The season ends abruptly and fans immediately engage in the annual tradition of wishing their team had different players (if they wait that long). But before you start dreaming about the Hawks adding quality free agents, it’s best to take a sober (somber?) look at their payroll and circumstances.
This summer looks a lot like last summer for the Hawks: They have no cap space, lots of roster spots to fill and not much room under the luxury-tax line to do it.
The Hawks have approximately $61 million in guarantees committed to six players. The salary cap this season is about $58 million and the luxury tax threshold is about $70 million. Each of those figures could increase next season (they can’t decrease) but unless there’s a massive increase in BRI the Hawks won’t have any cap space and won’t gain much additional wiggle room under the tax threshold.
I don’t have to tell you the Hawks are unlikely to spend above the tax line again next season. They tried to avoid doing so this year but the run of injuries forced their hand. The Hawks sold a draft pick to help offset the tax bill. Their payroll is at least 75 percent of their revenues and they are skeptical the new CBA will provide much significant relief through revenue sharing.
Those circumstances don’t suggest a franchise looking to take another luxury-tax hit. Assuming the tax threshold remains at about the same level, that leaves the Hawks roughly $9 million to sign a minimum of seven players to get to 13 on the roster. The player they select with the No. 23 overall draft pick (assuming they keep it) will eat up another $1.2 million or so (assuming the prospect signs for 120 percent above scale, which is standard). That would leave the Hawks $7.8 million under the tax line to sign at least six players.
The mid-level exception for non-taxpayers will be $5 million again next season. If the Hawks use all of that on one player, they’d be left with about $2.8 million under the tax line to add at least six additional players. That’s obviously not feasible even before you consider that a player who signs for the full mid-level commands a multi-year contract, adding future payroll just when the Hawks have a chance to clear some cap space after next season.
So in regards to free agency the Hawks are looking at trying to again build a roster with minimum-salaried veterans and/or young players and probably needing a couple of those players to accept non-guaranteed deals. And this time the Hawks don’t have Kirk Hinrich under contract and so need even more of those kinds of free agents to fill key roles.
Hinrich’s $8 million comes off the books along with roughly $5.6 million in cap salaries from the seven minimum-salaried vets plus Ivan Johnson’s rookie salary*. But Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Zaza Pachulia and Jeff Teague all get raises.
*The Hawks can claim salary-matching rights for Ivan by extending him a one-year qualifying offer of about $960,00 by June 30.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
460 comments Add your comment
hawk fan
May 17th, 2012
5:58 am
Hope the hawks fellow the falcons plan get a young gm from a winning team and let him decide who to keep or trade.
Just Joe
May 17th, 2012
6:02 am
Happy to see the rumors of a possible retirement for Sund, as well as LD walking away.
I love Josh Smith’s game, and I love the fact that he’s from Atlanta, but if the man is not sure he wants to be here, then it’s time to make a trade. Houston is the ideal landing spot. Western conference. They have cap space plus a team option on Dalembert that could create more. They have young forwards like Patterson and Morris. They also have decent vets like Lowry, Scola, and Martin. Most importantly, they have a lottery pick plus the Knicks 1st rd pick (17) in this year’s draft.
I’d also like to see some talk of Marvin Williams for Devin Harris. If Utah can find a PG by trade or free agency, then this trade makes a lot of sense. Utah is thin at SF and really needs 3 pt shooters to help space the floor.
AnalyticalPerspective
May 17th, 2012
6:39 am
Hey Hawks fans im going to Provide you guys with real facts and solutions to your teams problems in the near future! i agree with @yodaddybrother more or less but he was walking the right path until…..he never realy gsve you solutions
Problems:
1. Coaching: sorry to tell you Drew lovers but Larry is not the answer for this type of team, this team needed an experienced coach to cach and unestablished core Drew was not the answer. the solution to this problem is simple, Bye Bye to Drew The best option for this team out there is D’antoni this is a 388 career game winner who turned a franchise around in 05, 06 season with the suns. Plus teague will thrive in his system and will reach closer to his potentials.
