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
Wabe
July 1st, 2009
9:53 am
Any word on who the Hawks are HIGH on?
I’m assuming they’ve contacted Sheed and Gortat?
GORTAT > SHEED.
Seeing Sheed and Smoove on the same team would be a nightmare…
The Truth
July 1st, 2009
9:53 am
I am so tired of reading comments of bloggers wishing Josh Childress would come back either to play for the Hawks or agree to a S-T for us to obtain equal value. Folks if you didn’t get the memo, it is not going to happen. PLEASE, GET OVER IT. Chil is an entrepreneur first and a basketball player last. He is all about the Benjamin. I’m not mad at him but it is what it is. From a contract prospective, he has exceeded his value as an NBA player. His game has spoken to be a 6′8″ reliable bench role player and nothing more. The NBA has plenty of those making far less. In addition to the Greek contract worth 20M tax free, he also received a Greek shoe contract deal from Nike. Why would he want to come back and walk away from that gravy? I would even suggest that if the Hawks were seriously competing for a title and needed his services he would still say “NO”. He is not interested in an NBA Title, just the money. I’m no mind reader, but his action has spoken louder than words. If he expected us to believe that there were some really “Bad Blood” during negotiation as his rational for not signing, I’M NOT BUYING IT. He should know that is what happens during RFA negotiation; it’s standard protocol most of the time. I’m not buying his smoke screen. If this “Con-Man” thinks he can make all his Tax-Free Millions with that victim line and maintain his wonderful Atlanta fan-base, he’s dreaming. If I was the Hawks GM, after July 15, I would cut my losses and renounce his AZZ free-up cap and move on.
Wabe
July 1st, 2009
9:56 am
And do you guys still see Bibby coming back?
I honestly thought they’d let Bibby go and have Teague jump into action immediately. Either that or go try and find a bargain PG on the market.
I’d love to have Bibby back, but I wouldn’t consider him a priority. I’d focus on guys like Zaza and Marvin first..
Ernest
July 1st, 2009
9:57 am
Sekou said,
>>I think a facilitator/shooter makes more sense at this point than does a scorer/shooter.<<
I believe everyone on the blog agrees with that point! I want to believe that JCrawford can be the facilitator/scorer. I ‘googled’ him and from what I read, he seems like a quality person. He contributed 100K to his HS and they named the basketball court after him,I believed if asked, he would be the kind of player that the Hawks need at PG. Many forget he played quite a bit on PG in CHI. With his ability to drive to the basket AND shoot from outside, he brings the dimension many feel Bibby lacks.
I see many having the same argument about a PG as baseball fans do about a leadoff hitter. We need the PG to get into the paint and distribute, not just hang out around the perimeter looking for kick outs. Being able to hit the outside side makes the defensive players play you honestly. I think JCrawford can do that for the team. Flip brings a ’scorers mentality’ off the bench, which is important also. That’s why I think Bibby is the odd man out however if we use those dollars on a defensive big, we will definitely be more competitive in the 2nd round.
Reggie
July 1st, 2009
10:02 am
Sekou
What is the latest?
Rod from College Park
July 1st, 2009
10:06 am
Wabe,
“I’m not gonna get into the things everybody already knows about Smoove, his inability to shoot or handle the ball. But instead, I’ll let you think about those while I add on to that. Smoove would instantly become a liability defending any other SF in this league. He doesn’t have the footwork to keep up with most SF’s in the league and honestly, it would be a nightmare if the Hawks switched on picks. I mean, let’s be real, how many times have we seen Smoove trip over his own feet on the court?”
I know you did not just say Josh Smith trips over his own feet, as an advantage for Marvin. Marvin has hit the floor about 100 times more than Smooth in his career. I not sure where this idea that Marvin is a great defensive player came from. Josh is a feared defender. Have you not watched Smooth over his career? Marvin has no handles either. The only thing on the basketball court that Marvin does better than Smooth is shoot a jump shot. In our offense, I can think of about 15 to 20 small forwards in the league who could do what he does or do better. I would take Matt Barnes and put him at the 3, pay him much less, and he could do what Marvin does. Marvin is not a top priority on our team or on any other team in the league. Let’s see how many big offers he gets in free agency.
