Cut Day!
The Mario West era came to an abrupt end before practice Wednesday. He was one of three players the Hawks cut to trim the roster to 13 players.
HAWKSVILLE – A group that numbered 20 just a few weeks ago is now down to just 13.
It was cut day at the Hawks’ practice facility Wednesday, and the scene was grim.
Mario West and Courtney Sims got the word that their time was up before practice, so there was already a feeling that something (or more accurately someone) was missing.
But the gut-punch came later when rookie center Garret “Big Glacier” Siler got his pink slip afterwards.
As his teammates filed into the locker room each one glanced at the big fella with one eyebrow raised. He returned fire with a hollow look in his eyes and the peace sign. Even though they all knew this was not only a possibility but most likely a probability, it didn’t make the event any easier to swallow. Othello Hunter is the only free agent camper that remains from the army of eight that showed up with designs on landing one of the (three) open roster spots available.
Second-year forward Othello Hunter is the last man standing. No one should be surprised. He made the team the same way last year. And he’s gotten loads better since then. So he his inclusion was well earned (the Hawks’ roster stands at 13 players heading into the final two preseason games before next week’s regular season opener against Indiana).
Hawks coach Mike Woodson was worn out after having to speak to all three players. He was the one that championed West’s cause two years ago, when the energetic but undrafted rookie from Georgia Tech put on a hustle showcase in training camp to make the team.
“People probably thought I was crazy and didn’t know what I was doing,” Woodson said. “But I wasn’t crazy. This kid is probably the hardest working kid I’ve ever coached as far as coming early, staying late and making every single second of practice competitive. And when we put him in the game, he did some good things for us. And over the time he was here he got better. So this is tough, really tough. Anytime you cut a kid it’s a tough day. But for me, it’s tougher than you can ever imagine because I became so attached to him and his work ethic. That’s what you try and teach young guys. That’s the first part of being a player in this league.”
It wasn’t easy for the regulars to watch guys like West, Sims and Siler leave, either. After all, relationships were formed. Friendships were cultivated. Good times were had by all.
“It’s tough because I’ve been in their shoes before,” Zaza Pachulia said. “So this hurts me in so many ways. You get used to having guys around, especially when they are guys with great personalities like the guys we had here. They brought so much positive energy to this team. They were unselfish. And they listen to you and they’re trying to get better. It would be different if they weren’t such great guys.”
The 13th man on a 12-man team as a young teenager, Pachulia talked about the feelings he had on cut day years ago for the junior national team in his native Georgia. “I had all my bags packed thinking I was making the team and all my friends back home thought I’d made it, too,” he said. “I was only 14 at the time, but it felt like I was already in the big time.”
He was crushed when he learned that he was the odd man out.
“It was such an exciting time for me just being their in the training camp,” Pachulia said. “I thought I was going to Italy. And then when they told me … I will never forget that day. I used that as motivation to get better and work even harder. And that’s how these guys have to take this, as motivation. It has to give them energy and make them want to fight more to make it. And they’re good guys, so you know good things will happen for them. Hard work always pays off at some point. You just have to stay positive.”
Sims was the D-League MVP last season and has NBA experience, so finding another job won’t be hard. West has two years of NBA experience under his belt and could chase his fortunes with another NBA team or explore his options overseas. Siler’s a behemoth with plenty of ceiling. Pro basketball is obviously his future.
However, he was still trying to get over the initial shock of the news when I saw him last. He said he has just spoken to his agent and that he would figure out a plan for his next step.
It wouldn’t surprise me if any of these guys showed up on the Hawks’ radar again, maybe even this season.
“Hopefully,” Siler said with a half smile. “I guess we’ll see what happens down the road.”
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
481 comments Add your comment
Sekou Smith
October 21st, 2009
9:09 pm
Zach,
Most of the guys that write for ESPN are either friends, acquaintances and guys I admire, or all three. But when it comes to the Hawks, their opinions don’t move my needle at all.
When the Hawks were awful a few years ago they were all right all the time (it wasn’t that hard for anyone to predict doom after 13-69). But in the last two years they’ve been as wrong as could be where the Hawks are concerned, so why you would expect them to see it your way now is beyond me.
I don’t trust their opinions on the Hawks any more than I do their opinions on the Blazers, Sixers, Bulls, Jazz or any other team that isn’t at the top or bottom of the league right now. But not because I don’t think they know what they are talking about. The teams in the middle of that mix are always the toughest ones to read and the guys who cover the team on a daily basis are usually the best sources for these sorts of things.
