Let’s make a deal
The original "King of Deals" (that's Monty Hall for all you mid-80s babies) must be proud of NBA general managers this summer, what with all action in free agency.
HAWKSVILLE - Is your head spinning?
Are you still trying to sort through all the dips, dives, twists and turns of this NBA free agent frenzy (which so far has lived up to that moniker in every sense of the word).
I know the Hawks haven’t gone crazy and done anything wildly splashy, much to the chagrin of some of you. But plenty of other teams seem happy to oblige the fantasy basketball bent in all of us.
Just reading about this four-team deal spearheaded by Dallas and Toronto to bring Shawn Marion to the Mavs and allow the Raptors to snag Hedo Turkoglu (among other benefits) should be enough to satisfy your thirst for pure craziness in the NBA summer.
Monty Hall should be hosting this stuff.
It’s a genius deal by all involved, if you ask me. It’s a just reward for the folks willing to dive into these deep, treacherous sign-and-trade waters and hook the big fish they were looking for. Who knows if it all works out the way the teams involved hope. That they are even willing to swan dive into a deal this complicated makes them winners in my book.
Yeah, I’ve campaigned for prudence around these parts in most instances, but I’m no NBA neo-conservative. I realize that in this day and age, as always, those who take the greatest risks stand to reap the greatest rewards.
That doesn’t mean the Hawks’ recent work to keep both Mike Bibby and Zaza Pachulia in the fold should be dismissed (and there’s nothing bubbling on the Marvin Williams front. Crickets on Flip Murray, too. And I suspect things will be relatively quiet around the Hawks for the next few days, no matter how many times someone tries to stoke the Amare Stoudemire-for-Josh Smith trade rumor that refuses to die). They are doing the business that good teams do in the summer. And that’s a welcome change from some of the puzzling and pulse-free summers of the Hawks’ recent past.
But if your thing is daring and dazzling trades and high-risk acquisitions, this is your time.
Since before draft night we’ve seen the Spurs remake themselves with the addition of Richard Jefferson and now Antonio McDyess. The Magic recharged themselves with Vince Carter. The champion Lakers stepped up the pace by acquiring Ron Artest. The Cavaliers grabbed Shaq. And the Celtics have added Rasheed Wallace. And those are just the major moves by the true title contenders.
Again, time will tell which moves worked and which moves were for not.
But in this day and age, simply making moves is enough to legitimize an operation. While it’s still a bit too early to judge, I’m wondering which move you think will be the best (not that I had to ask any of you to tell us what you think)?
I’ll admit, I can’t help but think the Spurs have shifted the balance of power in their favor, provided Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili return healthy and hungry this season. The Magic’s move might be underrated by some of us non-believers in the VC movement, but Ryan Anderson is legit and will help offset the loss of Turkoglu. Trading Artest for Trevor Ariza (which is what the Lakers accomplished by allowing Ariza to walk and sign with Houston did) improves the Lakers on paper, so perhaps they’ve done what was necessary to retain their championship aura. Then again, snagging Shaq usually means a greater chance at a title for his team, so maybe the Cavs have pushed themselves over the top …
What say you?
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870 comments Add your comment
Ariose
July 11th, 2009
1:39 am
Nire, thanks for clearing that up.
Ken, I have to disagree about flip. He may not put “pressure on the ball” like a speedy claxton, but he was a solid defender for us. Other than that Tony parker 42 point outburst in march, I don’t remeber his man ever “Going off”.
Clyde
July 11th, 2009
2:16 am
Ken Strickland For Blogger Of The Year
Stop the delay Sekou and give the man his crown.
KevinA
July 11th, 2009
4:16 am
Ken, JJ
Let me jump on that band wagon.
When JJ,Chills,Josh,AL,and Marvin were together on the floor the other team could not get an advantage with their pick and rolls because there was no advantage to be gained.
I agree with you. It is not that I am against Crawford or Bibby but Chills is a better defender and can get the ball to our crunch time pg JJ. Since we have Bibby, Chills/Flip should be signed and Crawford traded to pay for the deals.
