Atlanta Hawks: Hawks waive Sy, Wanamaker, Rolle (Update: Benson also released)
The Hawks waived forward Magnum Rolle and guards Pape Sy and Brad Wanamaker today. More cuts are coming later today: The roster now stands at 16, one more than the maximum, and it’s possible Atlanta will carry the minimum 13 players for the regular season.
UPDATE: The Hawks waived center Keith Benson, their only draft pick in June. The team plans to carry 15 on the roster to start the season. There are four players on the roster with non-guaranteed deals: Ivan Johnson, Jannero Pargo, Donald Sloan, and Jerry Stackhouse.
The decisions on Rolle and Wanamaker were not unexpected but the Hawks gave up on Sy after investing in him as a long-term prospect. Coach Larry Drew said Sy’s inability to develop as a point guard played a part in the decision.
“We, the coaches and the management, came to an agreement that he’s been a little bit more effective off the ball than at the point,” Drew said. “With that and the acquisition of Willie Green and [having] a number of other guys that are veterans that can play two, he became expendable. We were hoping he would mature and develop but he just seemed more comfortable at that two-guard spot. With that, we made the decision to go in a different direction.”
Sy, a native of France, made his way to the NBA as a a rare unknown prospect–prominent Web sites that track numerous draft-eligible players had no file on Sy before Atlanta selected him in the second of the 2010 draft. Sy had paid his own way to work out for the Hawks, the only team to grant him an audience, and impressed Drew.
The Hawks paid about $125,000 to buy out Sy’s French contract last year and paid him $473,604 in salary in 2010-11. He played a total of 21 minutes for the Hawks last season and spent 23 games with Atlanta’s D-League affiliate.
Sy had a good training camp but Atlanta’s payroll is pushing against the luxury-tax line, leaving little room for carrying players who can’t help the team now. The Hawks added guards Green and Pargo during training camp.
“It was a really tough decision,” Drew said. “There were a lot of things we liked about Pape.”
When the Hawks drafted Benson, they said he was a long-term prospect because he needed to add bulk and strength. But Benson, like Sy, appears to be a victim of Atlanta’s focus on veterans at the expense of carrying prospects who need time to develop. Benson was released by a club team in Italy during the lockout.
Rolle signed with the Hawks near the end of last season and re-joined the team following a stint in South Korea. He came into camp out of shape after he said a right foot injury hampered him from maintaining his conditioning.
Wanamaker, a rookie free agent out of the University of Pittsburgh, struggled during last night’s exhibition victory against Charlotte.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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771 comments Add your comment
i_am_soulstar
December 25th, 2011
7:34 pm
Announcers talking about teams in the East. mentioned Boston, Miami, Chicago, Orlando, Philly, and even Indiana. Nothing about Atlanta. No respect.
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
7:36 pm
Blue Steel,
Thanks, man. I enjoyed doing the blog. The upside is that I can be saltier on this blog than I could while moderating my own, LOL.
Still watching Bulls/Lakers. It’s clear Chicago still hasn’t hired enough help for Rose. Then again, it IS just game 1. Still….with the defense the Lakers are putting up, the other top option (Boozer) isn’t cuttin’ the mustard.
Meanwhile, Kobe looks like a hungry man approaching a buffet, and his teammates are responding very well. Troy Murphy and Josh McRoberts look like very good additions early on. Both guys are hitting the glass well and playing interior defense alongside Gasol. Doesn’t seem like they miss Odom at all…
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
7:38 pm
brigadierjerry ,
Excellent analysis. In regard to Billups/Rose/Hamilton….here’s the trippy thing – Rose may not fit Hamilton the way Billups did, but the fact is that HE needs to fit Rose, not the other way around. And to expound on your point…I say he doesn’t. At least not yet. We’ll know 20 games later.
EmirS.
December 25th, 2011
7:39 pm
” but the lack of a second scorer with those sixers and kick teams and with this Bulls team I think will be their downfall even though they got Hamilton”
Yea Hamilton has been a non-factor so far. Maybe it’s because of foul trouble or maybe he needs more time to adjust to this team. Or maybe Jamal Crawford would have been a better fit. Or…we may all be getting ahead of ourselves. It’s only the first game after all.
hittman jamillion
December 25th, 2011
7:40 pm
the demise of the lakers and celtics are premature and the bulls are one hit wonders. biggest defiecincy for chicago,no legit scoring option at all.
