Atlanta Hawks: ASG vs. Russian mogul for Avery Johnson? (UPDATE: Mark Jackson gets a shot)
Might take a lot of cash to get him. (AP Photo)
(Friday update: Mark Jackson will get a chance to convince Hawks owners he should be the next head coach. He’ll have some work to do to persuade everyone in the Hawks’ hierarchy he can do the job with no prior coaching experience but it’s significant that he will get to make his case. Part of Jackson’s pitch includes this 2008 academic study on successful NBA players also doing well as coaches.)
When the Hawks started their coaching search it looked like Avery Johnson was the hot, big-name candidate. As it turns out, Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau seems to be the key horse in the coaching carousel.
Now that Thibodeau reportedly turned down the Hornets and favors Chicago’s opening, it looks like Johnson is the favorite in New Jersey. When Johnson’s name first surfaced with the Hawks, the perception was that they wouldn’t spend the money to hire him. The Hawks dispute that notion, but if they really want Johnson they might have to put up the cash to prove it since Nets billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov is so free-spending that he might be willing to lure Phil Jackson by topping his $12 million salary with the Lakers.
Getting back to Thibodeau, it’s interesting how he’s become a hot commodity. Obviously a lot of that has to be due to his reputation as a defensive specialist and his role in Boston’s success. But I’m also guessing that it’s because teams feel like they can get a good coaching prospect relatively cheaply and, as a bonus, gain the kind of buzz that gets fans excited even though he’s never been a head coach.
Dwane Casey has been a head coach before but he hasn’t generated the same kind of enthusiasm from the masses. Though Casey is said to stress developing a defensive culture , it’s hard to draw firm conclusions from his results as head coach of Minnesota. The T-Wolves were roughly the same in defensive efficiency during his first season of 2005-06 as they were the year before though they made significant improvements in effective field-goal percentage allowed and rebounding percentage. But it’s not really an equivalent comparison since only four of Minnesota’s top eight players in 2005-06 were the same as from 2004-05: Kevin Garnett, Trenton Hassell, Wally Szczerbiak and Eddie Griffin.
In Atlanta, Casey would inherit a group that has the physical talent to be a good defensive team but lacked the commitment. Woody talked a lot about defense and tried to create an atmosphere where players valued it as much as him but, from what I saw in my short time here, they never bought into it consistently. The assumption seems to be Atlanta will be a better offensive team simply by virtue of a change in approach and accountability but I think the defensive end is going to take a lot more work. The team’s personality is such that it’s going to be a challenge for the new coach to demand good defense and get it all the time.
Anyway, I’ve heard Garnett and Rashard Lewis both swear by Casey. Lewis, whom Casey tutored while an assistant in Seattle, recently endorsed his old coach. From Steve Aschburner at NBA.com:
“He’s a great coach. He’s a gym rat. He made sure I worked on my game all the time. He knows the X’s and O’s. He was a great assistant coach when he did the scouting report. He’s just one of those guys who eats, sleeps basketball.”
MC
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408 comments Add your comment
Reid Adair
June 5th, 2010
12:17 am
Let Phil Jackson go anywhere but New Jersey, and the Russian billionaire can overpay Avery Johnson. Mark Jackson? Seriously? Avery Johnson is a former player turned coach.
Dwane Casey. Get him hired.
O'Brien
June 5th, 2010
12:48 am
Cp,
Don’t forget jawad Williams.
Tony,
Although i am not impressed with Felton, he is a better option than teague and bibby right now. But considering the money he will cost, I would prefer to give teague a chance. In time, I think teague can be better than felton, and for a lot less.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 5th, 2010
3:42 am
Kevin Seraphin, whose picture led the blog a few days ago, has pulled out of the draft.
phil
June 5th, 2010
4:42 am
lol @ probed himself.
O'Brien
June 5th, 2010
9:14 am
So mark Jackson gets another interview. Interesting.
I like mark Jackson. He was a good PG for many years, and he seems to have the old school tough mentality. Plus he sounds like he knows X’s an O’s. And he might be good for teague.
But I am concerned about his lack of coaching experience. I would love to have him on staff…as an assistant.