Bibby and Flip whould help make a deep beench but for the last 7 minitues of a game give me JJ,Chills,Josh,AL,and Marvin
kirkinga
July 11th, 2009
5:17 am
Sautee per your 6:11 post, you are correct, I have a vastly different impression about the Childress situation.
I don’t like what he did. You work your butt off to be the best and play against the best and that would be the NBA. He walked away from the preimer league and you just don’t do that.
Can you imagine Tom Brady leaving the Pats to go play in the CFL for a few extra bucks?
When the Cubans baseball players defect, do they go to Japan?
Did David Beckham come play in the U.S. during his prime earning years?
Would Jordan or Bird have left the NBA for some extra dollars?
There is something disturbing about a player who has is willing to go second or third rate for a few extra bucks.Your driven players just don’t do that. So while I respect his game and the energy he provided to the Hawks, he will always be suspect in my mind.
And gee, if the money is so great, why is his behind back stateside? Has his rationale for going third rate changed in a span of a season? Could it be he imagined the Hawks would not possibly prosper without him and now that his delusion has been soundly proven false, he suddenly wants to be a NBA player again?
I think it’s very telling that he remains spiteful toward the Hawks. They could use him but they don’t need him. All in all, I still believe he would make more money over the long-term if he had remained a Hawk. Demand for his services might never be as high as now and I am not persuaded that playing against lesser competition is going to drive that demand upwards. I’m glad the Hawks can continue to hold his rights. He can come back after his Greek contract expires and play for the league minimum for a year and then move on!
Go Hawks!!
RA
July 11th, 2009
6:09 am
Kirkinga, what’s dangerous about the Childress situation is that it sets a dangerous precident. Sund played last year’s free agent market like a master. Picking up Evans and Murray for a song and letting the market set the price for Smith and Chills. Well, Smith did sign an offer sheet, which of course the Hawks matched. (I guess he figured he could squeeze by on 50 some million dollars over five years…) Anyway, not one team made Chills an offer for the Hawks to match, at least it didn’t happen to my knowledge. He lost the free agent game, but he turned the table upside down and declared himself the winner by going to Greece. And now he’s back, flirting with Milwaukee, or whoever else will give him the time of day. My problem is that when a palyer enters the NBA, he commits to the system that’s in place. Childress turned his back on that system, and his team, and his country, for what? For something as common as money. There’s a line in Charlie and the Chocolate factory that I’ve learned to trust. It’s the part where grandpa Joe tells Charlie not to sale the golden ticket. He said that there was money out there and that they make more of it everyday. He told him not to trade something extraordinary for something as common as money. Well, this may be one of those RA things that don’t make sense to anyone else, but I think that being able to play in the NBA is like that golden ticket, only a few people get it, and Josh Childress traded it away for something as common as money. Now, I hope the Hawks get a good sign and trade for Childress because it makes good business sense, but I wouldn’t be heartbroken if they just held his rights indefinately. One thing’s for sure, there are players on this team that have either taken paycuts to stay here or have made sacrifices to stay with the Hawks. As far as I’m concerned Chills doesn’t deserve a place on that Atlanta’s bench.
dap01
July 11th, 2009
8:00 am
We still need presure on the ball with our guards. That will help our undersized front court. Our front court needs to become more skilled with the ball.
We need a tough banger down low, that is true but has Sund or the Hawks done anything to help with our PG defense? Perhaps Crawford will be longer and more effective. Bibby is great is small sample size but for every great 3 pointer he scores, he allows that same number of easy points.
Bibby is a part time, one aspect of the PG solution, Crawford is also, Perhaps Teague can apply pressure a few minutes a game.
Sautee
July 11th, 2009
10:01 am
kirk,
“I think it’s very telling that he remains spiteful toward the Hawks.”
So do I.
VERY TELLING, but I guess we look at this situation from differing sides. I won’t get drawn back in, as you already know how I feel.
It didn’t keep me from appreciating what Sund has done THIS summer.
Chris B
July 11th, 2009
10:13 am
I think if Artest stays on his meds that deal can be a great one for the Lakers. I predict Ariza will be OK, but not worth the money Houston gave him. I agree with Sekou that San Antonio seems to have made the biggest improvement. They could be the team to watch in the West.
