s bigger. Over Maynor because i’ve seen him in a bigtime scoring role but never as a facilitator.
Anakin Joe
June 25th, 2009
11:18 am
G-Man, I read that rumor. If Phoenix does that, then they are in full rebuilding mode and Nash will likely be traded by February. In 2 years, Steve Kerr would have traded Shawn Marion, Stoudemire, Diaw, Barbosa and Nash.
From ESPN’s Chad Ford:
Chad Ford: What’s the upshot of the Hawks’ rumored deal for Jamal Crawford?
If it goes through, I think you can kiss Mike Bibby goodbye, Hawks fans. A source close to Bibby told ESPN.com that Hawks management has sent the signal to Bibby that they might not re-sign him this summer.
The trade for Crawford doesn’t preclude them from taking a point guard in Thursday’s draft. The team is looking at Brandon Jennings, Eric Maynor and Jeff Teague.
ToeKnee
June 25th, 2009
11:20 am
Sekou, when i first heard about the cawford trade instant reaction was positive, but now im not as sure. i think he definitely makes us better but you are always saying we need to run thru horford and smoove more, do u really see that happening with all the guards we have now?? and personally i’d love to see us resign errrrrvrybody bibby and flip. we need to ADD to our team to make it better, we’re almost there. go hawks! and i think hansbrough is exactly what we need. did you see what the nuggets bench did in the playoffs? then tell me what active big guys off the bench can help you do, i dont see any way that hansborough wont be a better nba player in time than verajo and hes been a starter for years now. plus he will contribute next year, which is what we need.
ISNT IT GREAT TO ACTUALLY BE PLANNING FOR NEXT SEASON AND NOT 2-3 YEARS FROM NOW FOR ONCE!!!!!!!!!
MBZ
June 25th, 2009
11:26 am
I like the trade, he is another guy that can create and take pressure off Johnson. It is going to be very interesting to see what direction we go in tonight and for the rest of the summer. Jamal Crawford would be most effective off the bench as the offensive focal point of the second unit. I agree with Anakin with the whole wilcox thing…Wilcox was a seattle guy when Sund was there.. I have been on this blog screaming about how we need a new coach to implement an actual system. That is probably not going to happen until at least the start of the season, if the hawks get off to a rough start. Woody is going to have to be be very careful about how he deploys Crawford in games…allowing him to do his thing but stopping him and teaching him to defer to his bigs if he is having a cold shooting night. I remember the season Jamal Crawford was in New York with Larry Brown. He will never be a lock down perimeter guy, but he showed some effort under Brown. Even Flip has been known to be a lackluster defender at certain points in his career but he did put in a concerted effort this year during stretches. The main thing is, you cannot allow Crawford to take shots away from Williams or Horford. The offensive development of our frontcourt is the future of this franchise.
I’m not sure how this is going to play out, because Woody is not one to go more than 8 deep. If we draft Teague, will he get minutes? Will he be Acie Law 2.0? I think conventional wisdom says that if we draft a pg, he HAS to be groomed from day one to take over the reigns in about 2-3 years.
A Tribe Called Quest
June 25th, 2009
11:31 am
People need to calm down about Crawford and his infamous immaturity and ballhogging. He is finally on a team with real players (Joe, Horford). No more Marbury or Monta or Isiah. We just need Jamal to understand his role. I loved watching Duck and Flip in with the 2nd unit this past year. If we could resign Marvin and have him and Jamal in with the 2nd unit while Joe gets major rest, watch out. Joe’s minutes should go way down this year.
SHAKE AND BAKE!
Melvin
June 25th, 2009
11:34 am
Nire or MannyT,
Can you S&T an UFA?
Rod from College Park
June 25th, 2009
11:44 am
Daniel,
It’s not the first time I have been called crazy here. Majority of people here told me earlier in the year that I was crazy when I said I would take Trevor Ariza over Marvin. Who should be evaluated me or them? I think you are crazy if you think that on the first game of next season, if Jamal Crawford is on our roster, that he won’t be walking out with the starting unit. Yeah that makes a lot of sense. Lets put our best ball handler, scorer, penetrator, and knock down jump shooter on the bench, on a team that has a problem scoring. Makes perfect sense? (LOL)
Wabe
June 25th, 2009
11:44 am
Just a question:
Why is everybody assuming he will come off the bench? Do you guys not see him starting at the 2 or 3? They could slide JJ over to the 3 and maybe start Crawford at the 2? I know this only makes a team that lacks size smaller, but it’s a thought.
If the Hawks resign Bibby, then you will have essentially the same team minus a couple bench players. I think either Marvin Williams or Crawford will be the 6th men coming off the bench. People keep comparing Crawford to Flip – but he’s got a couple inches on Flip. Sure his game is very similar to Flip – but didn’t we see Mo Evans – whose also 6′5 – play at the SF when Marvin was injured last season? Or we can move JJ – whose got a couple inches on Crawford to the 3 and move Crawford to the 2. I just think it’s a bit premature to assume that he’s best suited to come off the bench. I think a prolific scorer like Crawford should be given the nod to start over the likes of Marvin.
