Atlanta Hawks: Video: Free agent focus
I talked Hawks today with CineSport’s Noah Coslov. No news so far on the free-agent front. Check back tomorrow for a report from the first day of workouts at Philips.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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268 comments Add your comment
SteveW
December 1st, 2011
11:02 am
I should note in the above post, that is not a set order of the rankings of the teams in the East, but it may be pretty close.
And I also think Sy, and maybe Rolle, will be better than advertised. That Pacers Coach just gushed about Rolle, but due to contracts, just couldn’t find a place for him.
And Sy can drive, and in the NBA, that is an invaluable asset. And he’s got an NBA body
Rufus1
December 1st, 2011
11:03 am
This year I think the Hawks will pay the Lux Tax this year for 3 reasons
1) The Hawks Need five players and only have 5mil to spend.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/atlanta-hawks-team-salary/
2) The new CBA along with revenue sharing will provide the Hawks by my calculations about 17- 20mil in additional dollars.
3) ASG doesn’t want to lose the momentum of the Bulls series.
Cheap Muscle… Josh McRoberts
Cheap Shooter/ good defender…Anthony Parker
Slimjr
December 1st, 2011
11:03 am
You guys remember what 6′6″ Chuck Hayes did to ALL NBA AL in Houston last year? Al played like he was 6′ tall 160lbs…..lol
vava74
December 1st, 2011
11:06 am
SteveW,
Even if we do not make any moves, there is NO WAY that we are not getting into the playoffs.
NO WAY.
Our beloved/hated core is good enough to win 55% of the games even if they brought Ray Charles’ mummy to coach it (actually I think his mummy would do a better job than LD did in many games).
Everyone should stop being absurdly negative.
Should we look to improve? Of course, but don’t disregard what we have either. When I criticize Horford I am not saying that he is worthless, merely that his flaws are much more serious than what people have been inclined to see with those rosy spectacles that a “nice guy” like him puts on people’s eyes.
Our biggest and most viable upgrade is, unfortunately, what we are guaranteed not to have (at least not on day 1): a decent HC.
A decent HC would poke Horford in the belly and would ask him straight to his face if he is a ball player or a sissy and that sissies would not play for him.
Every single time that anyone did not show up mentally focused and with a murderous will to get the win would be rewarded with a full game in the bench.
Repeated offenses would be instant nomination for the trading block. Trade value depreciation some will say, I say: accountability.
SteveW
December 1st, 2011
11:09 am
We could trade Josh and whatever for CP3, sign Tyson Chandler, but unless Larry Drew vastly improved as a Coach over the off season, and he’s had 2 extra months to do it, all of it is a moot point.
Larry Drew = Disaster for the Atlanta Hawks.
Astro Joe
December 1st, 2011
11:15 am
Rufus, Hawks could easily sign 5-6 guys at least than $1M each. Heck, Sy, Rolle and Benson are the first ones who fit that mode and Damien would likely do the same (although he may request a 2 year deal for a total of around 1.6M). As much as I dispise the ASG, I would only pay the luxury tax as an owner if I KNOW that I have the makings of a ECF-type team. And we don’t. We don;t have the culture, we don’t have the head coach and we won’t have the players.
LD’s contract expires in about 7 months, that’s when things will change.
Slimjr
December 1st, 2011
11:17 am
Larry Drew was a horrific hire!!
But what do you expect from Sund?…He’s clueless…………He was the GM that ran the Supersonics out of Seattle and the Sonics were pretty good until this bum took over.. He may do the same in Atlanta?
Sund=Billy Knight, two peas in a pot…
Rufus1
December 1st, 2011
11:21 am
Larry Drew…Bad Coach?
We beat Orlando in 6 games and took the Bulls the best team in the league to 6 games…..He took the Hawks further than we have been in 20 years…. What did our ROOKIE COACH do wrong????
What more could you ask of a ROOKIE COACH?
I don’t get the dislike for LD.
