Atlanta Hawks: Front-office guys Pendergraft (Suns) and Rosenberry (Blazers) in demand
Assorted notes for the slow part of summer . . .
Pendergraft, Sund's right-hand man, is in play for Suns' GM gig.
– Word is Dave Pendergraft, Atlanta’s assistant general manager, is a candidate for Phoenix’s GM job under Lon Babby. And Steve Rosenberry, Atlanta’s director of pro personnel/college scouting, is expected to join Portland’s staff, where GM Rich Cho is looking for assistants.
Rick Sund confirmed the interest in both guys today.
“I see that as a positive,” he said. “As our team is getting good, other teams are after our executives. Steve and Dave have done a great job in their roles here.”
– It’s possible the Hawks will take 12 players to training camp. The Hawks are being patient, which is their M.O. under Sund, so I could see them letting guys fight for that final spot in camp instead of signing a guy now and being locked into that roster. A trade for a center also isn’t out of the question, but considering their reluctance to break up the “core” it means a major deal isn’t in the plans.
– It’s come to this for Shaq: Go on a medicore late-night show and sell yourself to teams. While on Jimmy Kimmel’s show to promote his reality television show, Shaq gave a shout out to the Celtics.
I think everyone knows Shaq is the best available center but he’s basically contracted his market in half with his baggage and money demands. Miami, Orlando, or the Lakers are out of the question. That leaves Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Atlanta and Boston from among the teams likely to finish in the top eight (swap in San Antonio if you prefer).
NBA.com’s David Aldridge thinks Denver, size-deficient like the Hawks, could be a good fit for Diesel. He also says Shaq “would likely be a better fit with a veteran team that wouldn’t put up with any nonsense.” I agree, and the Hawks still are not that team.
– Maybe Shaq really is chasing the money. In his mailbag, the Plan Dealer’s Brian Windhorst says there’s something to those Shaq-to-Europe rumblings. But he also leaves open the possibility of Cleveland re-signing Shaq for up to $7 million and later trading him to a contender “desperate to match up with the Lakers or Magic.”
I suppose that would include Atlanta since getting a fourth center apparently trumps adding a second real wing.
– I hear some of you calling for a defensive-minded wing, and I hear you on that. For all the hand-wringing about center, L.D. will have some options in his frontcourt with combinations featuring Al, Josh, Zaza, Powell and Collins. But on the wing he’s looking at Marvin, J.J. and Mo. That’s, in order, a some-timey starter, a guy already doing heavy lifting at shooting guard and a guard who seemed to lose his jumper late last season playing forward.
Yet whenever I bring up Atlanta’s need for a wing, I’m always told the team feels set there and is focused on adding another 5. So I won’t waste time making a case for why a guy like Rodney Carney might be a good, cheap pick-up because he fills a need and actually might play significant minutes.
– L.D. plans to play a “big” rotation against big opponents. Woody was reluctant to play Zaza and Al together but L.D. apparently is willing to do so while also regularly including Collins in that “big” rotation instead of keeping him planted on the bench. The Hawks believe that possibility has Twin motivated for next season.
This also seems to indicate that L.D. will loosen up Woody’s typically-tight rotation.
MC
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141 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
August 4th, 2010
5:18 am
Fun fact for the day: in his last three NBA seasons, Jason Collins has averaged more fouls per minute than rebounds per minute.
O'Brien
August 4th, 2010
7:26 am
It’s one thing to blame Woody for not utilizing Collins properly. But whose fault is it that Collins was never in game shape? Where is his motivation?
Truthspitter,
Unless Teague outplays Bibby in training camp (and I’m not sure he will, because I think Bibby will improve over last year), I am okay with Bibby starting, assuming Teague will get a consistent 20 mpg off the bench.
However, I can see Teague earning the starting PG job by mid-season. That will ease the transition.
Steve W,
Tolliver is more of a backup PF, but I think he would have been great for LD’s system. I’ve thought about Fasenko too, but he will be out of our price range too.
