Childress in play?
(Former) Hawks swingman Josh Childress appears to be in play for the second straight summer as a restricted free agent. He's in Milwaukee today visiting the Bucks.
HAWKSVILLE - From Athens to Milwaukee and back to Atlanta, the name Josh Childress is being tossed around in every direction these days.
Childress is in Milwaukee today visiting the Bucks with his agent, Jim Tanner.
What that means for the Hawks is that they might get a do-over with Childress, a restricted free agent again this summer as he was last summer.
Last summer they lost him as an asset when he chose to sign with Greek power Olympiakos (for $20 million post taxes). What the Hawks didn’t lose was the right of first refusal on Childress if he decided to return to the NBA this summer.
And two of my spies have made it clear that were Childress to receive any sort of “reasonable” NBA offer (the $5.6 million mid-level exception or below), the Hawks would match it before Childress finished signing his name on the offer sheet (the aim, however, is to work out a sign-and-trade deal to appease both sides since Childress has made clear his desire to play elsewhere, per a source).
Still, no player on the free agent market has more intriguing options than Childress. He has until July 15 to decide if he wants to return to the NBA (he’d have to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract with Olympiakos). So he has a window now that allows him to gauge his current value around the NBA while also holding on to the safety net that is his lucrative contract with Olympiakos.
Childress was in Atlanta last Sunday to meet with the Hawks’ brass and made clear that he would do his due diligence in evaluating his NBA options before deciding whether to return to Greece or not. It’s smart business yet again on the part of Childress, who had drawn interest from a number of other teams (Lakers, Clippers, Cavaliers and Spurs are included in that list, according to my league spies) curious to explore the potential of him making an return to the league now as opposed to at the end of his contract with Olympiakos.
“It’s a tough free agent market right now,” a former player now working as an analyst told me by phone Thursday morning. “I can’t imagine [Childress] could do better financially than he would by going back to Greece. But you never know what might go on in free agency, so he’s wise to explore his options.”
MOSTLY QUIET ON THE FREE AGENT FRONT: Things are quiet where the Hawks’ other free agent targets are concerned. Neither Zaza Pachulia nor Marvin Williams is scheduled to visit anywhere as of right now.
Plenty of teams are interested, from what I’m hearing, but no face-to-face meetings have been set up as of yet. Williams is a restricted free agent, so it’s expected that his summer will last a little longer. Pachulia’s summer could heat up rather quickly if one of the big man dominoes on the summer circuit (Rasheed Wallace, Marcin Gortat, etc.) were to commit to a new team.
Several sources inform me that the Hawks have moved into the “common ground” phase of their talks with Mike Bibby’s camp. Nothing has been announced yet, but those sources insist that a deal is closer to getting done than people might think. I’ll be curious to see how things progress through the July 4th weekend and into early next week, when the salary cap numbers come out on the 8th.
Rumors are flying around about what teams are doing. It’s almost too difficult to keep up with it all, since there are so many different outlets reporting (fact and fiction). But my man Adrian Wojnarowski from Yahoo! Sports does as good as job as anyone at keeping his finger on the pulse of what’s happening out there. Check out his latest buzz.
RECESSION? WHAT RECESSION?: While most of us working class folk are struggling to make ends meet during these tough economic time, there is a segment of the population that’s doing just fine. Check out some of the NBA players on Sports Illustrated’s list of top “ballers” in sports.
Steve Francis should be your new hero, since he clocked $20 million last year without playing a single second of basketball. How’d that song from the 90s go, “I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller.” Dang skippy!
NORTH OF THE BORDER: Both Cousin Doug up in Toronto and my man Ken Berger of CBSSPORTS.com are reporting that David Lee has become the object of the Toronto Raptors’ affection now that it appears Hedo Turkoglu could be headed to Portland.
Turkoglu agreeing to a deal could open the floodgates for guys like Williams, especially, considering Charlie Villanueva’s deal with Detroit (5-years, $35-$40 sounds reasonable, though it raises some issues for the Pistons, per my man David Aldridge of TNT) has already set a benchmark for players of that ilk.
Stay tuned folks. There’s no telling where this free agent roller coaster goes next.
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642 comments Add your comment
Wabe
July 4th, 2009
11:06 pm
I’m pullin for Roddick..
1) Let the man have his time
2) Federer shouldn’t break that record without Nadal in the picture
Show me state
July 4th, 2009
11:10 pm
Sekou,
Is it true that Mike Bibby is gonna sign a 3 yr contract to stay with the Hawks?
