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
SteveW
December 23rd, 2011
4:07 pm
Greg – Yep, I’ve said before that the next 2 seasons are really our chance, if we have a chance.
mykhalc
December 23rd, 2011
4:11 pm
from what you cats have posted on Ivan…the only thing that could excite me about this team is seein’ Josh send Marvin’s sorry a$$ to the bench and Ivan start at the 4…but then again i haven’t seen any games…
Mike
December 23rd, 2011
4:14 pm
But these cuts is telling us, that this core is almost to a end and they are going to ride it with veterans to see if they get them over the hump and Stack can be a player-coach for this team as well.
Rufus1
December 23rd, 2011
4:20 pm
The Ultimatum….
These roster moves make me believe an ULTIMATUM was given. The Hawks have to make it the ECF or the COACH AND GM are GONE and the TEAM will be broken-up.
ILL-Logical
December 23rd, 2011
4:23 pm
The successful NBA franchises run on 4g wireless; the Hawks management is using a dial up modem.
The moves to cut rather than develop younger players is a sign of a win know mentality that got the previous HC in trouble and doesn’t bode well for the incumbent. Bibby is the case in point. He saved Woodson’s job with the intial playoff experience-because the team was star struck and followed his lead for a hot minute. But Bibby became the rope that hung both the coach and the team when his age and physical conditioning were exposed.
Bottom line: the team lacks leadership and the coach has to rely once again on some former stars to get the core to play consistently and collaboratively. (Those who fail to heed history are doomed to repeat it)
Sautee
December 23rd, 2011
4:23 pm
I’ll have to say that I fail to understand the angst over trading JC2.
His two game totals this year:
MPG 27.5
PPG 12.0
RPG 4.0
FG% .290 (ouch!) (9-31)
3PT% .111 (double ouch!) (1-9)
Assist / Turnover ratio 1:1
Those are “project” numbers, not someone who could remotely replace JC1. Yeah, it’s a small sample, but he showed last year that his shot selection left much to be desired.
Maybe he’ll develop,( I hope he does), but for now I don’t think we gave away very much.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 23rd, 2011
4:30 pm
AMNESTY GEARON
Grandmaster JeJe
December 23rd, 2011
4:35 pm
The Ultimatum….
These roster moves make me believe an ULTIMATUM was given. The Hawks have to make it the ECF or the COACH AND GM are GONE and the TEAM will be broken-up.
LinkReport this comment
Lol Sund says it is on the players. I doubt one trade is made
Najeh Davenpoop
December 23rd, 2011
4:40 pm
They are dangerously thin up front after cutting Benson. I do not see the point of keeping both Pargo and Green on the roster at the expense of Benson (or any other serviceable big man).
Najeh Davenpoop
December 23rd, 2011
4:41 pm
Make that Pargo, Green, AND Sloan.
Three backup combo guards, and only one backup center.
Inexplicable.
UGA
December 23rd, 2011
4:42 pm
Seriously………….this is the deepest Hawks team in quiet some time.
Just Joe
December 23rd, 2011
4:50 pm
UGA…Only 3 guys on this roster can handle the center position, and one of them will spend some time at PF. We need one more big.
Fundamentals
December 23rd, 2011
4:50 pm
Cutting Benson means Horford is basically being told he’s the center. Smoove is PF and Marvin gets handed his starting job with no competition. Core to the absolute CORE! We’re banking on being a fast breaking team which though is exciting, usually fails in the Playoffs due to the slow grinding half court sets. Essentially we’re destined for our same result….AGAIN.
On the positive side this is Marvin’s year to put up or shut up. He’s not an amnesty candidate, but this is his chance to prove himself in time to get a big contract to finish his career or 17th degree.
It all comes down to the guys returning to form and using their experience to finally put it all together. JC1 was a great assett as was Bibby at the time to give us time to grow, but in all honesty they prevented certain players from growing. Look at how Joe, Marvin and Smoove stepped back when JC1 took over the offense? Now that he’s home in the NW it’s time for guys to step up.
Maybe it’ll be a banner year for Horford and Smoove down low? That’s where they need to be. Maybe, just maybe Joe and Marvin can get their stroke honed in and give us the “shotmakers” LD needs to save himself.
Hopefully Teague will stay healthy and Kirk will return soon.
