12:01 a.m.
Both Rasheed Wallace (headband) and Marcin Gortat (skinband) are on the Hawks' free agent hot list this summer. The NBA free agent negotiating period began at midnight.
HAWKSVILLE - It’s 12:01 a.m., do you know where your No. 1 free agent target is.
And No. 2, and No. 3 and on and on.
The Hawks do.
The Hawks’ front office staff was still working late Tuesday night in anticipation of the midnight start to the NBA’s free agent negotiating period.
Everyone knows about the Hawks’ (quasi-internal) targets – Mike Bibby, Zaza Pachulia and Flip Murray are all unrestricted free agents while Marvin Williams, Solomon Jones and Mario West are all restricted free agents, as is Josh Childress (who remains under contract with Greek power Olympiakos, though he has an opt out that he must exercise by July 15) . But there’s more going on that just that.
After year’s of failing to grab the attention of the league’s best free agents on the market, the Hawks are suddenly in the mix for some of the most coveted players on the market, per several of my most well placed sources around the league.
“The only thing missing all these years was a winning team,” a former Western Conference executive told me Tuesday night. “And now that they’ve got that. So they’re going to be in the mix for guys if they want to be in the mix. Half the league lives in Atlanta [during the offseason] anyway.”
I remember a couple of years ago when Gary Payton was traded to the Hawks in a package deal and he wouldn’t even set foot in the city, apparently a 26 or 30 win team didn’t appeal to a veteran player hunting a title.
Jamal Crawford’s reaction to coming here in a trade last week was complete 180 from Payton’s thanks-but-no-thanks stance.
I have a feeling that the Hawks’ pursuit of the likes of Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess and Marcin Gortat, all big men my sources tell me the Hawks will have made contact with by the time you finish breakfast.
It’s the kind of free agent busy work that I never heard about in previous summers. Times have changed. And clearly for the better if you’re a Hawks fan.
Still, there’s so much work to be done this summer. Presumably, the opinions around here on what the Hawks should do with Bibby, Zaza and Flip have ranged from the semi-reasonable to the absolutely preposterous.
It seems clear that in a free agent climate that will be short on monster deals and full of teams looking to stretch their available dollars, the Hawks will have an extremely hard time retaining all of their guys. Tough choices will have to be made, as will alternate plans.
Maybe Hawks captain and All-Star Joe Johnson knew a little more than he let on last week when he ended our conversation with this, “Whatever we do this summer, we have to do it right,” he said. “We have to do it big and we have to do it right. Because we’re not going back to those losing seasons and watching the playoffs. We’re not going back there.”
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544 comments Add your comment
Ariose
July 2nd, 2009
11:26 am
RICK SUND SIGN CHANNING FRYE AND ZAZA QUICK!!!!! HURRY!!!!!
DHD
July 2nd, 2009
11:44 am
Are the Hawks’ writers on early vacation? I keep coming back here to see an article, but NOTHING. Not like the other cities like Boston, NY and LA. I have to go theree to get NBA news. Where are the AJC writers? Covering Vick, I suppose. Or maybe Manny being Manny. They love that stuff. Get back here and give us some stories!!!
Mitch
July 2nd, 2009
11:45 am
Sekou:
Your thoughts?
(1) A sign and trade with NJ: F Marvin Williams for G Devin Harris. Harris is locked up for the next three years at $7.8M per (same amt. as QO to Williams…which the Hawks would have to raise for a long-term deal) 21.3 ppg, 6.9 apg last year.
(2) F Josh Smith and F Josh Childress to the Suns for C Amare Stoudamire and G Leandro Barbosa. Stoudamire give the Hawks an inside scorer deluxe. Barbosa is signed for the next three years at $6.6M per and would be nice insurance if JJ walks after this year.
(3) Is there any thought of al on the Hawks’ part of bringing Sergei Gladyr to the club this year? Wouldn’t he be better off playing every day with NBA players, rather than playing in the Ukraine?
Thanks, Sekou. You’re the man.
Melvin
July 2nd, 2009
11:48 am
Resign Bibby, Marvin, ZaZa and Chills. Sign Channing Frye out of the MLE money. Get rid Mo Evans if possible.