And thanks for the love J. From your keyboard to the ears of someone. Ha.
Tbird
October 21st, 2009
9:09 pm
Siler as a consistent 10-12 guy??? He averaged 6.5 rebounds in D-II!!!! Sure there is alot of developmental possibilities but 12 rpg in the NBA??? Again….NO OTHER TEAM INVITED HIM TO CAMP…so while he may develop it is along way off and not a slam dunk
Big Ray
October 21st, 2009
9:11 pm
O’brien ,
I think there is some small advantage to this 13-man roster thing. If most teams go with that number of players, then more guys are getting cut. It may not be much, but down the road if you actually need to pick up a guy, it seems to me that you’re picking from a slightly better crop than normal. Instead of getting some other team’s sixteenth guy (the last one to get cut), you’re getting a guy who almost made it to 13th on the roster.
Like I said, it ain’t a huge jump, but in some cases, it’s a difference. Kinda like if you look at who we used to invite to camp. A few years ago, it was Cedric Bozeman who got left on the scrap heap. Now it’s Juan Dixon. I know which guy I’d rather have out of the two.
Big Ray
October 21st, 2009
9:15 pm
Heh. ESPN. Whateva…
How is Andre Miller a better fit here than Bibby? Maybe it looked good on paper. To put it into perspective, look what they have to say about him on NBA.com. Dude doesn’t even know if he’s going to be starting in Portland. What does that tell you? Also, I guarantee Woody wouldn’t take Miller over Bibby. Guarantee it. Not after he said “Bibby should retire here.”
Zach
October 21st, 2009
9:42 pm
Sekou,
I most definitely agree with your point about the teams in the middle as being the hardest to pick. Clearly I can see the Cav, Magic, and Celts as top teams. I guess I’m just looking for something insightful from these guys. I look at some of their comments and I feel like (maybe because we don’t get a lot of national news coverage) that these guys don’t watch our games. That turns into some halfhearted analysis, at least in my opinion. Like you said when we won 13 game it was easy to not care what the Hawks did, kinda like covering Royal’s game in baseball, but when we have been to playoffs two years in a row, taking the Celtics to 7 in one year and going to the second round next year I just feel like we should be getting more looks, more insight, and less reaction to things that happened 4,5 or 10 years ago.
I guess my point is I’m tired, along with you and other Hawks observers, of seeing analysis not watch our game, and just say “oh those Hawks were terrible 4 years ago, they can’t have improved that much, there is no way they challenge the gods of the east.
Maybe I’m biased, being born and raised in Atlanta, but living in Miami now the only place I find anything about the Hawks is your blog and other local news and that’s sad to me. The Hawks are a quality team, that has improved in the offseason, and I can’t stand the cursory analysis.
Thanks Sekou for all you do. I love reading your articles, and its great to talk to you on the blog.
niremetal
October 21st, 2009
9:45 pm
The other thing is that there was no need to sign Siler simply because our 4th, 5th, and 6th string big men (Joe S, RandMo, Collins) are free agents next summer. Some people talk as if it will be incredibly difficult for the Hawks to sign guys like that next summer, but the reality is that there are ALWAYS serviceable-but-not-great big men available in August and September. So it’s not like those guys leaving will create this impossible-to-fill gap.
If anything, having a year during which we see if Siler can make some noise in the minor leagues will give us perspective. Because honestly, he’s nowhere close to being ready right now, and I have a feeling that if we did keep him, people would be talking about Siler next October the same way we’re talking about RandMo now…
Zach
October 21st, 2009
9:45 pm
Big Ray,
I also enjoy your bias against ESPN’s coverage of the Hawks, I know we’re not espnboston.com or espndallas.com or espnnewyork.com or espnwhatever.com but come on…give the Hawks some respect.
What can I say
October 21st, 2009
9:48 pm
reedeak, Im with you. Neither Collins are Zaza are so much that Id cut Siler and pay both of them. I would have cut Zaza and keep Collins and Siler. There would not be much difference in what takes place on the floor or the Hawks standing, yet id save tons of money and prepare for the future.
dominique0107
October 21st, 2009
10:03 pm
Guess Hawks management has made a reasonable cuts, except retaining Rand Mo..Siler or Sims show a lot of potentials than he has.
Deanna
October 21st, 2009
10:13 pm
Good luck Mario! I, Ryne, Coach Dennis and our whole family wish you the best. They’ve told me what kind of person you are; so I know you’ll land on your feet and excel wherever you go from here and at whatever you do!
