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
MrHughes
July 3rd, 2009
12:51 am
If we don’t make a splash in the offseason like the CONTENDERS(Magic,Cleveland,Lakers) i don’t see how we can ever get a title.
Nique
July 3rd, 2009
1:00 am
What are ppl smoking??? Nobody’s giving up a 1st rounder or a stud player for childress! The Luke Walton deal has been the closes thing to realistic that I’ve seen. But Luke wouldn’t really get that nuch tick for us. Is there any info about us & Andy V talks? Do the Hawks have any interest in Lamar Odem? Wallace seems like he’s gonna sign with Boston, Gortat’s going to Dallas, & I don’t thin antonio’s coming here either. I say we go hard after Andy or Lamar & Resign Zaza, & then conclude by picking either flip or Bibby. We could also pursue Drew Gooden, Chris Birdman Anderson, Brandon Bass, & Channing Frye. But if those don’t work then there’s Chris Wilcox, Melvin Ely, Chris Mihm, & also Theo Rattlif just in case Zaza walks.
& as far as Chill goes, trade him to Clevland for Daniel Gibson & if they won’t go for that Darnell Jackson & a 2cnd rounder in next years draft.
Lakers – for Adam Morrison or Luke Walton & a 2cnd rounder in next years draft.
Clippers – DeAndre Jordan & a 2cnd rounder in next years draft.
jhan
July 3rd, 2009
1:08 am
Bibby, ZaZa & Andy V would be a great way to wrap up the offseason for me. This team would be 10 deep. Maybe not multiple stars but 10 good to very good NBA players. A long way from what Woody had to trot out there in 2004.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 3rd, 2009
1:16 am
“In all reality,
I SEE ! Z E R O ! FA AQUISITIONS FOR THE HAWKS THIS OFFSEASON.”
Possibly, but you have to remember that the Hawks, Cavs, and Magic have already made their big acquisitions prior to free agency. So when you see teams like the Lakers, Pistons and Celtics making their splash now, keep that in mind. If the Hawks retain last year’s team with the exception of having replaced Flip with Crawford, that is a significant step up which should put them over the 50 win mark barring injury.
Ariose
July 3rd, 2009
1:20 am
POOP, STOP PICKING ON FLIP!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
July 3rd, 2009
1:22 am
And anyway, I think the Hawks may actually be better served to acquire a couple of cheaper, less heralded players instead of trying to make a big splash. I could see Sund rounding out the roster with players like Leon Powe, Jamaal Magloire, maybe even Theo Ratliff — players who can still play some quality minutes in spurts and would probably cost somewhere around what Flip cost last year.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 3rd, 2009
1:23 am
Haha I’m not trying to pick on him at all. I think he exceeded everyone’s expectations last year. I just don’t see a place on this team for him when Crawford does the same thing he does except better, especially if Teague is going to get significant minutes.
Ariose
July 3rd, 2009
1:27 am
I know that’s true, but i’s still rather have him on the bench. He’s great, and what if the J-Crawford experiment doesn’t work? Flip would be a great fail-safe plan…
I…..guess i’m a Flip fan…..lol
niremetal
July 3rd, 2009
1:33 am
Ariose seems to like combo guards who have no conscience about shooting the rock
Willie D.
July 3rd, 2009
2:13 am
Sekou,
Why won’t the Hawks consider bringing over David Andersen? I saw some of his games and the guy is a beast with a reliable jumper and good post moves. I hope the Hawks don’t let him sleep away.
Ariose
July 3rd, 2009
2:13 am
Damn Straight!!! LOL Flip is a beast, seriously though….way mor effective than…..well you know…..GO BUCKS!!!!
Joe's place Joe speaking
July 3rd, 2009
2:15 am
Anderson Varejao all the way!!! He brings the energy and size we are Looking for! Plus think about the chip on his shoulder towards Cleveland for letting him go! Him and Zaza would Be enough for any team to handle along with Horford and Smith that would be nice!