I honestly think ZaZa and Collins will benefit from significant playing time and minutes. They both sulk and get real rusty when LD has too many options and lineups to tweak.
The only silver lining is Sund is forcing us to play the roster they developed or meet the Ultimatum.
Last note…Turn Ivan Viral!
Wabe
December 23rd, 2011
4:50 pm
I really think you guys are overvaluing Stackhouse’s ‘voice in the locker room’…
NUNNA!!
December 23rd, 2011
4:51 pm
GrandmasterJeJe,What is solid about our bench?
We have 2 Dinosaurs in T-Mac and Stack..(I do respect these guys career that they’ve had but this is not the team for them.
This is just about the same roster we had last year(for those who will get actual playing time)..
And instead of getting younger with fresh legs to run along with Teague,we’ve gotten old Fred Sanford Legs(RIP) to run..We’ve plain just got older..I see dust flying around Phillips Arena..
This is going to be a shortened but long A** season for the city,the fans,the organization,for the coaches and players too
Are u ready for some below 500 basketball yall?-!!!!!!
Wabe
December 23rd, 2011
4:51 pm
That’s the same garbo I heard when Hinrich came here…
“he’ll provide great leadership in the locker room”…
Najeh Davenpoop
December 23rd, 2011
4:52 pm
Stackhouse is on the team solely for leadership purposes, since he has nothing left. I am not losing a ton of sleep over keeping him over Sy or Benson, since neither one of them is some major difference maker, but I still question how much effect a locker room leader can really have when he can’t play. Josh Powell was acquired for a similar reason last year and that didn’t work out as expected.
Wabe
December 23rd, 2011
4:53 pm
If the 3 captains aren’t at a point where they can be leaders for this group…
And we gotta continue to sacrafice young talent to get outside ‘leaders’ to guide a core that’s been together this long…
SMH
Fundamentals
December 23rd, 2011
4:54 pm
Our guys probably worshiped Stack and Tmac in their prime. They have the individual accomplishments on their resume which command respect while Josh Powell just has a pube burn from rubbing up on Kobe too close. It’s not the same. I don’t like them in 2 roster spots, but there is a BIG difference between proven vets who were icons when our guys were kids and a jock sniffer.
Fundamentals
December 23rd, 2011
4:55 pm
Did Jordan have 2 other “captains”? Just name the emotional leader of the team captain and allow him to run the team. To me that’s Smoove, but he’s been too immature to carry the torch? Could this be the year he steps up?
Fundamentals
December 23rd, 2011
4:57 pm
3 captains = no real leader, thus the need for babysitters to help LD get a professional message across to the fledgelings.
Wabe
December 23rd, 2011
4:57 pm
There’s also a difference between getting a leader that can get it done still…
And one that’s just taking up a roster spot to play wise man…
It just don’t cut it for me.
The Clippers managed to get a guy like Chauncey, whose still got something left in the tank, and is a leader…
The Hawks settle for Jerry Stackhouse, simply because he’s a leader? This teams missing more than a leader…
They’re lacking in depth and talent, not just leadership.
Wabe
December 23rd, 2011
4:58 pm
I totally get what you’re saying Fundamentals…
My gripe isn’t with what you’re saying. It’s more with the organizational approach.
It’s frustrating. And I’m tired of these clowns.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 23rd, 2011
4:58 pm
To answer, jmillion from the previous blog:
To win a ring, you MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST have an a-hole – someone who gets TECHNICAL FOULS, who commits hard fouls, who talks trash, and is outspoken.
That is something we DO NOT have. The closest thing we have is Smoove and he’s a bit too soft for that.
Players I am thinking of that fit the above criteria:
James Posey, DeShawn Stevenson, Metta World Peace, Rasheed Wallace, Andrew Bynum (maybe), Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, Jason Terry
Remember when D.Wade hit a big shot in game 2 of the Finals and started show-boating and J.Terry was about to confront him? Who on our team would do that?
That’s an example of what Ivan Johnson would do. I just hope WHEN he plays, he will not be timid and defer to established stars like Joe and Al..
Fundamentals
December 23rd, 2011
5:00 pm
Wabe,
I agree, but would contend the talent is there…just no one to force them to play their strengths and role. Instead they play for stats and individual recognition. For example…Josh value’s our opinion over his jumper or lack of more than winning. He proves it every time he hoists another up!