Tbird
October 21st, 2009
10:31 pm
Cut Zaza and keep Collins and Siler….? Amazing. God are we lucky you don’t make decisions for the Hawks…One guy has NEVER approached Zaza’s numbers in 8 years in the league and the other guy is a three-four year project to get to BACK-UP NBA status. Wow
Big Ray
October 21st, 2009
10:56 pm
Zach ,
ESPN is like…media darling central, or something. I’m not going to act like those guys never know what they’re doing or talking about, but they definitely go with the “popular flow.” It’s all good though. You KNOW they’re going to come this way when things start heating up in Hawksville.
niremetal
October 21st, 2009
10:58 pm
Ray,
I dunno about that. They treated the Pistons like a fluke even after they annihilated the Lakers in the ‘04 Finals…
blue hawk
October 21st, 2009
11:06 pm
they should have kept Siler. anybody see how hibbert had developed?
chuckw/deadjournalist
October 21st, 2009
11:09 pm
just getting the news on the cuts … busy day. really, really sad to see ‘rio go.
i hope he finds his way back in the league. if he does, and if he plays in atlanta, i hope the standing ovation he gets when he checks in is long and loud.
rms
October 21st, 2009
11:28 pm
Big ray how do you highlight your screen blue like that? the same way sekou text is shaded in blue so is yours. I want mine blue too!
I MUS WRITE
October 21st, 2009
11:41 pm
Sekou- “Simple question simple answer” Its not a simple question if you dont know the answer. Columnist,Blog Author,Beat Writer,Secret spy its all the same to me. Now i know
“Muney” Who the hell is muney? LOL Come on man take the bandana off thats not you. Muney-Lol
I MUS WRITE
October 21st, 2009
11:53 pm
What can i say -Are you an Agusta State Homer? ZAZA and Collins are both proven veterans. Siler isnt better than either at this point.
Ditto TBird……
Ken Strickland
October 22nd, 2009
12:02 am
SAUTEE-to answer your question, NO. However, he’s a better starting PG option if the Hawks are truely interested in becoming a title contender. While Teague isn’t as good as those players at this point, he’s a much better starting PG option than Bibby. What do you see Bibby doing to get better or make this team better? He’s certainly not going to get quicker, faster, more athletic, acquire better lateral movement, penetrating ability or play better DEF.
Like you said, let’s agree to disagree and give it a rest. After all, we’re both avid Hawk fans and want the best for the team no matter who starts. Our debate has already stirred up a familiar negative minded stench that frequents these blogs and posts under various names.
KevinA
October 22nd, 2009
12:09 am
You gotta love Sekou,
Another great post. A little humility with the cold hard facts mixed with history. Nire you don’t have to go to Pistons to look for disrespect. Just look at what the experts said about the Hawks last year. The next few days will give us a preview of what the Hawks are capable of. On the road against tough teams. Crawford – my man- give us another 9 assists and lead the way.
Ken Strickland
October 22nd, 2009
12:31 am
ZACH-the major reason the Hawks don’t get the media attention that other teams get is because we don’t have a bonified superstar like Cleveland, Boston, Miami or Orlando and MWoodson isn’t considered a high profile HC. Therefore, they don’t feel the need to give us any attention because they don’t feel we have anyone worthy of commanding any.
If the Hawks play up to their potential and challenge for the 2nd or 3rd seed, and Woodson got the credit he’d deserve for getting us there, we’d get the same type of attention for our regular season accomplishments that we got for our exciting playoff performance against Boston yr before last.
Niremetal-excellent points. Those who keep talking about cutting Zaza, RMorris or Collins and signing Siler or Sims to save money don’t know very much. Zaza, Collins and RMorris have guaranteed contracts, so if we cut either of them and signed Siler, Sims or anyone else, we’d have to pay them and still have to honor those guaranteed contracts. HOW IS THAT SAVING MONEY?
With Joe Smith, and now OHunter, I don’t see Horford playing nearly as much PF as he did last yr. This is going to be a very interesting season for the Hawks and their fans. I can’t wait to see the impact Joe Smith, JTeague and JCrawford will have on the team and how they’ll be utilized. When you add Zaza and Evans, I don’t see how Woodson can avoid using a 10 man rotation.