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20090704_76ers__offer_to_Bibby_was_for_1_year.html
THE MOST INTERESTING HAWKS FAN IN THE WORLD
July 4th, 2009
11:58 pm
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What is the deal with David Anderson? According to this article, he is on his way over here to play for the Hawks.
“I don’t always watch basketball, but when I do, I prefer the Hawks. Stay thirsty my friends.”
Dan
July 5th, 2009
12:05 am
Just saw that Bibby is expected to sign a 3-year deal with the Hawks. The word came across the bottom line on the NBA Channel. Nice! Glad he is staying put…
Dan
July 5th, 2009
12:11 am
Just read back a few pages on the blog…looks like everyone already knew the Bibby news. So,there went my scoop.
Oh, well…still glad he is staying. Nice job by Sund to get that done…
THE MOST INTERESTING HAWKS FAN IN THE WORLD
July 5th, 2009
12:18 am
DAN,
Everyone else was speculating on Bibby. No one here knew for sure. No outlets in Atlanta have reported this. I read an article in a Philly paper that stated as much. I think that Sekou has had too much to drink or eat for the 4th and has forgotten about us.
Okay, so Bibby, Crawford, Teague, JJ are on the 1’s and 2’s, so where does this leave Flip?
“I don’t always watch basketball, but when I do, I prefer the Hawks. Stay thirsty my friends!”
Ed
July 5th, 2009
12:23 am
If for any reason Sund doesn’t re-sign both Marvin & ZaZa he has dropped the ball. Missing out on the frontline FA’s won’t be as big of a deal as long as we maintain what we already had. Failure to do so is a step back and will offset any other moves we may make.
I still stand by my belief that we should either extend JJ now or trade him. The risk of losing him at the end of next year with no compensation is too great.
ant banks
July 5th, 2009
12:26 am
washington offered marbury 1.2 million!! wow!! 20 million per to 1.2 million? your attitude determines your aptitude.
Samuel
July 5th, 2009
12:29 am
Wasn’t Bibby supposed to be shipped out of town by trade deadline last year along with Woody?
I’ve hit up (3) 4th of July parties and you guys are still trying to make an argument using the likes of Royal Ivey, Sheldon Williams, Salim and Acie law. All Scrubbs and will always be scrubbs.
So if Woody is the Head coach and Horford, Smith, and Marvin have never had another HC in the league, why does he not get the credit for developing them? You guys are funny.
WOW! Steve McNair. The greatest QB in Alcorn Braves history gone. He broke many of my Uncle Fred’s passing records at the “Corn”.
Never will forget that Matchup in 93 or 94 between Alcorn State and “Air McNair” and Mississippi Valley State and Jerry Rice in Jackson Municipal Stadium. Never seen that many black folk together in the same place at the same time. 100,000 easy in a stadium that seated 65k at best.
Cuz, were you there? Place was rockin.
niremetal
July 5th, 2009
12:30 am
Wabe,
I agree, but Federer’s been my boy for years. He just makes it look so effortless out there…he’s cold as ice. You never hear him let out a grunt. I just like guys who operate like that – Barry Sanders, Tim Duncan, etc.
There are some crazy videos of his shots on YouTube. Here is my favorite…sadly it was Roddick who was the victim:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hp-EArV6s8
I’ll see how I feel tomorrow.
THE MOST INTERESTING HAWKS FAN IN THE WORLD
July 5th, 2009
12:33 am
ED,
Here is what I think will happen with JJ. He will not take an extension, unless the Hawks offer him 18-20 per year, which I doubt they will do.
They will seriously consider trading him at the trade deadline, for some pieces if and only if the Hawks are not in contention for a playoff push, this will give them something in return.
If the Hawks are in contention for the playoffs, they will ride the year out with JJ. If he choses not to re-sign next yr., that will be 15million to work with off the bat.
“I don’t always watch basketball, but when I do, I prefer the Hawks. Stay thirsty my friends.”
ant banks
July 5th, 2009
12:39 am
SAMUEL,
woody could lead the hawks to the conference finals and people would say that the team got there “inspite of him, not because of him.”
woody will get an extension for 3yrs this season. the hawks will be a 4-6th seed and possibly make it to the 2nd rnd again and get knocked out. taking a team to the playoffs 3 yrs in a row after a 10 yr absence will warrant 3more years.
so brace yourself!! we gotta here “FIRE WOODY!!” from CLYDE and KEN for 3 more years. lol
ant banks
July 5th, 2009
12:41 am
i am not a woody lover. in fact i dislike his coachin’ style, but he is doin’ somethin’ right that 16 other teams didn’t do or couldn’t do last year, MAKE THE PLAYOFFS. then he did somethin’ that 24 other teams didn’t do nor couldn’t do…MAKE IT TO THE 2ND RND OF PLAYOFFS,
Clyde
July 5th, 2009
2:54 am
Ken Strickland For Blogger of the Year
The AJC needs to hand over that blog Ray is in charge of and give it to my boy Ken Strickland.