It worked for Doc Rivers going from the Booth to coaching, but I’m not sure we should take that chance with mark Jackson.
jerry
June 5th, 2010
10:21 am
I am glad Woody is gone. I didn’t like him on the sidelines nor his play calling. JJ would have helped this team better if they ran fewer plays of one on one, with him pounding the ball from 15 seconds and then putting up a brick with 3 defenders all over him, because they know what was coming. The team play much better when they shared the ball. Last year lineup I think would have been stronger with
Pachulia c
Horford pf
smith sf
johnson sg
bibby pg
Maybe woody should have used this lineup and maybe he would still be here (lol)
lewis
June 5th, 2010
10:55 am
“I just don’t think it was honest.”
Not completely. I think people on the blog understand the mentality of sacrificing wins in the regular season to take a lower seed in the playoffs. The upside being experience for Teague, and an established rhythm and play style for the second unit. Add more rest for your starting 5 going into the playoffs. As long as the games remained close and competitive, most of us would be satisfied.
Where you caught me being overly optimistic, was in my statement that the majority of casual fans would be okay with this. That is most likely not true. People needed to see Atlanta start 18-6 (or something like that) to even begin taking notice.
I used to watch 150 braves games a year on TBS. Got disinterested in baseball due to lack of salary cap, steroids, and the fact that the game now revolves around the home run ball. Havn’t really watched since the end of the Smoltz/Glavine/Maddux days, that was some good sh** right there. All of a sudden the braves are leading the division and have won 9 in a row. Did I start watching when all the Heyward hype was going on? No. Did I start watching again when the Braves started playing better fundamental baseball again? No. They’ve won 9 in a row, are leading the division, and that’s done nothing more than incline me to possibly start paying attention.
Rick Sund did what the owners wanted him to do, or at least what he thought the owners wanted him to do by getting Jamal, and that was to be one of the best regular season teams. The purpose of this was to capture the attention of the season ticket holders who spend thousands, as well as of the casual fan who can afford to spend $3-500 taking the family to a basketball game a few times a year. The only way to do this is by continually winning. And it succeeded to an extent, until the Hawks looked miserable down the stretch in the playoffs, and they had to end up practically giving away tickets. The Milwaukee and Orlando series were supposed to be big money makers, and they were for Orlando and Milwaukee. But we learned that Jamal is a regular season player. That those crazy three’s he jacks up don’t fall when the season’s on the line. That our players don’t respect the coach or hustle on each and every play. Plenty of reasons for casual fans not to show up and spend money. Those blowout losses are going to cost the Hawks a lot of money, because fans do not forgive and forget so easily.
I imagine this scenario, its a stretch, but quite believable knowing the Hawks and their fans: Dwane Casey comes in and proves to be a solid fundamental coach who earns the respect of his players. He has the team playing better defense and running better offensive schemes, but they’re not winning as many games. Bench play is more consistent, Teague looks good but struggles with turning the ball over. The loss of JJ and the inconsistent performances by Jamal aren’t cutting it. We struggle shooting the 3. The potential to go far is there because the defense has improved with the (re)addition of Flip Murray and Taj Gibson (the S&T for JJ, we don’t want hinrich’s contract) coming off the bench playing big minutes, but we start out 20 and 20.
People stop paying attention to the Hawks once again, disgruntled fans say they’ll come back in 6 years after we’re done rebuilding. Rick Sund turns out to be a complete failure, and the Hawks organization is consistently ridiculed for letting JJ go. Dwane Casey, who’s done a solid job, does not get his contract renewed. The Hawks turn back into that team Dominique and Rathbun so miserably commentate for every other night on FSS, they are not taken seriously by anyone else in the league once again.
I don’t know, I like the option of rebuilding around Al and Josh, but it’s really difficult to speculate as to whether or not we’re going to be better off Keeping JJ. At most he’s worth 5 yrs 85/m, and I have no doubt in my mind chicago, miami even cleveland if lebron stays would be willing to match that offer.
got to love being stuck in a cubicle on saturday
Big Ray
June 5th, 2010
11:25 am
I don’t know what’s funnier:
Interviewing a guy with ZERO coaching experience for the SECOND time, or the fact that the guy the ASG didn’t want to hire (Chris Grant) as GM is now GM over the team that Danny Ferry just left…
Meidzo in Decatur
June 5th, 2010
11:38 am
Dr. Mary please tell me how
Shaq got traded?
Gasol got traded?
Parish got traded?
Barkley got traded?
Mosses Malone got traded?
