Atlanta Hawks: Mo Evans exercises option for 2010-11
Mo Evans decides to play for $2.5 million in Atlanta
Mo Evans took a look at the free-agent market this summer and decided his $2.5 million salary in 2010-11 is the best deal for him.
Evans confirmed a WSB-TV report that he has exercised his contract option for next season. Evans made $2.5 million in 2009-10.
“There are not a lot of teams out there giving away contracts,” Evans said. “I’m satisfied with my deal even though it’s undervalued. I’m still going to go out and do my job.”
Evans’ decision means Atlanta will have limited cap flexibility this summer.
If Evans had opted out and the Hawks lost and/or renounced their other free agents, they could have cleared roughly $8.1 million in cap space. Now, depending on the amount of the salary cap and the value of cap exceptions, they likely will be limited to using their mid-level, bi-annual and minimum-salary cap exceptions to sign free agents.
Evans, 31, signed with the Hawks in 2008. He appeared in 79 games last season as the first wing player off the bench and averaged 5.7 points in 16.7 minutes per game while being used primarily as a defensive specialist.
Evans periodically grumbled about inconsistent playing time under former coach Mike Woodson. He said he hopes there will be more opportunities for playing time under the next coach, who is expected to be named this week.
More than that, though, Evans said he made a business decision.
“It’s a tough market for players out there,” Evans said. “The owners are having a tough time with it. The players are going to be in a tough market with so many players available. I’m not going be one of those guys searching for what I already have.”
MC
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130 comments Add your comment
Mike is back
June 9th, 2010
1:20 pm
MC, that was great news. I’m glad MO is coming back, and so will Big Ray…when its all said and done.
MO has really came on of late…he will be sorely needed if JJ bolts…PLUS, he could easily thrive…given a real opportunity to compete for more PT.
MO is a smart guy…he is making a prudent business decision…however, I also hope it’s because he still enjoys playing with the guys on this team. There were numerous time where Marvin and Mo could have been used interchangeably in the line up…instead of always starting Marvin.
2.5mil certainly helps offset the sting of Bibby’s contract. lol
terrell
June 9th, 2010
1:21 pm
Mary B, yeah their too old to be trading away our 6th man and starting sf. Only way I make that trade is if we think we can win it all next year. Hamilton is a downgrade from Jamal. And is an aging Tayshawn Prince that much of an upgrade over Marvin? I dont think so
terrell
June 9th, 2010
1:23 pm
And Mary B, I know Marvin stinks, but lets be realistic hear. Getting Tayshawn to replace Marvin isn’t worth giving up instance offense for Rip.
Ramon
June 9th, 2010
1:24 pm
Big Ray, lol, that’s funny. You said you would not be surprised if its Casey or Drew. Well of course you wouldn’t that’s half of the 4 that’s truly being considered for the job lol. Just messing with you.
But the question is, would free agents want to come and play for Larry Drew.
Big Ray
June 9th, 2010
1:29 pm
As I recall, there were concerns that Blair’s knees wouldn’t hold up, he had injury/surgery issues before the draft. Hawks may have been leery of that.
Can Joe Smith not ball anymore? Woody said he was saving him for the postseason, then played him a whopping total of 25 minutes in the playoffs.
Is Marvin a baller? Not as much as I’d hoped he would be. Not even close, actually.
Blair was a tough guy in college. But I thought looking at how a guy played in college wasn’t an indication of how they will play in the NBA. Want examples?
Randolph Childress. Mateen Cleaves. Acie Law.
Oh yeah, who there was this guy who played for Wake Forest. He torched former TarHeel and current Denver Nugget Ty Lawson something fierce in college. Some guy named Teague. Dunking on people left and right, penetrating and scoring at will, hitting shots from the perimeter.
I wonder if he can ball, and if his college play meant anything?
Sam'l
June 9th, 2010
1:35 pm
Joe, Jamal, Al and Josh are the core of this team. Give them the chance to succeed.
Find a center…trade anyone else for him.
Evans…..Proven contributor. If he wants to play, work on improving his game over the summer, come in at peak mental and physical condition and he will contribute again.
The following is from Ramon on what he wants from the Hawks……”We’re going to beat you no matter what it takes on defense. And on offense we’re going to run you off the court, no matter if its your gym or ours!”
Engrave that on stone. Amen.
Big Ray
June 9th, 2010
1:36 pm
Mike is Back,
I’m cool with Mo. He doesn’t bother me, I just don’t like seeing him get so much time at the 3, where he tends to be overmatched.
drmaryb
June 9th, 2010
1:37 pm
OBRIEN
No Sir, I wouldn’t be surprised at all? I was never warm to Avery, call it feminine intuition, but, something says pass on that noise. I know that Cuban has deep pockets, but winning isn’t everything, apparently not – because his record speaks for itself! But, it says a lot when someone offers to pay you for three consecutive years – to NOT come to work!
