Once again it’s on!
Josh Smith (left), Al Horford and Zaza Pachulia (not pictured) need some help in the Hawks' frontcourt, now not later. The Help Wanted sign has been up for months.
HAWKSVILLE - You disappear for 10 days (or at least try), and you expect things to change a little bit.
And they did, in many places.
Lamar Odom finally rejoined the Los Angeles Lakers, making them the odds on favorite to defend their title with both he and Ron Artest in the mix with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.
Tyson Chandler (Charlotte) and Emeka Okafor (New Orleans) traded places, each giving their new teams an interesting jolt as well as some financial flexibility (now for the luxury tax-strapped Hornets and in two years for the on-the-market Bobcats). It’s hard to tell who made out better, though pundits from both cities – John DeShazier in the Big Easy and Scott Fowler in Charlotte – are claiming victory, proof that there bi-partisan punditry extends all the way to the NBA.
Hakim Warrick was tossed aside by Memphis and picked up by Milwaukee in a matter of days, and in a somewhat similar move (both players had their qualifying offers rescinded, allowing them to become unrestricted free agents immediately) Solomon Jones left the nest for a two-year deal with the Indiana Pacers.
About the only place where things have stayed the same is here, in the ‘Ville.
Marvin Williams still hasn’t signed a new deal (though, I suspect that will be rectified before week’s end). Joe Smith is still a free agent (the longer he stays that way, the tougher it will be for the Hawks to land him because the competition will grow). There is still so much time for things to take shape between now and training camp, so I’m sensitive about sounding the panic alarm too soon. But if Josh Smith, Al Horford and Zaza Pachulia put a help wanted sign between now and then, it should be understood. They need some help (for the millionth time this summer). And they need it as soon as possible. Horford and I had a conversation about that a few weeks back on the practice court at Philips Arena, our gabbing interrupting his workout with Hawks assistant coach Ty Hill. Horford knows that the more help they have the better chance they have of being fresh and injury free come playoff time, and I’m sure you remember what the Hawks looked like last year on wounded knee, ankle and hamstring and back and everything else in that Cleveland series.
A simple but sobering two-line email from my main man Stoned Mountain this morning reminded me that I was officially back on the clock:
What have we done to shore up the frontcourt? We figure to get shoved around by everybody but Miami.
That’s probably a tad harsh. By keeping everyone but Flip Murray (and Solo) from the main playing rotation last year while also adding Jamal Crawford and Jeff Teague, certainly keeps the Hawks among the Eastern Conference’s playoff crew. Holding down that fourth spot, however, would appear to be a tougher call. With Toronto, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, Miami, Washington and Charlotte all gunning for the Hawks’ spot, things could get sticky.
My main man DH, a Sixers loyalist, think I’m being a bit presumptuous to assume that the pack has caught up to the Hawks:
Who do you think they’ll be fighting with for that 4th spot? Philly didn’t get better. Chicago didn’t get better. Miami didn’t get better. Toronto got a little better, but still isn’t as good as the Hawks … remember we’re talking about them holding onto the 4th spot, not challenging for the No. 1 spot. The additions of Crawford and Teague and the re-signings of Bibby, Marvin and yes, Zaza, are better than what any of the teams you mention (above) did. So yes, I see the Hawks as better than all of those teams, just as they were last year.
Really? Does it look that good to you? The cynic in me (yeah, Blog Z is preparing for a pre-training camp return, once the Hawks finalize the roster) doesn’t allow for that sort of positive rhetoric this time of year. I see the Hawks’ road to maintaining being much tougher than it appears to some. What say you (and I’ll try my best to answer any lingering questions you’ve had since we last went at it)?
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168 comments Add your comment
UGA
August 4th, 2009
11:50 am
Which game would be the easiest opener for the Hawks?
I’d say the T-wolves.
UGA
August 4th, 2009
11:58 am
Which game would be the easiest opener for the Hawks?
My guess would be Minnesota.