Benjamin Rachmaninoff
July 2nd, 2009
11:56 am
Seriously, Sekou. I’m tired of seeing articles about Jeff Teague. OK the guy can play basketball, has had doubters, and is skinny. WE ALL KNOW THAT. TELL US ABOUT WHAT FLIP IS DOING. OR MARVIN
A Tribe Called Quest
July 2nd, 2009
12:01 pm
Omg people.
We are NOT getting Devin Harris!
WE
ARE
NOT
GETTING
DEVIN HARRIS
Where the hell do these trade ideas come from? The guy is one of the 5 best PGs in the NBA, is the fastest player in the league, and is the only player worth a !@#$ on New Jersey (besides Brook Lopez) and people think NJN is gonna trade Harris for a 6″9 stiff who can’t stay healthy and pisses his pants every time he touches the ball?
Sam
July 2nd, 2009
12:12 pm
Cannot agree with you more, Quest. If Trevor Ariza doesn’t sign with the Lakers, there is the perfect opportunity to trade Josh Childress. Childress would be the perfect replacement. You know Childress would jump at the chance to play for the Lakers and go back home. Perhaps trade him for Luke Walton. Luke could play several rolls for us.
Sam
July 2nd, 2009
12:15 pm
He could be our NBA prerequisite white guy if we lose Zaza.
UGA
July 2nd, 2009
12:16 pm
We need a backup for Smith!
Detroit wants McDyess, we’re not getting Rasheed, not sure about Wilcox, we’re not getting Bass, Powe can’t play till February………..who will we get (assuming we re-sign our guys)
If Flip is not re-signed (but the other 3 are) how about Bobby Jackson as a veteran to back up Bibby until Teague is ready?????????? He’d be low cost.
darrell starks
July 2nd, 2009
12:16 pm
You cant let flip he was the most consistent player of the bench plus he can defend the point and you want have to pay him more than 4mill a year, so why would you let flip go who energize your team when he came in the game.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!
UGA
July 2nd, 2009
12:20 pm
I agree, I want Flip back also, just the “what if”
darrell starks
July 2nd, 2009
12:23 pm
Bibby you have to let go because you will have to pay him 6mill or more he doesnt penetrate and create easy basket for the bigs like he use to when he was as at sacramento, plus he plays no defense and he hurt josh smith on the weak side help every time.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!
Sekou Smith
July 2nd, 2009
12:24 pm
Mitch,
That trade wouldn’t make sense for the Nets. They don’t have another PG and Harris is indeed one of the league’s best. He’d be a great fit just about anywhere, though.
No. 2 looks really good on paper, but from all indications Stoudemire isn’t going anywhere. But that’s a logical deal (which usually means it has no chance of ever happening).
And as for No. 3, Gladyr staying in Europe allows the Hawks the luxury of watching him develop overseas and then owning his rights when his game is NBA ready. And there’s a healthy debate as to where he’d best be developed between playing tons of minutes in Europe or sitting on the bench in the NBA. I’d go with Europe if I can own a guy’s rights but not have to pay to develop him.
I hear you Benjamin and DHD. There’s a new blog up right now. But the news is slow moving where the Hawks are concerned right now.
T Scott Too Hot
July 2nd, 2009
12:25 pm
Do you guys think it would possible to get Amare without giving up JSmoove? I was thinking we could package Marvin and a couple other guys or throw in another team so Phoenix can get somewhere near equal value in return. Smoove would then ove to the 3.
Rick Sund
July 2nd, 2009
12:27 pm
darrell starks, I understand your concern about Bibby.
But let me assure you — as I seek to delve into this “economic pie,” Bibby’s financial security is one of my chief concerns. I will certainly overpay for him, if it means he will stay with us. Having scoring guards is a top priority for this team. Josh Smith and Al Horford are the best power forward and centers in the game, so I see no reason to add backups for them or to upgrade at those positions, as they will most certainly play 48 minutes a game each this coming season.
Best,
Rick
darrell starks
July 2nd, 2009
12:30 pm
Must bring back zaza no one on the hawks team played as harder as zaza when it came to rebounding the ball on the boards and he is fightesty and we need that.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
July 2nd, 2009
12:38 pm
Hey rick sund thanks for responding to my comment, i think we can get to the next level if we get amar’e but not for josh what your opinion on that rick.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Hoops
July 2nd, 2009
12:50 pm
darrell & UGA,
The Hawks will not re-sign Flip. If they do, his salary has to come out of our MLE. Then we have very little money left to sign a big! Besides, Crawford is a Flip upgrade!