The Hawks need more muscle, but not at the expense of athleticism. I think that may be the holdup in finding another big. Any big guy that comes to the Hawks has to be able to rebound, outlet and run or it just won’t work.
I don’t like the Amare Stoudemire-for-Josh Smith trade option. I think Amare is a great talent, but he is damaged goods. I am not confident in him being completely healthy ever again. Also, lets not forget that NBA trades have to be of equal dollar value so ATL would have to give up a significant other piece to get Amare. That I do not believe the Hawks can afford.
Sekou Smith
July 11th, 2009
10:29 am
Ugh, Orlando getting Brandon Bass is a backbreaker for the competition.
Clippers/Hawks Trade (Theory)
July 11th, 2009
10:32 am
I saw someone post up a possible option:
Could a Marvin Williams/J. Chills FOR Al Thornton/M. Camby trade work??
Starters: Bench:
PG Bibby Teague
SG Johnson Crawford
SF Smoove/Thornton (i dunno) Smoove/Thornton (still don’t know)
PF Horford D. Anderson (?)
C Camby Zaza
Sounds and looks good to me…Not sure if the Clippers would do it tho.
B. Bass to ORL
July 11th, 2009
10:33 am
Yeah I know…we could’ve used Bass…Tell me the Hawks have a plan!
What are they waiting for??
niremetal
July 11th, 2009
10:36 am
And gee, if the money is so great, why is his behind back stateside? Has his rationale for going third rate changed in a span of a season?
Ever heard of being homesick? I was thrilled about the chance to study abroad for a summer a few years back, and it didn’t dawn on me until I was actually there for a month how much I missed being in the States.
I think it’s very telling that he remains spiteful toward the Hawks.
Let’s not pretend that anyone knows how Childress feels toward the Hawks. I know ESPN reported that he didn’t want to come back to Atlanta, but when was the last time ESPN was right about anything related to the Hawks? And I know y’all won’t believe me on this (which frankly I can live with), but I have some semi-inside info that he was willing to come to back to Atlanta, at least before the Crawford trade. And even if that wasn’t true, the objective indication of the Crawford trade was that the Hawks have moved on. Assuming we re-sign Marvin, there’s really not room for Childress here anymore. We’re already going to have a tough time finding minutes for Teague and Mo. Childress certainly wouldn’t get 30 minutes a game if he came back now, and something tells me he won’t come back to the States to be on a team where he’ll be the 7th or 8th man.
niremetal
July 11th, 2009
10:39 am
And the Marvin/Chill trade proposed above would make no sense for either team (any lineup that has Josh playing significant minutes at the 3…) and would also be impossible under BYC rules.
The Truth
July 11th, 2009
10:44 am
Ken
About your comment: “They won 2 consecutive NBA titles with a frontline of center HOlajuwan(6′9″ 255lbs), PF OThorpe(6′9″ 225lbs) and SF RHorry(6′10″ 240lbs”
Again, wonderful comment but get your fact straight:
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, Height: 7-0
Otis Henry Thorpe, Height 6 ft 10 in
niremetal
July 11th, 2009
10:48 am
Forgot to mention one last thing – the Euroleague is different in so many ways from the CFL or Japanese baseball. It’s much more akin to how the MLS compares to the Champions League – clearly a step down in overall level of competition, but also having a decent number of players who definitely could be starters if they wanted to play overseas. The Euroleague is not “third rate” or a minor league.
Increasingly, the biggest difference between the Euroleague and the NBA is in the style of play rather than the level of competition. There are lots of US players who are starters here but probably wouldn’t crack the rotation of a European team, and there are a decent number of guys riding the pine in Europe because their games are not suited to the style of play there (ESPECIALLY big men) who would probably do quite well in the NBA. I talked about this at length a few weeks ago, and I still think it’s true.
niremetal
July 11th, 2009
10:51 am
The Truth,
Hakeem himself has admitted that he was 6′10, not 7′0, several times. Here’s one instance:
http://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/08/sports/on-pro-basketball-feet-of-dancer-touch-of-surgeon-and-a-shot-too.html
It’s a poorly-kept secret that a good number of NBA players lie about their height, and it happens most often with big men.