Hawks Fans: Safety in numbers and changing landscapes | Atlanta Hawks: Fan Nest
August 4th, 2010
7:49 am
[...] of how we think of them, some members of the Hawks front office are wanted by other teams. As Hawks beat writer Michael Cunningham reports, director of pro personnel Steve Rosenberry is [...]
dap01
August 4th, 2010
8:22 am
So far, it is evident that the Hawks management is not truthfully trying to build a champion. They are trying to field a team.
Where is the $3,000,000?
Where is the exception money (Childress trade)?
Where is the big that was the needed focus of the entire offseason?
The Hawks management are hiding, hoping that they will not be questioned.
GeeMack
August 4th, 2010
8:31 am
O’Brien
Jeff Teague starting is the one bright spot for this team. I don’t think he should have to beat out Bibby he did it last year.
We need a different dynamic on this team, and I thinks Teague is what’s missing.
drmaryb (*_*)
August 4th, 2010
9:09 am
Skool Daze!
Back in the old school days? Teams would sign players just for the sake of blocking their
Competitve Rival from signing that player. An old fashioned Chess Game is what it used to be.
The Hawks should pay to sign SHAQ fir the sole purpose of keeping off Boston’s roster.
Run the old play of “Talent Blocking”. I don’t want him – but I don’t want YOU to have him more!
Those days are long gone. Where are the real gamers at?
JoJo the Godfather
August 4th, 2010
9:18 am
Wanted to see how everyone sees the minutes being distributed barring injuries. What I’d like to see is:
PG – Teague 25, Ja Crawford 15, Bibby 8
SG – Joe 27, Ja Crawford 10, Jo Crawford 6, Mo 5
SF – Marvin 35, Joe 8, Mo 5
PF – Josh 35, Horford 8, Powell 5
C – Horford 27, Pachulia 16, Collins 5
I realize I’m probably down on Bibby more than most, but I really don’t see the value in giving him a lot of regular season minutes IF we can make the playoffs with Teague getting experience along the way…I also want the starters around no more than 35 minutes…This also makes you think about how this would look if someone like Shaq was brought in for say 20 minutes a game…Whose minutes would suffer, Marvin??? Za Za???
Hawk n the Ham
August 4th, 2010
9:39 am
You know who is going to come into camp and fight for that 13th spot?
SUPER MARIO!!!!!!
drmaryb (*_*)
August 4th, 2010
9:40 am
SMOY!
Why should the SMOY be limited to 25 mins per game? Based on what factors?
@ 10.2M per year where is the value for the Hawkls?
yessir
August 4th, 2010
9:42 am
Fire LD
drmaryb (*_*)
August 4th, 2010
9:43 am
And, what logic allows you to dole out minutes before the game is even played?
What about in game adjustments and match ups?
Keep your day jobs and just concentrate on Fan duties and NOT Coaching duties.
Sounds absurd to me.
O'Brien
August 4th, 2010
9:47 am
GeeMack,
I am a big fan of Teague, and I was critical of Woody for not giving him the PT he earned last year.
However, we are a 53 win team, so I would like to see Teague EARN the starting spot in training camp. If he plays well, then I fully endorse him as our starter.
And if he is not the starter, he still deserves his 20 mpg. But I do think Bibby will be more effective in LD’s system.
drmaryb (*_*)
August 4th, 2010
9:49 am
Job Description
GM’s – Sign Player Contracts
Coaches – Coach
Players – Play
Fans – Cheer
Melvin
August 4th, 2010
9:52 am
Tweet from Kevin Durant. How can you not like this kid:
“To be honest I appreciate Kenny smith comments but I’m not on dwade melo dirk Paul p level, I ain’t done nothing yet…but stay tuned!”
And the Hawks 126 mil dollar star won’t even apologize to the fans for his comments that was misunderstood (at best). Joe just don’t get it…
O'Brien
August 4th, 2010
9:58 am
So Shaq is reported;y signing with the Celtics for the vet minimum.
