Buyer beware!
The Hawks gambled on and won big on Joe Johnson. The Hornets ... not so much with their acquisition of Peja Stojakovic. It's buyer beware during NBA free agency.
HAWKSVILLE - Don’t we get this feeling around this time every summer?
While the rest of the NBA seems to move at a breakneck pace in the summer, things here in Hawksville seem to move in that Matrix-styled slow motion, the one where is dancing on the rooftop avoiding those bullets from the agents.
It’s always bothered me in the past. But not so much now.
Not with teams (Portland) being made a fool of in their pursuit of players that may or may not push them to the next level. Toronto’s pending acquisition of Hedo Turkoglu certainly looks like a playoff-making move for a franchise that (even with Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon last year) couldn’t muster more than 33 wins. The Raptors finished third to last in the Eastern Conference, meaning Turkoglu’s addition alone (they don’t have any more free agent cash to do anything else) will have to account for their summer stimulus plan.
Maybe it works. Maybe it doesn’t.
But when I think about all the deals that get done in these desperate summers (the ones where there aren’t a bunch of teams flush with cash and the free agent market is generally considered thin, by historical standards) and I cringe at some of the disastrous purchases that have been made.
Remember when Chicago thought they were snatching the championship momentum from Detroit a couple years ago by stealing Ben Wallace away for $64 million? Or how about the Hornets righting their champion-’ship stock with Peja Stojakovic with a similarly bloated contract?
And we don’t even have to travel back that far. Just look at last summer, when Philadelphia thought it was remaking itself into a title contender with the acquisition of Elton Brand (who, his his defense, had his season cut short by a severe injury). I point these instances out to illustrate just how cautious a team needs to be when dipping its toes into the murky free agent waters.
That said, I’d love for the Hawks to get all their business done now and make a sizable splash while doing so. I just don’t see it happening. They are close to terms with Mike Bibby, per my sources (and that report out of Philadelphia that suggested the deal was done was not only highly speculative but also way premature – a text message from someone with knowledge of the negotiations poked fun at the report thusly, “so the deal is done, huh? That’s news to all of us still trying to sort it all out.”) on a deal that solidifies the backcourt. Beyond that, the Hawks have negotiations to tend to with all of their own free agents (Zaza Pachulia and Marvin Williams first and foremost) as well as deciding how to proceed with Josh Childress, whose NBA status will have to be decided in the next 10 days.
That’s where things get a bit tricky for the Hawks, who in my estimation have to two extremely important factors weighing in their favor.
First, they don’t have cap money burning a hole in their pocket right now. When teams do, there’s a rush to spend without taking into account the flip side that things could go terribly wrong if you don’t spend wisely (the Chicago-Ben Wallace deal seems like a prime example, but I’d dial it back to the Eddy Curry-Knicks summer as well, you’ll remember that’s the summer the Hawks hosted Curry and tried to entice him. Good thing they lost out on that one, huh?).
Also working in the Hawks’ favor is that they’re not a team desperate to crawl out of a lottery hole (though I’m sure you remember the feeling). When the Hawks acquired Joe Johnson four years ago, they were flush with cap space and that summer’s free agent crop was considered thick. They eye-balled Ray Allen first and missed out, but wound up landing the right player at just the right time to help in their transformation from doormat to eventual playoff team. Like I said earlier, maybe it works. Maybe it doesn’t.
When you’re coming off back-to-back playoff seasons, the need for prudence in all matters can’t be stressed enough. One false move (or non-move in the Hawks’ case this summer) can set you back. Sometimes it can send you back as well, all the way back to Jersey for the lottery ceremony.
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609 comments Add your comment
niremetal
July 5th, 2009
8:59 pm
Melvin,
That’s the thing – I think you could “make an argument” for Nene and for Biedrins. Maybe Kaman and Camby. And maybe, maybe Tyson Chandler. But past that, who? Greg Oden? Not right now. And if you’re gonna go on how good someone will be a year and a half from now, I’ll take Horford over Shaq, Nene, Camby, Amare, Chandler, and maybe even Yao. Andrew Bogut? I’d say they’re a toss-up now and that Horford has the edge thanks to ability to stay healthy.
