Atlanta Hawks: Rick Sund says Hawks don’t want to pay tax, making Jamal Crawford’s return doubtful
GM Rick Sund said the Hawks still “have never been a taxpaying team and our goal is not to pay the tax,” an approach that essentially means the team is out of the running to re-sign Jamal Crawford or use the free-agent guard in a sign-and-trade transaction.
“It’s going to be difficult to sign Jamal in a straight signing transaction,” Sund said. “We are looking at other alternatives, of course. You always look at everything but it’s not nearly as easy as if you had four months. Four days instead of four months makes it more it more difficult.”
Marc Berman of the New York Post reports that the Hawks, Knicks and Warriors are discussing a three-team trade. SI.com’s Sam Amick later reported that the Warriors are not involved in the discussions.
The bottom line, though, is that any transaction which results in the Hawks paying the tax remains doubtful.
The only way a straight sign-and-trade with the Knicks is plausible is if the Crawford’s starting salary is low enough that the salary Atlanta takes back doesn’t result in a tax penalty. Howard Beck of the New York Times reports that the Knicks want to sign Crawford for the $2.5 million “mini” mid-level exception. Beck also notes that the Knicks have several players who are not eligible to be traded now because the just signed their contracts.
So all those factors mean a sign-and-trade with the Knicks is out. And, obviously, the Hawks also have no chance of re-signing Crawford or any other free agent making more than the minimum as long as they decline to pay the tax.
Sund didn’t completely rule out the Hawks eventually paying some tax but he noted that most teams are backing away from doing so, especially since the tax penalties increase in the third year of the new CBA.
“You never say never,” Sund said about paying tax. “Anything can happen in regards to trades.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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111 comments Add your comment
Joe.Jeff.Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 11th, 2011
6:56 pm
J from the A, Indiana signed David West. Their starting backcourt has defense with George Hill off the bench. Their frontcourt has 2 former all stars who can score in volume and Psycho T off the bench.
OJ Mayo might come in a trade for 6′10 Josh McRoberts.
So Hawks are looking like a 4th seed.
S-B: Chris Kaman was the backup and played 33 games iirc, his defense and health is always suspect. Dwight would eat him alive w/o the psychological and “Laimbeer-esque” physical aspect Zaza brings. No thx.
DeAndre Jordan maybe but he’s the starter and a feast/famine player. He could breakout but hes a starter.
And ’superior” you sound like Adolf Hitler. Change your name, man. Pretty please.
Ken Strickland
December 11th, 2011
7:01 pm
You can whine and b!tch about Sund and the ASG all you want, it won’t change a doggone thing, and you should know that by now. The situation we’re in is what it is, so deal with it. Stop being stupid, and stop claiming doom and gloom because things aren’t the way you might want.
While the Hawks as constructed won’t likely win this yrs NBA title, but the Hawks that some of you are trying to construct, and are fantasizing over, won’t likely win this yrs NBA title either. I see us doing a whole lot better, both during the regular season and playoffs, than most of you are willing to concede.
Prison Mike
December 11th, 2011
7:09 pm
Okay Josh, Al, and Joe has commented on how they need a big to help as opposed to starting. Sund also said they are looking for a big, vet minimum I assume.
Prison Mike
December 11th, 2011
7:11 pm
Who are the short list candidates?
Joe.Jeff.Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 11th, 2011
7:12 pm
C. Lyles its hard to win because our offense used to be tops in the league. But it was because we were small and went with all shooters and crashed boards.
Our defense was destroyed by teams that are bigger can shoot and crash boards. So now we go big and our offense is destroyed.
It seems every year we ask Josh Smith to save us. Maybe now we have started to go for a big who can shoot.
For Years it was
Stretch 3 – Marvin
Small 4 – Josh Smith (6 FTA per game)
small shooting center – Horford (a weak 2-3 FTA per game) or defensive center – Zaza Pachulia
Then we went big and Horford still could not up his FTA per game. Coaches reviewed tape and probably saw his weakness in iso and playing off guards he just shoots 2s. 3s and FTA put pressure on defense, Tough 2s dont.
Now it seems Hawks are seeing the light in going with an elite frontcourt is, funny enough, Josh Smith as a “Power SF” who can PnR, not Horford at the PF.
Power 3 – Josh Smith (6 FTA per game)
Stretch 4 – 6′10 Radmanovic
shooting center – 6′9,75″ Horford (2-3 FTA per game)
It would be easier to reach the Finals with
Power 3 – Josh Smith (6 FTA per game)
Stretch 4 – 7′0 Leuer
defensive center – 7′0 Bogut
but we’ll see if Sund can rectify this in the coming weeks.
Norcross
December 11th, 2011
7:15 pm
MC, what do you think of Pape Sy?
Adil
December 11th, 2011
7:16 pm
Its frustrating how the ownweship seam to not care about the fans….what are we doing? the bottom line is we need a BIG MAN…i lost my hope in this ownership until it changes we will not be able to chanlenge anything….
Astro Joe
December 11th, 2011
7:17 pm
Put me down for 43 wins, which is a 65% winning percentage… equivalent to 53 wins in a normal season. This is a fairly balanced roster and I am expecting a more entertaining regular season than last year.
STRETCH
December 11th, 2011
7:20 pm
Compared to the bench they had last year, anything is better!
Michael Cunningham
December 11th, 2011
7:21 pm
new blog is posted. shutting down this thread.
Knicks really want Jamal Crawford. Don’t bet on it happening. | ProBasketballTalk
December 12th, 2011
1:28 pm
[...] Hawks do not want to pay the luxury tax and they are bumping up against that $70 million number, as the Atlanta Journal Constitution explains. The only way a straight sign-and-trade with the Knicks is plausible is if the Crawford’s [...]