Mike is back
October 22nd, 2009
12:48 am
Thanks for the update Sekou. I pick Othella and Siler to be the guys to make the roster… Well you can’t have it all…the Hawks made a wise choice. I’m sudden by the news of Siler. However, I believe Siler put his name on the radar of a few GMs…Someone will give him a shot. I wish him well…good luck to you too Rio…thanks for putting every once of energy into every second you played…The best of luck to the both of you.
Well the roster is set…I think Sund did a fabulous job this off-season…this team should be fun to watch…I’m excited.
LETS GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KSEE
October 22nd, 2009
1:07 am
NOOO!!!! i wanted to see Mario in a hawks jersey another year! he worked hard for us…thanks for everything dude!
Loved seeing a yellow jacket on the hometown hawks!
good luck wit future endeavors Mario!!!
darrell starks
October 22nd, 2009
1:55 am
Why cut mario i dont like this move specialy with the energy we lack sometime and the spark he bring 2 the team 2 play hard no matter what the score is.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
October 22nd, 2009
1:58 am
TRUST ME AND NBA TEAM WILL GRAB MARIO IN A HEART BEAT.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Pinball34
October 22nd, 2009
2:21 am
Good luck Mario. We’ll miss you…
Hoops
October 22nd, 2009
8:10 am
I wonder why the Hawks waited until after yesterday’s practice to let Siler go when they let West and Simms go before the workout? They must have been considering keeping him. Any thoughts by anyone?
Keeping it real
October 22nd, 2009
8:14 am
I understand the logic behind cutting Zaza and keeping crawford and siler. Its a investment in the future and freeing up salary space. What not to see? I agree. you wont lose anything in preformance, you may even up the level a notch. Either way you go the Hawks still finish fourth. I see your thinking “what can I say”, it not hard to follow.
niremetal
October 22nd, 2009
9:02 am
DING
Was a fan
October 22nd, 2009
9:17 am
Enter your comments here
Daniel
October 22nd, 2009
9:20 am
wait am I crazy or are some people suggesting that we cut ZaZa and Collins and keep Siler and Sims?
Melvin
October 22nd, 2009
9:30 am
Daniel,
You are not crazy….
Daniel
October 22nd, 2009
9:38 am
Melvin- What is going on here? I was just about to write a post about how I thought this blog was really maturing witht the team. Zaza is probably the best back up center in the league. Yes, I said it. Who wants to argue with that?
Anyone that says Gortat is immediately disqualified.
Daniel
October 22nd, 2009
9:55 am
Nire- I really like your point about Siler and Randolph. Everyone who is clamoring for Siler to get a contract right now will either A) be complaining that the Hawks can’t pick someone up later in the season to help (like a Stackhouse) or B) Complaining about a roster spot going to a bench gnome like Morris.
Doug
October 22nd, 2009
9:57 am
“Keepin it Real” and “What can i say”: Logic behind cutting Zaza and Collins and keeping Siler?? Let’s begin with the fact you are clueless…their contracts are GUARANTEED…you understand that means they get paid…regardless…so your premise of freeing up salary cap space is utterly void of substance…second..you keep a guy who was not drafted…cannot guard…and is a mediocre reboounder at the division II level over two proven NBA post players??? Unreal
niremetal
October 22nd, 2009
9:59 am
But wait…Marcin Gortat is the backup to Brad Miller. So he MUST be good.
In all seriousness, I’d go with whoever comes off the bench between Camby and Kaman in LA, but other than them, yeah – Zaza, Przybilla, and Brad Miller are probably the best backup centers in the league. I’d probably give the edge to Zaza because while Przybilla is bigger and is a bit better as a rebounder and marginally better on D (and those are the qualities you look for most in a backup C), Zaza has much more finesse and a much sounder offensive game. Similarly, Zaza is significantly better on D and the boards than the aging Miller, even though Miller has a better offensive game.
I assume Rasheed will be coming off the bench in Boston and playing most of his time at C. You can add him to the conversation too assuming that KG gets him to start playing D again and stop shooting 3s. He was seriously a net negative by the end of last year for the Pistons as he fell more and more in love with his perimeter shot, which is where he was taking well over half his shots last year (5 treys a game for a big man? Seriously?).
Zaza is certainly in the top 5 backup centers in the league, and he probably would start on about 1/4 of the teams in the league. He’s even better as a backup center, whose job generally is to be a stalwart on D and the boards. The idea that a D-Leaguer or a DII project would be better than him is absurd.
niremetal
October 22nd, 2009
10:02 am
HA – clearly I meant Dwight Howard, not Brad Miller, in that first sentence. Was thinking too far ahead there…
Daniel
October 22nd, 2009
10:18 am
If Camby backs up Kaman then I will give you Camby. But, I would not go Kaman over Za, because I want a guy who actually plays an entire season and not 1/3 to 1/2 season.
