Atlanta Hawks: Catching up
I’m back in the saddle after a two-week hiatus from the beat. Yes, it was only two weeks away from work. The frantic emails, messages and comments from my blog people made it seem like I abandoned my child for two months. But I will take it as a good sign that some of you suffered separation anxiety without the blog. I can tell you I had no problem coping.
Anyway, I predicted not much interesting would happen while I was gone and it looks like I was pretty much on point. That doesn’t mean nothing happened, though, so let me give a rundown in no particular order. . .
What happened: The Hawks re-signed free agent center Jason Collins to a one-year contract.
What it means: Atlanta thinks Collins will be more effective in 2010-11 because he will be in better shape. Word is he’s already lost a significant amount of weight. Also, ASG’s Michael Gearon Jr. is on record as saying (stop me if you’ve heard this one before) he didn’t think Collins was properly utilized by Woody. So maybe L.D. gets Collins gets more minutes.
What happened: The Hawks signed free agent forward Josh Powell to a one-year contract.
What it means: The Hawks essentially swapped Joe Smith for a player who is about the same height, 15 pounds heavier (at least before recently cutting off his braids), and eight years younger.
It’s hard to make a straight comparison since the Powell has logged just 3,293 career minutes compared to 26,953 for Smith. But they played equal minutes last season, when Powell continued to be a much worse offensive player than Smith even considering Smith’s decline. Really, from a statistical standpoint, I can’t see anything that Powell does appreciably better than Smith and a few other things he does worse.
He’s heavier, though, so I guess that’s something.
What happened: Signing Powell and Collins pushed Atlanta’s team salary (the figure used to determine if it must pay the luxury tax) to roughly $67.6 million for 12 players.
What it means: The Hawks must add one player to get to the league minimum of 13. They have about $2.7 million to spend until they exceed the tax threshold. To add a player or players and avoid the tax, they can use all of the bi-annual exception of $2.08 million, part of the mid-level exception of $5.765 million or one or more minimum-salary exceptions.
What happened: Shaq remained unsigned as the market for his services continued to dry up.
What it means: If Shaq really wants to play for a contender, then he’s likely going to have to play for the minimum or not much more and also accept a bench role. If he will do both, the Hawks remain interested.
What happened: Mo Evans had arthroscopic surgery to repair knee cartilage damage.
What it means: The Hawks say the surgery, performed last week, was minor and Mo will be ready to go for training camp.
What happened: L.D. added Kenny Gattison to his staff.
What it means: After hiring Lester Conner as his lead assistant, L.D. got another coach who earned a hard-nosed reputation as a player. I have to think that means defense, rebounding and overall toughness will be a focus for the Hawks.
L.D. said shooting coach Mark Price won’t be retained.
What happened: ESPN’s Chris Broussard reported that Jamal Crawford asked the Hawks for a contract extension.
What it means: I’ve heard Jamal would like an extension but not sure how much he’s really pushed the issue since he knows Al would be next up for a deal. It’s not hard to see where Jamal is coming from: He likes playing for the Hawks, he had a strong season and like all players he’d like to get a new deal under the current CBA.
But I can’t see where it would benefit the Hawks to give J.C. a new deal before they see how this season plays out. If things don’t go as they hope, then Crawford becomes either a nice trade piece at the deadline or his $10.1 million salary comes off the books after the season. Either option would give the Hawks some flexibility to regroup.
What happened: Smoove got married.
What it means: Don’t ask me. I’m single.
What happened: Blog commenter Truth-Serum once again became a punk when left unsupervised, sullying my blog people with his childish antics.
What it means: In addition to confirming that dude has too much free time and some serious issues, he’s had his multiple IPs banned for the umpteenth time. He’s always found a way around that and in the past he’s been allowed to return because his manic phases are usually followed by periods of lucidity laced with mere annoyance rather than outright jerkiness.
But now his ban is permanent. Each time he comes back he will be booted as quickly as possible regardless of the content of his messages (which won’t be hard to identify since 99 percent of his posts are on one topic). I don’t like to do this because I’m a marketplace of ideas proponent, but Truth-Serum has lost his privileges for being the only commenter who can’t act right.
Thanks to my blog people who emailed the AJC folks to let them know he got out of control while I was away.
MC
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238 comments Add your comment
Swatguy
August 2nd, 2010
6:24 pm
Glad you’re back. Where are ASG in their court situation? A marketing type(in conversation with me) blamed owners not agreeing on Shaq was the reason he has not been signed. Is ASG split on acquiring Shaq and if so who wants Shaq and Who don’t?