Astro Joe
December 1st, 2011
11:22 am
Slim, Sund didn’t want to hire LD (from all indications) but was forced to do so by Mike Gearon. Sund wanted Dwayne Casey.
Evidently, LD took one of the league’s lowest salaries AND agreed to a contract that would adjust based on the possible lockout. My guess is that LD missed as many paychecks as the players.
Sund shouldn’t take the heat for hiring LD. That one rests at the feet of the owners (Sund’s bosses).
mountain_jim
December 1st, 2011
11:24 am
SUND should take the heat for trading 2 number ones for a player we did not need with Teague rotting on the bench.
Just Joe
December 1st, 2011
11:24 am
I believe both LD & Sund are on the final years of their deals. This is another reason why I support moving Johnson, Williams & Pachulia for expiring contracts, and only sign 1-yr free agents this year. Hopefully next year would bring a new owner, a new GM, a new coach, a 1st round draft pick, and a new core built around Josh, Al, and Jeff Teague.
Slimjr
December 1st, 2011
11:29 am
If DeAndre Jordan is a FA, we have a much better shot @ acquiring him. Plus Jordan is a far superior Rim Defender @ the 5 over All NBA AL and he has low post moves that AllStar Al does not. All NBA Al is not a 4, maybe in the CBA but not NBA.. So bye ALL NBA AL….Try and get 15-20pt. per game #3 for AllStar, All NBA, All Overrated Alice…
CP3 and D12 are pipe dreams..And you know how pipe dreams turn out? lol
Slimjr
December 1st, 2011
11:36 am
Yea we beat Orlando in spite of Larry, thanks to the Herculean effort of ISO an JC1! lol
SteveW
December 1st, 2011
11:41 am
Vav74 – I so hope your right. All I can see is:
Our being outscored for the year – that usually means your a below .500 team
After being 28-15 after 43 games (yay!), we finish the season going 16-23 – Lottery material, getting outscored by 4.7 ppg in the process.
We lose by 41 to NO at Home, scoring only 59 points
A 34 point home slaughter to Philly
A 24 point slaughter by LA, which was really worse than the score indicates
An epic 33 point massacre by the Bulls at Home – weren’t we down 47 in the 3rd quarter before LD decided to put Teague in?
A 21 point thumping by Miami
A 32 point crushing by the Wizards
A team whose biggest off season move is losing Jamal Crawford
Rufus1
December 1st, 2011
11:42 am
@Astro
I am a “glass half full” kind of person and I run a small business.
I have always believed the Hawks were profitable and ASG used those profits to offset the loses from the Thrashers. The Thrashers have been sold, they got all their money back and now have a much better CBA.
The Hawks just came off their best playoff showing in 20 years and we now have our PG of the future….They are not going to lose the momentum over 2 or 3mil dollars. Also, every home game in the playoffs could net the team 2-3mil dollars(Avg $75 Tick, $25 food, TV, Parking, Etc,) The value of spending 3mil in Lux Tax could be worth 9-10mil in revenue.
No one knows the effect Teague and the right roll players my have on this team…..We won 50 games with Bibby and Jamal playing defense in our back court…..Wow, that is an accomplishment.
I have more faith in ASG and Sund than most.
Slimjr
December 1st, 2011
11:43 am
Hey no eyebrows Woodie took the Hawks to two previous semi-finals too Rufus1..Larry repeated, he did not advance the Hawks any further in the last 20 years..What you talking about Willis?
His team under achieved big time with the talent they had…46 wins out of 82 is pathetic..
This team should have won at least 56-58 games….
Slimjr
December 1st, 2011
11:46 am
Rufus1, the Hawks broke an NBA record for an above .500 team losing by more than 30 points multiple games in a season!
Larry sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slimjr
December 1st, 2011
11:51 am
who is going to replace JC1’s scoring load in the playoffs if they make it? hugh?
vava74
December 1st, 2011
11:55 am
SteveW,
“A team whose biggest off season move is losing Jamal Crawford”
That’s a huge step forward in my book!!!