Mike
December 23rd, 2011
5:00 pm
I think this year will can call this “the Ultimatum”. If the Hawks doesnt get past the second round this year, then blow it up.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 23rd, 2011
5:01 pm
“GrandmasterJeJe,What is solid about our bench?
We have 2 Dinosaurs in T-Mac and Stack..(I do respect these guys career that they’ve had but this is not the team for them.”
Hinrich (when he returns)
T-Mac
Vlad
ZaZa
Pargo
W. Green
These guys aren’t THAT old. Go look at the Mavs starting lineup from last year or the Celtics roster from last year. Those guys are old as hell.
T-Mac is 32. Vlad is 31. Green is 30. The only OLD player on the team is J-Stack
Fundamentals
December 23rd, 2011
5:02 pm
Wasn’t Posey still available for vet min the other day?
Ivan won’t be able to be that enforcer. He’ll just get a Tech because refs will know he’s inferior talent. We need baby jojo, diaper al and lil smoove to learn how to carry themselves like Ivan does. You can tell dude means business within 30 seconds of watching a game.
Fundamentals
December 23rd, 2011
5:04 pm
I agree JeJe, we’re deeper than we’ve ever been…but we’re honestly all just waiting for our Core to really realize and play their role for the good of the team. If we maximize our talent, we may surprise someone with what we have. Having said that I still think Tmac and Stack are wasted roster spots for real role players.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 23rd, 2011
5:08 pm
“agree JeJe, we’re deeper than we’ve ever been…but we’re honestly all just waiting for our Core to really realize and play their role for the good of the team. If we maximize our talent, we may surprise someone with what we have. Having said that I still think Tmac and Stack are wasted roster spots for real role players.”
Yeah I saw T-Mac a few times last night when Pargo had the ball, kind of flip his hands as if to say “what are we doing?”. I’m hoping he was just taking it easy last night because he played pretty bad. He tried his fancy moves and got called for traveling or just did not get enough air under the ball. With that said, T-Mac is FIVE years younger than Stack. Gotta hope he does something this year. And it’s pretty cool to see McGrady play in Philips every night
JaeEvolution
December 23rd, 2011
5:09 pm
Hawks have the oldest team in the league, fact. Saw it on NBATV last night was shocked when I saw it, then I thought about all these old guys we’ve brought in.
NUNNA!!
December 23rd, 2011
5:10 pm
Sautee what up!??
My friend,i guess u have forgetten the play of JC1 as soon as he got to D.C.huh? Most of us fans on here haven’t..
There is a great man that was and still is constantly getting called these words im about to utter on LD folks..And here it is..
LD is not a Leader..
And he leads from behind lol..
Do you all remember how he spoke when he was introduced at his press conference to announce his hiring?
He said all the right “ish” that we all wanted to here..AND WE BELIEVED HIM AND BELIEVED IN HIM!!
For a minute…………………..
Josh is still Josh,jacking up shots like he is a freaking SG.
Joe still keeps the ball till its 5 seconds left on the clock and will pass only at the last second to someone who will throw up a bad shot..
Al is out of position..
Marvins time to show up or shut up was 4 years ago!!!!!!
And Teague may start but look for Drew to implement Teague to the bench 1st and Hinrich will be our new 6th man..
I don’t trust Drew..I don’t..
And..
Our coaching staff knows nothing about developing a player..
How to draft…
Or make great trades..
I made a similiar estimate last season..And it still holds true today!!
Go Somewhere Hawks!!
And do something..
Im Depressed..Sorry
Grandmaster JeJe
December 23rd, 2011
5:10 pm
B-Diddy out 4-8 weeks. LOL 8 weeks is like half the season.
Knicks = worst backcourt in NBA. Their only healthy PG is a combo guard LOLOLOL.
And how is Woody so obsessed with Bibby? The guy doesn’t even have limitations on defense. He doesn’t play defense period.
Grandmaster JeJe
December 23rd, 2011
5:11 pm
When people keep saying we’re preparing the team to be sold, what do they mean necessarily?
I am well aware LD and Sund have contracts expiring after the year (must suck for LD, who will be coaching for his life this year), but does the signing of all these vets who expire after the year make a sale more favorable? Someone please elabourate
NUNNA!!