Do you sense Teague has slipped in the mind of some from Summer League. Is Teague still the favorite to start. A couple of pg/sg types are still out there namely Flip Murray and Rafer Alston. Do we need more guard play, do they think so?
Rev in Tampa
August 2nd, 2010
6:34 pm
Detroit only has twelve players on their roster and only two centers (Ben Wallace & Jason Maxiell). I hope the Pistons sign Kwame so my gut won’t wrench every time he is suggested as a center for the Hawks.
drmaryb (*_*)
August 2nd, 2010
6:49 pm
Rev in Tampa
Amen! Kwame is a total waste of human tissue – basketball wise.
We don’t need that Hot-Garbage in here. I’d rather see Jason Collins get some burn.
Isn’t he a 7 Footer? I heard he has lost a lot of weight and is working out.
He should go boxing with Zsa-Zsa and work on his foot-speed and stamina.
SteveW
August 2nd, 2010
7:00 pm
MC – the real question is did Sund suggest that he would spend the 3m from draft day on inside help? You said he did in an interview – was that your impression or not?
Josh Boone? Kwame Brown? If no Shaq, any thoughts on who the 13th man (a big) might be? Almost anybody would be better than the RandMo I saw in summer league.
P.S. I’m not totally against Kwame – his problems look more mental than anything to me. And he would be the 13th guy….
drmaryb (*_*)
August 2nd, 2010
7:06 pm
SteveW
Baby, mental problems is really, really, really bad.
Tell Kwame’s agent to sell crazy someplace else – we’re all stocked up here!
Sorry, but I’d rather see “Harry The Hawk” sitting in that musical chair #13.
Rev in Tampa
August 2nd, 2010
7:20 pm
My biggest gripe with Kwame is that he is at best a work in progress. The Hawks don’t need another center to ride the bench. Horford needs real help at center. Shaq is available and represents real help down low but everyone needs to understand that he is not our ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals. If he comes to the Hawks’ terms then sign him for the box office draw. But otherwise wait for the trade deadline. A much better center will likely be available.
If not Shaq, then what about the 13th pick? Sign a young point guard for the minimum for extra depth.
SteveW
August 2nd, 2010
7:23 pm
Drmaryb – Hilarious!
Rev in Tampa – I think we’re getting a big regardless with #13. It’s basically to take RandMo’s spot, unless somebody sees something in him we don’t, and he comes back.
SteveW
August 2nd, 2010
7:25 pm
And I really think we’re going to look at JoCrawford as a combo guard, to see if he could play some PG also – kinda like Jamal.
Rev in Tampa
August 2nd, 2010
7:32 pm
SteveW, that’s my point. This 13th spot will be wasted unless we are able to sign Shaq and, as the market is beginning to show, he is of limited value. Sign somebody who can at least push Teague in practice. There is not enough quaility left on the free-agent market to help us get past the second round of the playoffs. And the Hawks have said several times that they are not going to trade their ‘core’.
Blast
August 2nd, 2010
7:35 pm
MC, welcome back, Mr. Blog Police.
Nice updates.
Nicer to know you kicked out Truth Serum. Hilarious in fact. Can you imagine his blog addicted self reading the blog but not able to participate? Must be driving him crazier than he already is. The blog feels clean and fresh. So far. Good job!
Rest In Peace, Lorenzen Wright.
Roast in Hell, his cowardly killers.
Big Ray
August 2nd, 2010
7:37 pm
MC back in da HOUSE!
Hope you enjoyed your vacation. They’re always too short, if you ask me…
Big Ray
August 2nd, 2010
7:38 pm
Swatguy ,
What? The owners couldn’t agree on something? No!
Big Ray
August 2nd, 2010
7:39 pm
I guess Mark Price will try and catch on elsewhere. Of course, it’s not like he was doing such a brilliant job as a shooting coach. Either that or the guys tuned him out like they did Woody….ok, that was wrong , but I just had to!
mountain_jim
August 2nd, 2010
7:53 pm
Welcome back and thanks for the good summary of the period, MC.
terrell
August 2nd, 2010
7:58 pm
Obrien, if JJ is the starting 2 guard and the backup sf, he’d be gettin hella minutes. Considering Marvin’s usually the 1st person pulled. But seriously, we need to find a taker for Bibby and Mo’s expiring contracts. They could be EASILY replaced.
MannyT
August 2nd, 2010
8:03 pm
Welcome back, MC.
I’m not surprised that things went wild when the summer cannibloggers were left unattended.