Dos Hawkquis
July 11th, 2009
10:52 am
NIRE & KIRKINGA, RA,
Correct me if I am wrong, but before Chills left, he felt that he should have been given the opportunity to START. He felt that he had been playing better than Marvin, but he felt that Woody would not give him a fair shake.
Someone mentioned that our current team has made sacrifices and taken paycuts to be here. Well, that may be true, but now I am starting to hold MARVIN accountable. The offer has been extended, what is he waiting on? At what point will Marvin do what is best for the TEAM? Marvin, sign the frigging contract and get your duck butt in the fold!!
WE NEED YOU MAN!!!
“I don’t always watch basketball, but when I do, I prefer the Hawks. Stay hungry Hawks fans.”
Dos Hawkquis
July 11th, 2009
10:57 am
I am starting to lose much respect for Lebron. I think that all of this “King James” stuff has gone to his head. I didn’t like the incident when he walked off the floor in the Orlando series. Then I really didn’t like his explanation for it. Then, he pulls the tape of a college kid “posterizing” him. And then he sort of throws Ariza under the bus.
NIRE, et al,
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD TO ALL OF YOUR NBA FRIENDS. CHANT “JORDAN CRAWFORD! JORDAN CRAWFORD!!” EVERY TIME LEBRON TOUCHES THE BALL IN OPPOSING TEAMS’ ARENA.
I WENT ON A CHICAGO BLOG AND SUGGESTED IT THERE.
“I don’t always watch basketball, but when I do, I prefer the Hawks. Stay hungry Hawks fans!”
atlantaapril
July 11th, 2009
10:59 am
Nire,
Height is not the ONLY size that men LIE about…especially big men!! LOL!!
niremetal
July 11th, 2009
11:07 am
PS…still confused about the Millsap deal for the Blazers. Looks like my favorite West team has no clue where its weaknesses are. Why on earth are they offering $9M per year to a guy who’ll be the second or third guy off their bench and playing at a position where the starter (Aldridge) is entrenched?
Sportznutt23
July 11th, 2009
11:14 am
I have been wondering for months why there has not been any RUMORS involving BOOZER and the HAWKS. Utah doesn’t want him as much as they want Milsap. He’s only got one more year on him and he’s relatively cheap. Trade the rights to some of our Euro’s and maybe a draft pick for him. He would be AN ABSOLUTE STEAL FOR THE HAWKS!!! But Nique, no way do I take on the huge contract of A.K. 47 in that same deal. That’s just crazy.
SO SEKOU! WHY NO TALK ABOUT BOOZER! UTAH OBVIOUSLY WANTS TO DUMP HIM!
niremetal
July 11th, 2009
11:19 am
I’d actually be more interested in AK-47 than in Boozer.
Chris M
July 11th, 2009
11:25 am
I think Boozer would really help the hawks!
Melvin
July 11th, 2009
11:36 am
Nire,
If Chills is willing to come back to the Hawks, I would have Mo Evans butt on the 1st flight out of ATL. I would even let Mo chose the airline. Get him outta here… Bring back the Fro’
Mike B.
July 11th, 2009
11:37 am
The regulars on this blog are great. Very insightfull and not afraid to speak their opinion, no matter if it’s not a popular belief. First, Portland has offered the deal to Milsap to speed up the Boozer trade (They really want Hinrich). The thing about that is Utah is not the one holding up the 3 team deal: Chicago is. Great move by Portland if it works, sucks if it doesn’t. I really hope Marvin gets the deal done this season because, with the lowered cap and the names on the market next season, it’s not going to be any more “free spending” next season than this year. Has anyone started to get the feeling that the Hawks may not sign another big? I’m starting to get that feeling. Randolph Morris (dude does not deserve a nickname) is not the answer and Solomon Jones (has not earned his name) needs more minutes.
Blast
July 11th, 2009
11:37 am
6-10 or 7-0, Hakeem The Dream Olajuwon was a flat out stud. A superstar in every sense of the word. In the playoffs and finals both years Houston won the crown, Hakeem outplayed Shaq, David Robinson and Patrick Ewing combined. Hawks have That Dream man on their roster right now, they win a championship. The Dream was one of the best centers ever! Ask Kenny Smith.
niremetal
July 11th, 2009
11:43 am
Blast,
I agree. Hakeem is, in my opinion, the greatest center of the past generation. He’s also proof that height isn’t everything when it comes to being a great center. Some people haven’t gotten the memo.