We have the same team as last year, while the Celtics added JO, Nate for a full season, and might add Shaq. We have the same team, but we made a big change at HC.
If the Hawks meet Boston in the playoffs, who wins?
JoJo the Godfather
August 4th, 2010
9:59 am
drmaryb…the thought process behind the excercise is exactly the point you bring up…is jamal worthy of 30+ minutes a game, and if so, at who’s expense, teague’s again?…is our roster flawed?…should we be looking at trades?…should we consider giving crawford a contract extension or are we better off letting him walk and giving his minutes to a PG, whoever that may be, and jo craw?…a blog is not just a place to CHEER, a blog is a place to discuss the makeup of our team.
niremetal
August 4th, 2010
10:08 am
What the hell is that on Pendergraft’s sweater vest?
Ken Strickland
August 4th, 2010
10:09 am
JO JO-There’s no way Marvin will get more mins than JJ. Try this:
JTeague 25, MBibby 18, JoCrawford 10, JJ 30, JaCrawford 15, Marvin 28, MEvans 18, JSmith 30, JPowell 14, AHorford 29, ZPachulia 15, JCollins 8.
Keep in mind, I anticipate these mins will be distributed consistently, not sporadically with a bunch of DNP CD. I also expect JoCrawford to get consistent mins to see if he can develop into a consistent and dependable contributor by the trade deadline. We aren’t a championship caliber team right now, but we could certainly become one if our young players develop and the right moves can be made by the trade deadline.
JeJe
August 4th, 2010
10:11 am
Welcome back MC
I heard a Sund interview on 680 last week and let me tell you it was a joke
1) Every single answer was about how we are modeling ourselves after the Spurs/Pistons because we aren’t going over the LT. LOL.
2) He will not make a trade til next summer
3) He says our guys our young veterans, so they now know what losing in the 2nd round means. WHY IS THERE NO MENTION OF US GETTING SWEPT BY CLEVELAND IN 2009? WHY NOW AFTER WE GET SWEPT BADLY BY ORLANDO ARE THE GUYS SMARTER?
I feel this idiot comes on message boards, finds the positive comments, then when asked about how he feels about the team, he’ll quote fans saying something like “Yeah, Big Ray on AJC says we’ll be good and I know he’s a big fan, so I gotta believe we’ll be good”
Idiot
drmaryb (*_*)
August 4th, 2010
10:12 am
JoJo
Here’s my point: you can’t pre-determine player’s minutes and lock into that, before the game is played.
You have to match up and make substitutions based on the flow of the game.
The starters are who they are, once the game starts flexibility is key.
Isn’t that what Mr. Woodson was fired for? You play the match-ups and the player who is executing the defensive game plan should be rewarded. Regardless of their employee #.
“You play to win the game!”
- Herm Edwards -
Melvin
August 4th, 2010
10:29 am
drmaryb,
Amen on your 10:12 post. Mins play should be decided in the flow of the game. Not before the game or season….
JoJo the Godfather
August 4th, 2010
10:29 am
drmaryb…my projections are not meant to be a game plan for every game where each player is on a predetermined # of minutes much like a pitcher on a pitch count…its merely a tool to try to figure out how much AVG playing time could be available for guys during the season…we know Joe has played 38-40 minutes a game in recent years…Jamal was able to win SMOY because he got a ton of minutes at PG last year…Are those minutes still available or will he lose those to Teague?…Now, it can be as simple as Bibby’s minutes go to Teague, Teague’s go to Bibby, Mario’s go to Jo Craw, Joe Smith’s go to Powell, and everyone else will average about the same…Ken S. is of the opinion that things will be much more balanced with the starters averaging around 30 minutes per game…As long as we’re on track for the playoffs, I like Ken’s view because we’d definitely know more about our backups and our starters should stay fresh througout the season…But notice Ken has Jamal averaging 15 minutes a game…Is that worth $10M, or would we be better off re-arranging the roster through a trade?
