Atlanta Hawks: Brad Miller still in play as center options dwindle
Hawks think Brad Miller is good fit for L.D.'s offense.
Las Vegas–It looks like the free-agent center situation finally is starting to shake out, with Atlanta’s (and Shaq’s) options dwindling:
– The Hawks are still in the running for Brad Miller.
“There is definitely mutual interest,” agent Mark Bartelstein said today. “Where that’s going to lead, it’s tough to say. There are a lot of things he’s looking at. Nothing has been decided.”
Boston and Miami also reportedly have been talking to Miller, but a return to Chicago is still a possibility. Bartelstein said Miller could make a decision by the end of the week.
The Hawks apparently think Miller would be a good fit in L.D.’s offense. He had been a good outside shooter for years but slipped in that area last season. So too did his defense and rebounding for that matter.
But Miller’s Synergy numbers in the post were pretty good at .87 points per possession on 204 possessions, suggesting he’s still tough around the basket. Actually, Miller is a pretty tough guy, period, and the Hawks probably could use some of that nastiness.
– Another Bartelstein client, Kwame Brown, also remains interested in the Hawks. Bartelstein said Brown has visits scheduled with a few teams but the Hawks aren’t among them. The Celtics liked Brown after working him out but apparently can’t offer him the kind of money he’s seeking after they gave their full mid-level to Jermaine O’Neal.
Brown has the body and athleticism to be a good defender but his opponent PER raises some questions. Interesting comments on BRown from Doc Rivers to A. Sherrod Blakely of NECN.com: “He’s a better athlete than I thought. I wouldn’t mind having him on our team, I can tell you that. He could help us.”
– Hawks target Zydrunas Ilgauskas is headed to the Heat. Some persuasion from LeBron convinced Big Z to reunite with him in Miami for a minimum deal with a player option for the second season.
– For some reason, there is still speculation that Shaq might join the Heat. Has everyone already forgotten how he torched the organization on his way to Phoenix? I checked in with some Miami peeps I can assure they haven’t forgotten down there. It looks like the Mavs are still interested in Shaq, but after re-signing Brendan Haywood they likely want him for a bench role.
Atlanta’s discussions with Shaq are still in the preliminary stages. My interpretation of that is Shaq is hedging on his money (remember, dude made $21 million last year) and accepting a bench role and is waiting to see what happens in free agency before committing to any team.
He better not wait too long if he wants to play for a winner. I’ve noticed that the reports about Shaq to the Spurs have quieted down. ESPN.com’s Marc Stein doubts that’s a real possibility because San Antonio isn’t interested in a “chemistry experiment.” I know the Hawks take pride that their guys don’t usually stir things up, so that’s a strike against Shaq.
– Anthony Tolliver remains a possibility for the Hawks but he’s viewed as more of a power forward than center. Tolliver also reportedly is drawing interest from the Wizards and Jazz.
MC
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269 comments Add your comment
HoosierHawk
July 14th, 2010
12:53 pm
What would you rather have?
35+ Center who is not a banger
38 year old Center who will not accept the role we need him to AND will be overpaid
A Center who has nothing besides unreached potential, who we expect to suddenly reach it for little more than the veterans minimum and 15 minutes per game.
Scrubs who can barely stay in the NBA
OR
A SHOTBLOCKING project we could have gotten with the #31 pick. I’m sorry, but I am still not sold on any of the vets we were supposedly saving (but not spending) money for. Would have taken a chance on Alabi or Whiteside. I would have even taken a wing like Ebanks.
Hawks finish the offseason by filling out the roster. PROVE ME WRONG ASG!
vava74
July 14th, 2010
12:57 pm
Awful deal in the works.
I know that MW receives a lot of deserved (and undeserved) criticism around here but to send a young and still work in progress SF to get a washed up C like Shaq is an awful move ANYWHERE in the world.
bigdave
July 14th, 2010
12:59 pm
O’Brien..
but surely Gonzalez tails off a bit.. i like the move but would have rather addressed the out field with maybe some pop from the right side of the plate. Cody Ross.. Corey Hart would have been ideal.
Melky has progressed, and Escobar is still a tough out no hr’s or not.. Nate needed to go.. but hey, it is what it is.. i definitely wont miss the frosted tips..
kwooden1
July 14th, 2010
1:01 pm
O’Brien Nice Deal. I would take that.