Ed
July 3rd, 2009
2:29 am
Ole Slow-hand Sund is biding his time. He’s a vulture just waiting around to pick whatever dead carcasses are left in free agents. Yeah he may loase Zaza but he has a plan…some retread former draft pick of his. Still waiting for that big jump into the deep pool you told us about Sekou. Boson has their entire team recruiting Sheed…maybe he’ll say no thanks I want to play for the Hawks and Slow-hand knows it…ya think?
Ariose
July 3rd, 2009
2:50 am
Verejao didn’t get LET GO lol, he opted out of the finaly year of a three-year deal. He was slated to make arund 6.4million this upcoming season. If he wants much more than the WE probably can’t sign him.
I think it’s better if we go after either Brandon Bass or Channing Frye…..both will play for MLE money or lower for sure.
niremetal
July 3rd, 2009
3:12 am
There’s just no pleasing some people. We traded for Crawford before the draft, and now people are complaining that other teams are snapping up free agents that we don’t want/need anyway – the only guy off the market who I was interested in was Charlie V, but even he was pretty far down my list.
I have a feeling the only guy we’ll have trouble keeping and/or replacing is Zaza. If we lose him, I’ll be quite peeved.
But I agree with Najeh – if we go into October with Teague and Crawford and we re-sign everyone but Flip, I’ll be pleased. If we do that and add a rotation player at PF or C, I’ll be damned happy.
nunna yo bizznezz
July 3rd, 2009
3:50 am
we got thomas gardner,and othello hunter..
and we got randolph morris..don’t think these guys won’t make an impact,(if they get playing time),because they can and will…
gardner is a spot up shooter at SG..good defensive player,great court vision and an excellent passer..
othello will be a mini”DWIGHT HOWARD”..and an excellent passer for a big man,great court awareness,but not a great one on one defensive player yet..very good helpside defensive player,and a dangerous open court player and a very strong finisher!!
and,randolph will be a serviceable center,but he is not a starter..
those are the 3 bench players,who will be a year better,and will make an impact with playing time..
we will regret letting acie go..trust me
trade childress,he knows that woody won’t get us where we need to be..come on yall,he’s a stanford man!!he knows!!
roster:
crawford/teague PG
joe/gardner/ SG
marvin/evans SF
smoove/othello hunter PF
horford/morris C
SIGN:
ANTONIO MCDYESS,MAKE HIM STARTING CENTER-MOVE AL TO PF,SMITH TO SF,BRING WILLIAMS OFF THE BENCH..
MCDYESS/MORRIS CENTER
SMOOVE/WILLIAMS SF
HORFORD/HUNTER PF
CRAWFORD/TEAGUE PG
JOE/GARDNER SG
IF WE CAN ADD THEO RATLIFF AS A 3RD CENTER,THAT WOULD BE NICE..
AND SIGN WES MATTHEWS AS A ROOKIE FREE AGENT THAT WOULD BE BETTER..
CTrim
July 3rd, 2009
7:48 am
Philadelphia Inquirer this morning:
76ers’ interest in Mike Bibby not mutual
By Kevin Tatum
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the 76ers reached out this week to the agent for Atlanta Hawks guard Mike Bibby, only to find that the 10-year veteran is intent on staying with the team he played for the last two seasons.
Hoops
July 3rd, 2009
9:03 am
Let’s dream a minute:
Would the Nets entertain this trade? We send Chills, Mo Evans, and Morris for D. Harris and J. Hayes? Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock….
I didn’t think so!!!
Rebel
July 3rd, 2009
9:05 am
Trade Zaza, Marvin Williams, and the rights to Childress for Omare stoudemire.
Wabe
July 3rd, 2009
9:31 am
Thanks for that info CTrim.
Lookin more and more like BIBBY WILL BE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m excited about that. But will be less excited if we start the season and see Teague get no PT. Get the guy into the NBA game early and often.
Someone said it, I could see a 9/10 player rotation if WOODY figures out how to utilize the players he has.