Kobe was just almost traded for Lueol Deng and Tyrus Thomas?
Need I go on?
CP3 will want a huge contract next year and were the results significantly better than the much cheaper rookie?
CP3 is tradeable and JJ would give them the scoring wing they have been seeking since the Charlotte days!
You wanna talk Bball come on let’s do this….you wanna shuck and jive..take that to Media Takeout!
Big Ray
June 5th, 2010
11:47 am
It’s obvious that you don’t know what you are talking about because 6 assist a game is not that bad and you are flat out lying about his turnovers.
Wow. 6 assists a game. Again, not bad, but not impressive. First of all, Felton averaged 5.6 per game, which is only 1.4 more assists per game than Josh Smith, our starting power forward. It’s only .7 more than our starting shooting guard Joe Johnson had per game.
So pardon me if I’m not impressed by that.
I hope you guys are right and I’m wrong. I really do. I’m a Hawk fan first and foremost, and I just personally need to start seeing this dude making an impact on a game before garbage time comes.
Maybe…just maybe , that would be a reasonable expectation if a player got more than a few garbage minutes per game to begin with.
He’ll get his shot next year. At that point, it’s up to him to show and prove that he can play in this league, and make an impact.
Exactly. The same sentiment that most people with sense, have been expressing all along. Perhaps some are finally acknowledging that he never got such a shot in the first place, leading me to wonder AGAIN, what was all the grousing about “he’s not making an impact” coming from?
Show me a rookie getting 10 mpg who is having an impact in an NBA season. I’ll wait…
Big Ray
June 5th, 2010
11:48 am
Meidzo in Decatur,
The risk is the knee injuries to CP3. Just sayin’….
Big Ray
June 5th, 2010
11:51 am
Lewis ,
I don’t understand some people’s obsession with the “casual fan.” If you know that people are casual fans, then why expect so much from them? Doesn’t make one bit of sense to me. Who cares about what the casual fan is likely or not likely to do? Why even argue about it? Anybody who worries that much about it either works for the ASG’s marketing department, or has no freakin’ home life or something ….
Big Ray
June 5th, 2010
11:52 am
Meidzo in Decatur
June 5th, 2010
11:52 am
Big Ray…agreed…that is the only reason we have a chance to correct our original mistake! I know it is outside the box, but we at least have to ask!
drmaryb
June 5th, 2010
12:16 pm
Decatur
Joe is an UFA. (Look up what that means). He is NOT going to NO! Esp. If CP3 is gone.
Joe will pick his team and we will get involved or not. Joe doe NOT belong to the Hawks!
Now, please go away and leave me alone!
“I am very careful who I let rent space in my head.”
Later, real bloggers, I have to go pay some bills! Monopoly money not worth much these days!
Meidzo in Decatur
June 5th, 2010
12:23 pm
Maybe you need to look up Sign and Trade and the fact that JJ left a playoff team (the Suns) for a Dreg (the Hawks at the time), so what makes you think that he won’t go to N.O. (who would be a playoff team with him) for $30 million more?
Paging Dr. Mary?????
lewis
June 5th, 2010
12:29 pm
I’m not going to lie. Ever since I came to these forums i’ve wanted to work for ASG’s marketing department. I think they do a horrendous job getting the “casual fan” to the game. I’m obsessed with the casual fan because it’s those types of people who can afford to go. It’s the difference between 12,000 fans and a million fans. It’s those 10-20 game 4 ticket + Food packages u want to sell. I might know a few people @ TNT but weaving my way into ASG marketing dept would be difficult. Shame I dropped business/marketing (not a math guy) early on to get my degree in…English….
And Big Ray….it doesn’t really matter what were spitting out on this forum if we’re not going to games and spending money. A lot of the people on this forum demanding change and higher payroll have been to more than 5 games in the past 3 years. You need casual fans, can’t win a championship without em.
lewis
June 5th, 2010
12:32 pm
**not been to more than 5.
as for me not having a home-life, my 9-5 is customer support and we don’t get a lot of calls.
Big Ray
June 5th, 2010
12:32 pm
More great stuff for our dear Raymond Felton loving TONY
From the Charlotte Observor:
June 05, 2010
Looking back, looking forward
Some thoughts on a strange time in Bobcats-land:
— On one level, Larry Brown blowing off the media Friday was totally out of character; Larry is generally engaging, candid and chatty. He’ll act like showing up for interviews is a pain, but then he’ll talk so long, and with such intellect and engagement, that you know he’s enjoying himself.
