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
kwooden
December 23rd, 2011
3:06 pm
I don’t actually know how the D-League works in terms of paying player and how they are associated with the team, but it would ake a lot of sense to waive Benson and Sy to send them to the D-League for the year. Those guys weren’t going to play, which is my main problem. LD and Woody clearly have a problem with letting rookies make mistakes opposed to vets. Tracy and Stack have looked average to bad these last two games, but the organization decided that experience was more important than potential. Hopefully they are right because now they have no real athletes off the bench. What it looks like to me is a version of the old boy network, were you keep your friends around because your comfortable with them.
Wabe
December 23rd, 2011
3:06 pm
Man, look at the Bulls bench. They’ve built through the draft.
Guys like Omer Asik and Taj Gibson are draft picks they have coming off their bench. They pick good talent and mold them into good players.
The Hawks have no clue what to do with the draft, nor are they ever active players in free agency. Thus, you see them in neutral year after year.
They traded Jordan and a 1st…
They waived Pape Sy…
And now goes Benson…
Constantly mismanaging their assets.
U ideeeiot...
December 23rd, 2011
3:07 pm
STFU
December 23rd, 2011
3:03 pm
“STOP WHINING AND BUY SOME TICKETS SO WE CAN ACTUALLY GO OVER THE LUXURY TAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Your an idiot!!
Mike
December 23rd, 2011
3:08 pm
Oh well, atleast we got a much older group now, but god forbids if we have a injury to the core.
Rufus1
December 23rd, 2011
3:08 pm
Enter your comments here
hawks_4_life
December 23rd, 2011
3:09 pm
Wow the hawks waive Benson, already?
JSS
December 23rd, 2011
3:09 pm
When you draft late 2nd rounders, no one is expecting them to be in the league immediately. You are expecting a team to have a team to have some framework for developing those type of players. That is especially true when you’re jettisoning quality high draft picks as the Hawks have… This team is starting to take on the smell of a cheap version of what Orlando did last year… They’ve blown up the back end of the roster (6-14) and not created any real chemistry…
U ideeeiot...
December 23rd, 2011
3:11 pm
Where’s our rim protector? Benson cut?
lewis
December 23rd, 2011
3:12 pm
i saw 2 seconds of the hawks play, and I saw a bearded guy run someone over on the way to the hoop. loved it.
keep ivan johnson
Michael Cunningham
December 23rd, 2011
3:15 pm
blog updates with Benson release.
KevinM
December 23rd, 2011
3:15 pm
“LD and Woody clearly have a problem with letting rookies make mistakes opposed to vets. Tracy and Stack have looked average to bad these last two games, but the organization decided that experience was more important than potential.”
The quote that defines Mike Bibby from last year.
KevinM
December 23rd, 2011
3:17 pm
Good decision to move Benson out…..and Sloan is only here to beat out Pargo if he can until JT and Kirk can be the combo.
JT's Hoops Blog
December 23rd, 2011
3:20 pm
I was certain that Benson considering Atlanta’s lack of size in the paint.
Slimjr
December 23rd, 2011
3:20 pm
“The Hawks waived center Keith Benson, their only draft pick in June.”
Tragic!!!!!!
ryan
December 23rd, 2011
3:20 pm
Do you think with these moves maybe just maybe we could be setting up for D12 i know i could be dreaming here could be a reason for these moves ether there stupid or they have something planed .
Michael Cunningham
December 23rd, 2011
3:20 pm
@Yo Yo Yo: “Ban this Smith.Leuer.Bogut clown, please.”
why?
Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 23rd, 2011
3:21 pm
wow. Lmfao
Stackhouse over developing Benson. Ivan Johnson that good eh. Idiots.
“I’m far, far more interested in discussing real Hawks basketball”
50 year tradition of losing and overrating talent, Jon Contract. Trading Dominique. Keeping Marvin Williams for $8 million. wtf?
You compared Bogut and Leuer’s ability to get us to the 2nd round success to Horford’s so which is it?
And Sorry kids, if Horford cant get you Bogut and the 2011 #40 pick, then you sure as hell aren’t “renting” Dwight.
Michael Cunningham
December 23rd, 2011
3:21 pm
@Rev in Tampa: “MC, you closed that last thread down just in time. SOMEONE is off THEIR meds and is close to shutting down the blog again like last year.”
who was it? please shoot me an email when this happens.