Melvin
July 3rd, 2009
9:45 am
Sekou,
Any word on how Chills visit with the Bucks went?
Hoops
July 3rd, 2009
9:49 am
Melvin,
I would take the Bucs #1 pick next year for Chills right now!
ant banks
July 3rd, 2009
10:10 am
wow!! 3 days into free agency and we don’t hear nothin’ on the hawks front!! this seems to be their strategy. they do it every year, wait unitl august 1st to start dealin’. by this time, whatever players are left are jus’ glad to have a job, so the hawks pick them, ie flip and mo evans from last year.
but who am i to complain. this strategy has worked for the past 2 years. why fix it if it ain’t broke?
Melvin
July 3rd, 2009
10:17 am
Hoops,
If the pick is not going to be protected (which I doubt), that would be my 2nd option. I would rather bring the Fro back to the A-Town… I prefer Chills playing behind Marvin than Mo…
Volman
July 3rd, 2009
10:24 am
Guys, just because we haven’t heard anything with the big name guys doesn’t mean that the Hawks aren’t doing anything. Sund is on the phone trying to make deals to make this team better. It’s not like they’re in Hawaii sipping margaritas right now while we’re blogging about how stressed we are from the off-season!
Let Sund do his body of work for the summer, and THEN we can complain.
I have a feeling whatever Sund does (short of trading for Kobe, LeBron, and Howard for Mario West, Childress, and a 1st around pick) will not make anybody happy.
Relax guys!
Anyway, I’d love to see Chills back (if he wants to come back)…That’d definitely make for a VERY DEEP bench, but the Hawks still need big men (as the entire world knows—seems like the FO doesn’t realize that sometimes)
If Chills doesn’t want to return, ship his European ass to the Bucks for a 1st rounder. We all know the Bucks aren’t going to be out of the lottery. Who knows, maybe Atlanta gets VERY luck and say the Bucks win the lottery!
Wes
July 3rd, 2009
10:26 am
Sekou, I’ve seen Atlanta Spirit willing to spend more money than normal on the Thrashers this year (which I like), are they going to at least spend up to the luxury tax threshold? Also, I read in the Philly paper that Bibby wants 10 million a year. I like the guy and think he is a good fit for what we have, but that seems like too much – because we have to keep Zaza. Also, are they going to try to extend JJ before he hits the huge open market next season? If he goes and we can’t bring in one of the other big names, it would seem like starting all over again..
derrick
July 3rd, 2009
10:28 am
SkeOU,man i am a dieheart HAWKS,BRAVES,AND FALCONS FAN. We are a city ready for a winner. you have alot of people who are not hawks fan,and that because atlanta is a city where alot of come and get a start on the business,and when it blows up,they move back to the homeland!with all that being said we still got some real fans here,and we deserve better! the question i got for you,is when will the hawks,get players who are young,and can really play in atlanta? i mean we got money to pay them.It seems to me we just grab players,we should have grabed when the were young,but we allways grab them when the are a few years away from retiring!
UGA
July 3rd, 2009
10:31 am
From HoopsWorld:
Bibby And Hawks: Mike Bibby and the Atlanta Hawks have exchanged some contract ideas and sources close to the situation say they are making progress towards a deal. The Philadelphia 76ers apparently reached out to gauge Bibby’s interest and were turned away. Sources near the situation say Bibby’s camp made it clear Mike wants to return to Atlanta and the Hawks seem like they will meet Mike’s price. The belief is that the framework of a deal is in place and that Bibby and the Hawks are working through length of deal and any exit clauses. The source warned that nothing is done until its done, but said the Hawks have handled this negotiation well and they believe Bibby will be re-signed in the coming days.
I.MUS WRITE- INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY
July 3rd, 2009
10:45 am
Matlock *** Rod….these are just opinions fellaz and everybody has one- Toilet paper anyone. With the MLE we probably go Drew Gooden or Channing frye, Hakim warwick could also be an option….