Melvin,
I agree. My point was that there aren’t many minutes to go around right now. Even if we cut Mo, Childress wouldn’t be the first perimeter player off the bench – Crawford would. Add in the fact that Marvin is clearly better now than he was when Chill left and the fact we need Teague to see the floor at least 10 minutes per game (at least I think we do), and there just aren’t many minutes available for Chill – Mo or no Mo (say THAT five times fast).
Big Ray
July 11th, 2009
12:01 pm
RA,
Interesting point of view. So Childress turned his back on his country? I think that’s a bit strong, man. What about all the guys who can’t make NBA squads, and have to play in Europe? Has their country turned it’s back on them ?
Look, dude made his decision. I think a lot of us would have a hard time not taking what he got. It’s not a sin, in my opinion. And this great American philosophy has taught us to take it if you can get it, and if you can get more, then go after it.
I don’t see how it was selfish or somehow amoral. The man received an offer AFTER he was told to go find one, then found one by a team that was willing to give him a heck of a lot more.
Of COURSE he wanted to remain in the NBA, which is why he’s back. He’s had a taste of the European leagues, and he’s made some good money. He likes the U.S., and he likes NBA life. But what are they always saying? “It’s a business.”
Flip Murray was headed to Russia last year (before Sund caught up with him and signed him), just so he could get a job. Was he turning his back on his country and this League? I think not.
Kirk,
I see your opinion about Childress, and though I disagree with some points, I think you analogies are well intended…but not completely applicable.
Tom Brady could not possibly have the same fame in fortune in the CFL as he does the NFL. It’s not even close. I can’t even name one CFL player. It’s really that different. Plus, CFL teams will never play against NFL teams. Yet, European National teams will play against the best the NBA has to offer. And as I recall, they whipped our asses until we were able to get it back together last year. They whipped us with some of our best.
Now come on with the baseball analogy. Cubans of any kind, let alone professional ballplayers, have more than one reason for defecting to the U.S. We really don’t have to go into all of that, now do we? I mean seriously, this is about as free a country as it gets. Anybody can come here (even known terrorists…).
Can’t say too much about Beckham, other than soccer is simply bigger elsewhere than it is here, particularly when compared to other sports (well, they don’t exactly have “our” version of football).
If you’re using Jordan and Bird, then you should compare them to Kobe and Lebron, or somebody like that. Those are top dollar/top draw NBA players. You will NEVER see them going overseas because they have the league on lock. They could never make the money there, that they do HERE, and we’re just talking salary, not endorsements. As an MLE guy at best, Childress doesn’t even bear a mention in that segment of the conversation.
Big Ray
July 11th, 2009
12:09 pm
Kirk,
Having said what I did, and not intending to stir up a slightly old pot (not too much, anyway
), I’ll agree that he is being, or at least feeling vindictive. I won’t get into the semantics of it, or what I feel about that particular part.
And in spite of his talents, coupled with the fact that I like what he brings to the game…I don’t see where he fits on this team as it is currently constructed. At this point, it’s not a finished product, but I still don’t see where he fits without trading away some other players first.
I liked the guy. But I don’t see this relationship working anymore. Time to move on.
Melvin
July 11th, 2009
12:10 pm
Nire,
I pose that same concern on the last blog if Chills return. Who would be the first perimeter player off the bench (WWD – What would Woody Do)?
As for Hakeem, you could see clearly that he wasn’t 7ft but don’t tell Clyde that. Dream had good coordination, long arms and great leaping ability.
Heck, I even heard Shaq say on the Howard Stern show years ago that he wasn’t 7-1. As for me, I don’t care about height. I just want the player to be effective on the court. Now Josh, learn that Dream Shake this summer…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmLR_VgbqAA
ILL-logical
July 11th, 2009
12:20 pm
The better news in the discussions concerning the Hawk’s and their prospective needs is that they are all focused on building a team based upon creating a championship caliber team- a far cry from three years age when the focus was on trying to avoid beibg the worst team in the NBA.
