Atlanta Hawks: Hawks release rookie guard Donald Sloan
Rookie Donald Sloan ended up being the odd man out with Kirk Hinrich’s return from shoulder surgery.
The Hawks waived Sloan today, well in advance of the Feb. 10 deadline for all contracts to be come guaranteed. The Hawks now have 14 players on the roster and, by my accounting, releasing Sloan gets them comfortably below the luxury-tax line so they won’t need to waive anyone else for that reason. Signing a veteran free agent this season without releasing a player by Feb. 10 would push Atlanta’s payroll back above the tax line.
The Hawks opted to keep Jerry Stackhouse and Jannero Pargo, who both also are on non-guaranteed contracts. Pargo provides veteran insurance at point guard behind Jeff Teague and Hinrich, while Stackhouse has played a total of 38 minutes in seven games.
Clearly Sloan wasn’t going to earn a regular role for the Hawks this season. His salary for next season would have increased by about $280,000; under salary-cap rules, signing a veteran with three or more years experience would cost the Hawks roughly $90,000 more than a second-year player like Sloan.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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158 comments Add your comment
SteveW
January 26th, 2012
4:58 pm
Rufus – Maybe – It would be good if they could. I know we’re over the cap, and only have that 1.043 mill dollar trade exception from Jordan Crawford according to the current trade machine, so I’m not sure if any of those guys cost under that amount.
Just Joe
January 26th, 2012
5:00 pm
3-team trade:
Hawks get JJ Hickson & Jordan Hill.
Kings get Terrence Williams & Hawks’ 2nd rd pick.
Rockets get ZaZa Pachulia & keep the 2nd rd pick they owe us.
Astro Joe
January 26th, 2012
5:02 pm
Isn’t Kurt Thomas playing for Portland? And don’t they have two of the most brittle centers in the NBA in Oden and Camby? So if you’re Kurt, would you rather go to Portland as their 3rd center or play behind Horford and Zaza? Y’all do know that players also have a say so in where they play, right?
SteveW
January 26th, 2012
5:04 pm
Rufus – If they would give us Millsap for Kirk – Millsap is a PF, but I would do that all day long. Millsap is really finding himself this season.
Cole Aldrich? IDK – that Mullens for a 2nd rounder sure turned out well for the Bobcats – maybe Aldrich is as good or better? I think the Thunder are keeping him for when Nazr hangs it up maybe.
SteveW
January 26th, 2012
5:07 pm
Just Joe – Again, I think we’re dreaming if we get Hickson and Hill for ZaZa and 2 2nd round picks. Also, I still want the enforcer ZaZa, we just need either a Hill or a Hickson to go with him really. I don’t think Collins could run fast enough to catch someone to be the enforcer – they’d be gone before he got there.
But then again, I’m not against having Hickson and Hill, you’d have some serious young, athletic length on this team. I like that for the team
Rufus1
January 26th, 2012
5:07 pm
I am not trading Zaza…Zaza is BIG, PHYSICAL and he HURTS people. He hurt Duncan at least twice in last nights game and Jermaine O’neal is still having nightmares….
Shooter
January 26th, 2012
5:07 pm
Pop coached circles around LD. 4 point game at halftime. Pop makes halftime adjustments and LD runs and hides.
and Joe Johnson does another one of his disappearing acts. Call him Houdini….
Sautee
January 26th, 2012
5:10 pm
Ramon,
My bad, the game with 9 offensive boards was 3/21/10.
I haven’t switched my brain to 2012 yet.
And I agree that Horford has lost some of his “fight”. Too bad. He did seem a little more willing this year to mix it up, but nothing like his first two years here.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 26th, 2012
5:10 pm
2 – 14 for .143 from 3 point land. Josh, listen Mr. Woodson, that is not your range. I do like Josh at 16′ @ 70 degrees in the games flow. Hawks should make 5 passes before all shots, swinging from side to side unless, they’re driving the lane.
KevinM
January 26th, 2012
5:11 pm
No more of these 7 footers who sit at the end of the bench and come in when Collins and Zaza can’t handle someone or get in foul trouble. Its time to find a reliable big man who plays the role of defender and keeps guys out of the paint. Al doesn’t want to do it, Collins can only do it 13mpg and Zaza is hit or miss.
Note to Sund: If you don’t do anything, you get what you deserve. We had an ‘all-star’ in the slot go down and for you to say we’ll evaluate, then do nothing? How did you get past security in your interview with the ASG? Did you promise big things or did you say I’ll be your whippin’ boy! Its going to take a big move to get further than last year; I just don’t get what the holdup is? Hinrich isn’t going to get Al’s rebounds for him.