I.MUS WRITE- INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY
July 1st, 2009
10:07 am
Antoine Walker…. Ahh hell to the no. Mcdyess is a dinosaur- seriously he’s like 36 with injuries…. He’s a good mentor but we need players/ size I dont see how an aging PF helps us that much.
I would prefer Gortat,Varejo,Oberto, Kaman…..not to replace ZAZA but to tag team with him off the bench…. ZAZA and Gortat would be awsome or ZAZA and Pryz….
If we are pursuing Charlie V then Marvin is expendable IMO..They do the same things. Marvin can be used in a S & T….. Marvin/solo for Pryz or someone of that ilk.
WE need a vet Pg period…. Crawford and Teague scare the shyt outta me……. Since Jack has been tendered maybe Tj Ford would be an option if he isnt making too much
Childress is’nt coming back -hoops is just daydreaming of what could be- wake up buddy…LOL
Wabe
July 1st, 2009
10:07 am
Who do you think matches up with lets say the Lebrons and Turkoglu’s better Rod?
Smoove or Marvin?
Wabe
July 1st, 2009
10:08 am
If you think Smoove can play at the 3,
you’ll be extremely disappointed this upcoming season.
Anakin Joe
July 1st, 2009
10:12 am
I didn’t know that Leon Powe was not offered a QO and is now a UFA. Despite his recent injury (and I think that he also had a major injury in college), I would at least consider signing him with some protection built in (like a partially guaranteed deal or a team option in the 2nd year). He’s a tough SOB and didn’t rely on athleticism to be effective. Some have talked recently about who can set screens for our shooters. I think Powe was quite effective in that role for Ray Allen, Pierce and Money.
Since Jamal is planning to be a pass-first guard, someone like Shannon Brown or Royal Ivey may be decent options as the infrequently used 4th guard. Both of those guys are solid defenders (and Brown could possibly become an outstanding defender).
Meidzo in Decatur
July 1st, 2009
10:13 am
Nire,
You didn’t seriously compare a guy who is a standstill jump shooter who averages 5 assists a game to a guy who was among the top 3 assist leaders of all time?
And you want to call people out in the Blog for their basketball knowledge?
Bibby is good, but his value is being severly exaggerated in this Blog!
Phar71
July 1st, 2009
10:14 am
I think Marvin matches up better on LBJ, but Smoove matches up better on Turk.
But lets be real, no one really matches up well on LJ.
I.MUS WRITE- INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY
July 1st, 2009
10:15 am
Props to Sund and the front office for getting hot on the issues at hand…… Its normally august when we make our mark…… Randolph morris is a Bum – Why do we keep hoping he will be something- well he is something Olawakandi part deux……
Anakin Joe
July 1st, 2009
10:17 am
Rod, I like Matt Barnes a lot. But let’s be serious. The powerful SFs in the Eastern Conference (like Pierce, LeBron, Granger, Caron, Beasley, Hedo, etc) would put skinny Barnes in their right sock and drive relentlessly to the basket. If we choose to move Marvin, he needs to be replaced with someone like Travis Outlaw or another guy with enough size that he can actually stay upright when playing many of this conference’s SFs.
Wabe
July 1st, 2009
10:24 am
I hear you on that Phar. But if you looked at players at the 3 throughout the league, who would you want matching up with the majority of them? Like a Kevin Durant or a Carmelo Anthony?
Mark
July 1st, 2009
10:27 am
Rick Sund never won anything as a GM and when you make statements like “We want to keep the teams that finished behind us to stay behind us and CLOSE THE GAP on the teams in front of us” that pretty much shows what we are going to get. Teams that really want to win, go after better players than Rasheed and McDyess. Crawford is ok, but it isn’t as if he is an allstar or anything. We need a quality frontcourt player and Josh, Marvin and AL are not it. I would keep AL, but maybe shop Josh and Marvin. They are what they are. I think 5 years for Josh and 4 for Marvin is enough time to tell what kind of players they are going to be. I know, I know they have UPSIDE right. Our goal should always be to win a CHAMPIONSHIP not to just CLOSE THE GAP on the teams in front of us. Then again we don’t even know who our real owners are (when will the case be over, heck this started when we first signed Joe) and besides they are broke anyway. Teams that want to win it all are willing to take chances. Rick Sund goal is to win 50 games and perhaps be a higher seed. But hey what do I know Rick has been in the league for 30 years!! OH WELL, GO HAWKS!! (back to the playoffs where you again might win the first round, but get crushed in the second by some other team, but if you win a game in the second round this time that would be considered progress since you all have to take BABY STEPS)
Wabe
July 1st, 2009
10:27 am
Rod, in my post about Marvin/Smoove, I simply said IF YOU LET GO OF MARVIN, THE HAWKS BETTER START LOOKING FOR SOMEONE VIA FA to replace him BECAUSE I DONT THINK SMOOVE CAN HOLD DOWN THE 3 – AND I DONT THINK YOU CAN BANK ON JJ PLAYING AT THE 3…
I’m not putting Marvin on a pedestal, I’m just saying I’d much rather resign Marvin than have people on our team play OUT OF POSITION..