The best plan, if NBA rule possible, is to S&T Childress for Sessions. Then we don’t need Bibby or Flip and we get something for Chills! Then we have all of our MLE and Bi-Annual to sign FA Bigs! Look @ this lineup:
PG-Sessions, Teague
SG-Crawford, Evans
SF-JJ, Marvin
PF-Josh, (Wilcox/Varejao/Gooden), Solo
C-Horford, Zaza, Morris
Wabe
July 2nd, 2009
12:54 pm
I’m only responding to that post because I recently got into a debate with another person about THIS VERY ISSUE: IS DEVON HARRIS A TOP 5 PG IN THE NBA?
I < < < wouldn’t consider him a TOP 5 PG in the league as of yet.
Let him do it a bit longer and he’ll definately be there – but as of now – he just had one breakout season. When he follows that season up and his game translates to W’s for his team – he can be labeled a Top 5 PG in this league, according to me at least.
I know he was TOP 3 in PTS + ASSIST among PG’s last year in the league, but it was ONE SEASON. On top of that, I don’t necessarily look at just stats. I’m impressed by the Top 3 in assists, but when it comes to PTS, I just saw him as one of the FEW GUYS on his team who gets the opportunites to get off shots…
I’ll take Paul, Parker, D.Williams, Billups, and Nash all over him.
I would honestly put him in a category with the likes of Rondo, Rose, Nelson etc, AT LEAST FOR NOW. Those are guys who played well for a year or two, but haven’t done enough as of yet to lock up to a long-term deal, at least I wouldn’t lock them up long-term.
Therefore, I wouldn’t necessarily label him a top 5 PG, but everybody has their own opinion.
Oh, but I do agree with you on the notion of realistically thinking he can be a Hawk next season. I honestly don’t see that as being possible. Slim to none…
KevinA
July 2nd, 2009
1:03 pm
1 1/2 years ago this some blog was ready to toss ZaZa away. Now we have many wanting to toss Marvin. We need to show love to Chills (Woody/Sund on their knees).
Crawford is the odd man out. How long to the Hawks have to keep him before we can use him to make a deal. We should trade him away for nothing. At his salary he has 0 value.
9 million off the books opens up a wide range of possibilities.
Trade experts please chime in.
Mitch
July 2nd, 2009
1:04 pm
Thanks for the response, Sekou.
The Nets just traded for PG Rafer Alston, so they do have a PG. And since the trade, there have been reports that the Nets are willing to trade Harris. Otherwise, I would not have brought the scenario up because it would more than likely be a silly pipe dream. But…seriously, Harris can be had in the right deal and the Nets need to upgrade their forward positions.
I was wondering too if the Hawks could make a package deal with the Nets to include SF Jarvis Hayes, whom the Nets just re-signed to a one year $1.9M contract.
Would anyone do this deal: F Josh Smith to NJ for G Devin Harris and F Jarvis Hayes?
Quest: your caricature of Marvin Williams is funny, but funny in its hyperbole. Williams is very highly regarded around the league, especially now that he has developed a trusty three point shot to go with his length and athleticism. Let’s not forget either that Williams is still a mere 23 years old. And as for peeing in his pants when he gets the ball…did you miss the games where Marvin stuck huge threes from the corner at crunch time? Give the dude his props.
While I like Mike Bibby because he can knock down the three…what the Hawks really need, IMO, is a point guard who can break the defense down to score or dish. Jamal Crawford is decent at it from the scoring standpoint, but not from the dish in traffic standpoint. Devin Harris is very good at both. The only thing about Harris is that he’s not that great a deep threat (even though he stuck them on us with regularity)…but with other shooters like JJ, Crawford, Teague, Evans around him Harris can do what he does best.
I think NJ would salivate at getting Josh Smith now that they let Vin-sanity go. With Alston at the point, dealing Harris to get JSmoove is not so far-fetched, IMHO.
Anyway…the other concern is strengthening the interior defense and offense. Losing JSmoove would not help that area, as he is our only legitimate shot blocker. But, as I was searching ESPN and other websites today the Hawks are not mentioned as possible suitors for ANY of the available bigs…and no mention of the Hawks as being suitors in particular for Sheed, McDyess and Gortat.