Whatever, go get us a REAL big man, and quit wasting what opportunity that Josh, Joe and Jeff are giving you to compete night in, night out.
Buddy G., I’m at the point where I just want to see a move…I’m not discounting anyone at this juncture.
I want to hear a rumor that Sund is in the mix for a big man of worth.
It would make this team’s potential climb to the level when Moses and Reggie were brought in; and with it came hope.
Rufus1
January 26th, 2012
5:13 pm
I really want a trade, but I want the Hawks to be patient…I want the best Big for the best price. If we can add a player without making a trade(Because I really want to keep Kirk), that is the best solution.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 26th, 2012
5:14 pm
listen TO Mr. Woodson …
steven a
January 26th, 2012
5:15 pm
Like the idea of trading for Cole Aldrich. Would be a legit starter at the “5″ spot. He is definitely the missing piece in the Hawks advancing to the eastern conference Finals. He is our “Luc Longley.”
The Truth
January 26th, 2012
5:19 pm
“I want the best Big for the best price. If we can add a player without making a trade(Because I really want to keep Kirk), that is the best solution.”
Agreed but perhaps unrealistic
Najeh Davenpoop
January 26th, 2012
5:23 pm
“The fact remains, the Hawks haven’t beat SAS in Texas with or without Al, so I don’t see where he would’ve made a huge difference.”
Al may not have turned yesterday’s loss into a win, but he most definitely would have made the game competitive. All those minutes where Vlad played PF and/or Ivan played C and the Hawks got killed by Splitter would have been minutes where Al or Zaza (who wasn’t special but was at least serviceable) would have been manning the middle. What turned the game from a close contest to a blowout was the Hawks’ complete inability to match up with the Spurs’ backup big men, and with the PGs when Teague was out of the game. Al would have helped with the first part of that.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 26th, 2012
5:29 pm
“Cole Aldrich? IDK – that Mullens for a 2nd rounder sure turned out well for the Bobcats – maybe Aldrich is as good or better? I think the Thunder are keeping him for when Nazr hangs it up maybe.”
OKC gave up 2 first rounders to move up and get him last year. Aldrich is a lottery pick. He ain’t going to be available for Kirk. More likely that the Hawks get Nazr.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 26th, 2012
5:32 pm
“Hawks get JJ Hickson & Jordan Hill.
Kings get Terrence Williams & Hawks’ 2nd rd pick.
Rockets get ZaZa Pachulia & keep the 2nd rd pick they owe us”
Works on the trade machine, but I don’t know if the Kings go for that.
From the Hawks’ point of view I am a little torn on that. I am not a huge Zaza fan, but he is at least a true center. Neither Hickson nor Hill really belongs at center. I wouldn’t mind adding either one as depth at center, as a player who can play center against opposing second units, but if they had to hold down 48 minutes at center every game I don’t know whether that would be an improvement.
KevinM
January 26th, 2012
5:33 pm
“Rufus1
January 26th, 2012
5:07 pm
I am not trading Zaza…Zaza is BIG, PHYSICAL and he HURTS people. He hurt Duncan at least twice in last nights game and Jermaine O’neal is still having nightmares….
Rufus, I gotta disagree…..I have everyone on the block except for Teague at this stage. Getting a defender is vital going forward, even if Zaza and Marvin are the cost, haha. What will that get you? If you can get a Daniel Orton on a smaller deal, do get him and see if he’s worth signing going forward. Move Stack out of the way and let Orton take that salary slot. I’m pretty sure Stack is getting 1M-1.3M to be a cheerleader. That one doesn’t make cap sense.
steven a
January 26th, 2012
5:33 pm
Kurt Hinrich only for a guy like Pau Gasol. They should not trade Kurt for anyone else, PERIOD!!!!
The Truth
January 26th, 2012
5:33 pm
“I want the best Big for the best price. If we can add a player without making a trade(Because I really want to keep Kirk), that is the best solution.”
On the other hand, if Rasheed Wallace can be transformed (from layoff) cutting Stack could make that work.
Ohh The Irony
January 26th, 2012
5:47 pm
drmaryb, a person who constantly and rudely attacks other posters, occasionally using inappropriate & vulgar language herself, is now the blog patrol and spokesperson for “keeping the blog clean”
Hypocrites are wack.