Wabe
July 1st, 2009
10:30 am
I know this is probably IMPOSSIBLE because we don’t really have much to offer via trades, but what about a package deal for John Salmons and Hinrich?
I’m not sure what we would have to offer, but you’d instantly have a PG to go with Teague and a wingman to replace Marvin…
This is ONLY IF the Hawks wanna let Marvin go…
Rod from College Park
July 1st, 2009
10:39 am
Wabe,
I agree with you Josh will not play the three for us. But if you ask me who I would rather check someboby, it would be Smooth. Smooth does everything better than Marvin except shoot. To answer you question, I would prefer that Josh check both players, because I know that the potential for a block is there. I am sure if you asked Turk and Lebron who they would rather check them, the response woud be Marvin. The problem is, do you want to pay Marvin 7 or 8 million dollars. I don’t.
Daniel
July 1st, 2009
10:41 am
The Hawks need to resign Marvin to either a long term deal or sign and trade.
I would resign Bibby if the market allows it. I love Jack and Sessions, but Bibby has been in the system and would not be a roadblock to Teague. Whatever the case a free agent pg can only cost us around 5-6 milion.
Then we really have to get something done with ZaZa. But, nobody knows what his value is going to be on the market.
Flip is the odd man out here. It is possible that he really gets very little interest in FA and stays a Hawk, but he would not be getting the raise that honestly his play deserves.
If(and it is a big if) we can do anything else, it would be to add froncourt depth, but it would have to be a nice short term low contract player… so forget Charlie V., Bass?(maybe), McDyess(maybe), forget Varajo.
Finally, everyone just forget about Childress coming back here, He has NO financial incentive to return to the NBA this season. He would LOSE money to play next season even under a restricted FA contract. He will stay in Greece one more year then come back to the NBA as a free agent.
ant banks
July 1st, 2009
10:41 am
i am soo sick and tired of the term “UPSIDE” and “POTENTIAL” associated with josh. he has 5 years body of work in the nba. he is what he is!! he is a moody, now-you-see-him-now-you-don’t-player. can’t dribble, sometimes uncoachable, block shots from behind, which means that he was beaten off the dribble, beggin’ to the refs player.
josh will never be an all-star, a decent player, but no allstar. if you can trade him to get betta, then do it!!
you emotional hawks fan kill me sayin’ that josh is not tradeable or untouchable. he is not kobe, lebron, d. wade, d. howard etc. so he is TRADEABLE!!
Daniel
July 1st, 2009
10:45 am
Rod-
I disagree with you on Marvin. He is much better on the ball defender than Smith. Josh’s game is rotating in the lane for blocked shots. Which is great for both since one is a 3 and the other a 4. Marvin’s contract will likely be in the neighborhood of 4 years 20-30 mil. That is very good deal for him and the Hawks. We have to keep Marvin as both a player and as an asset.
HawkKingBibby
July 1st, 2009
10:46 am
Im suprised people are so high on Gortat. I mean he had a nice series vs Clevland and people are ready to throw a long term deal at him. This reminds me of that one playoff game that got CRIS CRAWFORD a 7 YEAR deal. lol You guys want to give him a 5 year deal at the MLE (about 35/40mil over 5 years), well thats BAD CONTRACT and we would regret it.
O'Brien
July 1st, 2009
10:47 am
Another good reason for signing Rasheed is it keeps him away from Boston, San Antonio, Cleveland. Rasheed was the piece that put Detroit over the top (winning the championship), and a healthy KG + Rasheed would put Boston at the top of the East again, with Cleveland and Orlando fighting for 2 and 3. Rasheed is an instant upgrade for any team.