Thanks for the updates.
terrell
August 2nd, 2010
8:06 pm
Oh yeah, Bibby expires after next year. Wow! Who in their right mind would sign Bibby to a 3 year contract??? With a player option in the final year for that matter? Must have one hell of an agent. Or Woody had to be one of the biggest Turkey’s ever. I think I’ll go with the latter.
Swatguy
August 2nd, 2010
8:08 pm
Oh, Big Ray responds.
How about the rest of my questions?
Court issue. Another Guard, Teague ready/not ?
How split is ASG on Shaq?
duker64
August 2nd, 2010
8:14 pm
nice to see you back M C. ready for football and watching if we sign another big KB might not be bad .Have you heard who new shooting coach might be?
duker64
August 2nd, 2010
8:15 pm
the summer leg . was nice but too short.
northcyde
August 2nd, 2010
8:19 pm
Glad to have you back MC. I’m sure you didn’t miss all the whining and complaining that we all do at all.
But here’s what I’m looking at now.
The NBA schedule, I believe, comes out tomorrow. I’m looking at a few things when that schedule comes out.
1) When do we first play Orlando?
No matter what anybody says, showing that we can hang with and beat Orlando, is the #1 objective in the regular season. Or at least it should be. This is really the only team in the league that we can’t hang with on a consistent basis
A win over Orlando convinces most fans that the Hawks may be ready to get over the hump. A convincing win turns Larry Drew into a fan favorite and a legit technical mind.
A loss to Orlando, especially another blowout loss, will send the fan base into panic mode, regardless of our record. Another bad loss to the Magic is going to solidify that we just have personnel matchups when playing Orlando.
***********
- How many National TV games do we have?
This is an important question, as it pretains to how marketable the Hawks are perceived to be, to the league and to the major NBA networks. I think they indicate which teams will be on national TV as soon as the schedule is released. If not, keep this in mind anyway.
We all know that Miami is going to be the perferred East team to be on TV, and the Lakers are the preference amongst West teams. And Boston, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, and Orlando will all get their share of games.
The question is . . where do the Hawks fit in on the national TV scale? And maybe a bigger question is this one . . . are the Hawks perceived to be more of a TV draw than Chicago, New York, Portland, Utah, New Orleans, and now even Oklahoma City?
Also, look to see how many Thursday night and early Sunday afternoon games we have. Thursday night usually means a TNT broadcast. Early Sunday afternoon ( especially from Feb – Apr ), usually mean an ABC broadcast. It’ll be interesting to see if we can at least be the lesser marquee team matched up against a “big boy” on either of those nights.
*********
- Which months are the most difficult and easiest on the schedule?
If you believe in conspiracy theories, there is no question that when you look at last year’s schedule, the NBA purposely tried to eliminate us from the top 4, with that brutal January schedule that we faced. LOL . . plus we had to play Cleveland on back to back nights right before New Year’s Eve. It was a brutal stretch of games, but the Hawks survived it without major damage.
On the flip side, we had a pretty favorable run of games from the start of the season until Christmas, that helped us get out to that 19 – 6 record. With our new head coach and new “systems”, I definitely want an “easy” November . . or as easy as we can get it.
Mike is back
August 2nd, 2010
8:42 pm
MC, Welcome Back!!!!!!!!!!
I think the Hawks made their point with Shaq…they don’t want to try to play it too close…if they have any serious interest in signing Shaq…they need to do it now while they have the upper hand. Anything could happen between now and training camp…Perkins could struggle with his rehab or KG could have a set back…I bet you want see Boston procrastinat.
You made an excellent point about the signing of Powell…I like him…but I can’t see where he is that much of an upgrade over Joe.
Right now, you have an opportunity to bring in someone that can fill a need on your team. Accept the fact that you might have to spend some of that 3mil to get Shaq to sign…before go another season with out getting Josh and Al some quality help…even with LD’s new system…they will still be worn down by the playoff.
Sund and the ASG always try to get the cheapest deal…so times…be smart go with a good deal…when it’s available. In Shaq case because of his revenue impact…you can go with a good deal and still win. Get JJ, Josh, and Al to start sending out some tweets…find out what its going to take to get a deal done…and do it.
WHO IS STILL AVAILABLE THAT CAN HAVE A BIGGER IMPACT ON YOUR TEAM AND YOUR REVENUE THAN SHAQ…man the F up…keep your word…spend that 3mil on a Vet Big…give the fans something to be excited about…ATL fans like to dream too. For once be proactive..jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez!!