Clyde
July 5th, 2009
2:56 am
ant banks F making the playoffs. Did we win a championship? No!
Stating the Obvious
July 5th, 2009
3:25 am
Clyde needs to find some relief for his man-crush on Ken Strickland.
Ariose
July 5th, 2009
3:41 am
Nire, i’ve got Roddick in four or five sets.
Wabe
July 5th, 2009
7:27 am
You guys don’t get it, when re-signing your backup center is the top priority of the team, it just indicates the lack of depth on this roster – I honestly pin on WOODY.
Like I said, everybody’s entitled to their own opinion. But this man hasn’t done anything to help develop guys over the years. No one is discrediting what the man HAS DONE over the years, just what the man HASNT DONE. Personally, I think the things he HASNT DONE has in a sense held this team back. One of those things WOULD BE developing players. And can we please stop talking about ‘back to back playoff appearences’. He got into the playoffs with a 37-45 record a year back – he didn’t do anything special.
I read an article about how at one point, the Detroit Pistons showed interest in hiring Woody because they felt he was better suited to coach veterans. Personally, that just indicates the man’s lack of ability to work with youngsters.
The man has done good for the team. But is he the guy that’s gonna get the Hawks a ring?
Ken Strickland
July 5th, 2009
7:33 am
INTERESTING FAN-When Smoove, Chills and Marvin were brought on board, BK had all but completed his efforts of ridding the team of overpaid underachieving veteran players. At that point, what choice did he have but to play his rookies. Also, it was very early in Woodson’s HC career, and he knew he was under very little pressure, if any, to produce a winning season. His team, as well as most of his key players, were raw, and his need for control was beneficial. Besides, Billy Knight made playing and developing his youmg stable of talent a prioriry. But just like raising children, there’s a point where the parent has to release a certain amount of that control. Of course, that’s assuming they’re confident they’ve successfully instilled proper values and have trust in their children’s judgement. Only then will they start allowing them to make their own decisions, within reason of course.
As his young players have grown and matured, Woodson still wants to control them like he did when they were raw rookies. And like it far too often happens with teens and controlling parents, there will be clashes and rebellion from the children, and subsequent punishment from the parents, which we’re seeing more and more with the Hawks.
As the young Hawks mature and improve individually and as a team, along with the addition of veteran players, we’re seeing more and more clashes between Woodson and his players. We’ve seen him have open clashes or express open hostility and render punishment with MBibby, RMurray, JSmith, ALaw, SStaudamire and SJones.
We have more FA’s on our current roster than just about any other team, with both JJohnaon and AHorford becoming eligible soon. At this point, we can’t gage how interested a single one of our FA’s, or potential FA’s, is in resigning. Sund obviously didn’t see enough in Woodson to offer him a longterm extension, and after a 47 win season and 4th seed in the playoffs, he still hasn’t seen enough to offer an extension to his current contract. Our HC has demonstrated confidence in only 3 bench players, Zaza, Evans and Murray, and 2 of them are FA’s.
For the 1st 3yrs, I was one of Woodson’s biggest supporters, but I finally realized he was more of a problem than a solution, just like former GM BK. Over the last 2yrs I’ve seen our young starters and team change and grow, but not Woodson.
MREASTSIDE73
July 5th, 2009
7:43 am
We are out in the free agent market looking for what we already have. Let Bibby goe. We didnt needcrawford, and start Flip. Bibby cant guard nobody anis basically a liability on D. Chill is a heart and soul player we need. We need to package Joe Johnson.
JJ
July 5th, 2009
8:24 am
Sekou…..think you could maybe post a comment or something about Bibby telling Philly that he will be re-signing with the Hawks? I hate seeing you get scooped by a newspaper in a City about 1,000 miles away.
yessir
July 5th, 2009
9:06 am
Bibby is going to sign for 3yrs. Flip most likely will not sign with us. Rasheed Wallace already turned us down. ZaZa is going to test the market but wants too much, he will be back. Marvin will be back. We are trying to get Wilcox and McDyess. D. Andersen is suppose to come over and play. J-Chill situation probably wont happen, Bucks want a S&T for Kurt Thomas and some more garbage.