And the ONLY ones among those guys who MIGHT be acquirable are Camby, Kaman, and Chandler.
And I wouldn’t trade Horford for any of those guys straight up. No way.
D-Bo
July 5th, 2009
9:03 pm
Rasheed has apparently agreed to a contract with the Celtics. I guess that’s true.. but it should be good to see all the Boston fans love the move at first, then once they see how much of a ‘chucker’ he has become, they’ll hate him.
Hoops
July 5th, 2009
9:09 pm
niremetal,
If Boston signs Sheed, Big Baby will be easier to get because Boston will not have their MLE to sign him with. Re-sign Bibby, Marvin, Zaza and sign Big Baby. That would be a huge off season for the Hawks! Especially after already getting Crawford and Teague!
Sautee
July 5th, 2009
9:15 pm
Clyde,
You say this:
“All this talk and the HAWKS will be right back with that same old team with a little more scoring involved. THE HAWKS NEED A TRUE CENTER!!! AL HORFORD IS A POWER FORWARD!!!!!!! GO GET A CENTER.”
-Stoneman
Sekou said this in his June 21st article on past Hawks drafts: “Horford was an instant hit and is one of the league’s top centers. ”
He also said this: “The verdict: Horford’s a keeper and franchise cornerstone “
I tend to believe the man who is closer than ANY of us bloggers to the team and to the league.
A Tribe Called Quest,
You (unbelievably) said this at 12:50 today:
“And this talk that Bosh/Amare cannot play defense is irrelevant. They are both not much worse, if at all, then Dwight or Garnett at this point. ”
Are you SERIOUS? Not much worse, if at all than the reigning Defensive Player of the year? Tell me ATCQ, where did STAT and Bosh end up in the voting?
Oh, they didn’t get ANY?
And do you REALLY think either of them is “not much worse, if at all” than KG?
By the way KG has been All-Defensive team NINE FREAKIN’ TIMES in his career! How many for Bosh and AS?
Do NOT insult KG’s amazing defensive career with a flip comparison that means nothing.
Keep it real.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2009
9:16 pm
“It would have been nice, though, seeing him in red, white and blue one more time.”
That could mean the Hawks… or the Clippers… or the Sixers… or the Nets… or the Pistons… or the, well, you get my point.
Teams need to start getting more creative with their color schemes…
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2009
9:17 pm
I didn’t get to see any of that Roddick-Federer… hope they replay that on ESPN at some point. Sounds like a hell of a match. -1 to Ray for hating on tennis too…
newkid
July 5th, 2009
9:19 pm
Melvin, I think you’re correct about LA’s and Boston’s success in the 2007 playoffs. I think LA lost pretty convincingly in the 1st round to a tough Suns team; don’t think the Celts made it in at all. My only point was that in pursuing a championship, one is wise to avoid summarily dismissing ANY option before full investigation. I frankly have no idea – at least none worth serious consideration – as to what approach is most certain to get us a championship this century, but I’ve learned to be quite leery of the perfunctory embrace of formulas and sacred cows when one’s operating in a highly dynamic environment. Few fans a pulling for Sund’s success more than I am.
Hoops
July 5th, 2009
9:20 pm
Davenpoop,
I read somewhere that the NBA was considering allowing ads on uniforms sometime in the future. I hope that never happens! That is so “bush league”!
Ariose
July 5th, 2009
9:20 pm
0_o???? F#@$%ck!!!!! Sheed then!!!! crybaby bi$#%$ch. Thas why we swept DET….lazy azz
UGA
July 5th, 2009
9:21 pm
Sheed to Boston, per ESPN. Official.
Ariose
July 5th, 2009
9:24 pm
I crack myself up sometimes lol..