DHoward said he liked the Hawks current roster…trust me…during the playoff…I could tell. lol
northcyde
August 2nd, 2010
8:49 pm
And as for the national TV angle, I still say that Shaq on the Hawks adds 5 more national TV games to whatever number of games we’re gonna be scheduled for.
Melvin
August 2nd, 2010
9:02 pm
I like this article by Eddie Johnson. Who suggest the Hawks would be the ideal team for his services….
http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/johnson/2010/08/02/shaq-in-unfamiliar-territory/
Samuel
August 2nd, 2010
9:17 pm
One of the things I absolutely hate about the NBA now a days is this penciling in of starters just because. I really don’t blame Shaq for not signing anywhere that automatically says he will come off the bench. I could see him signing for the min but not both. You guys always bash Woody for not being fair but in the same breath pencil in starters. Let’s be fair. If Shaq comes here, let the chips fall where they may.
That’s why I can’t see him coming here. It would be too hard to put a guy on the bench, all the while he was “OWNING” your All-star in practice every day and “taking his lunch money” as Truth would say. Get real.
Mike is back
August 2nd, 2010
9:21 pm
Melvin, nice link.
Samuel
August 2nd, 2010
9:22 pm
Like my pops used to say. “You can’t make chicken salad out of chicken sh_t”. Atlanta just doesn’t have many shooter. JJ, Bibby and that’s about it. It wasn’t Mark Price’s fault.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 2nd, 2010
9:26 pm
“It would be too hard to put a guy on the bench, all the while he was “OWNING” your All-star in practice every day and “taking his lunch money” as Truth would say.”
The NBA is not a one-on-one game. Against over 90% of the NBA’s teams, Al Horford is a better starting center than Shaquille O’Neal. The reason bringing in Shaq (with no strings attached) is a good idea is because one of those few other teams is the Hawks’ roadblock to making the conference finals.
That said, if Shaq comes in and thoroughly outplays Horford in his minutes for whatever reason, of course I’ll be saying he should start. At this stage in Shaq’s career, though, that is highly unlikely. “Letting the chips fall where they may” makes perfect sense, but reports are that Shaq wants to have a starting job guaranteed. That doesn’t make much sense for this team, and most other teams for that matter.
Sautee
August 2nd, 2010
9:32 pm
Najeh,
word
Mike is back
August 2nd, 2010
10:01 pm
Najeah, he might say that…but reality says different…at this point…I think if you get some where near an acceptable range on his on his Salary…he would accept a back-up role on a contender.
Mike is back
August 2nd, 2010
10:14 pm
The much malign one Terrance Moore…writing for FanHouse.com…dang…tha scrapping the bottom of barrel. lol
buckhead benny
August 2nd, 2010
10:17 pm
Do you not think ASG has to be kicking themselves for not keeping the 31st pick? its much cheaper and they could have filled it with a strong power foward lawal or a great backup center as a rookie that could grow? trading that for money is going to come back to haunt them you mark my word on the guys that end up being real players.
The Truth
August 2nd, 2010
10:18 pm
Welcome back MC. Dam 2 weeks seems like a long time with all this nonsense on the blog these days. With all this chatter still about Shaq. I’m going to say what others won’t say about this situation:
With so much of an outcry for Shaq, what we are really saying is We Don’t Like our Current Backup Centers (Zaza and Collins), so, We Want Someone else Bigger and Better.
It is unrealistic to expect Shaq, a future hall a famer, to play for vet min and be a forth option backup center off the bench. If this is what Sund is hoping for he is wasting his time.
Tony
August 2nd, 2010
10:43 pm
MC, Welcome Back!!! We missed you especially since you are the only insider I know that focuses solely on the Atlanta Hawks.
truthspitter
August 2nd, 2010
10:48 pm
Hawks are having the worse offseason of any team that should make playoffs next year
niremetal
August 2nd, 2010
11:00 pm
All I know is that Josh’s free throw percentage dropped 10 points after Price arrived and didn’t improve. Horford’s midrange shot was definitely doing better last year, but I saw no other evidence of players with improved shots. Teague’s still looks like he studied under someone at the Shawn Marion Ministry for Ugly Shots.
Steve Smith is right around the corner. Just sayin.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 2nd, 2010
11:09 pm
“Do you not think ASG has to be kicking themselves for not keeping the 31st pick? ”
I think Michael Gearon has that $3 million in a bathtub somewhere, and every now and then he rolls around in it Cartman style. They damn sure ain’t spending it on anything.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 2nd, 2010
11:12 pm
“I think if you get some where near an acceptable range on his on his Salary…he would accept a back-up role on a contender.”