JSS
December 23rd, 2011
3:22 pm
@ Michael Cunningham…
That is why I asked you last week about the D-League direction and Reno. This team seems to be under some illusion about searching the waiver wire from this point forward for back end talent… If they ever have an injury of any magnitude, they are in for a world of hurt! 10 day contracts are fools gold.
Slimjr
December 23rd, 2011
3:22 pm
Where is the ShotBlocker/Post play coming from? Josh? Sheesh…………….
Smith.Leuer.Bogut
December 23rd, 2011
3:25 pm
Thanks MC for a journalist standing up to the peanut gallery for good basketball.
Yo Yo Yo: “Ban this Smith.Leuer.Bogut clown, please.”
MC: Why?
Yo Yo Yo: “Because he doesn;t go with the flow. He says that Jeff Joe and Josh can go further with Bogut+Leuer + Marvin off the bench than just keeping Horford+Marvin.
Michael Cunningham
December 23rd, 2011
3:25 pm
@Mike: “MC, I have a question for you I didnt ask it when you did the interview with Gearon, when he say “Make it or Break it” year, does he means that if team doesnt past the second round this year, the core is getting changed or something else.”
he didn’t say that specifically but i think that’s a fair interpretation since at this point making the East finals would be the only tangible progress. so if they don’t make it, yes, the core gets broken up according to Gearon.
KevinM
December 23rd, 2011
3:25 pm
I look at the roster and its salaries, and the more I look at it, the more I want Joe out of here first and not Al.
He is killing the bottom line and his pay should be on scale with our other 2 captains.
I think G-Dad was the one who was adamant about moving Joe.
I wanted to blow this thing up last year, and start in 2011 with Josh and Jeff. We would be prepared to be looking at the 2012 draft class.
I like this quote about signing Pargo from hawks.com:
“Jannero also has a good relationship with Joe Johnson who he played with for one year at Arkansas and spent the offseason working out with in Miami.”
So instead of going after Ish Smith, who played with Teague at Wake Forest and who showed flashes in Houston, we are going to add a guy who relates with Joe…….and Ish is more of a PG than Pargo.
wut
December 23rd, 2011
3:29 pm
Smith.Leuer.Bogut,
Why keep Marvin? Should he be the first one out the door?
Slimjr
December 23rd, 2011
3:30 pm
“he didn’t say that specifically but i think that’s a fair interpretation since at this point making the East finals would be the only tangible progress. so if they don’t make it, yes, the core gets broken up according to Gearon.”
Gearon just want this ish sold!!!! And gtf outta here! He know this ish aint gonna make an ECF as presently configured…
mykhalc
December 23rd, 2011
3:31 pm
this franchise is ready the sell and this roster absolutely confirms that…a buyer will surface before the season’s end and this time the sale will happen. a clean slate is bein’ set up for the new owner…whomever they turn out to be…
KevinM
December 23rd, 2011
3:31 pm
MC, did the ASG provide you a workstation at Philips? Because you deserve it for all the time you have spent there the last 2 weeks.
Michael Cunningham
December 23rd, 2011
3:36 pm
@KevinM: “MC, did the ASG provide you a workstation at Philips? Because you deserve it for all the time you have spent there the last 2 weeks.”
haha. i have a little work area in the media room but most times i go home to write. still lots to do Saturday. Sunday will be my rest day, then it’s off and running with that crazy schedule.
Mike
December 23rd, 2011
3:39 pm
I am thinking that too, that the Hawks is going to be sold soon. Besides to be honest, they cant make to the ECF as is, unless they make a major trade at the deadline (like that will happen). At the end, they better not have a major injury this year.
ntrigue
December 23rd, 2011
3:39 pm
Hate that we cut Benson hopefully no one picks him up and we can pick him up later if needed because Jason Collins is injury prone.
Astro Joe
December 23rd, 2011
3:43 pm
I don’t get the reason for keeping Sloan and dumping both Benson and Rolle. Unless there is a concern about Teague’s ankle that they haven’t shared. Last year, they stocpiled disposable bigs, now they are looking to do the same at PG. Strange, strange strategy.
Greg
December 23rd, 2011
3:44 pm
MC – Does Kenyon Martin’s delay until Feb/Mar make it any more or less plausible that the Hawks could be interested in signing him?
J.J.M.
