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
Clyde
July 12th, 2009
3:30 pm
But Ray a shot-blocking center is what the Hawks are lacking as a team. Our weakness is in the middle.
And I never said Sean Williams was a better all around player. What I’m saying is he fits our team needs more than Horford IF he gets his head right and plays like he did his rookie season. Horford had 76 blocks Sean had 106. Horford started and Sean was a reserve.
niremetal
July 12th, 2009
3:32 pm
Big Ray Sean is a center Horford isn’t.
Uh…what’s your basis for that? BasketballReference and ESPN both list Williams as a forward. ESPN and BasketballReference both list Horford as a center. So it can’t be that. Is it the fact that they’re the same height? Or is it the fact that Sean looks taller because at this point there are more pictures of him standing next to inmates than there are of him standing next to NBA players?
You’re just too easy, Clyde. I know you’ll never admit that you’re wrong, but it’s just sad that you don’t seem to realize how stubborn and borderline-stupid you look in the process.
You and Rod should get together and go on speaking tours about how awful Marvin and Horford are. My guess is you won’t sell many tickets, but you both can talk out of your asses to a wider audience and at least it would give us something new to point and laugh at.
WCJ
July 12th, 2009
3:35 pm
The point about all this free agent talk is this: These free agents won’t come to the hawks just to sit on the bench, they want minutes!!! Woodson has a habit of sitting guys on the bench for weeks without playing them. Unless Mike Woodson can guarantee these guys major minutes, why should they come?
ant banks
July 12th, 2009
3:42 pm
“momma always told me, becareful what you. don’t go around breakin’ young girls’ hearts…” Michael Jackson, *Billie Jean*
arturo gatti’s 23 yr old wife has murdered him. He was 37. in light of mcnair and arturo i refuse to mess with any woman under 35!!
Big Ray
July 12th, 2009
3:43 pm
Clyde, prove it to me. Let’s start with this:
Horford: 6′10 245
Williams: 6′10 220
cp
July 12th, 2009
3:44 pm
I read that Anderson turned down a deal with us because he felt like he wouldn’t receive minutes. He wanted the Hawks to trade his rights to the Rockets. I don’t know how true this is but its an article online. I’m terrible at linking but I will try to copy and paste it later if nobody else beats me to it.
terrell barron
July 12th, 2009
3:49 pm
Does Anderson not have a freakin agent? We need a backup pf in the worst way? Idiot. Now lets go get Gooden or Wilcox.
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
3:50 pm
Solomon Jones > Sean Williams…
terrell barron
July 12th, 2009
3:55 pm
Is Milsap really worth that kind of money? I think Portland knew that Utah would match the offer. No way they pay that kinda cash to Milsap. Hell, they better be trying to lock up Roy. Just my opinion of course.
Big Ray
July 12th, 2009
3:56 pm
Clyde, I give up. When a guy can’t get minutes in front of Josh Boone, Stromile Swift, Nenad Krstic, and a rookie (Brook Lopez), I just don’t know what to tell you.
Right now you say Sean is a center and Horford isn’t. Well, I’ll say that Horford is a player, and Sean isn’t. But I’ll let somebody else carry on this fight. In the meantime, I know who’s a starter in the NBA, and who can’t seem to get started…
MannyT
July 12th, 2009
4:01 pm
niremetal–that Chills thing is just funny. He could sign his one year tender offer and make over $3 mil. I know he has to have the tender offer for the Hawks to hold onto his RFA status. I put this under the category of Wayne Brady’s show in Las Vegas.
http://www.venetian.com/Pages.aspx?id=360
Ariose–those wrasslin’ talks are funny. I think Ric Flair was one of the best when it came to wrasslin’ smack talk.
ant banks–the funny thing about your messin with young women statement is that you are 25 right
cp–it might make sense to trade his rights to the Rockets if we can get something good for him. He’s getting older, so his value isn’t likely to keep going up. Houston clearly has a need right now. Can we get some American Battier for some Australian Andersen? I’d be willing to toss in some Mo Evans to get it done.
To the bloggers that want Sekou on speed dial–use Twitter. Everyone has their own style of blogging. I would not expect Sekou to hang on our every word–especially because most of what we say is redundant or not in need of response if you are the beat writer. I think Bradley and Shultz are the guys that hang out on their blogs all day during the week. It was part of the AJC restructuring.
BWAF
Big Ray
July 12th, 2009
4:01 pm
Terrell Barron,
To heck with Andersen. I’ll take Gooden or Wilcox, too. As for Portland, I think they DID know that Utah was going to match that offer. Now watch them go after David Lee. It might be a slightly lesser offer, but they’ll be glad they got him if he signs. Hell, if I were him, I’d sign for less. The future is brighter in Portland than it is in NY, in my opinion.