Rufus1
January 26th, 2012
5:47 pm
“OKC gave up 2 first rounders to move up and get him last year. Aldrich is a lottery pick. He ain’t going to be available for Kirk. More likely that the Hawks get Nazr.”-Najeh Davenpoop
I wasn’t offering Kirk, just a 1st and filler. OKC has too much depth in the front court and he has only played 41min this year(I think stack has played about the same) and he won’t play the next 2years…Ibaka, Collins, and Perkins all play the C/PF.
Rufus1
January 26th, 2012
5:50 pm
Correction-Collison^^^
steven a
January 26th, 2012
6:10 pm
Spurs exsposed the Hawks as a weak defensive team in terms of physicality and inability to protect the rim, with 59 year old Tim Duncan AND Tiago Splitter abusing them,. They need help if they want to advance past the 1st round.
steven a
January 26th, 2012
6:12 pm
Only way Kurt should be traded should have to include “Duck” Williams, or there is no deal.
Joe
January 26th, 2012
6:32 pm
Drop Stackhouse and add a center. We are truly in need of one!!!
sturt
January 26th, 2012
6:35 pm
Agreed that given Ivan’s arrival, the K-Mart thing has slightly less appeal than it did when the season began.
Instead, I’ve had my eye on Przybilla… almost the only legit C sitting on the sidelines and available right now. This is a team that, when it rebounds, is almost unstoppable.
Yes, Pryz comes with some risk b/c of his injury history; and too, it’s not a given that he comes to ATL for the minimum when there are others like CHI and POR also on-record as interested in his services. But the fact that it’s a shorter season leaves a stronger possibility that he can, at least, hold up through the playoffs when we might get Al back. And our advantage over CHI and POR is that we can offer a regular season starting slot from day one.
Hoops
January 26th, 2012
7:09 pm
The Wizards are reportly interested in moving A. Blatche. The Hawks should offer Marvin for Blatche and see if they are interested. The trade works on the trade machine.
JaeEvolution
January 26th, 2012
7:13 pm
Bogut fractured left ankle, bye bye for the season glass man.
sturt
January 26th, 2012
7:21 pm
Blatche? Mr. Spontaneous Combustion? Nah.
O'Brien
January 26th, 2012
7:25 pm
AJ,
I agree that Portland offers more PT, since Oden and Camby get hurt. But part of the Hawks problem is Rick takes too long to act. By the time he makes up his mind, the player has better options.
O'Brien
January 26th, 2012
7:27 pm
Meanwhile, Rick is at it again. From MC’s article; “Hawks to go with front-court status quo”
“I always start the season, everywhere I’ve been, with three point guards and centers, just in case you lose one of them,” Sund said Thursday. “We are looking and watching [for other options], but who knows?”
“I think we have a really good club, and I think our players accept responsibility that the goal is still to make the playoffs,” Sund said. “You don’t replace a player like Al, but we also have a lot of [other] good players on the team.”.
I don’t want to read too much into…but I am never impressed by anything Rick has to say…
DS
January 26th, 2012
7:28 pm
So where’s the guy asking for the trade with the bucks? Still think Bogut is more reliable than Horford? Or was it Thabeet? Who are you gonna claim is better than Al next? Kwame Brown? Petro?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 26th, 2012
7:30 pm
“I think our players accept responsibility that the goal is still to make the playoffs,”
Enough said.
drmaryb.[*_*].
January 26th, 2012
7:39 pm
Nary a Ring!
Well, we can remove terms like contender and championship from our vocabulary. Perhaps, MC can block those two words from this blog filter now.
And, people wonder why no super star wants to come here to the old “clipppers” model franchise. Even they, have surpassed the Hawks. I have better things to do than to line the ASKG pockets with my money, so they can buy jet fuel.
GT Alum
January 26th, 2012
7:41 pm
I wish Sund would offer platitudes like we’re always looking to improve our team, but we don’t currently se any options that would allow us to do that,rather than stuff like “I think we have a really good club, and I think our players accept responsibility that the goal is still to make the playoffs.” It really reinforces the message that they’re happy with the 2nd round status quo. We realize not every team can win a championship every year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try.
UGA
January 26th, 2012
7:42 pm
Hawks are probably waiting till the period when they can sign a big to a 10-day contract………..that is my guess OR waiting to see who is waived.
I would go ahead and start Hinrich and bring Marvin off the bench. That first group needs another shooter.
Also, Popovich benches Parker when he can’t stop Teague……………whereas LD does NOT bench Smoove for NOT guarding freaking Matt BONNER!!
SD
January 26th, 2012
7:44 pm
kWAME AND AL ARE ABOUT THE SAME.