2. Josh Smith: This guy has the right amount of energy and skills to perform at a all star level but doesnt have the right guidence, he needs a new environment with a team that has a hard notch coach that eliminates him from part of his game that will set him back like those long range 2s/3s for Now! solucion for this problem is simply trading him for good quality assets, remember he has consistently asked to be traded. This way you can put al Horford in his natural position power forward.
3. Bench: There are quality guys that could stay for very cheap and perhaps play bigger roles. there were many options but there are better assets out in the free agent market this year. Willie Green provided with solid scoring of the bench when needed most of the times! but no Deffense whats so ever hes a maybe because like i said before there are better assets out there. Pargo provided good back up scoring but also no Deffense and at time was to shooting friendly taking shots with out a pass (greedy) for a pg specialy backup. The best bench performance went to ivan johnson and Tracy Mcgrady dispite the lack of minutes given to him in some of the first half and the whole second half of the season, T-mac Provided what i call Star I.Q. off the bench because remember this was his first year playing this role and even doe it was inconsistant because of playing time he showed at times that he could provide more then what people cut him of to be and he played solid Deffense (bothering shots and passes). Ivan Johnson provided good quality minutes do to starters injuries and he played good hard notch basketball. My returning list is of Ivan Johnson, Tracy Mcgrady (if given a bigger role or perhaps starting at the 3) Marvin williams, and Zaza.
4. Free agency: this teams needs to go out shopping for a new starting center sense they didnt spend last off season tehy could do a little shopping this off season, hibbert, mcgee, Kaman, brook lopez. is that enoff for you guys? and a new back up point gaurd maybe Jason Terry Back in ATL? or perhaps Kidd, Delonte West?.
My starting Lineup would be:
D’antoni
Jeff Teague/FA/FA
Joe Johnson/Tmac?FA
Tracy Mcgrady/Marvin Williams
Al Horford/Ivan Johnson/Zaza
Free Agent/Zaza
Just Joe
May 17th, 2012
6:54 am
3 team trade:
Hawks get team options on Brad Miller, Martell Webster, and the 14th, 16th, and 18th picks in the draft.
Rockets get Josh Smith and 43rd pick in draft, plus rights back to their 2013 second rd pick.
Twolves get Kevin Martin.
$48M committed to Teague, Joe, Marvin, Al, and ZaZa, plus $ to picks 14, 16, 18, and 23.
Grandad
May 17th, 2012
7:17 am
Just Joe
Off the top of my head;
sounds like an intelligent proposal.
vava74
May 17th, 2012
7:17 am
As BOS goes up 2-1 on PHI, clearly showing that they are old and beaten down but not dead, how can’t we conclude that:
1. We clearly missed better coaching during these playoffs;
2. We clearly got shafted by the refs (even the NBA admitted it);
3. We clearly missed having Josh healthy for that critical 4th quarter end and that critical OT loss in BOS;
4. We clearly missed having Zaza on the floor rebounding;
5. We clearly missed having Horford for the whole series, even if only at 70%.
This was the year in which the much maligned core, with an actually good coach and a bit more luck injury wise, would be on the ECF easily. EASILY.
LD did a good job as a motivator – I’ll give him that – since we almost did not have any let down losses during the season and only one stinker in the playoffs in 6 games, but he is clearly over matched as a coach against the playoff teams who all fare vastly superior coaching with regard to him.
It’s not rocket science: although he is a good motivator, he is not a good teacher/guide.
The sub-par production from JJ and Josh (shooting wise) comes from poor teaching and guidance, not because they don’t have the tools to be more effective.
The Hawks played, most of the time, like a bunch of guys who know each other well enough to self manage themselves, but don’t have anyone from the outside tell them what to do and not to do to succeed.
A 5% improvement in decision making, rotations, play calling immediately translates in substantially more success.
How many close games did we lose over the regular season and the playoffs (even without Horford)?
The insistence on going ISO-Joe late in games – after seeing miserable results during the regular season against playoff opponents – clearly shows that more than having someone telling the guys what to do in order to success, they had someone telling them to do things that were detrimental to their success.
It’s mind boggling.
JJ as an off the ball shooter is effective and if he is getting clean looks he is in general hitting them.
When that happens, things will open up for his drives as well since defenses will play him differently (they simply stand back and wait for his slow, tentative moves with the trap ready).