SteveW
August 4th, 2010
10:54 am
Chris Broussard, ESPN: “Shaquille O’Neal has decided to join the Boston Celtics, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. He is expected to tell the team of his intentions Wednesday morning. The length of the contract is not known, but O’Neal, who has been seeking a two-year deal, will play for the veteran’s minimum of $1.4 million annually. Celtics coach Doc Rivers began pursuing O’Neal last month when the two met in Orlando. Boston and the Atlanta Hawks were the two clubs most interested in O’Neal, and sources say O’Neal chose the Celtics because he believes they have a better chance of winning what would be his fifth NBA championship. O’Neal, 38, averaged 12 points and 6.7 rebounds last season for the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the Cavs’ six-game loss to Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals, he averaged
We couldn’t do better than the league minimum for Shaq with 3 mill. in the bank from draft day? And people want our front office guys?
I know Shaq wanted a winner, and we may have offered more – can anybody say – Anthony Tolliver, Josh Boone, Kwame “Hands of Stone” (aka Roberto Duran) Brown, Garret Siler, Alade Aminu, Richard Hendrix etc. etc. etc. – or we may even bring back RandMo! Aaaaagh!
SteveW
August 4th, 2010
10:56 am
What are we thinkin’….
Ken Strickland
August 4th, 2010
10:59 am
DAP01-Just because ownership has refused to foolishly sign some fan favorites months before training camp has even started, doesn’t mean they’re not interested in building a championship caliber team. After all, the ancient Etruscans(the first Romans)didn’t build Rome in a day.
I’m still trying to get my brain around the idea that some of our fans are upset because they feel we over paid for JJ, an All Star the last 4yrs and one of the NBA’s best all around players, but are even more upset that we wouldn’t over pay Shaq, who’s a one trick pony. WHERE’S THE LOGIC?
I’m also puzzled by those who still make an issue of JJ’s comment, but have absolutely no issue whatsoever with having Shaq, who’s a proven disruptive factor, and who’s made numerous stupid and derogatory comments about several of his teams, teammates and HC’s. AGAIN, WHERE’S THE LOGIC?
I’m also puzzled by those who think we should have signed Shaq because of his ability to put butts in the seats. However, our owners, who would benefit the most financially, obviously didn’t see how that particular benefit would out weigh his numerous liabilities.
KevinM
August 4th, 2010
11:09 am
Rev in Tampa
August 3rd, 2010
11:26 pm
KevinM, who are you addressing?
Not anyone in particular….I am trying to understand the logic that comes with building a championship contender here in Atlanta. Sund is making easy $$ by sitting on his hands and letting LD learn on the job with a team who should be contending for the EC title. Instead, we are going to watch everyone learn a new ‘core’ concept and not make waves with those that got us to back-2-back 50 win seasons.
I would say that this season is all about proving that Woody was the problem, yet we held onto him for 7 years? How does he all of a sudden become the only thing that is changed in the offseason?
Keep plugging in minutes for the core and watch Bibby become disenchanted from the bench and Teague in a make or break year. He is going to have to learn on the job while other teams contend for the title.
Let the schedule come out and watch the matchups begin. Teague against a top flight PG every night except perhaps in Indiana and New York.
I’m all about saving a buck, but there comes a time when you have to invest in a run to the championship. Doesn’t look like the ASG feels the same way.
And please, someone come on here and say let’s save employee#2 from the wear and tear of the regular season. As I sit here in my employee#2 shirt, I just have to show disgust with what the ASG has assembled 2 months prior to training camp.
Notice the only mention from the NBATV preseason 60 min special last night was the Hawks playing on MLK day. No mention of them being a contender in the East. Wonder why that is?
Melvin
August 4th, 2010
11:10 am
Ken Strick,
Are you at least puzzled why a team that played in the previous Finals would be interested in signing Shaq?
drmaryb (*_*)
August 4th, 2010
11:43 am
JoJo
Did you notice how Doc didn’t play The Donkey when he was traded for from New York?