MsDee
August 4th, 2009
12:05 pm
UMMM Melvin, no!! Not unless we get another quality big & bring JSmoove & Marvin off the bench. Now that’s having a BENCH..Teague,Flip(if we keep him),Marvin,Josh,JOe smith(if we sign him),mo evans, Siler,othello!!
Stating the Obvious
August 4th, 2009
12:32 pm
It’s ludicrous hwo every time a horrible big man gets signed by another team, people start whining about how the Hawks didn’t get him. Ryan Hollins is trash. Give me a f*cking break.
Stating the Obvious
August 4th, 2009
12:35 pm
We need a good big man by trade, not signing trash that will sit at the end of the bench unless we’re paying them the veterans minimum because Woody wont let them see the light of day. We’d be better off with Siler and Hunter at teh minimum than with someone like Hollins or Joe Smith (unless hes willing to play for the vet min).
STRETCH
August 4th, 2009
12:37 pm
CDOG,
I wonder myself about this Sund guy. But, at the same time the whole group has waisted nearly a month waiting for “Duck” to quack!
UGA
August 4th, 2009
12:51 pm
I just read we may have 7 games nationally televised. First game at home vs. Indy
Melvin
August 4th, 2009
12:57 pm
Stating the Obvious, WT???? You are saying that the Hawks are better with Hunter and Siler (who has a combine less than 100 mins of playing time in the NBA) then Joe Smith (14yr vet) and Ryan Hollins (a big that received quality playing time especially late last season). Please…..
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
1:04 pm
The definition of a broke ownership group, reportedly the Memphis Grizzlies have fired ALL of their scouts. No college scouts. No pro scouts. No international scouts. I guess that the GM and owner will throw darts against the wall in future summers. Seemingly, the NBA may want to step in and do something about that. Don’t they want 30 competitive teams in the league?
Stating the Obvious
August 4th, 2009
1:07 pm
Ryan Hollins is trash and not worth tying up $4M for him over two years, that would make it less likely that we could re-sign JJ which is way more important than adding a big man who won’t see any PT under woodson anyway. He got raped every time he was on the floor late last year. I remember the game against us where Flip kept driving down the middle of the lane and scoring at will because Hollins doesn’t know how to play help D. He did the same thing against the NUgs where Carmelo kept driving down the middle of the lane and scored on him every time when he came to help. He must have gotten posterized 10 times that game. Like I said, trash.
And I’m fine with Joe Smith as long as Sund doesn’t bid against himself to get him. He’s worth the vet min for one year, not much more money and certainly not for two years.
It doesn’t make a damned bit of difference anyway, because Woody won’t play a fourth big man more than a few minutes a game. That’s why Sund would be better off to save his money and just sign the mini-camp guys, again unless Joe Smith is willing to pay for the vets’ minimum.
Anakin Joe
August 4th, 2009
1:38 pm
Stating the Obvious, I don’t think that you can say that because Woody didn’t give Solo extensive playing time (who just signed to likely be the 5th big for the Pacers), that he would not give a proven vet like Joe Smith playing time. I just don’t think that the equation of if not Solo then not Joe Smith is valid. Or, if not Lo Wirght/Batista, Medvendenko then not Joe Smith. And I would absolutely offer Smith a second year (at his option) if he helped get him in the door.
PDubATL
August 4th, 2009
1:39 pm
StO,
The rumor is that Joe Smith is worried less about the cash than that second year. Not sure we could get him to sign for a single year at the vet minimum. If we really want him we’ll either have to sweeten the pot for a 1-year contract (in the neighborhood of $1.5 to 2M?) or go with a two-year, vet minimum deal.
RealSquawk
August 4th, 2009
1:44 pm
I must have got a peek at the schedule because our longest home stand is five games. And almost between every home stand there are playoffs teams we will be playing from the road. This I believe leaves only a two game improvement for the team. I don’t think the number of wins will be significantly worse, but I don’t think it will be a big improvement. Unless this team makes a significant road game improvement.