Astro Joe
July 14th, 2010
1:05 pm
newkid, every trade has some opportunity cost/risk. If we traded Marvin, exactly how would we know how he would have performed in Drew’s system? At best, we could speculate but would never know if he would continue to defer or miss open jumpers. I don’t see anyway we find a quality center in their prime (or close to it) AND keep both Josh and Marvin (along with Horford). If we want to be in position to sign one of the defensive centers who will be UFAs next summer (Chandler, Dalembert or Pryzbilla), then we will need more than Jamal’s vacated salary slot to get it done.
MsDee
July 14th, 2010
1:09 pm
I WAS on the ‘Get Shaq Plan’ but now would rather keep our core guys who have matured well together and who has built much chemistry. I believe Woodson was the cause of the chemistry breakdown toward the end of his run here. If our last and only choices at center are Shaq(old) and Brad Miller(less talented than our ‘PF’ center Al Horford), than I say “pass”. I would take my chances with Hendrex (6′9, 255), James Augustine (6′10, 235) and A. Aminu (6′10,235)..Yeah I know neither one of those guys are true centers but Im hoping if they can continue to do well in the summer league games, they could come out being like the Glen Davis’s(6′9, 289) and Leon Powe(6′8, 240), and K. Perkins who is 6′10, 280 and we know how he held his own against DHoward. Glen Davis held his own against the DHoward and Pau G throw-out the season. After watching the Larry Drew Mic’d up practice video, I believe Larry could be the Doc Rivers to the new, up and coming players in the draft such as the guys mentioned and also to Teague and JC2.
ASHCAN.
July 14th, 2010
1:10 pm
@ MC,his history on one team(LAKERS)that happened years ago? your still slamming him for that? Considering the seriousness of what happened to KB and him(kb)speaking out putting his(shaq) marriage in danger,(mentioning shaq did it too if you all know the story)i seriously think the average brother would have snapped.But back to the topic ill still choose shack(shaq)1st miller 2nd.
bigdave
July 14th, 2010
1:10 pm
new blog
terrell
July 14th, 2010
1:17 pm
Ms.Dee, no way LD starts JoCrawford. Cant see that happening. Not just yet.
newkid
July 14th, 2010
1:30 pm
AJ,
Don’t think we go the Chandler, Dalembert, Przybilla route next summer unless we have intelligence from Smoove that DEFINITELY says his boy Superman will not consider a return to his roots in ‘12. C’mon, if we’ve learned anything at all from the LBJ/Wade/Bosh caper this summer it is that this sort of reconnaisance is par. I gotta think it’s already well along in the case of Superman; and I gotta think the early intelligence is reassuring to Sund, so he knows he needs a 2-year bridge to Dwight (which will allow the Atlanta side to compete with the Heat in future) rather than the 2nds he could get in a year with Chandler, et al.
Grandad
July 14th, 2010
1:43 pm
newkid -aka- ”Jimmy Olsen”
Teague
Joe
Josh
Al
Superman
_________________
hmmmmmmmmmm?
terrell
July 14th, 2010
2:02 pm
Braves making moves. Good to see them finally get rid of Escobar.
terrell
July 14th, 2010
2:11 pm
Hawks wont give up Marvin for Shaq. I dont think? Verajo, yes. But Shaq? Dont think so.
terrell
July 14th, 2010
2:15 pm
Why give up Marvin for Shaq when we could trade Marvin for some depth(pg or sf) and just sign Shaq straight up?
marcus
July 14th, 2010
3:15 pm
why didn’t the center they got inthe draft instead they traded him to get a 6′8 pf who want be around long.
marcus
July 14th, 2010
3:16 pm
i mean why didn’t they keep the center they got in the draft
will
July 15th, 2010
6:54 pm
Where is the excitement for me to go out and buy hawks tickets for the upcoming season!!!
ASG and Sund, has done nothing this season to improve this team that was swepted in the playoffs two years in a row, and only won 2 out of 13 road games in the playoffs. These guys don’t even have a clue of how to build a championship team. Have not picked up, not even one FA.
Croquet
July 17th, 2010
4:25 pm
Brad to the Rockets.
Bama
August 7th, 2010
12:22 pm
The Hawks have blown it with Josh Childress and now with Shaq. The only hope we have is that Jordan Crawford maybe the next super star in this league. Marvin Williams and Josh Smith raise your game defensively and offensively. Josh Smith can be in the top 3 as power forwards in the league this year. Josh can be the best, if he stay focus on the game.