Teague, JJ and Hinrich subbing them could be the best 3 man back court rotation in the NBA IMO. With Pape bringing some spidery D and some slashing for 5/7 minutes.
Just add a solid veteran to the mix as the 5th wheel (an Anthony Carter type of guy or preferably a 3 point specialist) and we are set.
vava74
December 1st, 2011
11:59 am
Slimjr,
Teague averaged (before the injury in game 6) 17ppg against the Bulls, one of the best defenses.
He was practically toe to toe with the league’s MVP.
Why the heck should we miss the streaky shooting, zero D Crawford??
Vastly entertaining – I admit it – but hardly irreplaceable.
Astro Joe
December 1st, 2011
12:00 pm
Rufus, I think the Hawks played the same number of home games last year as the previous 2 under Woody, so I doubt that they had an increase in revenue there. Remember that the Hawks had homecourt advantage in the first round the previous two seasons, so they played 4 home games in the first round, then 2 more in the second. Last year, we played 3 & 3. Home record wasn;t as strong last season which likely meant lower attendance during the regular season. And despite having sold the Thrashers, they were still desperate enough to announce a deal with a guy who didn’t have the cash to support the team. That doesn’t sound like enthusiastic ownership with grand hopes for a post-Thrashers era to me. Sorry, when it comes to the ASG’s ownership of the Hawks, I am a glass is virtually empty kind of guy.
Slimjr
December 1st, 2011
12:04 pm
I’m concerned for Teague’s durability..Because of the fact he has such a poor jump shot he has to drive into the trees and where he is getting hammered..That’s why he got knocked out of the Chicago series…..He’s a costly lost when injured………remember Tyron Lue? Above average guard but stayed injured……
Restless Native
December 1st, 2011
12:09 pm
Hey Hawks,
Please do us a favor and LEAVE TOWN! LOL
SteveW
December 1st, 2011
12:09 pm
Jordan Crawford was the ideal cheap replacement for Jamal. But of course LD couldn’t stop his pathological inability to not play Teague, and play Bibby. So since Gearon hired LD, Sund couldn’t fire him, so the only choice was to trade JC2 and a 1st pick, another cheap body, for Kirk.
So LD has cost ATL two first picks due to his incompetence. When he’s forced to play Teague, Teague plays stellar against Portland. And was a D presence at the Point that I don’t remember since Mookie.
LD, and really Gearon for not allowing Sund to hire a real Coach because of dollars and cents – only half pay during the lockout – lowest paid HC in the League etc, has systematically destroyed the Hawks.
So as along as LD is here, unless he turns into super coach, which I hope he does, I don’t see ATL in the playoffs at all. More 20+ point blowout losses are all I see.
Rev in Tampa
December 1st, 2011
12:12 pm
Cofreaking-sign northcyde’s post about Al’s deficiencies at PF. Putting Al at PF has the added deficiency of putting Josh at SF. The motion offense had the effect of letting everybody think they were playing SG.
SteveW
December 1st, 2011
12:12 pm
Vava74 – I understand your point about Jamal – but with LD, we’re still toast, unless of course he’s turned into a real NBA HC somehow.
KevinM
December 1st, 2011
12:13 pm
WorldwideClyde, My point was Sund has given us 3 positives over all the other debacles during his regime here. He has sat on his hands for the most part.
I disagree on going over the cap; the ASG has whined about losing money since they had rifts with Belkin. They aren’t going over any cap and paying double just to fill out our roster. We are going with Kirk and Marvin and Collins to fill the roles.
I would be stunned if Sund pulled off a trade in our favor. He has yet to do that since he’s been here. We have to take on a bad contract to make any trade happen.
For someone to be in this business for 31 years, I sure don’t see any advantage he brings us. He has been getting his butt kicked the entire time in this league. Why can’t the ASG not see that?
Our roster is not one of great potential; Drew will do the same things he did last year. His dislike for Teague and his adoration for Bibby showed me enough.