December 23rd, 2011
5:11 pm
correction:
The coaching staff knows nothing about developing a player..
The trades and drafts come from Sund,and im beginning to have really have 2nd thoughts on this joker too..
leedsatlanta
December 23rd, 2011
5:14 pm
Willie Green time!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SXeCfluEfU
northcyde
December 23rd, 2011
5:14 pm
Sautee . . . JC2 scored 39 points on the Miami Heat. Also had a triple double in a game. Hell, he went for 30 points – 5 asists – 5 boards in a preseason game for us last year.
That’s all you need to know about him. The dude is a legit talent, just a highly inconsistent scorer, similar to Jamal.
He’s a legit scorer with athleticism and playmaking skills.
Don;t act like you don’t know
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4aEC1BAFjU
Ken Strickland
December 23rd, 2011
5:35 pm
These moves remind me of the final yr of Woodson’s contract, when the ASG accomodated him by allowing him to make the roster decisions he wanted to make. And like Woodson, Drew isn’t about to put what might be his last chance of being a HC in the hands of a bunch of rookies, injured players, and/or players that need developing. Also like Woodson, I’ll bet they’ve given him a playoff mandate. The question is, what is it? In order for Drew to get a contract extension, does the team have to advance beyond the 2nd rd, or just do a better job than last yr of challenging for advancement to the Eastern Conference finals?
Grandmaster JeJe
December 23rd, 2011
5:37 pm
“does the team have to advance beyond the 2nd rd, or just do a better job than last yr of challenging for advancement to the Eastern Conference finals?”
Ken, first off great job responding to that d-bag Josh.Bogut.Leuer. Wish he and Truth B. Known would just leave already.
We already have been to the 2nd round 3 years in a row. We took Chicago to 6 games (we BEAT them in game 1). ECF or bust
Buddy Grizzard
December 23rd, 2011
5:42 pm
This is the funniest thing anybody has ever said on this blog:
“lol if Sy becomes a premier SG. Reminds me of Ginobili” – superiorblogtroll
northcyde
December 23rd, 2011
5:43 pm
Ken . the problem around here is that it was NEVER the coach that was the problem. It’s the players that the organization is bringing in for the coach to choose from. If this team flames out in the 2nd round again, it won’t be Drew’s fault. The fault will have to lie on the front office . . then the players . .then the coach.
And that’s not giving Drew a pass. That’s simply seeing things for what they are. The roster is flawed ( as far as challenging for a championship ), and everybody knows it.
Our only hope is for the players to play at such a high level, that they can overcome their shortcomings.
drmaryb.[*_*].
December 23rd, 2011
5:52 pm
Let’s. Go! Hawks!
Ken Strickland
December 23rd, 2011
5:58 pm
I believe JC2 was traded because Sund saw that Drew, like Woodson, had little interest in developing young talent, and would likely continue giving both he and Teague the same treatment Teague experienced for 2yrs from Woodson. They were also desperate to get rid of Bibby, since it had become obvious that Drew would continue starting and playing him heavy mins no matter how much of an OFF and DEF liability he was. It as shame it had to come to that.
While I agree that our problems stem from ASG incompetence, it’s mainly due to the stupid HC decisions they’ve made as much as anything else. After all, it was Woodson’s decision not to draft PGs CP3 or DWilliams, not GM BKnight’s or the ASG’s It was also Drew’s decision to continue starting and playing Bibby heavy mins, ignoring Teague, and cut draft picks Pape Sy and KBenson.
hawksfancents95
December 23rd, 2011
6:02 pm
ive never even heard of donald sloan and he makes the team as an extra extra backup SG? we have horford zaza jcollins at C. why keep sloan when kirk will be back and jcollins is really only effective against dwight or older/slower big men. idk bout this move but i think signing tmac and stackhouse will be minimal, however they will be more crucial in the playoffs, i could see each of them giving us a spark off the bench in the first round games but nothing past that.
my one hope for this season that i think will ultimately decide how we do is for marvin to have vastly improved.maybe he got a new mentality or worked on his athletic abilities. 10-11 marvins stats .336% from 3, 4.8 rebounds,1.4 assists, .52 steals, .35 blk, 10.4 points, 28.7 mpg.