Big Ray
August 4th, 2009
2:17 pm
Ken Strickland ,
Excellent post. Just excellent.
Ariose ,
No way is our “lack of motion” offense Flip’s fault. I’d say whose fault it is, but we already know the answer : it’s all the players’ faults. They don’t know how to execute the brilliant design we have.
A Tribe Called Quest ,
What is your deal?
Sekou ,
I agree. I’m sure Sund will get somebody in here to back up our frontcourt regulars. I don’t think he’s willing to go to work with nothing more than minicamp invitees. Of course, to hear some people tell it, the summer is already over.
Astro Joe,
Pardon me and my “seeming suggestions.” Let’s assume that I’m just all wrong about this (. Why don’t you tell me why you think we haven’t signed Smith yet. Since you’re scoffing, you must have a better idea. Please tell me something other than “Jamal Crawford’s contract is in the way.” I’m tired of that one already…
Hms
August 4th, 2009
2:38 pm
Stating the Obvious,
Dang, you’re on fire. Like you, I don’t expect Woody to automatically expand his rotation to 9 or 10 guys just because he gets a veteran player added to the mix. Especially if that player is a frontcourt player. I’ve heard the man say he’ll expand it before. I’ll believe it when I see it. Until then, why expect him to play a guy anymore than he did Solo? Not sure where that idea even comes from, but there’s no sense in complaining because we are going to hear the same noise we always do, which is that whatever Woodson is doing is keeping us winning, so it doesn’t matter. Ironic how the same noise made about Woodson and his offense working is not made about him and his defense. If we are winning, then we are winning. Everything must be working. All that noise about not needing another guard that shoots and doesn’t play defense is bunk. That is the Woodson way. Woodson likes guards who shoot and don’t play defense. He has a roster full of them. He insisted on bringing back the main culprit. If defense is a problem then look to the coach who loves his defensively incapable guards and gives them the ball all the time. But it’s okay because we had a winning season last season. Ironic how the same logic is not used when talking about the big men, rebounding, defense and all that. What’s the problem. We won with a shaky front court last year. I thought winning made it all good.
digimon
August 4th, 2009
2:40 pm
Ric Sund needs to sign Mikki Moore. He’s tall and can get rebounds. Sign him and we will equal last years wins.
Ken Strickland
August 4th, 2009
3:32 pm
I think some of you need to ease up on demanding Sund sign a Big, LIKE RIGHT NOW. I’ve been thinking about why we’ve sat back and played the waiting gm as far as signing a Big, and here’s what I’ve come up with.
(1) I don’t think Sund wants to commit big money to acquire a #2 backup center that’s not going to make a appreciable difference as far as getting us past the top teams in the East. Joe Smith might help us hold on to the #4 seed, but he won’t necessarily get us past the Big 3.
(2) Every Big that’s still available knows we’re looking for another experienced Big, and they might be using that to try and get a 2yr instead of a 1yr deal. So why make a 2yr committment and spend the kind of money some of them are asking just for the 9-10MPG they’ll get from Woodson.
(3) I don’t think Sund is sold on Woodson being the HC past this season, so why commit to a contract past this season for a Big that will get limited mins. And why tie up money and CAP space that a new HC might be able to utilize more effectively to get us past the big 3.
(4) If we wait until the trade deadline to go after a vet Big, we could possibly get a better quality player and a better deal. There are always teams looking to dump players/salaries and clear cap space at the trade deadline. We have at least 2 expiring contacts in MEvans and RMorris, as well as the cap space and money saved by not signing a Big LIKE RIGHT NOW.
With all of the uncertainty among most of the top teams in the East, as a result of changing rosters and starting lineups, it might not be a bad idea to wait and see what we might need at the trade deadline before making more than a 1yr committment before the season starts.
cdog
August 4th, 2009
10:29 pm
TO ALL RICK SUND BELIEVERS, “DING” GET READY FOR MAYBE AN 8TH PLACE FINISH. HE DON’T HAVE THE GUTS TO SIGN ANYONE