The best news will be when management ,staff and the players finally share a vision of a commen goal and a instill it throughout the organization as well as the fan base.
The challenge will be determimg how best to get to that pont and who will lead the charge,especially on the court. The current team lacks vocal leadership-thus Bibby’s signing. Now we can and must get more and better leadership from players such as Josh, Joe and others.
Blast
July 11th, 2009
12:37 pm
Josh Smith actually showed some flashes of the Dream Shake this past season. We need more post moves from Josh.
O'Brien
July 11th, 2009
12:47 pm
I think Portland assumes Utah will match their offer to Milsap. And this will force Utah to find a way to trade Boozer. Chicago wants Boozer, and they want to move Hinrich, which is who Portland wants. According to reports, The holdup on the 3 team trade is that Chicago wants Portland to include Bayless in the trade, and Portland does not want to.
In the end, I think Chicago ends up with Boozer, Hinrich in Portland, and Milsap stays in Utah.
I like the moves the Hawks have made so far, but we still need one or two more. Except for Crawford (who is arguably an upgrade over Flip), we have remained status quo, hoping that chemistry and organic growth will close the gap on the teams ahead of us.
I wonder if Woody sees the need for another big down low? (maybe he wants another guard).
As far as the Chills debacle, maybe the guy went to Greece thinking it would give him some leverage against the Hawks. How many of us would accept less money to stay at a job where you feel like your boss does not value your contributions? If you had the opportunity to make more money somewhere else, (hopefully) increase your marketability, experience a new country, a new culture, and hopefully make your boss look bad, who wouldnt take the chance? And he did get an opt out clause to come back to the NBA. So to me, to say he turned his back on the NBA..I disagree.
niremetal
July 11th, 2009
1:03 pm
They must have been REALLY brief flashes because I didn’t see them. The Hawks don’t have anyone who has a good repertoire of post moves right now. Horford has more smoothness than Smoove on the post, but the sad thing is that the player we have with the best post moves right now is probably JJ…kinda like when Steve Smith was the Hawks’ best post-up player back in the day.
Myrak43
July 11th, 2009
1:14 pm
What do you guys think about adding Patrick O’Bryant? I think he would be better than RandoMO. Besides he is just turned 23…. so he is still young. he is a Unrestricted Free Agents how much do you think he would cost? about what Flip got last year? and just buy out RandoMo. We still can get another big, one that can play some PF; like Melvin Ely or Wilcox. Or maybe Drew Gooden
Ken
July 11th, 2009
1:19 pm
Just because a player is a high character guy, doesn’t mean he is well respected by other players in the league, which matters in getting players to sign with your team. Ron Artest and Rasheed Wallace aren’t thought of as high character guys, but guys wouldn’t mind playing with them in right situation.
For the hawks to really get rid of that stigma that makes FA not want to come here, I think they have to be contenders in the playoffs two more years. Hopefully, Josh Smith, Al Horford, or Marvin Williams will take their game to a much higher level. If management does a better job with how it takes care of it’s players (last year Chillz/Smoove), that would go along ways. If the ownership can act like professionals and stop bickering so much, it’d make the franchise look more stable. And ultimately, I believe another big name (like JJ did)would have to make the leap and join us to show we have turned the corner. It may seem like a lot, but when you consider we’ve been a losing franchise for so long it takes a lot to overcome that. You know, unless we win a championship, that is a much quicker way.
MannyT
July 11th, 2009
1:48 pm
It always amazes me when the discussion of Chills and money comes up that people take digs at him for going to Greece and (after taxes & lodging) effectively getting 4x what he got here.
I hear all the NBA is the top level arguments, but put a mirror on that. As an NBA player, you rarely get any choce on where you work. The average fan gets much more work choice, but much smaller compensation, and probably a lower ranked employer. I am for working at a good company, but if I cannot get a job at one of the top 100 companies to work for in the country, I’ll still accept a job at a lower ranked company…especially if I like the pay, work environment, etc.
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2009/full_list/
I’ll guess that all of you who work in GA aspire to work at one of these companies that are on that best list.