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2009
9:24 pm
“If Boston signs Sheed, Big Baby will be easier to get because Boston will not have their MLE to sign him with. Re-sign Bibby, Marvin, Zaza and sign Big Baby. That would be a huge off season for the Hawks! Especially after already getting Crawford and Teague!”
You’re right — either Big Baby Davis or Leon Powe should be there for the taking, and I think especially Powe won’t cost too much. Both have produced off the bench even in big games in the NBA and both would be pretty good acquisitions to round out the bench, even if they don’t solve the “true center” issue.
I would love to get the Birdman, but considering that shot-blockers always get overpaid, I’d be surprised if he fell into the Hawks’ price range.
Put me in the same boat as Sekou and everyone else who agrees with focusing on re-signing 3 of 4 free agents (Flip being the guy the Hawks can afford to let go). The most likely way to improve this team during the free agency period will be to either sign a cheap free agent like Powe or to use Childress’ rights in a sign-and-trade, and neither one is going to get a player like Amare or Bosh in return. The Hawks have already made their big acquisition for this offseason.
Problemsolver
July 5th, 2009
9:31 pm
Hey sekou I have a thought if J-chill is in Milwaukee trying to get a contract couldn’t we do a sign and trade for Kurt Thomas. Everyone wants us to mortgage the future for a one year of Amare or Bosh. When a sensible defensive center with a mid range jumper would be a great upgrade. All these moves by teams are old teams trying to make a possible 2 yr. run, whereas the hawks in 5 years would have joe,smooth,marvin,teague,crawford and horford in there prime. Then you have the money to sure up the bench with zaza and possibly wilcox.
MOOKIE BLAYLOCK
July 5th, 2009
9:33 pm
SEKOU, I JUST GOOGLED DAVID ANDERSONS NAME AND ITS RUMORS HE IS COMING BACK, IS IT TRUE?
Hoops
July 5th, 2009
9:33 pm
Since Sheed is going to Boston, Sund needs to be on the phone to Big Baby’s agent RIGHT NOW!!! Have an offer ready to summitt to him @ 12:00AM on July 8.
MOOKIE BLAYLOCK
July 5th, 2009
9:36 pm
NO BS DAVID ANDERSON HAS SIGNED WITH THE HAWKS ACCORDING TO A SPANISH NEWSPAPER
MOOKIE BLAYLOCK
July 5th, 2009
9:46 pm
REMEMBER I SAID IT FIRST DAVID ANDERSON HAS SIGNED WIT THE HAWKS, I SHOULD TAKE SEKOU’S JOB!
Hoops
July 5th, 2009
9:49 pm
Mookie,
I reported this yesterday! Look @ the article again. The signing may not be finalized yet. Look for a S&T.
Blast
July 5th, 2009
9:51 pm
Where you read that at, Mookie? We know Rasheed has committed to the Celtics tonight, But I have not seen that Anderson report anywhere.
Hoops
July 5th, 2009
9:52 pm
Okay guys we are going to have choices here. What BIG had you rather sign:
Big Baby
Varejao
Frye
Someone else
Hoops
July 5th, 2009
9:54 pm
I’m talking after we sign Zaza of course!
Skid
July 5th, 2009
9:56 pm
http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2009/7/4/938201/david-andersen-signing-with-the
How can it be a sign and trade when the Hawks own his rights?
Simpdawg
July 5th, 2009
10:01 pm
Hoops the Hawks don’t need to sign Glen Big Baby Davis. The Hawks need to resign ZaZa Pachulia, Mike Bibby and Marvin Williams. Mike Bibby should resign in the next couple of days, according to several different sports sources, which leaves ZaZa and Marvin as the Hawks next priority.
Melvin
July 5th, 2009
10:12 pm
Nire,
I may be a homer but outside of Dwight and a healthy Yao, I would rather go to battle with Horford in the middle. Yall can keep the rest. Just my opinion.
If we are going to bring Andersen over, then our next move need to be to resign ZaZa, Bibby and Marvin. I would jump for joy if we could bring Chills back into the fold then (try to) rid ourselves of Mo Evans..