This makes me think that the only way the Hawks are going to get a good big man is via a trade…which is why I asked Sekou about Stoudamire. When was the last time the Hawks had a legitimate inside post game?
How are the Hawks going to counter for Dwight Howard? At least with Stoudamire they could counter offensively from the inside. Then, there’s no question they would have to double down on him and run a rotation on defense.
We now have Shaq back in the Eastern Conference…and Garnett is healthy again…
If the Hawks miss out on ZaZa, for starters, this could get very ugly.
KevinA
July 2nd, 2009
1:12 pm
How much playing time did Solo get. If ZaZa is so good why would a FA big want to come here. Are we really talking about a ZaZa up grade? I don’t see Josh or Al losing minutes. Solo is good for what he is paid and will stay with trash minutes.
Hoops
July 2nd, 2009
1:15 pm
Mitch,
I am all in with the Josh for Harris/Hayes trade! The Nets would be able to add a young PF to go with Lopez & Lee. Now they have a PG in Alston. That would allow us to be able to trade Marvin for a big. We could play JJ @ SF some along with J. Hayes!
roan st
July 2nd, 2009
1:32 pm
Mitch, Marvin Williams is not highly regarded around the league. He is not even the best small forward from his draft class let alone the best player like he was touted to be in 05. Wings who average 15ppg and 6rb are a dime a dozen. They can be had in every single draft. This dude just lacks that killer instinct and seems to passive most of the time. And that to me is something you either have or you don’t. The hawks need to offer him the one year tender and it will be put up or shut time for marvin williams.
Hoops
July 2nd, 2009
1:54 pm
New Blog Up!!!
Hoops
July 2nd, 2009
1:55 pm
New Blog Up!
jimh
July 2nd, 2009
2:17 pm
Hoops,
Hate to tell you this but Harris has developed into a pretty good PG, Many thought he should have been on the east team last year. Most now think the nets good the better part-of-the deal that brought him from Dallas. If the Mavs could do it over I am sure they would. I do not believe they would let him go even with Alston and Dooling, It would take a Josh S. trade straight-up to MAYBE it worthwhile.
Who is Lee? Do you mean Battie?
Dell
July 2nd, 2009
4:03 pm
If the Hawks wanted a washed-up center, why didn’t they go for Shaq? At least he would have been a better draw.
cdog
July 2nd, 2009
5:31 pm
SEKOU AS OF THIS MOMENT NOW WHO IS IN REACH OF THE HAWKS OUTSIDE OF THEIR OWN FREE AGENTS? I KEEP HEARING SOME NAMES BUT REALISTICLY, WHO ARE WE PURSUING?
terrell barron
July 2nd, 2009
5:52 pm
Verajo is unrestricted.
jase
July 2nd, 2009
6:13 pm
should the hawks go after tyson chandler or birdman
truth-serum
July 2nd, 2009
7:07 pm
ESPN team rankings: Hawks 80th
Yeah, this what happen when you try to make a powerforward into a center!!
truth-serum
July 2nd, 2009
7:13 pm
jase
July 2nd, 2009
6:13 pm
should the hawks go after tyson chandler or birdman
Neither one would help the Hawks. Perhaps a Lopez from New Jersey or a Marcus Camby would be a better fit.
Jeff B. Gibson
July 2nd, 2009
7:17 pm
The Atlanta Hawks need C-F Mcdeyes 14 year NBA vet He had 62 games ; He had a 24 pt 17 reb,
21 pt 22 reb Game . He would be agreat Starter or Bench Player.
Jeff B. Gibson
July 2nd, 2009
7:17 pm
That was Last Year .
NBA Free Agent/ Trades July 2nd Update | Digital Sports Dailiy
July 2nd, 2009
7:41 pm
[...] The Hawks are in pursuit of Big men, Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyessand Marcin Gortat. Plus the Hawks need to resign their own Mike Bibby, Zaza Pachulia andFlip Murray are all unrestricted free agents while Marvin Williams, Solomon Jones andMario West are all restricted free agents. [...]
Mark
July 2nd, 2009
7:53 pm
We had Rasheed for a day.