I think considering the injuries we saw out of Marvin last season – this deal for Crawford is a safety valve to prevent things from falling apart at the 3 spot. I’ve been saying that the Hawks need to upgrade at either the SF or the PG. Well, if you slide JJ to the 3, it might hurt our size – which hurts our rebounding ability. But, JJ’s production is still an upgrade over Marvin’s production. Slide Crawford to the 2, and resign Bibby ( + use the draft pick to pick up backcourt depth).
Basically, this move gives the Hawks some versatility. They can go with a bigger lineup and throw Marvin into the mix, or they can go a bit smaller and have 3 solid scorers (JJ,Bibby,Crawford) in the lineup.
Just to add a couple more points, resigning Flip would be IDEAL. Having a couple guards who can come off the bench and give the starters rest is important. Honestly, I’m thinking of this Crawford move as an upgrade to the TEAM, not an upgrade over FLIP. I think it’s key to have BOTH of these players in here, and if they intend on resigning both Bibby + Flip, don’t be surprised if Sund takes another BIG.
Mel
June 25th, 2009
11:46 am
I HOPE & PRAY we draft Teague. He DESTROYED Lawson this season. He lit him up for 34 in one of those games. Im not sayin he’s the next CP3 but DO NOT let another Wake Forest guard slip out of our hands
Anakin Joe
June 25th, 2009
11:47 am
Melvin, I think so. I think Seattle did that with Rashard Lewis. It gives the player a higher salary (because the incumbent team owns his Bird rights), while that team receives something back for that player. And the receiving team doesn’t have to compete with other teams for the rights to that UFA. Again, I think that when Seattle S&T Rashard to Orlando, he was a UFA.
Rick Sund
June 25th, 2009
11:47 am
Wow Sekou, thanks for the kind words!! I think Jamal will fit in just fine with the ole ball club, him and J-Smoove will have the green light to shoot from anywhere on the court. (Clank!! rotfl).
Anyway, I am so excited for the draft tonight, I can not even begin to tell you. Wait until you see what we’ve got in store with the 19th pick, your next blog post will be called “The Draft Pick Heard ‘Round The World.” Will it be our Point Guard of the Future (who we have been looking for since 1987)? Will it be another one of those athletic big men that Billy Knight would fall in love with every year? Or could it just be that 7-foot white dude BJ Mullens? JK, I would never do that to Hawks fans and purposefully draft a bust.
My phone is ringing off the hook but I don’t want to talk to these other GM’s anymore, they make such bad trade offers – this isn’t fantasy basketball!! LOL. I’m ending this message as I need to do some jumping jacks so I can relieve some stress before the draft festivities tonight.
All my best,
Richard Sund
General Manger, Atlanta Hawks
darrell starks
June 25th, 2009
11:49 am
Please no jeff teague now if brandon jenning is there i say take him or ty lawson.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Stating the Obvious
June 25th, 2009
11:54 am
I think you are crazy if you think that on the first game of next season, if Jamal Crawford is on our roster, that he won’t be walking out with the starting unit. Yeah that makes a lot of sense. Lets put our best ball handler, scorer, penetrator, and knock down jump shooter on the bench, on a team that has a problem scoring. Makes perfect sense? (LOL)
If you think that Jamal Crawford is better than Joe Johnson at any of those things, then yeah – you do need to be evaluated. And isn’t it clear that pretty much no one agrees with you on your assessment of Marvin vs. Ariza?
niremetal
June 25th, 2009
11:57 am
Melvin,
Yes, definitely. And that’s probably the only way Bibby gets more than the mid-level this year.
darrell starks
June 25th, 2009
11:59 am
2009 ATLANTA HAWKS
STARTE JAMAL, JOE, MARVIN, JOSH, HORFORD,
BENCH FLIP, MOE, CHILL OR HAKIM WARRICK, CHARLIE V, OR SOLO, ZAZA,
RESERVE 19PICK TY LAWSON, SOLO
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
niremetal
June 25th, 2009
12:00 pm
Co-sign kwooden1
Wabe
June 25th, 2009
12:00 pm
Just another question I’m throwing out there because I’ve been thinking about it:
IF:
Bibby and Flip resign, Crawford deal finalizes, and the Hawks take a backcourt player in the draft – essentially the Hawks will have secured their backcourt.
BUT:
There will be several question marks about the front court (Smoove, Horford) especially if Pachulia isn’t resigned.
Do any of you see Sund pulling the trigger on a package deal involving Smoove for another big? Maybe a package deal for Al Jefferson from the T-Wolves?
I’ve been thinking about this. I know I’m not a GM and there are things that would have to be worked out, not to mention if the T-Wolves would even go for this – but I think THIS APPROACH (via trade) is a better approach than drafting another big.
Wabe
June 25th, 2009
12:01 pm
By the way, before any of you grill me, I’m a BIG SMOOVE FAN…
But when your talking championships, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Stat
June 25th, 2009
12:05 pm
Jamal Crawford is the