Big Ray
July 12th, 2009
4:02 pm
Also, Milsap is a solid production guy and backup plan if Boozer gets moved, which I think he will, either this offseason, during the season, or next offseason.
Big Ray
July 12th, 2009
4:05 pm
Those who do nothing but come here and complain about the AJC paper and Sekou’s blog are idiots. They probably also go to strip clubs looking for quality screen play acting, and go to film festivals, looking for lap dances. Idiots, I tell you.
Ken
July 12th, 2009
4:07 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.
Hoops
July 12th, 2009
4:11 pm
Andray Blatche is a PF/C with the Wizzards. The Wizzards are looking to cut salary. He makes 3M per. At 6′11″, 260 LBS, he was a 10/5 guy this past season. I wonder if they would consider Morris and a 2nd round pick for him. That would allow them to cut 2.2M off of their salary. That could be our other big at a good price.
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
4:11 pm
Manny, I agree. I knew someone would enjoy that lol.
Ray, Tell us how you REALLY feel hehehehe…
MannyT
July 12th, 2009
4:12 pm
If I had to guess, Portland will take care of Roy, but not on his timetable. As long as they do not extend him, that leaves space to do other deals. I’d signal to him that the team will take care of him, but the cap requires that you get everyone else done first…unless he doesn’t want any help.
The Millsap thing (or whomever comes next) definitely has to play out before you lose your cap space paying a guy that is under contract for another year.
BWAF
Show me state
July 12th, 2009
4:14 pm
Sekou,
Is this true about Marvin?
http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2009/7/12/946774/is-marvin-williams-close-to?ref=yahoo
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
4:17 pm
CP, looked for your article, couldn’t find it.
niremetal
July 12th, 2009
4:19 pm
Hoopsworld is reporting that Marvin is close to a $37.5M deal with Atlanta. That makes me sad. Because if Hoopsworld is reporting it, there’s no way on earth that it’s true.
Here’s the way to translate Hoopsworld articles:
Hoopsworld: Marvin Williams is signing a $37M contract with Atlanta
Translation: Marvin Williams is shooting a 37 on the back 9 at a golf course in Atlanta.
Anakin Joe
July 12th, 2009
4:21 pm
Has HoopsWorld ever been right about a Hawks rumor? I’m asking because I never frequent that website.
Stromile Swift is my NO means a good player. But if we do sign another big for a minimum salary, his primary role will be to grab rebounds, defend the rim and pink & roll and run the floor.
I could be wrong, but I believe that Swift’s mother died during last season and he had a rough time during and after. I think that is why he missed so much time last season.
Anakin Joe
July 12th, 2009
4:26 pm
Man… defend pick and roll and pink and roll. Pink and roll is a play developed in the WNBA.
niremetal
July 12th, 2009
4:28 pm
MannyT,
I’ve just given up. No one outside Sekou knows a damned thing. The Boston writers are idiots, the ESPN staff just makes crap up, and even hometown folks like Mark Bradley are poseurs. At this point, I’m convinced that outside of Sekou, people pen their stories about the Hawks in the same way that the Family Guy staff comes up with jokes:
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/103666/?searchterm=Cartoon+Wars+Part+II
Clyde
July 12th, 2009
4:39 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd2LsTWf6oY
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
4:42 pm
Nire, That was funny. I wouldn’t be suprised if it were true also.
Clyde
July 12th, 2009
4:45 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eVteyLP2RE
Clyde
July 12th, 2009
4:53 pm
How bout the rights to Jchill for Sean Williams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttAnYLDX4EY
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
4:54 pm
Clyde, you should see the fan comments under theat link you posted hehehehe….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibGRme2ZtjU&feature=related
MannyT
July 12th, 2009
4:57 pm
niremetal!
hmmmm……….manatee — MannyT
I’m going to get me a writing job. Family Guy, here I come!
niremetal
July 12th, 2009
4:58 pm
Congrats, Clyde. You learned how to copy and paste YouTube links. Next, we can teach you the difference between a house and a tree.
Melvin
July 12th, 2009
4:58 pm
Sean Williams remind me of the Birdman. 6-10 atheletic guy that’s good at blocking shots and bringing energy to the game but who has a trouble past. Hopefully for Sean, he will get his act together like the Birdman did.
niremetal
July 12th, 2009
4:59 pm
MannyT – Hahahahaha…I hadn’t even thought of that! Works for me. Roll them idea balls out there!
