Atlanta Hawks: Etan Thomas on ’short list’ for Hawks
Hawks interested in Thomas.
Jorge Sierra at HoopsHype.com reports the Hawks are close to signing free agent center Etan Thomas. Hawks assistant general manager Dave Pendergraft confirmed the team had Thomas in for a workout but said Thomas is one of a handful of free agents the Hawks are considering.
“He’s on a very, very short list,” Pendergraft said. “We were pleased with the workout.”
Pendergraft declined to comment on the other candidates for Atlanta’s 13th roster spot. But he said the team likes its options and is “not in a leftover situation” in its search for another center.
“We are very satisfied with who we’ve got under contract and we are looking to see who can accentuate that other position,” Pendergraft said.
Thomas played for the Wizards when Hawks coach Larry Drew was on Washington’s staff. Thomas averaged 14 minutes in 23 games for Oklahoma last season after injuries limited him to 26 games for Washington in 2008-09. He missed the 2007-08 season after undergoing open-heart surgery and has played more than 50 games just three times in eight seasons.
Listed at 6-foot-10 and 260 pounds, Thomas is known as a tough, physical post player who plays with high effort. But his numbers at 82games.com from last season and 2008-09 show that opposing centers lately have been productive against Thomas. Thomas’ block percentage, rebounding percentage and defensive rating have slipped in the last two years.
Thomas has the reputation for being a team leader, though he famously got into multiple fights with former Wizards teammate Brendan Haywood.
– It’s still possible forward Pape Sy will join the Hawks for 2010-11. Sy is set to report to camp for French club Le Havre but the Hawks and Sy’s representative are still talking to Le Havre about a buyout of the final year of Sy’s contract.
Atlanta selected Sy in the second round of the draft in June.
MC
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271 comments Add your comment
drmaryb (*_*)
August 29th, 2010
2:56 pm
T!he Dollar Tree!
Don’t listen to Gearon!
Yall know damn well we been scrappin’ in the bottom of the Dollar Bin.
I feel like a homeless man who’s been dumpster diving and found something
good – and for the life of me, I can’t figure out why someone would throw
Etan Thomas away?
Grandad
August 29th, 2010
2:57 pm
“Jennings doesn’t think all the teaming up is good for the NBA — adding, “You lose all the *competition.” [re super fiends]
‘Brandon Jennings’
northcyde
August 29th, 2010
3:03 pm
Once again, Mr. Strickland tries to blame the Phoenix failure on Shaq, even though Amare missed a ton of games in the 08 – 09 season and Shaq had a very good year.
It’s the same mindset that has people blaming the 88 – 89 Hawks failures on Moses Malone, despite the fact that the projected starting PF ( Kevin Willis ) missed the entire season.
The possible signing of Thomas only puts an exclamation point on what everyone has said about the ASG all summer. But I guess now, people are going to say that even a 38 year old Shaq isn’t better than both Collins and Thomas combined?
It is what it is though. Thomas could be a stunt double for the Hulk. If anything, maybe he could take on the role of “enforcer” for the 8 minutes per night that he may play. Or better yet, he plays well enough to keep Collins completely off the floor.
SMH . . . . Zaza, we need you this year man.
cp
August 29th, 2010
3:16 pm
I hope the injury bug does not hit us this year. We were lucky last year. If any of our front court guys go down it could get ugly.. Grandad the reason the Laker fans aren’t worried about the guys at the end of the bench is because they have Kobe, Gasol. Bynum , and Artest in their starting lineup. They also have a savvy vet in Fisher and a versatile player in Odum. We have Duck Williams and cant guard a chair BIbby. So its fair to say they don’t have a reason to care.
northcyde
August 29th, 2010
3:20 pm
LOL @ drmaryb . . . . The Dollar Tree is right.
Sund is like . . “I’m not paying $5 – $10 for a fancy looking dinner plate. I’m going to get these pack of paper plates for $1. A plate is a plate.”
drmaryb (*_*)
August 29th, 2010
3:20 pm
Bill Bixby?
NorthCyde! No you didn’t go to the late 70’s and pull The Green man -
Bill Bixby out yo’ arse?
ROF & LOL!
drmaryb (*_*)
August 29th, 2010
3:24 pm
NorthCyde!
“Don’t make me angry …. You wouldn’t like me, when I’m angry!”
- Bill Bixby -
jerrywest
August 29th, 2010
3:44 pm
Someone draw this cartoon:
Horford asks for help.