If he is fine with being a backup, there is no reason for the Hawks not to bring him in.
Rev in Tampa
August 2nd, 2010
11:53 pm
niremetal, what happed to your last post? What’s with all the ddd’s?
drmaryb (*_*)
August 2nd, 2010
11:57 pm
Nire
Are you drinking again?
Or did Truth-Serum sneak on here and jack your I’d?
SteveW
August 2nd, 2010
11:59 pm
Looks like the Hawks, Celtics, Cavs (yes, there reportedly back in it), and Europe may have some competition for Shaq – Denver.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/02/shaquille-oneal-to-nugget_n_668068.html
Detroit newspaper is also reporting that Kwame won’t be back for the Pistons – the most likely destination is the Celtics.
SteveW
August 3rd, 2010
12:01 am
The above article does note that the move makes sense for the Nuggets, but their not actively pursuing Shaq at this time.
Ken Strickland
August 3rd, 2010
12:43 am
SAMUEL-You have got to be kidding, but then again, probably not. Your beloved Woody was the absolute KING OF PENCILING IN STARTERS. The only was any other Hawk player would ever get any starting consideration was if a starter was injured. Bibby and Marvin could literally stink up the place, and/or disappear for a stretch of gms, and you knew Woody would pencil them in as starters no matter what.
Matt = niremetal
August 3rd, 2010
1:13 am
The 11:26 and 11:29 were not the real niremetal. Maybe T-S found a new library to post from.
Grandad
August 3rd, 2010
1:42 am
Welcome back MC;
Everbody needs some time to re-charge,
but ain’t it nice to be missed?
Some random comments:
(1) I was also not a big fan of Mark Price.
Josh showed no improvement / nor have I seen any adjustments.
[Josh - FT 's or outside shot]
What he MP accomplished does not [necessarily] translate to teaching.
(2) I doubt LD hires a shooting coach.
(3) I feel sorry for TS, a troubled soul. [no pun]
(4) We do not ”Need” Shaq. (Need) is the -key- word.
We may could use him but not Need him.
(5) Kwame – Please,Please No! + he’s not 7 ft. 6-10 sans shoes.
(6) People…..don’t get overanxious about Jordan Crawford.
Eventually, should be a nice player.
Remember, patience is a virtue.
I fear some of you may have him a tad overrated.
(7) Once again patience is in order:
A trade is the current best way to upgrade our talent for next season.
Some players must wait 60 days before they can be packaged with
another player. My favorite…..Alex Ajinca…..mid Sept. can be pkg.
wi. another player in a trade; hypothetical, with us for ______ ________
[fill in the blank] plus our TPE. *(1st blank 6 letters, 2nd blank 8 letters)
that would
(8) Josh Powell – Glue guy, underrated. Not talkin’ about talent. Battier-esque
Tough, hard nosed, brings it every day in practice, *(truly important)
great teammate, High character, Leader & he’s gonna be a good role player.
Not to mention…..He wants to be here.
Evenin’
Grandad
August 3rd, 2010
1:55 am
I have no idea why this phrase *[([ ''that would'' ])]* appeared
just above # 8 in my previous post @ 1:42 AM.
Realizing I’m the only dork that could have caused it…..,
it baffles me nonetheless.
sincerely’
G-dad
jora12
August 3rd, 2010
3:05 am
Just to let you know. Yesterday Georgia beat Poland 84 – 65. Zaza had 26 points and 8 boards (all of them offencive) in 27 minutes while he limited Gortat to only 10 points and 3 boards.
http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_KNce8jInH7Qj1EsyH5rjn2.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.html
MsDee
August 3rd, 2010
5:27 am
Great news on Zaza..those boxing moves are paying off after all!!
O'Brien
August 3rd, 2010
7:29 am
MC,
More reasons why the Detroit model worked.
1) They played a Lakers team that was old (Malone, GP among others), injured (Malone) and bickering (Shaq and Kobe)
2) They were coached by a HOF in Larry Brown.
terrell,
JJ will not be the primary backup at SF. Mo Evans is. But I think JJ can play 30 mpg at SG (Jamal plays the other 18), and JJ can play 6 mpg at SF, with Mo playing 12 – 15 mpg.
Michael Cunningham
August 3rd, 2010
8:49 am
@PUBLIX: i’ve unapproved your posts in which you steal the name “niremetal.” if you post using other people’s handle(s) again i will ban your IP. please keep it classy.