Melvin
October 22nd, 2009
10:28 am
Nire,
You must not have utilize the link to the Celtics/Cavs game I sent last night. Sheed stay away from the paint as if it was contagious with the swine flu.
Melvin
October 22nd, 2009
10:34 am
I’m not sure if I would take Camby over ZaZa. Although he block alot of shots and rebounds, his offensive game is horrible. And I think he’s overrated as a defender. Notice how the Nuggets defensive stats are better now with Nene in the lineup. Many have complained about Josh being a poor on ball defender, I think Camby falls in that category as well.
ILL-logical
October 22nd, 2009
10:40 am
Another read on the curent roster ,aside from the obvious economic issues,is that there is a much more serious approach by staff and management to winning this year. There is no room on the roster for feel good stories or long term projects. This year,everyone wearing a jock has got to be able to do the work.
Mike is back
October 22nd, 2009
10:42 am
Nire, “CMON MAN” the guy is gone…YOU could have passed on that…everybody wonna kick on ya when your down….do one them hoooooooooshaaaaaaa thing or sumin. You didn’t win,” HE WILL BE BACK!!!!!!!” lol
Mike is back
October 22nd, 2009
10:45 am
Melvin, your plug on Sheed…very funny.
Daniel
October 22nd, 2009
10:49 am
Ill- word!
GeeMack
October 22nd, 2009
10:55 am
Ken & Zach
There is no need for the media to recognize mediocrity. Although the Hawks have done a good job of stock piling mid level talent the steps the power house teams (Cavs, Lakers, Spurs,Magic, & Celtic) have made are far far better.
If you look at the Hawks team now…there is nothing we do that’s great. We can scoring but not a great scoring team. We play good defense, but we are not a great defensive team, even though our coach preaches defense. We have seen the Hawks be great on defense in stretches but not consistenly.
Also I think as Hawks fan we make excuses for mediocrity. I have heard so many times about how tired, and injured the team was after being sweep by Clevland in the 2nd rd. Not to say those areas werent a factor, but when I see a team like the Rockets lose their leading their top scorer, and still push the lakers to a game 7. That’s the grit it takes to win.
Ken
This is where you and I disagree with the potential for this team. I think the top 2 teams in a conference should be able to compete for a champioship. I don’t think the Hawks made the move to get to that level. It has nothing to do with coaching. Give Woody a KG and a Ray Allen to go with JJ and he will produce the same results as Doc.
niremetal
October 22nd, 2009
10:56 am
New NBA commercial, with JJ leading off:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU4B5LfphG4
Melvin,
Hahaha, good one. Nah, I didn’t catch the link to the Cavs-Celts game. Good news for us if Sheed is still taking that tack. Maybe he and KG will come to blows before the year is out…
Reggie (The Bird and Indian)
October 22nd, 2009
11:12 am
Man, it hurts to see ‘Rio go. I’ve been following this kid for a while now. My friend’s cousin dates ‘Rio. I hope he gets a nice contract across the sea. He deserves it.
Melvin
October 22nd, 2009
11:26 am
KG nor Ray played against a healthy Cavs team last night and the Cavs still got spank them. I know it preseason, but the starter/rotational subs played the majority of the 1st three qtrs and the Cavs got an early season reality check. I still think Boston is the team to beat in the East if KG is healthy….
Daniel
October 22nd, 2009
11:48 am
GeeMack- You know you are my man, but… 47 wins and a second round playoff appearance is not mediocrity. That is at least upper third of the league. This team does play very well at home. They have young talent that is continuing to grow into their roles, which other teams don’t have. They have a nice mix of vets now, so this team can come in waves at you. C’mon now… people only started calling Orlando an “elite” team late in the season. Denver is “elite”? BTW- What has this Cav team won? They look “elite” on paper and they have LeBron who makes great commercials and is a regular season stat stuffer, but what do they do? Oh, they got Shaq, yeah that is exciting… if this were 2001.
Don’t believe all the hype coming out of Bristol. If it ain’t the C’s, Lakers or Cavs they don’t get their Nike kick backs.
BBgenie
October 22nd, 2009
11:48 am
Hey people, M.Jordan got cut once so what’s the Big Deal???????? HDI!
Hurt Don’t It!!!!!!! Hawks in 7!!!!!