Marvin should be able to improve in everyone of those categories. I hope this is the year to decide if we keep or trade Marvin for good.
northcyde
December 23rd, 2011
6:03 pm
Ken . . once again . . if Woody had that much power around here, they should’ve fired Billy Knight and made Woody the GM. That’s absolutely crazy to give a coach going into his 2nd year the power to choose which draft pick the team needed . . especially when we had 82 guys who could play SF at that time.
Ken Strickland
December 23rd, 2011
6:07 pm
NORTHCYDE-While I can’t say that you are wrong, I just don’t think that’s the entire answer. Like I said, it was Woodson, not management, that didn’t want CP3 or DWilliams. It was also Woodson who wanted Bibby, Marvin, Josh, and Zaza resigned. By the same token, it was Sund who refused to make an honest effort to resign JChills. He could have offered him a contract extension long before that Greece team made their offer. I blame both Drew and Sund for giving up JC2 and a 1st rd pick to get rid of Bibby, who should have been benched in the 1st place.
Buddy Grizzard
December 23rd, 2011
6:11 pm
“They are dangerously thin up front after cutting Benson. I do not see the point of keeping both Pargo and Green on the roster at the expense of Benson (or any other serviceable big man).” – Najeh
Hehe Vegas can’t have JC1 so he gets veteran’s minimum replacements for the inefficient scorer roll. I thought Benson played well enough to keep him on the roster as big man insurance. However, I don’t really see where we are “dangerously thin” on the front line. Here’s our depth chart:
C Al, Zaza, Collins
We have the third team all-NBA center, the best backup center in the NBA and a role player who plays better defense on Dwight Howard than just about anyone in the league.
PF Smoove, (Al in lineups with Zaza or Collins at C), Zaza also backs up PF, Vlad
Smoove, Al and Zaza will share time at PF. Smoove and Al will both make All-Star appearances this year. Zaza is possibly our best +/- player. Vlad is a competent third option.
SF Marvin, (Smoove will share time in big lineups), Ivan Johnson, T-Mac, Vlad
Marvin is healthy, looking decent in preseason, and ready to return to his pre-JC1 15ppg form. Smoove lost 30 lbs and is quicker than he has been in years. Ivan Johnson is a beast and has earned minutes ahead of sign-and-retire T-Mac.
SG Joe, Willie Green, T-Mac, Stack
THIS is the position where we are dangerously thin. I doubt T-Mac can guard any starting 2 guard in the NBA. Willie Green we will see if he has anything left in the tank. Stack is beyond done. Bogans would give us a defensive backup to Joe and probably be as productive offensively as any of these retirees.
PG
Teague, Pargo, Sloan
Also more dangerously thin here than at any front court position until we get a healthy Kirk back. If Kirk returns and is able to play, we suddenly have a very deep and talented back court. Until that happens, we’ve got nothing but marginal players backing up both Joe and Teague.
NUNNA!!
December 23rd, 2011
6:12 pm
Northcyde,
“82 Bruh”?????
Just kidding,i know what u meant
————————————
hawksfancents95: I think sloan will stick around just long enough till Hinrich comes back,but,in all honesty we need bigs!! We had 2 other centers that were cut today that could and should have stuck on this team and been giving minor minutes in the 1st half of the season..Throw these guys out there for 3-6 minutes in the 1st half and bring them into the game in the 2nd half if needed..And they won’t be nervous,cold,and would have played in a meaningful game with they’re teammates..
Didn’t Drew learn anything from seeing JC1 flourish as well as Teague???
Ehhhhhhh,Naw!!
steven A.
December 23rd, 2011
6:17 pm
Hawks need a veteran Big to start. Heard they may be looking at Krylie Fesenko..
Ken Strickland
December 23rd, 2011
6:18 pm
NORTHCYDE-They did fire Billy Knight, they just just had enough sense not to make him the GM. He certainly had enough clout to influence BKnight getting fired. BK wanted an uptempo type of PG who could run the uptempo style of OFF he wanted, and Woodson wanted a slower jumpshooting PG to run the halfcourt perimeter oriented OFF. After BK made the trade for Bibby, who was exactly the type of PG Woodson wanted, and the team did so well after his arrival, that gave the edge to Woodson and sealed BKs fate.