December 23rd, 2011
3:45 pm
smh people try so hard to be a fan of the hawks
Greg
December 23rd, 2011
3:45 pm
Carrying 15? Smart. Sadly, I’m sure I’m not alone in being surprised by that decision.
SteveW
December 23rd, 2011
3:50 pm
I thought LD was trying to figure a way to keep Stackhouse.
Harry Hawk
December 23rd, 2011
3:51 pm
He’s a Stack…house.
Jody
December 23rd, 2011
3:52 pm
@MC,
Any chance the core gets broken up by the trade deadline?
SteveW
December 23rd, 2011
3:54 pm
When you have insecure leadership like Larry Drew, who has to win now or be fired, instead of an Organization, this is the result.
You trade JC2 and a 1st pick for an aging Kirk Hinrich, because you have to win now.
You release Kito, Sy, and Rolle, and keep Jerry Stackhouse, because you have to win now.
By going cheap on the Coaching hire, it really hurts the team for years. We lose 2 First round picks, 2 second round picks, really because we just have to win now.
Because if you don’t win now, your fired, because you were a test Coach anyway, and not a more established one.
Well, I hope we win now!
KevinM
December 23rd, 2011
3:54 pm
Well, we all know there is no room on these rosters for guys who only do one thing well. Collins might be the exception here and we are locked in with all-potential Marvin.
So Sy, Rolle, Benson and the rest will have to develop outside the practice court at Philips. Why don’t we have a true NBDL team? Could it be because we aren’t in the skill developing business? I see a junior team as a benefit down the road, like the summer league is supposed to be for newcomers.
There is limits to the ASG’s abilities all the way around.
SteveW
December 23rd, 2011
3:55 pm
On the bright side – Glad Ivan made it!
And Sloan also – guy looked good and solid last nite. Good backup PG.
mykhalc
December 23rd, 2011
3:56 pm
LD and all these cats are gone at the end of the season…regardless!!!
SteveW
December 23rd, 2011
3:57 pm
I think they still have to be on your roster to be in DLeague don’t they? Still count towards the roster limit etc.
SteveW
December 23rd, 2011
3:58 pm
I just hope Al doesn’t go down. ZaZa and Collins can’t do 48 minutes per night for long. ZaZa might could go 30 for a stretch, but I don’t see Collins doing 18 mpg for many games consecutively.
superiorblogman
December 23rd, 2011
3:59 pm
I think Stack should have been released over Benson but whatever I guess they think Stacks locker-room presence is more important. 2 wasted 2nd rd picks. Never understood the Sy thing but whatever. Our youth movement is officially dead. Jordan, Pape, Benson, the 1st round pick, the 2nd we sold to OKC. Team is being ruined right before your eyes when you think we still don’t have a starting C, we start a SF that is no better than the 8th man on a serious team. Spent 2 1st round picks and gutted our youth on Hinrich. Sucks to be a Hawks fan.
Harry Hawk
December 23rd, 2011
4:01 pm
The Hawks will destroy all who oppose them at a .545 clip.
Greg
December 23rd, 2011
4:03 pm
SteveW, your jones for a brand-name head coach notwithstanding… might want to consider the age of the roster… conventionally speaking, this and next year will be their collective prime. To the contrary, doesn’t really matter who the coach is.
mykhalc
December 23rd, 2011
4:04 pm
this is the Al Harrington Hawks roster…remember that…same feel and look…
mykhalc
December 23rd, 2011
4:05 pm
i should say the “LAST” year of the Al roster…
SteveW
December 23rd, 2011
4:05 pm
Let’s be realistic. A team with Teague/Pargo/Sloan at the PG is at least survivable until Hinrich returns.
SG – JJ/Green/Stack is not terrible
SF – Marvin/TMac – that’s ok also.
PF – Josh/VladRad/IJohnson – the Beast, The Animal, whatever you want to call him – that’s ok depth also
C – Al/ZaZa/Collins – Not bad
This is the deepest Hawks team I remember, especially if Pargo and TMac do pretty well.
No more silly 7 and 8 man rotations, especially not with this seasons compressed schedule. I think we go a legit 13 deep, even before Hinrich gets back.
Now I hope Larry has learned how to use substitutions, That is the next real question. Most all of these guys can contribute at least a little bit.
We’ll see how Larry uses them.
Hawks fan
December 23rd, 2011
4:07 pm
Fire Larry Drew please