Sund gets 3 cans worth 5 cents each from the nearest trash can.
jerrywest
August 29th, 2010
3:44 pm
and Sund call them “3 dirty amigos”.
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
4:04 pm
Well, Jamal for Chauncey works straight up on the Trade Machine
We would go into luxury tax however…
Jamal is much younger than Chauncey
Said it added 7 wins to us – while Denver only lost 3
About the Lakers 11-13 – really could say 10-13 – Luke Walton played very sparingly as well.
I would do Jamal for Chauncey in say, let’s see, half a second.
And maybe Chauncey would take a cheap 2 year extension – seeing he will be 35 at the start of ‘011-’012. Maybe more reasonable than Jamal.
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
4:05 pm
Chauncey has a team option for next year – which I would not do however….I would be afraid of seeing Mike Bibby 2
O'Brien
August 29th, 2010
4:09 pm
Northcyde,
This is the same pendergraft who said the it was unlikely the hawks would find a contributor at #24 in the draft. And then they find one at #27.
I will be surprises if the hawks go with 14 on the roster. But I can understand them trying to get Sy because even if he doesn’t dress for games, he gets to practice with NBA players.
That being said, I am concerned about I juries. We were basically injury free last year, and those things usually even out.
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
4:19 pm
Basically our set up for the future, barring a major trade is:
JJ – SG
Al – C
Josh – PF
These 3 guys eat most of the cap space, especially a few years into the future. Then we have:
Marvin – SF
Teague – PG
JoCrawford – 3rd G
ZaZa – 3rd big
We then fill out the roster with vet minimum guys…
Hope Teague, JoCrawford, and Marvin develop….if so, we have a good team for a long time barring injury – if not – well….
We lose Jamal’s 10.8m and Mo’s 2.5m after this year – just in time to re-sign Al.
We lose Bibby the next year – just in time to pay for JJ, Al, and Smoove’s raises.
ZaZa comes off the books the next year, maybe re-signed for less – just in time to Re-sign Smoove
We can restructure JJ after 3 years if he agrees – he’s owed 69m+ his last 3 years. We’ll probably extend it to 5 years for 80m in order to obtain cap relief – See Dirk and Paul Pierce for examples.
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
4:21 pm
We were basically injury free because we were young, athletic, and stationary unless we had a fast break.
The Iso offense does decrease injuries and turnovers….
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
4:23 pm
Chauncey’s Team option for ‘011-’012 is for over 13 mill. – I would stay away from that. But I would love to have him for this year at 13+m, and after that for a reduced price.
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
4:29 pm
It kind of looks like the Hawks are saying they’re ok with being just below a championship caliber team. Sund basically even said so when he talked about doing enough to hopefully stay 4th best in the East.
After 2 years, the Lakers and Celts will be past their prime, and even DWade will probably be in decline by then – Haslem and especially Miller should be declining on the East – eating up salary cap space for another 3 years after that or so.
So maybe we’re conceding the next 2 years, and saying after that, us, the Thunder, and the Magic will be the teams contending – I just don’t know.
KrishATL
August 29th, 2010
5:03 pm
not sure if this was posted…but a good mix of E Thomas’s stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkR9pKJHC58&feature=related
love the energy…and he’s quick. should be more of an asset than not.
ryan
August 29th, 2010
5:03 pm
Billups is on the trading block Nuggets are having a fire sale the Hawks could use his leadership.
JoJo the Godfather
August 29th, 2010
5:11 pm
We should trade Jamal Crawford & a 1st round pick to New Jersey for Devin Harris & Damion James…Jersey can start Farmar and use Crawford off the bench…They can also try to flip the $20M in expirings they would then have (Murphy & Crawford) for Melo…I would think Denver would value Crawford as an expiring over Harris since they have Billups and Lawson in place…I’d then look to dump Marvin’s salary to Cleveland who has a trade exception large enough, or Golden State who has Radmanovic’s expiring deal…That gets us the cap space for next year to sign Horford.
Grandad
August 29th, 2010
5:27 pm
cp
You made my point.
We have Joe, Al, Josh, Jamal, Teague
-Now-
let’s improve that
-not-
worry about catfish & carp. *[bottom feeders]
Grandad
August 29th, 2010
5:31 pm
SteveW
“Well, Jamal for Chauncey works straight up on the Trade Machine”
“We would go into luxury tax however…”
There are reasons for adding other players such as ‘Mo’.