All we had to do was to establish a different pecking order and a structure:
Players need to be told – by someone who knows what he is doing – where and when to shoot, where and when to pass, where and when to drive, and once they see the results, they buy in.
BUT you need to push that structure into them.
JJ’s commentaries during the playoffs that he needed more shots were at the same time LAME and RIGHT.
JJ needed more shots, but not the shots HE thinks he should be taking.
The Hawks played EXACTLY 12 minutes of the right kind of basketball during the BOS series and those 12 minutes all came during the first quarter of the 1st game.
Even JJ was moving fast, cutting, driving, dishing, all with a sense of purpose and urgency at the same time.
The lack of leadership on the bench throughout the whole season did not allow the Hawks to revert to that once they faced adversity (ie. bad refereeing and BOS’ superior coaching and championship moxie) because they were not coached to work like that on a consistent basis.
The talent on the floor was good. The approach to the games was amateurish.
So, looking at the off-season ahead, I am not worried about any roster moves. I would ride this core one last year BUT I would certainly only do it with championship caliber coaching.
The car is good. The pilot is rubbish. He will qualify for the sunday run, but will tread water when things get real.
Grandad
May 17th, 2012
7:19 am
Can you trade a player`s team option ?
Grandad
May 17th, 2012
7:19 am
Then cut him ?
Grandad
May 17th, 2012
7:37 am
vava
I disagree with your assessment.
LD is not a 1st tier Coach.
-Granted-
Yet he is not the jackass you just painted him to be.
These are professional players.
Take Dampier for example:
He was as professsional as you will ever see,
didn`t play hardly at all, but when called upon he was ready.
-gave us all he had-
Still, we make excuses for Joe Johnson !
So, now it`s LD`s fault that Joe is charlatan ?
Once more, I`m not an LD champion;
but you cannot heap upon the man crap from another pot.
BIG DOG
May 17th, 2012
7:37 am
Please no D Antoni, he is a horrible coach never thinks about defense only offense, look at Suns and Nicks at botom of the league on defense, i would rather have LD than a no defensive mind coach.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Grandad
May 17th, 2012
7:39 am
‘ a ‘ charlatan … with an [ a ] in front.
BIG DOG
May 17th, 2012
7:46 am
List of good coaches Hawks could hire.
Jerry Sloan
Bill Lambeer
Jeff Vangundy
Sam Mitchell
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 17th, 2012
7:46 am
Eight Balls!
“But you are also not going to get anyone at 88 or higher by trading your 88. More likely, you trade your 88 and you receive maybe a 78, a 74, and a draft pick.” – Najeh D -
____________
I like this analaphor, (see Greg Anthony) I like it because it effectively communicates “The Big Idea”. Player Rankings is a basic principle and we all get this. However, let’s look at a value concept in addition to the ranking numbers:
If you trade #88 and, in return you get back three pieces a: 76, 74 and a draft pick? While the values may be lower in rankings, the sum is greater than it parts. If, the 76 gives you defense like Sergie Ibka and, he gives it to you in a big way – that is priceless and a role is filled. A Sergie type player who lives in the paint and, patrols the rim would change the landscape so much that the opponent becomes muted on interior offense.
Relatively, if the #74 player give you rebounding like a Kenneth Faried does, the value goes beyond belief. The specialist in that role doesn’t look to score and, provides balance on a contending team.
If that draft pick gives you anything at all, be it promise, hope, rebounding, and/or scoring (say 8 points and 8 rebounds) that is a prospect every team needs. Let’s say the pick is an Ivan Johnson type player coming in with the second unit, you have to do that because the collective sum of role players will provide depth and should prove to be cap friendly all the way across the board.
So, even though you are not getting an 88th ranked player back, you are getting useful parts to plug and play with. This type of creativity is the way to go when all you have is a loaf of bread, a fish and 13 people to feed.
This scenario worked well for the Denver Nuggets when Melo was traded to New York. For New York, not so much …. they gave up the farm for a stud cow. While neither team advance in the playoffs beyond round one, the Nuggets appeared to have more balance on their roster, more importantly it seemed to me anyways – they were having fun. Especially George Karl.