(Go away & don’t you come back no more….no more…hit the road Jack!)
Like Amateur Night at the Apollo and here comes the – Sand Man.
OBRIEN
After reading the past Sunday Morning Breakfast Club posters, which you were a big part of,
I learned a lot about Casey & Mark. Really insightful stuff, before that, I knew nothing about Casey.
And, I’m way too lazy to do my own research!
But, I’m way cool if we hire Casey and Mark Jackson doesn’t scare me either. The only concern with
Mark is – Will we see Jim Mora, Jr. reincarnated? .
These players need a HC who is not overly concerned with being their friend first & foremost
And, does not hold everyone accountable. A HC should be …. Respected … Not feared – but, definitely respected on & off the court! I fear that Mark may be a little too laxed with such a young team?
IDK, just a concern I have. So, Casey would be great with me. Let’s Go! Sund, Let’s Go!
Big Ray
June 9th, 2010
1:40 pm
Ramon ,
You caught that, did ya? LOL
I think free agents listen to the players on the team that they are considering signing with. Remember how Zaza was instrumental in getting Joe Smith to sign. If the players are happy/satisfied with Drew, then they will make it known if asked about it. Look at the way Kevin Garnett has endorsed Dwayne Casey. I think that means almost as much as the money…almost…
Big Ray
June 9th, 2010
1:41 pm
drmaryb ,
To me, it says Cuban in impatient and willful. But we knew that already, lol…
bigdave
June 9th, 2010
1:46 pm
Big Ray..
yea Blair has no ACL’s
lewis
June 9th, 2010
1:53 pm
I’ll be a little salty if Drew sticks around. Remove all members of a staff that failed to hold its players accountable. Replace. Hire Casey and whoever he wants.
drmaryb
June 9th, 2010
2:04 pm
Terrell
Yeah man, I don’t want to trade in my 2008 Lexus for a 2001 Lexus? Under any circumstances.
I might switch the rims out, but hey I can also switch them back.
It would have to be a blocki-buster trade for Sund to trade Josh or Al. And, if I were him, i would listen to any and all offers that makes this team better! You have to, that’s a GM’s job to do it.
Big Ray
June 9th, 2010
2:06 pm
bigdave
Thought so. Makes him a risk, I don’t care what anybody says. What if he has a short shelf life, then what? I hope for his sake he doesn’t (I don’t wish that on anybody), but if crying about who we used lottery picks on in the past is a sin, then I don’t want to hear crying about who we picked in the lower third of the draft last year…
i_am_soulstar
June 9th, 2010
2:35 pm
Terrell,
I also wouldn’t trade Jamal for Rip in a million years.
But I’d totally take Tayshaun Prince for Marvin Williams! True, he was injured and out for half of last season. But even with some age on him, Prince is at least a step up (if not 2) from Marvin. He’s a 13-5-3 guy while being the 4th or 5th scoring option on the team. And he’s a famously long shotblocker. I think the only way this doesn’t make sense is if you’re still waiting on Marvin’s “potential”…
drmaryb
June 9th, 2010
2:37 pm
BigDave
Blair has no ACL’s? Mmmmmh!
Hines Ward doesn’t have any ACL’s either.
Well, that could be a good – thing. They can’t rupture! LOL!
Blue-Ray
(Sharper Image)
Cuban – impatient & willful? Naahh…. Really? LOL!
Yeah man, I think this last season was the last year of his paid contract from Dallas. So, with
Avery, I guess it’s time to re-up & re-stock the bare cupboards – back at the crib!
But, then Avery may be like the old running back, Barry Sanders. That dude lived in a 20 something year old split level house and drove a 20 something year old Jaguar. After driving a beat up old pick up truck to work for so many years, the teammates chided his chaps about upgrading his ride, so he goes and buys his dream car – problem is he’s like the fourth owner & it’s 20 years old! LOL
Avery reminds me of that guy! Not a guy who needs a lot of money to be happy! IDK if
he is or ever was interested in coaching here? But, I don’t think it is a money thing with Avery. I saw we keep moving on and choose from the three finalists! And, do it sooner – than later!
Sautee
June 9th, 2010
2:43 pm
Ray,
Co-freakin’-sign
drmaryb
June 9th, 2010
2:52 pm
ACL’s are nice to have.
But, if you never had any and can play sports at the collegiate level and a very high level at that?