Nunn ya bizz— Ahhm did you see gardner and hunter play last year- I was’nt imprtessed at all -they need to spend sum time in the NBDL -if those are our reserves for JJ and Josh then we are definitely in trouble
ant banks
July 3rd, 2009
10:53 am
VOLMAN,
you are right. we will let sund do his thing. i am sure that he will be very shrewd. there is a espn article outlining 15 of the worst contracts against a team’s cap space and NONE of them were hawks.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=capkillingcontracts-090630
i do appreciate sund not havin’ us hamstrung to some horrible contracts.
MBZ
July 3rd, 2009
10:54 am
I think the our “rotation big” is going to be Chris Wilcox. Not a shot blocker, but athletic and is a decent banger in the post. I haven’t heard any chatter about him so he seems to be flying under the radar. If we bring everyone back, minus flip, I think we will have an improved team.
Today’s Celtics Links 7/3 at New England Sports 24/7
July 3rd, 2009
10:59 am
[...] Suicide lines: Celtics offer ‘Sheed deal; Iverson to the Heat? Journal Constitution Josh Childress is back on the free agent market, sort of! Ken Berger Gordon revisited: Sign-and-trade for Iverson?- FanHouse Artest in L.A. Could [...]
johnny
July 3rd, 2009
10:59 am
i think they have enough guards if bibby is resigned. what about Chris The Birdman Anderson out there in denver.. sign him to back up both josh smith and Al horford. you know over a long season his energy and work ethic will come handily, also he is a better option than Pachulia on offense and defense. plus whomever they get for Childress .. this alone in theory relates to a stronger bench than they have had the last couple of years. they should get rid of gardner, morris, and replace them with real players.
cdog
July 3rd, 2009
11:08 am
CHILDRESS WILL BE A HAWK THIS YEAR.SO WILL LAMAR ODOM
niremetal
July 3rd, 2009
11:22 am
*ding*
Ariose
July 3rd, 2009
11:23 am
I told y’all, If you paid attention to Bibbys carreer, you’d know that’s the type of guy he is. I honestly think he stayed in Sacramento a few more years than he should have….
First of all, I STILL think Flip wil be back. I mean he only made 1.5 mill last season…..THATS A BIG TALEN FOR SUCH LITTLE MONEY; and flip doesn’t really care all that much about $$$…I think he’ll be back. Everybody’s not gonna get PT all the time, but when we’re playing the lakers next season, and Artest is shutting down Joe and and Kobe is putting the Clamps on Crawford with three minutes left in the game…..we’re gonna need another goon/stud to get the job done….I just hope we have enough sense to keep this guy.
48 Minutes of Hell » Blog Archive » The Bucher Tweet
July 3rd, 2009
11:26 am
[...] Frye, Brandon Bass, Rasheed Wallace, Marcin Gortat, Lamar Odom, Antonio McDyess, Morris Almond and Josh Childress. Here’s what I take from it: no one outside the Spurs brass is privy to their targets, and [...]
CaliHawks
July 3rd, 2009
11:26 am
birdman would be a good fit but im sure denver wont wanna let let him go .. Hawks have 2 resign bibby no question about it ..I like chills to come back but dont seem like he wants to so tha hell wit him..Morris could play but he didnt get much time on tha court last year so i doubt he can do much.. Go get a big atlanta b4 there all gone.. trade chills for sum big like gadzuric that would help wit tha defense and allow tha hawks 2 run the floor a lil more then have set plays for Joe as usual..
ant banks
July 3rd, 2009
11:32 am
ARIOSE,
assumin’ that we re-sign bibby, flip, marvin, and zaza (personally, i think we lose zaza). do you think a team made up of: jj, bibby, smoove, horford, marvin. bench-crawford, marvin, flip, possible zaza, solo and fillers can make serious in roads in the east?
i still see us as the 4th seed, winnin’ a 1st rnd and then facin’ one of the big 3 in the 2nd only to get knocked out.