D-Bo
July 5th, 2009
10:16 pm
Simpdawg – your right in that we absolutely NEED to resign those guys, that’s just crucial. But we need to make a splash in free agency ourselves, we have the ability to sign a guy like Brandon Bass, Antonio McDyess, Channing Frye, Glen Davis or Leon Powe to MLE and we have to take advantage of that. Frontcourt depth has been an issue and there’s some very serviceable bigs out there for our taking if we go aggressively.
HawkKingBibby
July 5th, 2009
10:25 pm
HEY MOOKIE that article just says he could leave Europe for the nba and he could sign with the Hawks to replace Zaza if he leaves. This was reported while Sekou was on vaca by Mark Bradley when he heard it at the Jamal Crawford PC. I think if Anderson were signed SEKOU WOULD KNOW IT BEFORE SOME SPANISH NEWSPAPER SO YOU DONT HAVE HIS JOB JUST YET, LOL.
niremetal
July 5th, 2009
10:27 pm
Hoops,
I’ll go with “someone else.” At this point, we’re not getting a starting center via free agency. That being said, Horford is a better starting center than anyone we could get, and Zaza frankly is an ideal backup center. I think the focus should be on re-signing Zaza (that should be priorities 1, 2, and 3 for our frontcourt) and then getting a guy like McDyess or David Andersen to fill out the frontcourt rotation – ie someone who could play minutes at both PF and C. Chris Andersen would be my ideal, but I would guess that Denver has him all but locked in already.
I would be THRILLED if we could land Varejao, but I doubt we’re on his radar. No interest in Big Baby – I’m not impressed with anyone on Boston not named Pierce, Garnett, or Allen because I think everyone else on that team looks much better by virtue of those playing around them (exhibit A: James Posey). Besides, we need a guy who can play both the 4 and the 5, IMHO.
Frye and David Andersen are interchangeable in my view – both are long, lean offensive talents, but we don’t really know how either will perform as a rotation player.
Clyde
July 5th, 2009
10:28 pm
Sautee what Sekou says and what I see out on the basketball court are two different things.
And people keep asking me what should we do about our problems on our frontline. First of all getting Jamal Crawford and signing Bibby sure as hell ain’t the answer.
Second I ain’t gettin’ paid to figure out what the Hawks should do. Just like I said we’ve had this problem for 5 years and going on the 6th we still have the problem. The person who makes all the money should figure it out.
niremetal
July 5th, 2009
10:32 pm
And I’m laughing my ass off at “Mookie.” Three people on here posted TRANSLATIONS of that article before he even saw it. And he wants to say he’s ready to take Sekou’s job? Please.
Take off #10 as your handle, buddy. “Mookie” needs to do better than that.
niremetal
July 5th, 2009
10:33 pm
Here’s another translation, this time reading the subtext of Clyde’s post:
“Ok, deep down I realize that there is no feasible way to get a better center than Al Horford. But I’m too damned stubborn to admit it.
Oh, and Sean Williams is da bomb.
ROLL TIDE!”
Simpdawg
July 5th, 2009
10:36 pm
D-Bo, I couldn’t agree with you more, and I would love to see the Hawks sign a veteran like Antonio McDyess. He could help this team in so many ways, especially Josh Smith and Al Horford.
Hoops
July 5th, 2009
10:38 pm
niremetal,
Wait and see! After we sign Zaza, we will sign Varejao, Big Baby, or Frye with our MLE if we don’t sign Flip, which I don’t see happening. I’m saying that we re-sign Bibby, Marvin, and Zaza along the way and add one of those three FA’s.
MOOKIE BLAYLOCK
July 5th, 2009
10:42 pm
LOL, MY BAD
FIRE WOODSON
darrell starks
July 5th, 2009
10:46 pm
nire i will take horford over shaq, nene, camby, amar’e, and chandler and maybe yao.andrew bogut? i’d say now there is a toss up now that horford has the edge thanks to ability to stay healthy. and i wouldnt trade horford for no one. THANKS FOR YOUR ANALOGY ON BASKETBALL I REALLY THINK YOUR THE BEST.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!