Rasheed can play both center and PF, bang down low, drain the 3, and plays good defense (when his head in the game). Plus he would force Shaq and Howard to guard him on the perimeter, opening up the lane. He is feisty, and he has some swagger.
Sekou,
If we resign Bibby and Flip, then we would not be making the most out of our money. There just is not enough minutes to go around (even with injuries, Crawford can give spot minutes running the point, and JJ does a lot of the ball handling too). If anything, we need at least one PG who plays solid defense (which both Flip and Bibby do not do).
Daniel
July 1st, 2009
10:50 am
HawksKingBibby- you are soooo right. Dude, I have no idea why everyone is falling in love with Gortat. A couple of nice games in the playoffs as an energy guy? Give me a break. Smells exactly like Chris Crawford all over again. I mean honestly people would rather have him than Za?
dap01
July 1st, 2009
10:50 am
Bibby has been in the “system”. The Hawks have a system?
nunna yo bizznezz
July 1st, 2009
10:50 am
u people must be forgetting who your coach is..it’s woody..
love him or hate him..
the “big baby” talk someone brought up would not fit well with him here..big baby was successful because of his coach and the system he runs in boston..and the patience,and attitude he has with his players..
big baby would lock down on woody,and TUNE HIM OUT,just like josh smith does,and bibbs started doing before the playoffs..
woody is a veterans only coach..he just tells u what to do and thats it!! its up to u to get into position and do whatever he tells u..
that won’t work with a young player under woody and company..i kinda feel for teague..woody has no patience and he will only be decent with an older veteran team..
if sund didn’t bring in flip,mo evans,how do u think we would have fared?
even if we had childress??
u all are blowing josh childress up like he is the 2nd coming of MICHAEL JORDAN..he is not..we are better off with flip..
don’t think i don’t like childress,because i do a lot..but,we were better with flip last year than with childress if he were here..
teague’s career,just salim,and acie will go down hill with woodson as his head coach..
if u don’t think so,ask yourself this question..
would chris paul have the playing time and the shine he has now as an nba player if he were with the hawks?
HELL NO!!!
nunna yo bizznezz
July 1st, 2009
10:59 am
1 more thing,when i brought up that woody was a vet only coach in my 2nd paragraph,i left out what i initially wanted to add..
as i said,he will only tell u what u need to do..
“we need rebounds,you need to drive more,we need to get to the free throw line,”etc…
but,just like hubie brown pointed out after a “miked timeout” (when u could hear woody talking to the team during the timeout),he did not design or call a play for them to run to get them back into what he asked them to do..
he had told them to drive more to the hoops and get to the free throw line against the cavs early in game 3..and the hawks shot 3 straight 3 pointers..josh,bibbs,flip..no one drove to the basket..that didn’t start to happen until acie came in..
my point is,u will have to spell that out with a young point guard or player,and draw up plays for them to run..and he doesn’t do that..
plus,woody is more comfortable letting his vets coach the players on the floor than he just pulling them to the side and talking to them..
Ariose
July 1st, 2009
11:02 am
From Hoopsworld:
“The Hawks are a serious wild card. They would prefer to hold on to their rights to Josh Childress, but they could renounce him if the right offer or player comes along and they need the cap space.”
Good Question!!!!
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13141
niremetal
July 1st, 2009
11:04 am
If I’m the Hawks, I give Marvin an offer for 5 years starting at $8M per now. Because if he takes the qualifying offer and plays like it’s a contract year, his price will be much higher next summer.
But of course, Sund’s penchant for caution means that won’t happen…
Daniel
July 1st, 2009
11:06 am
dap01- well, yes… sorta
Daniel
July 1st, 2009
11:08 am
nir- you would make a better offer than me, but I totally agree that Marvin has to get more than a qualifying offer. Or we have to trade him.
Anakin Joe
July 1st, 2009
11:14 am
nire, I don’t know that I would offer 5 years, not after that back injury. But I agree that the QO would be a mistake. I’d go with a 3-year offer (and maybe add a 4th as a team option). Again, my concern is the back injury, I have no issues with his current on-court performance nor with his projection (assuming reasonable health).