Mitch
July 3rd, 2009
11:33 am
Sekou:
Your 4 Moves?
C’mon, man…still waiting!
Nookah
July 3rd, 2009
11:39 am
Volman, You are bang on. Let’s be patient. How many of us saw the Jamal Crawford trade coming and for the pieces we gave up? We are traditionally a team that does things under the radar except the well known secret, JJ a couple of years ago. We have to give Sund the benefit of the doubt and wait until he makes his moves. I suspect when he comes public we will hear more than one move.
Has anybody seen how the Spirit are spending money on the Thrashers? These guys are obviously trying to improve the product all round. So rest easy Hawks fans. Give the guys a chance to do their thing, then we can debate the moves. Until then it’s all speculation. It’s good stuff though and makes it very entertaining.
Go Hawks!!!
Jody
July 3rd, 2009
11:43 am
If Josh Smith would work on hitting the 15 to 20 foot jumpshot consistently, I think his game would go to the next level.
Ariose
July 3rd, 2009
11:51 am
ant, I agree. That’s why I think it’s important to get a good big with tions of upside like Bass or Frye anlong with zaza. If we don’t do that, we have no chance in really giving the top 3 seeds in the east a run for their money.
doc
July 3rd, 2009
12:07 pm
ant, sund is not responsible for the contract situation the hawks now have. it is billy knight that gets credit for that. he stepped around those contracts and i am sure if you look at it there were a lot of screams because he didnt get it done on those very contracts that are now in question. sund is doing his job well now it seems and we will see what he delivers this summer as he cant sit back and observe anymore. he was one for two last year and it is still possible he will pull the rabbitt out of the hat on the second one to make it a twofer. like the draft and like the crawford move so he is two for two this off season, not bad. give cred where it is deserved, he has nothing to really do with the current contract situation.
also stick to basketball. i dont know if you rally know that much about the subject but you are passionate. you know absolutely nothing about the thrashers and kane. he was the fourth best option for any team to get in the hockey draft. if it gets you to a game then so be it, but i hope it puts hockey into the viable situation here in atlanta as it can only help the hawks. kane is legit and will possibly be there this year as a young forward, not because he was black but because of his skill level.
jhan is verbose and clyde is making paragraphs. man the intensity into the third day of free agency is really high.
terrell barron
July 3rd, 2009
12:08 pm
Big Ray, I wouldn’t hand the title to the Lakers just yet. Especially if KG is healthy. Rondo/Allen/Pierce/KG/Sheed looks pretty good. LA-Boston in the finals next year. I’m calling it. lol! Btw, anybody cheering for Roddick today?
clint
July 3rd, 2009
12:13 pm
anybody believing we are making a run at lamar odom must be smokin somethin. he wont leave la and will take less money to stay there
Ariose
July 3rd, 2009
12:15 pm
TB, of course!!!
niremetal
July 3rd, 2009
12:18 pm
Terrell,
I thought I was cheering for Murray coming in, but now I’m finding myself pulling for Roddick. Good to see him back on his game and challenging for a title…this match is gonna be a marathon, though.
dap01
July 3rd, 2009
12:20 pm
I like Bibby but if we go into the year with a bunch of shooting PG’s that play no defense and no big men with a defensive presence in the middle, we are setting ourselves for failure. We need size and defensive ability in the middle in order for this team to be successful in the playoffs.
Also, if there is no defensive ability at the point, our big men will stay in foul trouble because every quick guard will eat us up.
Our weaknesses are obvious. I hope that Sund addresses them. He has not yet. Woody want PGs that require no coaching or offensive game plan. That helps Woody but it really does not help the Hawks.
It would also be nice to have a good shooting forward on the bench (Jarvis Hayes).
niremetal
July 3rd, 2009
12:26 pm
PS, if you want to watch the match live, here ’tis. NBC is showing it from the start instead of live:
http://www.channelsurfing.net/watch-wimbledon.html