-or-
Expanding trades to include other players.
darrell starks
August 29th, 2010
5:50 pm
Another power forward good job rick sund your the best.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
Grandad
August 29th, 2010
5:59 pm
northcyde
1. PHX problems began when they failed to keep their *[core] together.
*[sound familiar] – (it started with JJ)
2. NBA & Stern, well don’t get me started on that.
[read "Seven Seconds or Less] ‘Jack McCallum’
3. Hired Kerr / brought in Shaq / (square peg, round hole)
4. They let D’Antoni go.
5. Replaced D’Antoni with Terry Porter [mistake]
*The one common thread Robert Sarver.
*KS point was valid
*Your points were valid as well.
*However, you should not discredit Ken Strickland by
oversimplifying the peaks & valleys of the Sun in PHX.
Grandad
August 29th, 2010
6:00 pm
darrell starks
E.T. is a Center.
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
6:08 pm
Jamal for Mo’ Williams works on the trade machine also – says we gain 2 games (I know that’s subjective)
I would do that in a heartbeat seeing Jamal wants to be traded etc.
Where could we dump Bibby then? We save a couple of mil. this year actually, and if we could dump Bibby next year, basically a wash financially. Hey Cavs, have we got a deal for you.
P.S. Mo makes ‘8.5m this year – player option of 8.5m the next 2 years after that – that’s not a bad price for a good PG who makes 42% of his 3’s.
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
6:13 pm
Grandad – Etan is listed as a PF occasionally – he is really only 6-9. Anyhow, he’s not just a PF as Starks said, and he is primarily a C.
And i wouldn’t throw Marv into a trade for Chauncey – keep Marv’ and pay the small luxury tax you would be over with the 3m from draft day in my opinion.
JoJo – Really think NJ would take Jamal and a 1st pick for Devin and James? If they would, it would be worth considering…I still would keep Marv – as Chuck Tanner Braves ads used to say “This could be the year” – that Marv finally gets it together.
Buddy Grizzard
August 29th, 2010
6:14 pm
I love all these trade scenarios involving Mike Bibby. Bibby is untradable… he’s not a top 30 point guard and he makes $11.5m over the next two seasons.
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
6:15 pm
Grandad – but the expanding the trades/teams to include other players is an idea
I still like Jamal for Troy Murphy – Trade Machine says we lose 7 games – NJ gains 3, but that is all subjective. Troy would fit the Motion fantastically, and help Al and Smoove inside like they asked.
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
6:19 pm
JoJo – Don’t you think Mo’ Williams is better than Devin Harris, and cheaper? Or was Mo’ a creation of Lebron? Some seem to think so.
Statistically Mo’ is a much better shooter – I think in the Motion, he might would be better. I do like the idea of getting James back however.
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
6:23 pm
Grandad – As much as you may hate to admit it, following your posts, it does seem like we have the same taste for players – Billups, Murphy, Battier etc. Clean, sound fundamentally, tough, hard workers etc.
I only do the Carmelo stuff because I think it could lead to a championship – and that’s the ultimate goal.
Smoove was a bad boy for years, but he seems to be maturing, hopefully it continues.
Blast
August 29th, 2010
6:27 pm
Since we are scraping the bottom of the barrel again, then I’m cool with Ethan if he stays healthy. Dude is fierce, and might be the enforcer Hawks need.
On Jamal Crawford, not impressed that he went public with his extension or trade demand, I can understand where dude is coming from. The NBA IS a business. Just like owners want a new collective agreement, so players want to get their fair due. Would love for Hawks to retain Jamal, then again, he makes a very good trade chip.
The Atlanta Dream ended their season on a losing streak to the same teams duking it out for supremacy in the East. Now they’ve swept the Mystics who were seeded 1st in the East, sweeping them in good fashion too. A 5 point win away and a blowout at home. Two things jump at me from this scenario.
Coach Meadows was brave enough to pull 2 starters, and instead inject two bench players first time all season, so the team could be quicker. It worked. Woody never had the cojones to do that.
Secondly, me thinks the Dream might have been playing a little possum in their regular season losing streak. I knew they were better than they played, I knew they could beat Indiana and Washington, but they never brought the whole package. Now in the post season, they are doing it all, just as they did when they went 6-0 to start the season. Aggressive defence, running the ball, rebounding, steals and playing together. The 3 year franchise that only won 4 games it’s first year of existence, got swept in the first round playoff last year, if now playing for the Eastern conference championship. Hawks need to steal some pages from the Dream’s playbook.