Then you don’t need ACL’s in the pros either. Your knee joints don’t know the difference. At that point, it becomes a mental thing for the player.
Hines Ward is a perfect example of this.
Big Ray
June 9th, 2010
3:01 pm
drmaryb
Hope that theory holds true, especially for Blair. In the meantime, how can one guy be a bad ass in college, and we’re to assume that he would be one in the NBA (if given a chance), but another guy was just as much of a bad ass at a different position, and we question whether or not he can ball? Huh…
JoJo the Godfather
June 9th, 2010
3:09 pm
Trying to get a feel for Marvin’s perceived value: Who’s more valuable, Corey Maggette at 3yrs $30M -or- Marvin Williams at 4yrs $30M?.
drmaryb
June 9th, 2010
3:12 pm
Soul_Star
LOL! Re: waiting on Marvin’s potential. I would trade Marvin for TayShaun sraight up too!
Our luck, Marvin will go to the Motor-City & blow up. Like Boris Diaw in Phoenix, Oh … Waite, Boris was a
one – hit wonder in Suns land. OK – go ahead, make that call and let’s get Dumars on line 1.
Hey Marvin,
Do you need help packing? What about a ride out to the – Spirit Air Runway?
(BTW fellas, Spirit Air is like Spirit ASG!). Very cheap seats, you can fly to Miami & most all the Carribeans for $29.00 sometimes you can get seats for .99 (that’s right 99 cents). Hey now, the wings might fall off – but hey – you get what you pay for or NOT? LOL!
northcyde
June 9th, 2010
3:16 pm
Wabe
June 9th, 2010
12:01 pm
northcyde,
I have to ask, what makes you so sure that Woody would’ve played DeJaun Blair? You’ve suggested that Woody loves high-energy guys that exert strength?
So you’re assuming Woody would’ve given Blair PT for sure based on the fact that he likes energy/strength? So the same should hold true for the things he dislikes?
IE – rookie PG’s?
So, I’ll ask, is it really about “if you can ball, you can ball…”?
Or did Woody’s feelings hinder his ability to make proper rotational adjustments?
********************
I know you guys want to keep believing that lie, but Woody played both Salim and Acie Law in their rookie years. Acie was the starting PG for the Hawks after the 2nd week here, but he got hurt. Then AJ started playing real well and the team started winning.
Then when Acie came back, Woody didn’t just hand him back the starting PG position. And Acie did nothing to prove that he could get it back. Then Acie gets hurt AGAIN, which didn’t help him any.
Then Flip comes in, and proves that he’s much more of a baller than Acie was, and kept him buried on the bench ( even though Acie still got adequate playing time in those first few weeks in November . . . he just didn’t produce ).
That whole “Woody hates rookies” ( PGs or otherwise ), is simply a fallacy made up by the fans to cover up for that player’s lack of an impact on the team. Shelden got a chance, and he played well as a starter in his rookie year. But as a reserve, he never could be an “energy guy” that made something happen off the bench. And he wasn’t going to play in front of Josh Smith at PF. And he couldn’t play a tough undersized center, like many people thought he may be able to do.
Salim’s problem is that we needed him to be more of a PG, and more of a defensive presence. Shooting wise, he wasn’t that bad in his rookie year. ( not that good either, but he at least shot over 41% FG and 38% 3FG ). Then he started becoming a highly inconsistent shooter. And once AJ and Acie got here, he became an afterthought.
But he got his shot too.
With Teague, people can make the argument that he didn’t get a shot. But they also know WHY he didn’t get the shot, at least initially. Bibby was the starter, and we had a high quality 6th man who could also play the point. But as Bibby started sucking, people may have a legit argument for him not playing. But then again, you’re talking about a guy who only seem to be a baller, when the game was in a blowout situation. Whenever the kid got a chance to perform when the game was still in the balance, he usually didn’t make an impact at all.
So we can keep going on and on with this lie if you want.
For the most part, this is a “show and prove” league. When you get a shot to play, you need to prove that you can play, and play well. Memphis made the decision to send their #2 pick ( Hasheem Thabeet ) to the D-League. Why? Because he couldn’t ball . . at least not yet. I wish the Hawks would’ve done that for Teague, to at least get the kid some experience at running the point on a somewhat NBA level.
As for Blair . . . like I said . . . he’s an energy/tough guy. The only player that fits that description on this team, is Zaza. And when Zaza is playing with a lot of energy, Woody almost always opts to keep him in the game. Mario West is an energy guy as well, and Woody has even given him the benefit of the doubt on occasion, and inserted him in a game. Even a guy like that has made impacts in games ( despite his offensive limitations ). With the way Blair rebounds the ball ( something that Woody covets ), he would’ve loved Blair, and definitely gave that kid playing time if he showed he could be an impact player off the bench.