Rod from College Park
July 1st, 2009
11:17 am
Daniel,
I disagree with you also. I have seen Smooth play many people haed up and block their shots. I can remember one game the year before when he and Wade went one on one at the end of the game and he blocked the shot to win the game. I have seen him one on one block Amare, Odom ….. Yes he does get a lot of rotation blocks, but the guy is one of the leading shot blockers in the league. I’m sure a couple of those blocks have been one on one. I can count on my hand, the amount of times I have seen MArvin block or change any shot in 3 years. Disrespecting Josh on the defensive end of the floor is absurd. I saw the man make Kevin Garnett think twice about coming in the lane in that Celtic’s series several times. I have seen him have to help Marvin defensively many times over the last three years. Give the man SOME credit.
O'Brien
July 1st, 2009
11:18 am
nire,
I am conflicted about Marvin. He plays an average of 71 games per season, and his career average is 12.5 pts, 5.5 rebs. Sure, his defense and 3pt stroke is improving, but are those numbers worth $8 mil per year? This coming season, he will be at least the 3rd or 4th option again, so I dont think his numbers are going to change much. and he’s coming off an injured season finish.
I would offer him 4 years, $7 mil per year, or try to work a sign and trade.
nunna yo bizznezz
July 1st, 2009
11:19 am
this guy is more excited about the hawks than i’ve seen from any out of state sportscaster..
http://www.abc4.com/mostpopular/story/Kerry-Kinsey-Im-talking-Atlanta-Hawks-in-the/OUklueXV-0iHBe61E37JxA.cspx
p.s.
i’d love to keep marvin..
marvin showed us and showed up when joe johnson went out..
he showed where his game is and what he can do for us..
the coaching staff just don’t have a plan or know how to design an offense for both he and joe when they are on the floor together..
so to tell u the truth,marvin will be better off with another team that does..
pinoy hawk
July 1st, 2009
11:19 am
most likely scenario:
1. bibby is resigned for 2-3 years
2. marvin resigned and traded for a legit center
3. zaza is resigned for 3-4 years
4. flip walks
I MUS WRITE
July 1st, 2009
11:21 am
Bibby or flip must go…….. teague will never see the court….. The guy has a chance to be soecial if he can ever see the court…… Bibby Flip Craw =roadblock to developement……. give woody all those options and yungn will never play….
Hello….Gortat is hot right now becuz there are’nt many bigs out there with good size and skill- People want to down this guy when there are bums like jerome James and Ericka Dampier making millions of dollars to wear versace on the bench.
If not Gortat then who….. Sheed is a jumpshooter that doesnt really play D- okay sumtimz….. Give me Jeff Foster over sheed atleast i know he will rebound and come to play every night and most important not a locker room shyt starter…….. remember like 7 years ago when Horry threw a towel over Ainge on the side lines – I could see Sheed cussing woody out and probably throwing a chair or sumthing………No thanks
Rod from College Park
July 1st, 2009
11:23 am
Also, I am not speaking on the back injury. Smooth rarely ever misses any games. The streets tell me that Marvin is still walking around with a back brace. Trust me, from experience I know that a back problem is serious, and there is no way I would give him that kind of money with any medical questions. We would have another Speedy Claxton on our hands.
pinoy hawk
July 1st, 2009
11:26 am
I mus – Woodson is the roadblock for development.
ant banks
July 1st, 2009
11:29 am
HAS ANYONE HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT ANY TEAMS REGARDING FREE AGENTS??
it must be sssslllloooowww on the f/a court. i ain’t heard nothin’ yet. been checkin’ all of the nba website lookin’ for some morsels…
throw me a bone someone, anyone…
RedTailHawk
July 1st, 2009
11:31 am
Definately keep Marvin. I was almost ready to get rid of him until last year. I may be the only one, but I think I saw flashes of greatness last year before his injury. We have waited this long. Lets wait another year. If he can stay healthy (big if), I think he will have a great season next year.
Volman
July 1st, 2009
11:31 am
Breaking news: Rasheed Wallace has signed with Atlanta.
MannyT
July 1st, 2009
11:33 am
Tribe,
On the cap thing, if you hover too close to the luxury tax, it could mess up your business operations. If you are closer to the actual cap, an expired contract could give you some flexibility to bring in a new free agent.