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
7:41 pm
I am Soulstar,
I still say you have the coolest blog name of anybody (no offense to anybody else).
You know why we get no respect. Because we look exactly the same as we have for the last year, and the one before that.
Our ownership is a joke, our front office is a joke, and we don’t have a single true box office draw in uniform. Top it off, we haven’t “been there”, as in been in true contention. Even the old a$$ Celtics have “been there” and have the type of team cohesion and continuity that sometimes is a world beater all by itself. We have none of that.
But hey…we’re one of only three teams to consecutively make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs….for the last 2 or 3 years…..
Wait…how come the media never mentions that?
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
7:43 pm
Emir S.,
Good point. It is just game one. Now will we be saying that if we lose by 20 in the season opener? LOL.
Having said that, Rip Hamilton is indeed NOT the answer by himself for the Bulls. He’ll probably score less than Jamal would have, while defending better. Still won’t be enough.
EmirS.
December 25th, 2011
7:48 pm
“Now will we be saying that if we lose by 20 in the season opener?”
Considering our AJC bloggers….we’ll more then likely want someones head. Marshmallows anyone?
theight
December 25th, 2011
7:51 pm
i’m kind of confused. How in the heck do you cut Sy after you see him develop a lot at a position you didn’t draft him for. The guy seem to be filled with pure talent who just needs time to develop and learn the game. You keep an old head like Stackhouse who hasn’t shown anything at all this preseason and who will probably not play much this season. I like Stack but his time is over and why go out and sign so many damn guards when you really need help at the Center position. Well I guess that dumb decision in giving Joe that crazy contract is starting to bite the team straight in the A$$
theight
December 25th, 2011
7:52 pm
Troy Murphy is looking pretty good right now at the center position for the Lakers.
tony
December 25th, 2011
7:57 pm
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
6:32 pm
Tony,
You’re right. Keith Benson would have been the difference between us winning 30 games and winning more.
Puff…puff…pass…
___________________________________________
Even before Benson got the axe I didn’t think the hawks were a very good basketball team but Benson would of been better for the future than Stackhouse. Heck, JJ Barea-pg would of done more for the hawks than Stackhouse and TMac combined.
Sorry young man but you just flunked the eye test if you think Stackhouse is better for the future than Benson.
EmirS.
December 25th, 2011
8:01 pm
The Bulls man…..
That defense…..just wow.
EmirS.
December 25th, 2011
8:02 pm
Onto the OKC vs Magic game. I’ve been waiting all day for this game.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 25th, 2011
8:05 pm
MC,
A perfect follow-up question for Gearon Jr. when he claimed we spend a lot of money would have been:
“So if you spend so much money, why is LD the lowest-paid coach in the league?”
LOL never thought of that
i_am_soulstar
December 25th, 2011
8:11 pm
Ray,
Thanks man.
Yeah, I hear you. It just kinda disturbs me when they mention the Pacers, Bucks, and 76ers but no Hawks. What have those teams done?
The Pacers have added some good pieces, but those guys haven’t played a single game yet. Just tired of the Hawks being everyone’s favorite team to bash. I think I’m still feeling some kinda way about Hollinger saying that we won’t even make the playoffs.
Guess I should be used that guy by now though, eh…
i_am_soulstar
December 25th, 2011
8:12 pm
I root for the Lakers once in my existence, and they drop the ball, lol, but
BoneKollector
December 25th, 2011
8:21 pm
Man the Thunder are wat we were supposed to be. I love watching that team. The Hawks are just slightly above avg until proven otherwise.
SteveW
December 25th, 2011
8:30 pm
Blue Steel – I’m not really that optimistic, I just always try to be realistic.
About Al, I was just talking about last season. LD was treating Marvin like he was on the way out. Smoove was playing alot of 3, and Horford 4. If he’s going to do that, and with the lack of C’s in the NBA right now, a Marvin for Haywood trade would have not been bad. Haywood was getting trashed in the Dallas media for his mediocre play.
And if LD still wants to do that this season – if Marvin starts getting the 18-20 mpg off the bench, and doing poorly, ship him to Dallas for Haywood.
But unless Dallas acquires another C, they are not going to trade Haywood.
But hey, I’m frustrated with Al for not pumping more iron and getting more 5 ready. I think he’s getting to far from the basket too often, and is in danger of getting punked by his guy Noah.