So Friday’s blow-by, when he knew he’d be asked whether he’s committed to returning as coach, was telling. I figure either he’s looking for some commitments from Michael Jordan (roster moves?) or he’s keeping his options open.
I’d been warned. Numerous people who have covered Larry say he’s fun to cover, but it will inevitably turn weird, as he starts to wonder if he’s better off somewhere else. The real question is how long the Bobcats can put up with this indecision before it’s disruptive.
– Don’t be shocked if the Bobcats don’t re-sign Raymond Felton. It’s a rarity that teams don’t try to retain their high draft picks, particularly one with the deep local ties Felton has. But there are strong misgivings within the organization, following Felton’s poor performance in the playoffs.
Not saying Felton can’t come back. But I suspect he’s worth less, in their view, now than he was a year ago.
– I wonder how Felton’s situation affects Boris Diaw. Until they address a long-term solution at point guard, it’s hard to consider trading Diaw, the second-best passer on this team. That doesn’t mean they like the way he played last season.
Well, how about that? Looks like we might have a chance at Felton after all! I mean, seeing as how his own team might not want him….
Heh….
Big Ray
June 5th, 2010
12:37 pm
Lewis
I wasn’t referring to you with the home life comments. Obviously YOU are not obsessed with the “casual/average fan”….
doc
June 5th, 2010
12:42 pm
lewis, the marketing department for the hawks is gearon, so you dont have to apply or hadnt you heard? “we have an entertaining team so you ought to come to see us play”; simple formula for marketing, no math involved.
Big Ray
June 5th, 2010
12:43 pm
Lewis ,
Let me explain that a different way. To me, obsession is not a thoughtful concern about how to attract the casual/average fan, which is what you appear to have.
Obsession is the useless and unnecessary bashing of such fans (something you don’t do, but others do). Is that how one effectively motivates others to take an interest in something? By insulting them? Riiiiight….every time I come on here, some people spend far more time bashing other fans or their opinions, and less time actually talking about the team. Some can’t even say positive things about the team without insulting and bashing the opinions of others. But that’s what floats some boats.
That’s obession to me. Of course, it could be argued that I obsess with people who do such things. What can I say, I am no stranger to hypocrisy and it’s a pet peeve for me to see people do stuff like this…
I’m glad you aren’t one of those people, and I hope you get into the ASG marketing department somehow because DAMN…they need the help.
Grandad
June 5th, 2010
12:50 pm
drmaryb:
chimin’ in a little late on the topic, but,
(and I’m out’a town away from my computer / can’t link)
[don't know how]
*Raquel Welch at 70 years young*
“Bless her heart”
take a peek – Aint she & her surgeon grand.
*I reckon all you have to do is google RW images*
buddy
June 5th, 2010
12:50 pm
Enter your comments here
Big Ray
June 5th, 2010
12:51 pm
And Big Ray….it doesn’t really matter what were spitting out on this forum if we’re not going to games and spending money.
I agree. It’s why this is a blog…which we don’t pay for.
A lot of the people on this forum demanding change and higher payroll have been to more than 5 games in the past 3 years. You need casual fans, can’t win a championship without em.
Really? Did you take a poll? Pardon my rhetorically driven sarcasm….it’s a character flaw, lol…
buddy
June 5th, 2010
12:52 pm
hire Mark Jackson…..yesterday! If the Hawks don’t, someone else will and he is going to be a helluva coach!
Meidzo in Decatur
June 5th, 2010
12:53 pm
For the Record…just say “No” to Raymond Felton. We probably already have a better PG, we just need a nonparanoid coach, who doesn’t feel like he is coaching for his life to play him!
Mark Jackson is inexperienced, but his knowledge of the flow of the game definitely shines through during broadcasts….if he can get a solid staff together…..I like his ability to see the game as the PG and the in-game adjustments he recommends!
Big Ray
June 5th, 2010
12:54 pm
Doc
So THAT explains why they keep running the same stinking Philips Norelco commercials for the last two years. I’m sick to death of “conquered the alps, conquered the skies, conquered the neck..”
AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
Big Ray
June 5th, 2010
12:55 pm
Meidzo in Decatur,
I agree. But not wanting Felton means you MUST have an prove a better option….didn’t you get the memo? LOL…
Big Ray
June 5th, 2010
12:56 pm
Uh….yeah, but I don’t see Mark Jackson being interviewed for other jobs. So I’m not worried about him getting snapped up by some other team just yet.
Big Ray
June 5th, 2010
12:56 pm
I’m out….catch y’all later
drmaryb
June 5th, 2010
1:11 pm
Miezdo Decatur
Don’t get me wrong! I would love to have CP3! R U kidding me? But, Joe has the power in any trade situation, the Hawks have none. When we played our last game in NY, he clearly stated that he would NOT consider going to a re-building team! Those days are behind him. Period.
Miezdo, Joe is 29 almost 30 years old. This is more than likely his last big contract & he has made more than enough money to retire – he’s set for life now!
Like most great players, Joe does not want to retire w/out a Championship! Kobe will probably have #5 in a few weeks. LeBron has NONE, Flash has One with Shaq! That’s why the G4 – Summitt is meeting, to figurte out why they are all Gone Fishin’ & how top win a Ring and possibly more than one!
In Boston it took the BIG THREE + Rondo! Kobe has major HELP! Flash has NO help!
Joe is NOT 24 yearts old anymore, like when he came here to RE-BUILD his own TEAM!
Phoenix had too many players and only ONE ball. He left there to be closer to his Family in Arkansas, so they came come to games & to see for himself IF he can carry a team?
The answer is Yes he can! Now, it’s about Winning a Ring and nothing more than that.
That, my friend will NOT happen in New Orleans – especially if CPR is gone. Our Hawks are already better than their team, even with CP3!
But, hey Magic Man – If JJ walks anyway & you can get us CP3? I will kiss your beautiful LIPS! Iam all for it!
Ramon
June 5th, 2010
2:28 pm
So are you guys saying you wouldn’t sign Felton for a 3 year $8-9 million deal?? Are you serious? Felton may not be a starter, but he would be a nice stable hand at PG coming off the bench, and half the price of Bibby.
Joe
June 5th, 2010
2:42 pm
I like what the new GM is doing? He has a nice list of candidates for coach.
bigdave
June 5th, 2010
4:55 pm
looks like Monty is off the market (NOLA), with the Bulls poised to make a run at Thibodeau.. im starting to wonder about our delayed approach to signing a head coach. i mean really, what good can come of it? how does it effect Joe’s decision.. im sure it does to some capacity… either you like a guy, or you dont.
Melvin Flowers Macon Ga
June 5th, 2010
5:00 pm
What are the Hawks waiting for? Chicago Have Made And Find Their Head Coach.
The Hawks are not the Lakers Orlando Boston a team that will spend to make their team better.
They Moving to slow as they say in the South, Georgia is slow.
We need a coach that will make the Hawks play and Avery Johnson is the answer.
O'Brien
June 5th, 2010
5:15 pm
Bigdave,
Exactly. It just seems to me like we are undecided. I know its important to make the right hire, but are we not impressed with Avery Johnson? He interviewed 3 times. Casey twice. And now Jackson twice.
It could be that we are impatient fans though. …
Ramon,
I would be okay with felton for $3 mil per year. But I think he will get midlevel money (over $5 mil). And with us paying bibby $6 mil already, we need cheaper options.
Meidzo in Decatur
June 5th, 2010
5:51 pm
There is no conclusive evidence Felton is better than Teague, especially after Jameer Nelson devoured his manhood in the 1st round of the playoffs.
I like Bibby in a 4th guard role, which I don’t like Felton in.
Don’t panic on the coaching hires, not one of the guys hired so far was even a Person of Interest for the Hawks.
You are watching too much T.V. if you think the coach will have more than a 1% influence on whether or not JJ stays!
Big Ray
June 5th, 2010
5:51 pm
Ramon ,
Felton for 3 years and $8-9 million? I’ll agree that’s a deal, but I honestly don’t think he can be had for that amount. He’s solid enough as a starter, though not impressive (or consistent). The question may not be do you want him for a low price, but do you WANT him, and WHY?
Big Ray
June 5th, 2010
5:52 pm
Meidzo in Decatur
Agreed. The next thing I thought on that was, does Felton have a higher ceiling than Teague and can he be a better fit as a starter? My guess is NO.