For example, at the end of the 2009 season, almost 28 mil in contracts just expired. Granted that we want some/most of those guys back. People also want raises. If you were in luxury tax range, you may not have significant money to go after new players even with the expired contracts. If you were around the actual salary cap, you could be a player for any free agent with that much cap space.
http://hoopshype.com/salaries/atlanta.htm
The life example would be similar to having your credit cards maxed out is like being in the luxury tax. You still have to pay significant interest (like luxury tax) even if you don’t make moves. If your salary credit cards are not maxed out, you have more options.
BWAF
MannyT
July 1st, 2009
11:37 am
Volman–where did you hear/see the need for ’sheed info?
Volman
July 1st, 2009
11:39 am
Sorry, just trying to stir the pot. I’m bored. Maybe if you put it out there in the universe it’ll come true.
It’s completely false.
Jay
July 1st, 2009
11:41 am
For those of you who want to see Josh Childress or Mike Bibby in a Hawks uniform next year, sorry but it’s not gonna happen. Childress is staying in Greece and will be traded when he returns while Bibby is too expensive to re-sign.
For those of you expecting to see the Hawks’ make a big splash in the free agency market, sorry but it’s not gonna happen-because they don’t need to!
With that said, you can stop speculating about the back-court because a re-signed Flip Murray will join swingman Maurice Evans, first-round draft choice PG Jeff Teague and a re-signed SG Mario West will join starters Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson as the six backcourt guys on the active roster.
With starters Josh Smith (PF) and Al Horford (C) already under contract and since starting SF Marvin Williams will be re-signed, either to a long-term deal or to his one year qualifying offer. That only leaves three frontcourt spots on the active roster. Solomon Jones will be re-signed, more than likely to another one-year deal, to fill one of those spots. That leaves the Hawks looking for two guys to fill back-up positions. If the Hawks make him an offer he can’t refuse, Zaza Pachulia would get one of those spots; leaving the back-up power forward position as the only opening on the active roster. Fortunately, there are a lot of good options (Drew Gooden, Malik Rose, Charlie Villenueva, Chnning Frye, Leon Powe, Ike Diogu and more) available.
So, for those of you expecting an exciting free agency session, sorry but its not gonna happen-and that’s a good thing!
Big Ray
July 1st, 2009
11:43 am
Nire,
The logic you’re using on Jamal Crawford goes both ways. We can knock him for not being on a winning team all these years, and therefore label him a non-winner. That logic assumes that if you’re on a team that has won more than it has lost, you’re a winner. If that’s the case, we should be after Shannon Brown and Adam Morrison while they’re still young. The Lakers got a ring. Both guys are instant winners.
I’ll stand by what I said about Crawford doing what he was asked to do in Chicago. You can call it an overstatement if you want, but if you followed Chicago any during his days there, you’d know what I was talking about. Eddy Curry was the only other scoring threat of any imagination during that time, and he was no sure thing. Crawford was asked to play distributor/playmaker, and then asked to be a scorer. Lots of times, it was both.
The bottom line on him is that he was never a very good percentage shooter, but he was always a pretty good scorer. He’s here to help and play a role. The man has never been a problem for a coach anywhere that we know of, and he says that not only is he glad to be here, but he’s also going to accept whatever role he’s assigned. I’ll take the man at his word, because that’s all you can do right now. He can’t “walk the walk” until the games start.
Sund said it best: “He’s a bird in the hand.” This is what I was trying to outline the whole time (hell, I think I even used the exact same phrase). Clearly we did not bring him in to “save the franchise”, so people should quit looking at it that way, though some are certainly doing so just for the sake of stirring things up where it’s just not necessary (amazing what some will do for attention…and still not get what they’re looking for). He’s here to play a role.
Jamal may plan to pass first, but we will also need his ability to drive/create for himself, and just flat-out score in general. No disrespect to Bibby, but Jamal can get his own shot and drive to the basket better than he can, and better than Flip.
The discerning fan is more concerned with role assignment on this team and proper/maximum use of resources than they are about whether Jamal can contribute meaningfully.
Mitun
July 1st, 2009
11:52 am
what do u think of Big baby Glen Davis of coming to ATL?
jerrywest
July 1st, 2009
11:57 am
Jay – great post @11:41 am.
I think what you predicted will happen.