Sekou Smith
July 5th, 2009
9:32 am
JJ, did you read that report in the Philly paper? Scooped. Ha. They’re speculating about a deal that has yet to be completed. So the years are only a good guess, which folks around here have been guessing about for weeks.
Sekou Smith
July 5th, 2009
9:41 am
And JJ, Bibby hasn’t spoken a word anywhere since free agency began. That’s the danger of reports like the one in the same Philly paper two days earlier that said Bibby waned $10 million a year (BIBBY DIDN’T SAY THAT OR ANYTHING ELSE).
We’ll see if he gets a deal done with the Hawks and what it’s worth. But until someone directly involved with the negotiations confirms it, it’s all guessing my man.
darrell starks
July 5th, 2009
9:44 am
We dont need bibby he cant defend then at the end of the day we wonder why devin harris score 40point or why all year there was a break on the defense end, we have let bibby go and move on i like bibby passionate to come back to the hawks but this is business.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Samuel
July 5th, 2009
9:47 am
So Clyde, based on your criteria of winning the Title being your only measure of success, shouldn’t you print up some “Fire Saben” t-shirts. Remember, you guys haven’t won one since 92. Some of these bloggers weren’t even born then.
Getting beaten by UTAH is tatamount to being swept by Memphis or something. Give me a break.
darrell starks
July 5th, 2009
9:48 am
Sekou i cant see bibby getting more than 6mill.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Sekou Smith
July 5th, 2009
9:52 am
There is a new blog up.
darrell starks
July 5th, 2009
9:53 am
If we want to contend in the east we need a big man at the center who command a double team in the post like amar’e or bosh.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!
Samuel
July 5th, 2009
9:58 am
Doc,
My boy Rick is cool as a cucumber. Wouldn’t it be something if he were able to sign ZaZa and Marvin+ add an additional big that can play(McDycee,Sheed,Frye).
This team is shaping up to be pretty good. Still not sure we can move up a notch in the Eastern pecking order but definately can more solidify our hold on 4th spot. If we can hold the 4th spot a year or so then we can move up after 2010. If the Cavs don’t win a ring this year, LeBron is gone and Cleveland goes back to “LOTTO” status. Boston will be another year older and KG will be more banged up. They will slip.
2011 will be our year to move up into the top 2. Our core will only be better while other teams will fall off. that’s my long term plan and i’m sticking to it.
terrell barron
July 5th, 2009
10:36 am
Roddick just blew it by losing that 2nd set.
jhan
July 5th, 2009
11:29 am
Clyde – that means every coach except Phil Jackson should be fired. Not very realistic.
Paddy
July 5th, 2009
12:07 pm
Sam…. Iverson as a teacher to young players???? WOW, now there is a personality transformation. What a waste of a human.
Andrew Chiasson
July 5th, 2009
12:36 pm
After these past few years all I can say is fire Rick Sund and get a GM with some balls.
D.Carter
July 5th, 2009
1:07 pm
I for the life of me dont understand why the hawks arent making a play for bigs right now!!! Hell sign Aaron Gray to an offer sheet… I seriously think however, that making a play for chris Kaman is the way to go… The only way we get better is to overtake Orlando… with shaq in cleveland and the celtics trying to pull out all the stops we have to come to the realization that AL Horford at the center position isnt the answer
Hoops
July 5th, 2009
1:11 pm
NEW BLOG UP!!!
Ken
July 5th, 2009
3:06 pm
Channing Frye, Chris Wilcox, and Gerald Green, in that order!!!
GO GET EM!!!!!!!!!!!!
DunwoodyHawk
July 5th, 2009
10:02 pm
Maybe in getting Crawford, Sund is hedging his bets that Johnson leaves after this season. And Sund has JJ’s replacement in Crawford, and uses the $15 mil freed up by JJ’s departure to sign…Bosh.
For Real
July 7th, 2009
11:39 am
1. Hortford, Bibby and the Rights to Childress to the Lakers for Bynam
2. Williams to Wizards for Caron Butler
3. Sign Grant Hill and Antonio McDyess
4. Re-sign Flip Murray
Josh Childress Update « nbaroundtable
July 7th, 2009
6:58 pm
[...] Childress Update In Free Agency on July 7, 2009 at 5:57 pm Sekou Smith writes What that means for the Hawks is that they might get a do-over with Childress, a restricted free [...]
Sam from da Swats
July 11th, 2009
9:58 pm
Trade Marvin and Chills for Camby…
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
3:39 pm
For the Hoops Junkie