Hawks Fan Down Under
January 26th, 2012
8:13 pm
I actually think marvin is a good player. Good role player. He shoots the ball well, rebounds well and has quick hands on D. However he does some of the most awkward embarrassing garbage I’ve seen. That double dribble last night was something an 8 year old might do! But for me the worst aspect of Marvin is his contract. He has value and should be kept as I can’t see anyone taking him in a balanced trade with such a dumb contract.
And the issue with Josh is how his play and mindset affects the rest of the team. No question he can be amazing and other Hawks have said on countless occasions that Josh can be inspiring when on fire…the problem is when Josh is in one of his imploding spirals this will also ‘inspire’ the team in the wrong way. Door swings both ways and it always will. This is why I’m all for trading Josh. He’s proven over 8 years he can’t stop the implosions. It doesnt matter how high the highs are because invariably he’ll come crashing back to Earth and drag the team with him. As always a lot of this could be alleviated with a strong coach who could actually read the game and then bench Josh before the meltdown and doesnt let him “play through it” (which is quite possible the dumbest thing you’d want to do!)
A new coach is the only thing saving Josh as a lifetime Hawk.
Man in Black
January 26th, 2012
8:32 pm
PLEASE TRADE MARVIN WILLIAMS!
He has been the trouble with this team since they began starting him. He’s a 7th or 8th man at best. No other team would start him, his performance never justifies it. He rarely shoots 50% and most games he misses free throws, layups, wide open shots and for 3-4 possessions in a row he makes offensive & defensive blunders that allow the other team to make runs.
Offer Williams. Horford and K-man for Howard – its an offer Orlando can’t refuse.
EmirS.
January 26th, 2012
8:39 pm
Just a little something in-case you guys have not seen yet:
http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2012/01/26/ankle-fracture-sidelines-bogut/?ls=iref:nbahpt2
Roy
January 26th, 2012
9:18 pm
Saw this comi. Often I find the hawks roster moves disturbing. Teams like Oklahoma build through solid drafting. It seems to me though the hawks are just content to be where they are.the spurs bigs dominated the hawks. Zaza and collins are backups. Ivan while he has surprised is better suited for PF which the hawks have in josh, al and marvin.
KevinM
January 26th, 2012
9:25 pm
Bogut is a waste of cap space….once hurt, now regularly hurt.
OB, so true about Sund….the problem with him is he isn’t a legitimate threat to take a player away from another team. I can’t see Pryzbilla even being considered. Sund is all about the minimum after he screwed any cap flex.
Hinrich cannot possibly return next year unless we move a captain. Is he enough to get a defender in here? I don’t think so, and you can’t include Marvin in any move. His contract is as bad as Rashard Lewis IMO. No one is going to pay him for that contract.
Sund really has nothing of value to say. MC, not speaking for the blog, but if you didn’t interview him anymore this year, we wouldn’t notice. The guy simply messed up with Joe, Zaza and Marvin and now can’t recover from it. It’s like one of those credit cards where you pay the minimum until you pay it down…..5 years later, you are finally free and clear and whatever you bought isn’t really worth much.
O'Brien
January 26th, 2012
9:28 pm
Najeh,
I saw that too. He should have added “our goal is to make the playoffs, and once we get in, anything can happen” or “getting to the playoffs means we are one of the teams still playing for a championship”. Give us something Rick.
But as with the ASG, they always leave us wanting more.
KevinM
January 26th, 2012
9:32 pm
Watching ORL and BOS shows you 2 teams not really going anywhere…reminds me of the MIA/ATL playoff series in ‘08 where the Hawks blow out the Heat, then go to MIA and lay an egg.
Never consistent enough to be a serious contender.
KevinM
January 26th, 2012
9:39 pm
Vernon Macklin – Det big man vs. OKC 1/23…..9 min, 4pts/4reb
Give me those numbers any day from a big man. His salary fits with our roster. If it costs a 2nd rounder, more than worth it.
Detroit’s going nowhere.
Najeh Davenpoop
January 26th, 2012
9:45 pm
That Bogut injury means 2 of my top 6 fantasy draft picks are going to miss the majority of the season. If Curry gets injured again (which he probably will) you can make that 3. What a disaster of a draft I had.
Rusty
January 26th, 2012
9:54 pm
ebonyc(u)mdumps.com/gang-bang/drmaryb.avi
nice clip
ntrigue
January 26th, 2012
10:43 pm
At least the hawks didn’t have a meltdown like the magic are having right now!
Melvin
January 26th, 2012
10:52 pm
Magic lose to the Celtics without Rondo/Allen/O’Neal and after leading by 27pts….