Aflac, Alston & Bird, Bright Horizons, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Deloitte, Milliken, NuStar Energy, PCL Construction Enterprises, & QuikTrip.
Most folks have their own filters for why they stay in a job or go to another. Given the limited flexibility in the work, I am not going to bash a guy for trying to to the most with a “career” that lasts on average only 5 years.
Sure they are paid well, but there are lots of other factors that make it difficult. If that isn’t obvious today, imagine what Jeff Francoeur will deal with over the next 12 months. Living here, then NY, then who knows where next season if they don’t extend his deal.
BWAF
niremetal
July 11th, 2009
2:03 pm
Co-sign MannyT
KevinA
July 11th, 2009
2:05 pm
There are many bloggers on this site and sites around the US looking to squeeze salaries to maybe add a piece or upgrade a position. Yep I said it – a piece. Heard that before? Maybe Chills wanted a piece. Now with a few bucks underneath his belt and one year European experience maybe he has chosen to come back. What is not to like.
Who knows what Chill wants and more important – what will he accept. Can you show me some quotes from Chills saying he did not like his stay in Atlanta?
Woody is an old school grizzly veteran who likes to do things his way. It is possible that Chills wants a different style coach. It is also possible that he may just want to come home.
I am greedy like a GM. Chills is a proven talent that can play the 1,2 or 3. He plays better defense than Crawford, Bibby, Flip and Evans. The way the team plays he does a great job picking up his points off of junk.
He left a Hawk and became an international mercenary. The skills for dollars is what it is all about.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 11th, 2009
2:12 pm
“Forgot to mention one last thing – the Euroleague is different in so many ways from the CFL or Japanese baseball. It’s much more akin to how the MLS compares to the Champions League – clearly a step down in overall level of competition, but also having a decent number of players who definitely could be starters if they wanted to play overseas.”
Considering how many players have made the jump from Japan to the MLB in the last 15 years successfully, I’m not sure this doesn’t apply to Japanese baseball as well.
cdog
July 11th, 2009
2:19 pm
WE NEED TO JUMP ON SIGNING A CENTER TO HELP FOR NEXT YEAR NOW. WE CAN’T AFFORD TO SIT BACK ANY LONGER. LET’S SEE WHAT IT W OULD TAKE TO GET LAMAR ODOM OR EDDY CURRY IN HERE NOW.
cdog
July 11th, 2009
2:22 pm
LEBRON IS ALREADY CILDISH. LEAVE HIM ALONE. IT’S NO BIG DEAL IF SOMEONE DUNKED ON HIM. EVERYONE AT ONE TIME HAS BEEN DUNKED ON IF THEY HAVE PLAYED BASKETBALL. HE’S NO ONE SPECIAL
RA
July 11th, 2009
2:23 pm
Chills was childish and spiteful. Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but last year he could have taken a one year deal for more money that most of us will ever see in a lifetime, stayed in Atlanta, and helped them make a serious case in the playoffs last year. He chose, very deliberately to use a loophole in the system. So that he could get more money. I have NO respect for that. And yes, Big Ray, American culture has degenerated to the point to where for a vast majority of people life is about getting what you can get when you can get it, but fortunately, there are some sportsmen, and some Americans that feel like life is worth a little more than that. There are players like Mike Bibby and Za Za Pachulia who could have tried to break the bank, but they stayed in Atlanta because the team and the fans mean more to them than dollars and cents. There are the men and women in Afghanistan, Iraq and a gillion other far flung places all over the world that could be making a lot more money in civilian life but they care enough about the folks back home to serve. Then you have guys like Josh Childress and Lebron James. Men for whom enough is never enough and in their minds the world exists to service them. Now Big Ray, you might be right, maybe this life is about getting what you can as fast as you can, but I hope you’ll forgive me if I remain part of the ever shrinking minority of Americans that still believe that there’s more to it than that.
And for the record, Chills was a good six man, but NEVER starts over Marvin Williams. If that was his pipedream, it’s best he left.
niremetal
July 11th, 2009
2:23 pm
Najeh,
Fair enough. Baseball is 4th on my list of sports that I follow, so I’ll take your word for it
Ariose
July 11th, 2009
2:58 pm
Don’t forget about Flip in the post. He was a terror down there.