Marcus
June 9th, 2010
3:23 pm
ESPN reporting that the NJ Nets and Avery Johnson have a verbal agreement.
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=5268483
drmaryb
June 9th, 2010
3:37 pm
Blue-Ray
(Sharper-Image)
PG is the toughest position to transition into – period! Same as QB in the NFL. Mainly because the PG is an extension of the coach. He’s in charge! The old salty veterans on any pro team does not take very
kindly to a Rookie telling them what to do! The other part is the speed of the game is lights – out!
Thirdly, the players are HUGE and STRONGER in the pros.
It took Michael 7 years to Win & Kobe 8 years to win. We fans are so impatient with the rookies.
To answer your question, I think it’s all about match-ups too. The top 10 players in the NBA at all 5 positions will be a match up problem for any and all rookies. Especially PG’s & C’s.
The bigger the center I the slower they move & coordinate. Unless you’re named SHAQ.
Whatever happened to all those BIGS that came out with AL? One in particular, I can’t think of his name, was supposed to be better than Al. Aaah! Who was that guy? – See, what I mean?
Un-forgettables? I think not?
northcyde
June 9th, 2010
3:47 pm
O’Brien . . . there are a few “late bloomers” no doubt. JJ was a “late bloomer” because he didn’t prove his worth right away in this league either. But the vast majority of these guys aren’t late bloomers. The vast majority of guys who don’t prove that they can make a consistent impact on the NBA level, simply can’t play on this level.
Both JJ and Chauncey were top 10 picks in the draft, so they did have “some” talent to get picked that high. Players like that may get the benefit of the doubt and more time to develop, than a lower picked guy.
When you go down the draft ladder, those “late bloomers” become more scare. But I guess that’s the hope that people keep holding on to. That certain guys that performed poorly when they were young, will somehow develop into decent players.
As for someone like Teague, he still possibly has a year or two to really prove what he can do . . . if . . . he’s not a flop in Summer League. If he plays poorly in the Summer League, that’s going to be a big time red flag to me. That will say to me that he isn’t mentally ready to even be an impact player, nor less lead an NBA playoff team.
If he plays well, he’s at least proving that he’s a superior talent than most players trying to find a roster spot, and worthy of being in the league as a starter. Hopefully, he’ll show his strengths as a PG during that time. I’d love to see him lead the Summer League in assists ( or get 7+ assists ), or see him shoot 47% + from the field. Those are very possible numbers for a player of his caliber during Summer League. It will show that he’s at least capable of being a leader.
If he simply plays OK, that’ll mean that he has a lot of work to do, but can still be a reserve NBA player. He’ll just have to work on what is his biggest weaknesses are, and work real hard at correcting that.
jr
June 9th, 2010
4:28 pm
good job mo everyday you did your job you didnt quit like i saw some do
rusty
June 9th, 2010
9:46 pm
northcyde
how the hell can you say woody ever gave teague a chance to do anyhink. woody destroyed his confidance. he played great in the preseason. woody would jump on his ass for any little mistake while he would let bibby play when he couldnt guard any one in the league. bibbys only strenth was his outside shooting & that went in the toilet. he also let marvin play big minutes when his ass should have been on the bench. you sure are a woody & JJ ASS kisser.jj is a ball hog & choker.
dstdeelite
June 10th, 2010
2:34 pm
drmaryb/terrell…What has Mo done so well that he deserves a dime more than what he’s currently being paid? There is a reason he’s been on several different teams. I watched 100% of the games for the past few seasons and I’ve seen his post game interviews. Have you? Reread this article and ask me again why I think he’s arrogant. They could pay Mario West to do what Mo does. With the exception of his jumper, which is streaky at best, West can give you the same hustle plays and fouls as Mo did for less money. Just being real.
dstdeelite
June 10th, 2010
2:34 pm
drmaryb/terrell…What has Mo done so well that he deserves a dime more than what he’s currently being paid? There is a reason he’s been on several different teams. I watched 100% of the games for the past few seasons and I’ve seen his post game interviews. Have you? Reread this article and ask me again why I think he’s arrogant. They could pay Mario West to do what Mo does. With the exception of his jumper, which is streaky at best, West can give you the same hustle plays and fouls as Mo did for less money. Just being real.
kevin
June 18th, 2010
11:34 am
i like mo but 2.5 is a lot for a player comeing off da beach and get about 8 ppg and play ok defense.