Ken Strickland
July 5th, 2009
11:02 pm
I have a funny feeling about our chances of resigning Zaza. He’s openly expressed his desire to become a starter again, and he’s definitely had issues with Woodson. neither of those issues bodes well for our chances of resigning him. If we actually do sign Anderson, and manage to sign one of the better remaining FA Bigs, the Hawks might have less insentive to offer Zaza the contract he’s seeking.
If we do sign Anderson, I hope he doesn’t end up getting the SJones treatment from Woodson. Young players off the bench with no NBA experience haven’t faired very well under Woodson. That’s why I’m in favor of us signing a Big with a better chance of being Woodson friendly, one with NBA experience.
James
July 5th, 2009
11:10 pm
If the speculation about Bibby coming back is right, is he coming off of the bench? Spot-up threes should be something that a bench player should provide, not at starters’ minutes. Bibby’s defensive liabilities (too small and slow or lack of desire to guard the other team’s point) put the Hawks in way too many defensive holes. This will also retard (once again a prized point guards’) development and create a log-jam at guard.
darrell starks
July 5th, 2009
11:11 pm
nire said frye and david anderson are interchangeable in my view both are long lean offensive talents,but we really dont no how will they perform as a rotation player.THANKS AGAIN NIRE ON YOUR ANALOGY ON BASKETBALL YOU ARE UNBELIEVABLE AND MY OPINION YOUR THE BEST EVER.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
Libid21
July 5th, 2009
11:29 pm
I agree with most of the people here who think Bibby, Zaza, and Marvin MUST be re-signed. Also bringing Andersen over is another must! If we are going to settle for Zaza’s replacement to be Andersen, we will not improve our frontcourt. We must re-sign Zaza AND get Andersen.
Bibby/Teague
Johnson/Crawford/West
Williams/Evans
Smith
Horford/Pachulia/Andersen/Morris
Resign Bibby, Pachulia, Marvin, D. Andersen, and West!
As for McDyess, I’d love to have him also, but I hear he is not interested. But I do not have the media’s ears like you do, Sekou. So please keep us update on that!
MOOKIE BLAYLOCK
July 5th, 2009
11:30 pm
OFFENSIVE BOARD PULLED DOWN BY MUTOMBO…SWINGS IT OUT TO LAETTNER, WHO ROTATES THE BALL OVER TO BLAYLOCK…FOR THREE!!!! MOOKIE MOOKIE MOOKIE!!!
Nookah
July 5th, 2009
11:39 pm
Libid21, is it a fact that McDyess is not interested in playing in the ATL? If that is so then there may be things that make you go hmmmmmm!!
1) Is it that both McDyess and Rasheed do not want to play in Atlanta or is it that they do not want to play with the Hawks?
2) Didn’t both of these guys play in Detroit while Woodson was there? If so are we to read anything in the fact that they both want to play elsewhere?
Just saying!!!
Go Hawks!!!
Ken
July 5th, 2009
11:41 pm
Hey Sekou,
Do you know if the hawks are close to resigning Zaza? and do you know what outside FA they’re contacting now, maybe Channing Frye or Chris Wilcox?
Ken
July 5th, 2009
11:51 pm
Point Guard and Center are the two most difficult positions to fill. Over half the teams don’t have a legit starting center and elite centers you can count on one hand. So no Horford is not a true center, but he does a better job than most and there is no one of significance we can trade for, unless you wanna wait 3 or 4 yrs to see how they develop. Secondly, WE COULD’VE HAD CHRIS PAUL, DERON WILLIAMS!!! Yes, we could have had these guys, but we don’t. That was Billy Knight’s fault and we he no longer works here. We do have Bibby and no he doesn’t play defense, but this team is better when he is on the floor. Is he worth 20+ mil, probably not, but he made double that last year and do we even want to remind ourselves what it was like before he got here? Let’s be real, people!
cp
July 5th, 2009
11:51 pm
I see the Matrix ate another one of my post but somehow some of the silliest posts make it through. One guy said we wont get past the first round with Bibby as the starting pg, well we did this past season so are you sure you are watching the same team?…. One guy said McDyess shoots more than he rebounds. Well the guy averaged 9 boards per game and 9 points this past season, His 9 boards would have been tops on this team and add in his low post defense and he is a player we could really use off the bench.