Doc, told him to stay ready and that he would win a play-off game for the Celtics.
That was the big story in Boston and Lil’ Nate (Two – Time Dunk Champ! Proven Scorer in the league), had
to bide his time, remain positive and learn how to play Celtics Team Basketball – The Right Way!
TOGETHER as a TEAM. No individual 41 point ball-hogging games played in Boston.
Especially a team with 3 future HOF’s. That was some really, really, really GREAT coaching,
personnel management and vision executed by Doc Rivers.
We need to see that here in Atlanta. How do we put the players in their roles and use them as
TOOLS to win. Who do we sit and who do we play and when do we play them.
Who sits and learn how to play the Right WAY! Is the Right Way defense first or sit.
We don’t need our core to score! We need our core to play tenacious defense!
If NOT, you SIT until you do! Regardless of your employee number! Let the second unit come in and play the demanded defensive scheme until the starters get the message.
That’s IT! No Defense – No Burn! Our offense is fine! But, let that determine who plays and who sits!
Raise the bar on these guys and let them know who is coaching this team!
Ken Strickland
August 4th, 2010
11:43 am
STEVEW-Shaq is more interested in competing with Kobe for championships than anything else. He wasn’t coming here unless there were no other options available. He also knew that with KPerkins out for a while, he had a much better chance of earning a starting spot and/or getting major mins with Boston than with us.
I don’t see Shaq adding anything to the Celtics that would prevent us from sweeping the floor with them again this season. KPerkins averaged 12PPG, 11RPG, .75BPG & .75APG in 4 losses to us last yr. I don’t see Shaq matching that. I also don’t see the Oneal combination as a better tag team than KPerkins and RWallace.
The 2 O’Neals won’t help them handle the same speed, quickness, athleticism and versatility they had so much trouble with last yr. In fact, with JPowell’s addition, and with JTeague getting an expanded role and mins, we’ll actually be even quicker, faster, more athletic and versatile.
drmaryb (*_*)
August 4th, 2010
12:08 pm
Dee – Up & Run Like Hell!
Ken, I’m with you all the way! We are gomna’ have to have the PG set tempo.
I always thought we were a west coast high scoring and running team!
However, the play-offs don’t allow teams to run like hell! We have to run an offense in the half court.
That means low scoring games and defensive stoppage!
We have the big athletic and young players to play lights out Dee!
That’s what the Pistons did as a Team! Everybody scored like 15 points each and just stopped the ball on defense. That’s a hard combination to beat. It’s real ugly basketball, lots of frustrating fouls are gonna’ be called. You play tough and play through it!
Do we have the Right Players to do this? IF Not? Why Not? Maybe we need to trade a scorer for a defender? That makes Josh, Joe, Al ,and maybe Marvin too – almost untouchable. Will the rest of the team buy in and commit to the Defensive Effort?
In this scenario, then JoJo is right about less individual minutes for the starters to keep them fresh and give the bench some burn! That will make us play-off ready and scary!
Ken Strickland
August 4th, 2010
12:09 pm
MELVIN-I know exactly why they’re interested in Shaq. They need to replace KPerkins, who’ll be unavailable for a while due to suffering a serious knee injury during last yrs finals. They also needed to replace RWallace, so they signed JOneal. They didn’t sign either player for the expressed purpose of upgrading their center position, but to replace what they’ve already lost.
Here we are going into the 2010 season with some of the same GLASS HALF EMPTY fans making the same excuses to justify their fears and/or limited understanding of the internal improvements the Hawks have made. Didn’t we go through these same lame excuses this time last yr? Didn’t we hear about the same perceived improvement of other teams and what the Hawks won’t be able to do, and where they’ll finish, as a result? And didn’t we end up with 53wins and the 3rd seed in the East, ahead of all of those so called IMPROVED TEAMS? FOREST FOR THE TREES PEOPLE!!