Rufus, I just think Josh is making the most noise to be moved. Al and JJ aren’t talking at all. They are very happy getting the accolades they are getting on a 2nd tier team.
Slimjr
December 1st, 2011
12:14 pm
Yeah Mookie was extremely strong and durable! Teague not so much?
SteveW
December 1st, 2011
12:14 pm
Rufus1 – He was ok in the playoffs, granted – but did you see the total disaster the last 39 games of the season – us playing lottery ball, having historic losses at home on a regular basis – 41 pt loss to the Hornets, 30 + to Philly and Chicago, 30+ to the Wizards away?
Did you see how he cost us 2 1st picks by his incompetence?
Guess not.
SteveW
December 1st, 2011
12:16 pm
Stating Collins in the Orlando series – right move
Being forced to start Teague in the 2nd round – right move.
Spot starting Collins during the regular season – right move
That’s about all…
KevinM
December 1st, 2011
12:18 pm
Is it possible the Heat will give us Bibby back?
Now that is how Sund is thinking than bringing in better talent. We just missed his core leadership with that towel over his mouth on the bench.
SteveW
December 1st, 2011
12:19 pm
I think Teague will be durable – he’s an astounding athlete.
But let’s be real – DRose had a bum ankle and Teague was fresh. Teague is nowhere close to as good as DRose.
But Teague can be a 10+/5 guy with above average defense on a nightly basis.
And he’s got a very good J – weird looking, but very good. I don’t know where he got the bum rap he can’t shoot.
Slimjr
December 1st, 2011
12:20 pm
@KevinM,
its amazing how incompetent people like Sund continue to get paid 7 figures for 31 plus years..No wonder why our Country is in such hurt……
SteveW
December 1st, 2011
12:20 pm
There was discussion during the NBA Championship series on ESPN was Mike Bibby the worst starter ever on a Finals team. That pretty much says it all.
And this from a huge Bibby fan his whole career, until he collapsed.
SteveW
December 1st, 2011
12:21 pm
Slimjr – I think Gearon Jr. is the incompetent one, not so much Sund
Astro Joe
December 1st, 2011
12:28 pm
Steve, I think Teague shot around 29% from between 16-23 feet last year while the league average (including bigs) was 39%. Maybe that contributes to the perception that he needs to work on his jumper.
Slimjr
December 1st, 2011
12:31 pm
Steve I play ball and know a good jumpshot when I see it.. Teaque’s needs a ton of work and that’s putting it nicely..
Rufus1
December 1st, 2011
12:33 pm
@Slim
Woody got swept….. LD was bad coaching decision(taking out Zaza) away from winning game 5.
We won’t miss Jamal as much as people think. The way Teague scored and SHUT DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWN Korver keep the Hawks in that series. The combo of Teague and Kirk will make-up for Jamal just on the defensive end.
@Astro
Murelo had enough money to buy the team, TRUST ME. They vet these things and he was trying to buy a NBA franchise, you can’t get this far without reasonable financial proof…… I would bet that is a cover story. He may not have been able to verify all of his income streams(speculating) and image is very important to the league.
My point about the revenue- If ownership thinks spending 3mil Lux Tax to get a certain roll player would get them to the ECF, the Lux Tax wouldn’t stop that decision…..If the decision doesn’t make finacial sense then they won’t spend the money…
drmaryb .[*_*].
December 1st, 2011
12:40 pm
Jordan III
LOL! I read on hoopshype yesterday that the Clipps were making it a priority to sign DeAndre Jordan and one of their other studs. Pretty much said DeAndre is untouchable.
Move on people: Thou Shall Not Covet.
________________
I’m glad to hear no one is untouchable, and on this roster – no one should be. Especially if we can commandeer a super star – which is also laughable in and of itself.
Like Chris Webber said on FSS after the Bulls beat back the Hawks in 6, “The Hawks problem is management!”
Does anyone trust these guys? I’ll do like I always did:
enjoy the games, yell at the flat screen, mush my dirty socks on Marvin’s butt when it waddles by on my 60″, drink import beers and keep eating popcorn.