But Noah has no offensive game at all. He’s just all hustle and D.
Herman Cain
December 25th, 2011
8:32 pm
Why is LD the lowest-paid coach in the league?”
This is merit base and talent structured. Hes the lowest talent in the league so its only fitting.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 25th, 2011
8:38 pm
That was a BS no-call on Deng for the ups and down. Should’ve been Laker ball up 1 with like 10 seconds left.
And will LAL PLEASE find a PG? I know they got screwed over on the CP3 trade, but D.Fish cannot defend anyone. He is only good for hitting shots and taking charges (which is 10x more than Bibby could do btw)
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
8:52 pm
Sorry young man but you just flunked the eye test if you think Stackhouse is better for the future than Benson.
I never said that. But when you talked about seeing where we might win 30 games this year….you did mean THIS YEAR, right? Again, tell me what difference Benson would have made.
But hey, he’s so talented, he will no doubt pick up with another NBA team in no time, due to his large potential alone….right? Dude…have you noticed the “development” that’s gone on around here? Funny how Larry Drew, though he is what he is, never said much about letting Benson go. The only thing he had to say was about Pape Sy. What might that tell you?
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
8:55 pm
I am Soulstar,
It’s not fair. But when other teams make moves, significant moves, to try and reasonably improve themselves, they get the attention. Again, for us it all starts at the top. Our ownership and front office have had way too many of the headlines over the past several years. That affected how they stand in free agency (not well), and overall. It has affected our team and the budget as well.
The media bashes us because it’s convenient and now the Clippers don’t looks so stupid.
Having said all that, you’re right – those teams get the early season hype and all that….until they break into the real limelight. Last year was Milwaukee’s turn. Turned out badly for them.
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
9:11 pm
Look at skinny ol’ Durant posting up successfully.
If only Marvin would do that, with his 245 lb a$$.
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
9:12 pm
Instead of getting himself pushed off the block consistently by smaller defenders, Marvin could post guys up and easily average more ppg than he ever has before…and help us with our spacing in the process.
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
9:13 pm
He could have done that with a bad back and a big butt…be nice to see him doing that since he’s healthy and everything.
TyStick
December 25th, 2011
9:24 pm
Hawks should consider picking up Nate Robinson and get rid of Pargo and Sloan.
EmirS.
December 25th, 2011
9:28 pm
Magic have spread out the scoring evenly among their starting 5. Problem is that they are shooting a very low field goal percentage and their bench have not stepped up at all.
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
9:32 pm
I’m so glad the Thunder play in the West.
EmirS.
December 25th, 2011
9:35 pm
Amen to that ^
Grandmaster JeJe
December 25th, 2011
9:38 pm
“I’m so glad the Thunder play in the West.”
What difference does that make? We lost both HOME games to Miami last year and lost by like 90 at home to Chicago in the regular season in a home game as well as getting thoroughly outplayed in the Playoffs
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
9:38 pm
OKC….so talented. Perkins is just neutralizing Dwight.
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
9:39 pm
JeJe,
What’s your gripe? I’m glad a good young team isn’t around to give us fresh beatings on a more frequent basis, along with the ones we have/will get from Chicago and Miami….
brigadierjerry
December 25th, 2011
9:40 pm
I have stated this before about Dwight Howard. Would I want him on my team?Yes but I am not sure you can win with him being your primary star or go to person. I just dont see give me the ball when the game gets tight and him making a big post move jump shot or hook I dont see it. I think you need him as a secondary go to guy next to a star player that suits him best. I would take my chances all day with a guy like him expecting to make a big shot or free throw with a game on the line.
He also seems to whine to much for my liking and as big and lack of post big men in the league hard to believe he struggles in his post game and offensive moves
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
9:41 pm
Westbrook still isn’t being the pg he could be. Draw the League’s best shotblocker and your own defender at the same time, there ought to be somebody open…drop it off, guy.
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
9:45 pm
True. Howard, as dominating as he is physically, should have better moves. He’ll have to work on that and show that he can.
I say he’s deadlier if you have a very good pg or a two guard like Kobe or (believe it or not) Joe Johnson out there with him. No, there is no comparison between Kobe and JJ, but both guys represent a type of player that isn’t all that common in the NBA – a SG who can be your main ballhandler at the same time.
Clearly, Kobe/D12 > JJ/D12.