Clyde
July 12th, 2009
4:59 pm
Ariose I see them. They recognize talent when they see it.
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
5:04 pm
Clyde, imma hook you up with some nice stuff though…..
Terrence Williams 08-09 Mix
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
5:05 pm
Opps, I mean Sean Williams….The link above is sean, not terrence…
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
5:07 pm
Sean Williams top ten 08-09 Plays/blocks
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
5:12 pm
Sean Williams 07-08 Mix Part I
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
5:13 pm
Sean Williams 07-08 mix Part II
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
5:15 pm
Sean Williams 07-08 mix PartIII
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
5:16 pm
That should keep Clyde happy for a for hours Heeheheheh!!!
niremetal
July 12th, 2009
5:17 pm
See, Clyde, I can do it too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqIyBuLAymY
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
5:19 pm
*Few Hours
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
5:23 pm
Hey Nire, if you’re saving those to your CPU make sure to save it using a .mp4 extension. IKK why but GameTimes mixes won’t be able to play unless you do that.
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
5:23 pm
*IDK
cp
July 12th, 2009
5:24 pm
Los Atlanta Hawks han realizado una oferta a David Anderson para que se incorpore al equipo esta temporada, pero según apuntó ayer una fuente esa propuesta es vista por el actual ala-pívot del Barça como insuficiente. Es casi seguro que la franquicia de Atlanta, que acaba de renovar por bastante dinero a Mike Bibby y Zaza Pachulia, no pueda presentarle una mejor proposición al jugador al no disponer de suficiente dinero por debajo del tope salarial, por lo que Andersen ha pedido a Atlanta que traspase sus derechos a otra franquicia –probablemente los Houston Rockets– que tenga más interés o disponibilidad en ficharle. En cualquier caso, Andersen tiene hasta el próximo miércoles, día 15 de julio, para comunicar al Barça si se queda o se va a la NBA
You have to translate it. But rougly it says the offer was too low and he wants his rights traded to a team with more money and intrest and it mentions the Rockets.
El Mundo Deportivo is where the story came from. Last time I tried linking a story with a hyperlink to it, it would not come through. They have the story over on Hawksquawk. So check it out if you have time.
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
5:25 pm
Now Now nire, it’s not everyday that someone posts a Link about Sean Willams. Let’s let him have his moment hehehe…
Ken Strickland
July 12th, 2009
5:25 pm
CLYDE-those were some interesting highlights. But, they occurred during the Allstar rookie-sophomore gm, where we all know absolutely no DEF is being played. Also, do you have any highlight clips showing him packing his bags after being notified he’s been assigned to the D-league? On a serious note, there’s no doubt he has athletic talent, but he seems to have trouble coordinating it with his emotional/psychological issues. If we could sign him without giving up anything of value, other than an expiring contract, he’d be a good addition. I think he would benefit from playing with a young, mature, hardworking player like Horford.
The Hawks could certainly use a better shotblocking center, off the bench of course, but they don’t necessarily need one. After all, C AHorford is the NBA’s 15th best shotblocker and PF JSmith is ranked #13. Our frontline’s shotblocking average is JSmith(1.68), AHorford(1.42) and MWilliams(.64). Check the shotblocking stats of other starting frontlines and see how few measure up to ours.
What the Hawks need most is: (1) a starting PG that plays good DEF and can apply pressure on the ball. (2) to stop relying on a switching DEF, just to compensate for Bibby’s DEF shortcomings, and SWITCH back to playing a more traditional DEF. (3) More effective us of players mins and bench so our frontline players can be fresher going into the 4th quarter. If we do that, we’ll realize the same DEF advantages Denver realized when they replaced AIverson with CBillups, which also allowed them to effectively replace Camby with Nene’.
Our rebounding issues directly coinsided with our DEF switch to the switching DEF. The switch also contributed to the decrease in JSmith’s blocked shots.
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
5:27 pm
CP, thanks.
Translation Coming…
Ariose
July 12th, 2009
5:30 pm
cp
July 12th, 2009 5:24 pm The Atlanta Hawks have carried out an offering to David Anderson so that be incorporated to the team this season, but as aimed yesterday a source that seen proposal by the current wing-center of the Barça as insufficient. It is almost sure that the franchise of Atlanta, that has just renewed for enough money to Mike Bibby and Zaza Pachulia, cannot present him a better proposal to the player upon not having sufficient money under the salary stop, for which Andersen has asked to Atlanta that moved its rights to another franchise –probably the Houston Rockets– that have more interest or availability in putting on file. In any case, Andersen has to next Wednesday, day 15 of July, to communicate to the Barça if remains or goes to the NBA