This is not nba live or nba2k, you cant just trade and sign anybody you want Sekou has already reported that we have contacted the bigs everybody on here seems to want. It is not Sunds fault if the guys choose not to come here. He cant force anybody to sign here but some guys on here just dont seem to understand the concept that guys can say no. At least he tried to get some of those guys here. A lot of guys come to a point in their career where they want rings and we are not there yet.
Joe
July 6th, 2009
12:00 am
Any chance the Hawks will pick up Glenn Baby Davis who the Celtics are not resigning?
Ken
July 6th, 2009
12:00 am
For all the people, crying about championship contention, let me remind you this is the city of Atlanta and this is a sports blog. Championship + Atlanta Franchise = Make believe. Our team has been a joke for the better part of two decades. To think after that we are going to rise to the top so easily is unrealistic. I want to dream big like the next guy, but having a winning team and all these bloggers even giving a damn about the hawks is nice enough. We don’t have a Top 5 post player, nor do we have a Kobe, Lebron, D-wade. Although before that, we’re just learning what winning feels like. If the falcons can have consecutive winning seasons for the first time ever and the hawks can legitimately be refered to as “playoff caliber,” then I know we are headed in the right direction and better things are in store!!
Sekou Smith
July 6th, 2009
12:11 am
ken, I can’t say that they are any closer to signing Zaza today than they were last week, but I believe that the parameters are in place. I think it’s telling that teams went after Gortat over Zaza (when I think a strong argument could be made that Zaza is indeed the better player. We’ve at least seen Zaza in a starting role before, and he performed rather well. Gortat is an absolute gamble).
Ken
July 6th, 2009
12:12 am
One more thing, someone just reminde me. About making comparisons to the Lakers and Celtics, they won a championship! They went all the way. People want to play for championship competitors and are willing to take less to do it. We aren’t convinced ourselves that the hawks have turned the corner and are a winning franchise. So “we” will have to overpay to get some guys to come here. So shelling out an extra million for Bibby is a small price to have some stability at the point. Plus, after last year with the way we handled Smoove and Chills re-up situations, other players remember that as well. Sund has a lot to contend with to keep this thing going right and there is no exact science to building a winner anyway. We’ve taken some chances the past 5/6 yrs with free agency and the draft. Some has panned out and some made us sick to out stomachs (Shelden Williams), but for the most part luck has been on our side recently. Lady luck keep it going!
bigdave
July 6th, 2009
12:19 am
“It would have been nice, though, seeing him in red, white and blue one more time.”
Sekou, we were still in the good ole’ red, gold, black (which i miss)… we didnt change our schemes until the 07-08′ season… and to think Sheed put up 30 in his only ATL appearance…
my fav hawk jersey of all time were the 95-99′ digs, with the big ignorant hawk across it… it inspired my tattoo, a hawk, stretching from shoulder to shoulder…
at this point… im like forget the free agents… though Amare wants to come here, its almost as if the proven vets cant get the bad taste out of their mouths of Hawks failures of past… lets re-sign our boys.. and if we can get one more solid big.. id be pleased.. maybe we get that for Chilly..?
Sekou Smith
July 6th, 2009
12:22 am
I love Big Baby, Joe, but I haven’t heard his name mentioned with the Hawks anywhere. He’d be an interesting fit on this team because he brings the toughness, size and energy the Hawks could use in a post man that can also face up and knock down mid-range jumpers.
Sekou Smith
July 6th, 2009
12:25 am
bigdave,
I was talking about the Pistons’ colors bro. And I think Sheed’s line as a Hawk was more like 20 and 10 boards. But who’s keeping up with that stuff?