For those that do not care about the WNBA, sorry for the rant about women ball game. Please scroll right through. It’s just that there is nowhere else to talk Dream ball.
Now back to your regularly scheduled program……Hawks, cheap ASG, bottom feeders, Ethan Thomas, Jamal Crawford et al!
Emir S.
August 29th, 2010
6:47 pm
Buddy Grizzard
August 29th, 2010
6:14 pm
True but to overcome that you put in other pieces that some other team would like and wouldnt mind having Bibbys contract. None the less tho, would be a hard find.
jerrywest
August 29th, 2010
7:33 pm
How did Thomas do against Howard in the past? How did he do against Bynum/Gasol in last year’s playoffs? I don’t remember.
drmaryb (*_*)
August 29th, 2010
7:39 pm
SteveW
Said: “Hope Teague, JoCrawford, and Marvin develop….if so, we have a good team for a long time barring injury – if not – well….”
The fact that you can group Marvin with rookies and HOPE?
Is telling!
The difference between a white woman and a black woman is:
1. A white woman says, “I HOPE my husband doesn’t cheat on me!”
2. A black woman says, ” I WISH a jigga’ would – cheat on me!”
Yall, know what I mean. -smiles-
That black woman is making breakfast & boiling grits fo’ his azz!
IF Marvin is playing like a rookie after 2 contracts and 7.5M?
He is a bona-fide BUST! Why, is he still here?
Better yet, Why is Sund still here?
Somebody Blink – & tell me Marvin needs a ride to Hartsfield and I’m there!
jerrywest
August 29th, 2010
7:49 pm
I just checked the box score of last year’s Lakers vs Thunders, and Thomas basically played garbage minutes in 2 games, and accumulated 17 minutes with 30.0 PAR.
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
7:51 pm
Drmaryb – You are probably right. But when you follow the Hawks, all you have is hope many times, if you know what I mean.
I hope Horford can handle Dwight
I hope Teague develops
I hope JJ shows up in the 2nd round of the playoffs
I hope Jason Collins is really a 30 year old Shaq in disguise
I hope Josh Powell haa some hidden potential that the greatest coach of our generation couldn’t pull out of him
So I hope Marvin becomes a 20pt 8rb guy – I doubt it, but I hope…
Ken Strickland
August 29th, 2010
8:06 pm
NOTRTHCYDE-I guess Amare, nor any of the other regulars for Phoenix, never missed any gms during that stretch of consecutive playoff appearances before Shaq arrived. It’s funny how some of you can recognize and identify potential chemistry and/or adjustment issues when it comes to Phoenix, and the Hawks with MMalone.
But not one of you can visualize the same kind of potential chemistry and/or adjustment issues when you automatically rank Milwaukee, Chicago, Boston and Miami ahead of the Hawks, just because they’ve added some players. My point was, which you obviously missed due to your Shaq sensitivity, changing their approach and personnel in order to match up with other teams, rather than continuing to force other teams to match up with them, was the major cause of their failure.
FOREST FOR THE TREES NORTHCYDE, FOREST FOR THE TREES!
Grandad
August 29th, 2010
9:21 pm
Several people have mentioned injuries;
a. the possibility of
b. past injuries which derailed team X,Y,or Z’s
championship aspirations: re PHX – Stoudemire.
c. the Hawks preparing in case of
d. etc.
No one talks about injuries in conjunction with
the super fiends. What if ? What if ? What if ?
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
9:34 pm
Grandad – I do, and have often on the posts. DWade’s game is given to injuries – frenetic, gambling, challenging inside, etc..
And I think Miami is toast if DWade or LeBron go down – their supporting cast is abysmal. I think they could make it without Bosh, simply because of Haslem and Z.
LeBron’s game doesn’t look to injury prone, just his style of play – but you never know.
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
9:37 pm
Grandad – Where is your trade of the day? I’m looking forward to it – been rackin’ my cranium with the Jamal thing – and Etan changes everything. The word on the net is now we are “close” to signing Etan.
Also word on the net is Sund meets with Jamal’s agent this week – not just Amico’s twitter, but seemingly legit sources.
Appreciate your insight always….
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
9:38 pm
Also, best I can figure, any way you slice it statistically – Etan is better than Jason Collins.