But….imagine Dwight playing when Shaq and Zo Mourning were young? Or how about when David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, et al were in their prime? Dwight would get destroyed. Daily.
brigadierjerry
December 25th, 2011
9:50 pm
But….imagine Dwight playing when Shaq and Zo Mourning were young? Or how about when David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, et al were in their prime? Dwight would get destroyed. Daily.
Big Ray,
I agree with your statement on what type of player Dwight would need to better suit him. The above statement you said, I have had this argument with many people. They think Dwight would hold his own against those guys back in the days. I say BS on that. Dwight is dominating but not so overwhelmingly than he should. If he was playing against does guys in the 90’s he would be schooled nightly
BIG DOG
December 25th, 2011
9:52 pm
bridgadierjerry, This is why hope Dwight become free agent and sign with Hawks. Next year Hinrich 8mill plus Marvin 8mill Amnesty that 16mill clear cap of the books.
Just imagine Teague, Joe, Josh, Horford, Superman starting for the Hawks wow!!!!!!!! THIS TEAM WOULD BE FAV. WIN NBA TITLE.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
9:56 pm
brigadierjerry ,
No way. Dwight would either become a better player (he’d have to be), or he would have gotten destroyed. He would have found life difficult against Brad Daugherty, Tom Chambers, Shawn Kemp, and Derrick Coleman. Arvydis Sabonis would have smothered him on the defensive end, and then shot his lights out from 3 point range on the other end. Rick Mahorn and Bill Laimbeer would have lived in his skull.
Totally different breed of player then. Dwight lacks their skills and plethora of moves. In today’s game, he doesn’t need it much unless he comes up against a select number of guys – Andrew Bynum, Chuck Hayes, Kendrick Perkins, and Jason Collins, lol. There might be a couple of others, like Brendan Haywood.
Curious to see how Dwight does against Tyson Chandler all season long. As it is, the formerly goofy Pacers center Hibbert did well against him last season.
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
9:59 pm
I’d still take him without a moment’s hesitation. We’d have to keep Josh, give up Al, and give up some other stuff….but I think this trade is a pipe dream for two reasons:
1) Magic have to be smart enough to know that you don’t trade away a superstar within your own division. Especially when you’re sharing the state with another, much higher profiled NBA team. No, you send that superstar across the continent if you can help it.
2) Not confident the Atlanta Gearon Sports Federation Foundation would have the stones to actually try and make such a trade. We’d have to give up a lot, and they aren’t so good at doing that when it comes to the Gearon Core.
Slimjr
December 25th, 2011
10:00 pm
Funny: somebody ask Kevin how tall are you?
He said 6′7″!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!l lmao..Dude is at least 6′11″ A freak!!! What would have been if the Hawks could have drafted him instead of All “set shot”????? HMMM…
Slimjr
December 25th, 2011
10:01 pm
Enter your comments:
What are the odd that Gearon’s Hawks make the ECF this year?
Slimjr
December 25th, 2011
10:01 pm
odd’s^^^^
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
10:03 pm
Man…James Harden is a straight up BALLA.
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
10:05 pm
SlimJr,
Kevin Durant? We never had a chance at drafting him. Nobody was going to let that kind of talent fall past #2, and the Blazers are regretting letting him fall past #1, though nobody could blame them for taking a massive young prototype center who dominated college basketball despite not having the stamina to stay in most games for the duration.
Slimjr
December 25th, 2011
10:05 pm
Superman needs accurate shooters BigDog..Gearon’s Hawks would need to get shooters if D12 took the 6 hr ride by car to relocate to Phillips..
See OKC/Magic game tonight!
Big Wally
December 25th, 2011
10:07 pm
It’s easy to tell if the ASG are lying or not – their lips will be moving.
doc
December 25th, 2011
10:12 pm
“puff puff pass”, instant classic.
Slimjr
December 25th, 2011
10:12 pm
Richardson left his game in Orlando! 1-10? 0-4 from 3pt land? Sit down dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Look like a Hawk shooter out there……
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
10:13 pm
OKC winning the battle on the glass.
Orlando is probably underwhelmed by Big Baby Davis. It’s not that he’s played badly in limited minutes (4 points, 5 boards in 15+ minutes), but he fouls a lot (3 of them in 15+ minutes), and isn’t hitting many shots (2-7 FGs).
Big Ray
December 25th, 2011
10:13 pm
Doc,