Now that’s my idea of entertainment. Forget about all the business stuff, I already got a 9 to 5.
Astro Joe
December 1st, 2011
12:47 pm
Rufus, the other part of crossing the luxury tax line is that you don;t get as big of a “welfare” check from post-season revenues. In the previous CBA, the luxury tax pot was distributed across the other teams. So not only do you pay in tax but you don;t get any extra revenue on the back-end. The rules have been changed so non-luxury teams will likely get less of a check, but they still get something. So the league prefers teams to stay under the luxury line. It creates better league-wide balance. I prefer your persective as it would result in a more entertaining product.
Astro Joe
December 1st, 2011
12:50 pm
Mary, I do pretty much the same. Except I am watching on a 13″ B&W while drinking Kool-Aid.
STRETCH
December 1st, 2011
12:51 pm
Around the NBA draft last year the Atlanta Hawks shopped forward Josh Smith around. The feeling was mutual, Smith felt it was time for a change of scenery. However, the Hawks didn’t get any offers they liked.
Now with the lockout over, Smith is back up on the trading block, reports Adrian Wojnarowski at Yahoo.
Lets get it started. I love JS but sometimes the guy is a mental case. Maybe it would be better for both parties if they split.
But, i wonder would he come back to Philips like Deion coming back to the GA Dome and say “This is my house!” and comence to burn down Atlanta like Sherman did!
Slimjr
December 1st, 2011
12:55 pm
Astro Joe
December 1st, 2011
12:50 pm
“Mary, I do pretty much the same. Except I am watching on a 13″ B&W while drinking Kool-Aid.”
OH S___T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I almost spit out my coffee!!!! LMAO!!!!!!!!! HaHaHa……
Slimjr
December 1st, 2011
12:57 pm
They need to Shop ALL NBA AL too..See what bites?
Rufus1
December 1st, 2011
1:01 pm
Josh-
I want to see Teague and Josh track team for atleast one year….It looks very tantalizing in the Bulls series.
BoJo Ellis
December 1st, 2011
1:03 pm
Howard’s the man..make the deal!
Grandad
December 1st, 2011
1:10 pm
It don’t matter where the foofoo you play on Offense;
you can stand at half court if you want;
that does not effect your Defensive Rebound Production !
In a motion offense, there is no telling where you might be
when the shot attempt occurs – Morons !
If you’re gonna crash the boards you crash the boards.
If LD says get back on defense then they are gonna …
get back on defense.
Can yawl get that through yawls…………………………….
I must calm down.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
now;
please do not talk about where someone hangs out on offense
when referencing rebounding.
Defensive Rebounding is our weakness !
Thank you ever so much.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Grandad
December 1st, 2011
1:17 pm
I do apologize for calling anyone a moron;
that in itself likened me to that retard Paul Johnson.
O'Brien
December 1st, 2011
1:39 pm
AJ,
They are not all star material, but Felton averages 14 pts, 7 assists for his career, Chandler averaged 15 and 6 last season, and Gallinari averaged 16 and 5. For the right price, I think they are good complimentary pieces. Throw in a first round pick, and the cap flexibility, I think Denver did very well.
As for LD and Sund’s contract situation, I think it depends on whether or not ASG find a buyer before next season. If they don’t, I see them picking up LD’s 3rd year option (or promoting Lester Connor
), and extending Sund for one more year.
drmaryb .[*_*].
December 1st, 2011
1:41 pm
Loco – Motion!
“In a motion offense, there is no telling where you might be” -Grand-Daddy-
_______________
Oops! (in the voice of Rick Perry).
Ugggh … When have these Hawks ever ran a motion offense? All I remember was a lot of standing around and looking, oh yeah and Josh running to stand behind the 3 point line with 5 seconds left on the shot clock.
LOL! Calm down Grand-Daddy, my love … What we are having is a lengthy, healthy conversation. It’s ok to disagree. That’s what makes it fun.
An exchange of ideas, opinions and azz holes (we all got all three).