KevinM
August 4th, 2010
12:10 pm
Yeah, Boston sure had trouble with Cleveland and Orlando’s quickness last year when it mattered huh?
KevinM
August 4th, 2010
12:13 pm
Playofff basketball and regular season basketball are not the same. This team barely got by Miami and Milwaukee the last 2 years.
Cleveland and Orlando and Miami took care of us last year handily and the only thing different is LBJ is in Miami.
Same core, same results.
Ken Strickland
August 4th, 2010
12:23 pm
KEVINM-Didn’t these same prognosticators project Cleveland or Orlando as the teams with the best chance of winning the Eastern conference title last yr? And how many of them mentioned Boston as a team that had a chance to represent the East in the finals? So, why would you place so much value on anything they say, or don’t say?
JeJe
August 4th, 2010
1:36 pm
Welcome back MC
I heard a Sund interview on 680 last week and let me tell you it was a joke
1) Every single answer was about how we are modeling ourselves after the Spurs/Pistons because we aren’t going over the LT. LOL.
2) He will not make a trade til next summer
3) He says our guys our young veterans, so they now know what losing in the 2nd round means. WHY IS THERE NO MENTION OF US GETTING SWEPT BY CLEVELAND IN 2009? WHY NOW AFTER WE GET SWEPT BADLY BY ORLANDO ARE THE GUYS SMARTER?
I feel this idiot comes on message boards, finds the positive comments, then when asked about how he feels about the team, he’ll quote fans saying something like “Yeah, Big Ray on AJC says we’ll be good and I know he’s a big fan, so I gotta believe we’ll be good”
Idiot
ric ric
August 4th, 2010
2:33 pm
the hawks can make it to the third round if we replace marvin williams with someone who can contend for his position……and the hawks NEED to trade marvin williams for a contender for his position
KevinM
August 4th, 2010
3:00 pm
JeJe, I am glad I didn’t sit through another Sund interview. No one holds him accountable on the air.
The contracts given to Marvin, Bibby and Zaza will haunt him for a while.
It is obvious Sund holds the talent on this team higher than the entire league because the only way we get anyone of value is a salary dump from another team….case in point, JC1.
Ken, both Orlando and Cleveland smacked us and took names against them. Boston would wack us around too in the playoffs. Those 3 teams and even last year’s Heat team were above us in every measure possible. We don’t have any backup plans; we are a jump shooting team and we have no backbone in the post.
At least Cleveland and Orlando were mentioned as elite teams….shows you what the league and what everyone knows about us.
Dwight’s comments about the Hawks are similar to when Tubby Smith was at Kentucky…..everyone loved Tubby and he got a raw deal…..everyone thought he was a great fit at Kentucky….teams come in and smack you around and accolades all over the place for Tubby. Huge difference nowadays up in Lexington for a reason- Tubby was set in his ways and he was smarter than everyone else.
Dwight says don’t change anything, and I bet Sund is listening. A complete waste of 2010-11 is coming our way.
ASG, please come out and tell us how season ticket sales are going this year.
RaJaH
August 4th, 2010
3:48 pm
Isn’t this Sund’s last year as GM…or did he get an extension I haven’t heard about.
Thought’s On The Latest News | Soaring Down South | An Atlanta Hawks blog
August 4th, 2010
11:49 pm
[...] other news, Rick Sund’s top aids Dave Pendergraft and Steve Rosenberry are getting a lot of interest from other teams. Pendergraft is a candidate to become the Suns [...]
Ziggy45
August 11th, 2010
11:49 am
Take Josh Boone hes not Shaq but hes young and a good deal for money went all the way to a national championship at Uconn as a freshman starter he has it in him If you can play for Calhoun you can play for anybody just need to bring it out
ziggy Savannah Ga
The Truth
August 23rd, 2010
3:24 pm
Dear Rick Sund
Since I heard you were on vacation, I thought you might enjoy watching this classic hit. Your inspirational source in managing the Hawks is no secret anymore since this discovery has been made. Enjoy!
Sincerely
The Truth