TRUTH-SERUM
July 2nd, 2009
8:37 pm
Hoops
July 2nd, 2009
12:50 pm
PG-Sessions, Teague
SG-Crawford, Evans
SF-JJ, Marvin
PF-Josh, (Wilcox/Varejao/Gooden), Solo
C-Horford, Zaza, Morris
IF THIS TEAM MADE THE PLAYOFFS THEYD GET SWEPT IN THE FIRST ROUND. BUT THEY WOULDNT MAKE IT, BUT THEY MAY WIN 25-35 GAMES.
TRUTH-SERUM
July 2nd, 2009
8:39 pm
KevinA
July 2nd, 2009
1:03 pm
THOSE WHO FELT THAT ZAZA THE HUMAN TURNOVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN DUMP 1 1/2 YEARS AGO WERE RIGHT. ADD MY NAME TO THE LIST.
TRUTH-SERUM
July 2nd, 2009
8:57 pm
Jeff B. Gibson
July 2nd, 2009
7:17 pm
Enter your comments here
THE HAWKS ALREADY HAVE A POWERFORWARD MASQUERADING AS A CENTER AND THATS THE REASON TEAMS RUN DOWN OUR THROATS, WE DONT NEED ANOTHER. HOW ARE YOU NOW GOING TO DEAL WITH SHAQ AND LEBRON WITH ANOTHER POWER FOWARD. THE HAWK SEEM TO BE IN LOVE WITH MEDIOCRACY. YOU CANT AND WONT WIN WITH A POWERFORWARD AT THE CENTER SPOT.
TRUTH-SERUM
July 2nd, 2009
9:00 pm
ESPN team rankings: Hawks 80th
TRUTH-SERUM
July 2nd, 2009
9:23 pm
Mitch
July 2nd, 2009
1:04 pm
GOOD POINTS. THE LEAGUE HAS CLEARLY UP THE ANTE IN THE 5 POSTION. WITH
SHAQ,HOWARD ON THE TEAMS THAT WERE FINALIST. I AGREE THAT AMARE WOULD HAVE AT LEAST GAVE US A COUNTER AND FORCE THEM TO STAY HOME TO GUARD HIM. GETTING A LEGITIMATE CENTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUR TOP PRIORITY.
MARV IS A KEEPER. WED BE FOOLISH TO LET HIM GO.
WITH THE CURRENT ROSTER, THE HAWKS MY WIN 48- 51 GAMES AND MAKE IT TO THE SECOND ROUND, IF THEY ARE LUCKY WITH POSITIONING, BUT DONT LOOK ANY FURTHER. JUST KEEPING IT REAL. OUR WEAKEST POSITION IS THE CENTER SPOT WHERE WE CANT DEFEND OR SCORE. DONT TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, ASK THE MAJORITY OF NBA COACHES OR ESPN…
ESPN team rankings: Hawks 80th
lou hudson
July 3rd, 2009
5:50 pm
People let me explain the situation again, the Hawks don’t need Flip with Crawford in the fold. You have JJ, Crawford, Teague, Bibby ? at the guards; none of which are great defensive players. The reason that the Hawks are attempting to lure Chillz back is because of the fact that Marvin, Moe, & next year’s 2nd round pick are the only carrots available to obtain a Center. S & T with Marvin’s projected 6-8 mil per year and Moe’s 2.5 mil will allow the Hawks to do such. Chillz was the best on the ball defender, best all around, best bball IQ, and possibily the best rebounder. Every team needs a solid 6th man with multiple skills. For the Hawks; it is Chillz and they know it. His persence eliminates the need of Flip and Moe as well as provide them with a defensive stopper for the Lebrons, Wades, Pierces, etc. which they will have to face in payoffs.
To date, Crawford and the eventual signing of Bibby with JJ & Teague will solidify the guards. JSmoove and the resigning of Chillz will do the same for SF group. Al is a PF period and a backup PF are a dime dozen. The Center position is the must improve position if the Hawks are serious about being a contender. Marvin is the carrot!!!
ZaZa is affordable at 5-6 mil per year and Solo is an easy sign(career back up).
Sund follow my lead and may be wearing a Championship ring, soon!
drmaryb
July 3rd, 2009
7:02 pm
Skip-To-My-Lou Hudson….Preach that TRUTH brother! On that 550pm POST? I couldn’t have said it better myself! Go Hawks!