And Joe Smith played much better than many of us give him credit for last season – and I heard he was great in the locker room – wonder where he’ll end up – maybe retire?
Grandad
August 29th, 2010
9:45 pm
SteveW
“Grandad – [*As much as you may hate to admit it],
following your posts, it does seem like we have the
same taste for players – Billups, Murphy, Battier etc.
Clean, sound fundamentally, tough, hard workers etc.”
I hope you’ve figured out that I’ve been raggin’ on you lately.
I’m a cantankerous, ornery, quarrelsome, crusty, & unrefined,
ol’ rascal, but, Mrs Grandad over these past [near 40 years]
has made it her mission to make me a better person.
I figure she’s @ least half way there.
You’re allright Steve.
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
9:45 pm
DWade is one of two reasons I give the Heat a 2 year window to win a title. I think he’ll start going downhill fast after 2years – again, just his style of play.
The other reason I think Miami only has a 2 yr. window is there #4 and #5 players – Miller and Haslem. Both will be 32 after 2 years I think – playing that 3rd year at 33 years old – I don’t think they’ll age well. And both have 5 year contracts to my knowledge, preventing Miami from signing anyone else.
And Miami traded basically all of their forseeable future #1 picks to get Bosh and LeBron, so their toast on that front, unless they do really well in the late 2nd round.
Let’s see – no money for Free Agents with the cap – No First Round draft picks – better hope everybody stays healthy and happy!
And I’m not sure the Heat can beat the Lakers, Celtics, or maybe even the Magic the next 2 years. Miami’s weaknesses are our weaknesses, only worse – no PG play and lack of size at C.
SteveW
August 29th, 2010
9:48 pm
Grandad – Thanks for the post! I’ll be hoping Ms. Grandad has much success. (Joking…).
- Your cool too – now if we can just figure out how to make these Hawks a better team…
Grandad
August 29th, 2010
9:51 pm
My next Tr o’ the D;
will be on MC’s next blog.
I’ve already got it waiting in the wings.
It’s a real wingdinger!
Bob
August 29th, 2010
10:03 pm
“The difference between a white woman and a black woman is:
1. A white woman says, “I HOPE my husband doesn’t cheat on me!”
2. A black woman says, ” I WISH a jigga’ would – cheat on me!”
Yall, know what I mean. -smiles-
That black woman is making breakfast & boiling grits fo’ his azz!” -drmaryb
Racist b.s.
Also a blatant rip-off of a Cedric the Entertainer bit.
Except when he did it it was FUNNY.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 29th, 2010
10:32 pm
“last season LA Lakers: *World Champions*
end of bench;
*Josh Powell
*DJ Mbenga
*Adam Morrison
Why are ‘we’ worrying about 11-13 so much.”
If the Hawks’ 7-10 players were better, we wouldn’t have to worry so much about the 11-13. More specifically, if the Hawks’ 2nd string big men were better, we wouldn’t have to worry so much about the 3rd string big men. The sad fact is that if Etan Thomas is healthy, he’s probably the best backup big man on this team. The Lakers don’t have this problem, largely because they have three quality players at the PF/C positions (two of whom can play center) while the Hawks have two quality players at those positions (one of whom can play center).
drmaryb (*_*)
August 29th, 2010
10:45 pm
Laugh a Little!
Bob
Pull your head out of your arm-pits and laugh a little!
It’s not that serious .. No one is racist on this blog!
I am a black woman, married to a white brother!
Ha Ha Ha!
Publix
August 29th, 2010
10:52 pm
Ethan will be fine. We need to sign him. As far as Crawford goes, he is great but I would be perfectly fine trading him away for a Fernandez from Portland. The kid is only 24 and can pretty much do everything that Crawford can as well. He is taller, more athletic, and has a huge upside.
Sign Ethan; Trade Crawford for Fernandez and we will be just fine
PG- Teague/Bibby
SG- Johnson/Fernandez/Crawford
SF- Marvin/Evans
PF- Smith/Thomas/Powell
C- Horford/Zaza/Collins
Not a bad lineup at all!
drmaryb (*_*)
August 29th, 2010
10:55 pm
Stevew
Re: 945 PM
Enthusiastic Co-Sign! Realistic assessment of the penciled in Miami Boyz.
After, LeBron / Wade / Bosh? The heat look pretty pedestrian and average.
I forgot about the age factors too.
They are literally one injury away from mediocrity, and they are gonna be
Cap Strapped too – down the road!