Melvin Flowers Macon Ga
June 5th, 2010
5:55 pm
If the Hawks Want decide soon it want be anyone good out there great for the job.
They a up grade with a big man, they need a point guard, and a coach will demand they will play or sit.
Melvin Flowers Macon Ga
June 5th, 2010
5:57 pm
(Corection) They need a up grade with a big man.
bigdave
June 5th, 2010
6:12 pm
Tom Thibodeau new head coach of the Chicago Bulls.
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=5254978
Atlanta Hawks you are on the clock.
O'Brien
June 5th, 2010
6:36 pm
Bulls have named thibodeau their coach. Hornets have Williams.
That leaves nets, hawks, cavs and clippers. Nets and cavs might be waiting to talk to Phil Jackson (money is no object for nets owner,and cavs owner will pay Phil to increase the chances of lebron coming back) .
I’m surprise I haven’t heard much about the clippers and their opening. Anyways, hopefully hawks will name their Guy this week.
Meidzo in Decatur
June 5th, 2010
6:46 pm
BPR
What are your thoughts on Pryzbilla??
jroc
June 5th, 2010
7:01 pm
Man how in the world did the hawks expectations fly threw the ceiling.Why can’t you fanatics be happy with a team that competes.Its not like Atlanta is a championship calliber city.I know Atl is full of transplants from other cities that had the feeling of winning elsewhere.But come on ATL look at yourself in the mirror come on its ok I know the truth hurts but outside of the Braves in the past what has atl done.Atl is a great city but sometimes you guys look in the mirror and think you are 10 but in the sports world you realy are a 6.Yes you are dateable but don’t expect a big time coach or super star ball player with options to come here.Enjoy what you got with a good core of great young guys and get a coach in that these guys will play their hardest for.Being a 6 ain’t that bad just keep adding a piece here and there and maybe you will be a 10 someday.
tony
June 5th, 2010
7:06 pm
Give it a rest Big Ray. Teague is your man. Let’s see what happens when he gets his opportunity. Hope to hear from you sometimes during the 2011 season.
Not Drinking the Kool - Aid
June 5th, 2010
8:43 pm
Jroc, I am from the dirty south and I am also a transplant. I grew up liking Dr. J and the Sixers. The first “team” I liked was the Hawks since in a way as a southern team I felt the Hawks represented the “South”. I transplanted here in Atlanta ‘98 and loved the Smitty and Mookie days. My point is from Dominique to Smitty to Joe, Al, & Josh I don’t think the team is a “6″ maybe an “8″. Nique’s team, Smitty and Mookie’s team, even today’s Hawks competed and were playoff teams and were not easy outs in the playoff. Second round in the playoffs mean that you are probably a top 10 team in the NBA. Our current team talent wise is no where near a “6″ either. They blasted some teams during the regular season including one team that is still playing and competed well during the season. The playoffs exposed weaknesses and flaws in the makeup and chemistry of the Hawks and the need for a coaching change. But, don’t get it twisted most of the fans want a title in Atlanta and should expect nothing less. Especially if the Hawks get the right coach, resign Joe, and develop talent and depth.
O'Brien
June 5th, 2010
9:51 pm
Tony,
For the record, we are not saying teague is going to average 15 pts, and 10 assists. All we are saying is he deserves a chance to see if he has what it takes to be the starter.
If he is struggling and shows no sign of improvement during the season, then bench him, or trade him.
But he deserves a chance.
jroc
June 5th, 2010
10:26 pm
Koolaid the hawks are a top ten team in the nba but they haven’t put a complete season together.It would be fair to say that fans and management would have been happy if the hawks pushed Orlando to 6 or seven games.Yes they handled the Celtics all season but you see now that the C’s were playing possum in the regular season.Yes the hawks have great talent but they don’t play with passion when they need it the most in the playoffs.Thats why i say they are a six.If the Lakers and Celtics are 10’s the Suns and Magic are 8’s the Cav’s 7 and the hawks are a slight six.If they get a championship coach which i doubt and resign joe and add a side piece maybe they can become a true top team in the nba.If the hawks can keep their core players and add more heart the offseason and compete when it matters the most in the playoffs yes they can be contenders.Anyone with common sense knows that the hawks are a team to fear if they get all the pieces together.And thats a big IF because over the years the hawks haven’t gotten over their playoff blues.