And yeah Smoove HAS shown the dream shake off a few times. I know he did it in the playoffs against the Heat(really shook udonis out if his shoes) and got rave reviews from the commentators.
He really came alive in the post during the playoffs. He wasn’t scared of being fouled anymore because he was hitting his Free Throws. If he can just hit them during the Regular season next year, he will be a problem.
I remeber that San Antonio game where Parker went off for 42, Josh was on a tear that wohle month even though he wasn’t completely out of his free throw slump. The Spurs knew this and they never let smoove get off. He was WAY quicker than Duncan and everyone on their front line, but they just hacked the S#%!T out of him and sent him to the line every time. Smooove was frustrated and barely it aboce 50% from the line, if that.
This is why I feel it is important for us to keep a guy like Flip around. You guys said it yourselves, we’re predictable when our offense runs through Joe for extended periods of time. Flip is a true professional and does not whine about minutes(he was a true professional in Detroit), he just wants to win. Plus, having Flip, Crawford and Teauge available off the bench at any time gives us a huge element of suprise. Having snipers/Assasins/goons like that coming off the bench will really thow a wrench in the opposing teams gameplan. This way if the opposing team bottles up Joe, it won’t be “smoove or bust” for us, which is what happend when we played the spurs(Marvin was injured as well).
Speaking of Marvin, we really need to get either Childress back here or Gerald Green. We don’t have another Wing of Marvin’s stature(Joe cannot affored to rack up fouls) and I do not want a repeat of this years second round playoff exit, Mo can handle SOME SF’s but at the end of the day, we need one with Legit size off the bench.
Back to Flip, remeber whenhe had a death in his family and was not with us after the All-star break? Did anyone really beleive we would be able to take out the Lakers in their own building without his 12.2 ppg? I didn’t. When the Lakers came to Phillips, he was an instant spark off the bench andwe cruised to a victory, holding the Lakers at arms length thought the contest.
But he might not be back, so when Craford get’s all streaky on us and Joe and Bibby are flat or being contained(b/c they’re all jumpshooters and none of them take it to the rack like flip does while drawing fouls at the same time). Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Like I said, everone is not going to get minutes all the time, but it’s nice to have an ace in the hole just in case. We all know that playing three PG’s is very possible, wooodson is just special….
Ariose
July 11th, 2009
3:02 pm
What about a S&T with the Mavericks for Ryan Hollins? We could also get that SF they just aquired from Toronto off their hands. I don’t beleive the numbers will work out but it’s just a thought. We could offer up RandMo as well?
Nique
July 11th, 2009
3:05 pm
Sportznutt23
I believe that AK47 would renegotiate his contract & I would verify that before making the trade, but he’s a really good defender & all around stat stuffer & like Josh Smith, an exceptional shot blocker for his size & position.
But if we don’t get these two, which i really hope we do, we need another PF who hits the boards hard, can score in the low post, & can step out & hit the 15 ft jump shot. Defense would be great too, (but to find a FA with everything isn’t gonna happen) Drew Gooden, Chris Wilcox, & Lamar Odon all fit this bill, lets make a move! We currently are 2 deep everywhere, (well baring SF as we wait on Marvin & figure out the Chill situation) except for PF, we just have Josh currently, we don’t need to resign Solomon, lets get some low post punch in here! Gooden career average 12 p & 8 re’s, Wilcox 9 & 5, & Odon 15 & 9. This is the most glaring missing piece to our puzzle! & if we aren’t gonna allow R. Morris to play at Center, cut him & go pick up Theo Ratliff who has a career average of 7.5 p 5.9 re’s & 2.5 blocks per game providing us with more interior size, strength, & defense.
Clyde
July 11th, 2009
3:05 pm
Flip did a lot for our team last year. He was a ball hog but his play in crunch time won a lot of games for us last year. I would have liked to see Flip signed before Bibby.
Ariose
July 11th, 2009
3:18 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqHbITc6Ipw&feature=related
Classic….Joe went ‘Ham of em forreal.
Ariose
July 11th, 2009
3:36 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tcP7do4XS8