When your best player doesn’t want to be there, it can be quite detrimental to a team: see Dwight in Orlando and Melo in Denver and to a lesser extent, Rip Hamilton in Detroit. Let them go but, try to get those three pieces back. As it relates to the Hawks, what we need in return for Josh is:
Teague
Johnson
Williams
Horford
Zaza
In this order, to supplant the starters with upgrades from a Josh Smith trade:
SF – scoring
PG – assists
C – starter/backup
Then the next scenario should be moving Johnson and/or Williams to address the players remaining who don’t necessarily want to leave and, are not demanding trades per se. IMHO
Buddy G
May 17th, 2012
7:52 am
“Can you trade a player`s team option, then cut him?” – G-Dad
Yes.
O'brien
May 17th, 2012
8:02 am
vava, Grandad,
If the ASG decides to keep the roster together (which they may have to, because of JJ and Marvin’s salaries, and the GM’s lack of creativity/financial flexibility), then at the very least, they should bring in an established veteran coach.
Not to make excuses for the players, but it will be very difficult to change the roster. However, it will be easy to change the coach. Give another coach a chance to coach Josh (before Josh walks away after next season). Give another coach a chance to change JJ’s game, to change the team dynamic, to change the culture etc.
O'brien
May 17th, 2012
8:03 am
Doc,
In a 3 year span, OKC drafted Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibalka, and James Harden. Wow.
If only the Hawks had gotten their draft picks right. As a matter of fact, we only had to get one right. CP3 or Deron over Marvin. But 7 years later, we are still paying for that mistake. We still need a floor general, and could use the $7.5 mil we are paying Marvin to get better production from someone else.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 17th, 2012
8:16 am
Brad Miller is washed up
Brad Miller? He couldn’t pass a Hawks team physical two years ago, when Sund tried to destroy our best Center, Zaza in a lopsided trade with Houston. Didn’t Houston status him as irrelevant and, place Brad on the IR list before this season began? He stopped traveling with the team at that point.
Has anyone seen Brad play this season?
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 17th, 2012
8:18 am
Truthfulness!
“Not to make excuses for the players, but it will be very difficult to change the roster. However, it will be easy to change the coach. Give another coach a chance to coach Josh (before Josh walks away after next season). Give another coach a chance to change JJ’s game, to change the team dynamic, to change the culture etc.” -Obie-
____________
PREACH!!! CHURCH!!! TABERNACLE!!! PULPIT!!!
Just Joe
May 17th, 2012
8:21 am
Brad Miller appears to be done, but his team option is valuable (up until decision day, when it gets declined).
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 17th, 2012
8:22 am
CWebb Said it Best!
CWebb said it best, and in one word – after the Chicago Bulls 4-2 round 2 Hawks exit before the lockout on TNT: (in a post series commentary when, Steve Smith asked him, “What is wrong with the Hawks?”)
________
Answer: MANAGEMENT.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 17th, 2012
8:24 am
Vava74
Grand-Daddy
O’Brien
Just Joe
Brilliant conversations this morning. I got a cup of coffee and the dialogue is my breakfast, a lot of good stuff to chew on here. Thanks cohorts!
Grandad
May 17th, 2012
8:35 am
We`ve changed the Coach once already with this core.
Don`t say LD is Wdsn made over `cause he aint.
LD is different as nite is to day from Wdsn.
Joe must Go.
Josh needs to go … mostly for reason of what he can bring in return,
and we surely do not want a repeat of Joe part II;
not trading him when we should have.
Therefore ending up with another more egregious by each year contract.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 17th, 2012
8:36 am
He loves me – he loves me not!
“For all you Josh haters, talking about trading your best player is crazy unless your getting a star player back that can take the Hawks 2 next level.” – darrell starks -
_________
Most people on this board and, the ASKG included do NOT want to see Josh traded. Based on MC’s reporting from a close and confidentia,l reliable source inside Josh’s camp and, from Josh’s own words after the Boston series exit last week:
Josh has demanded a trade and, that request has not changed. So, it is Josh himself that plans to walk after this year. A realistic person has to now consider trade options to improve the Hawks roster once, he leaves.
What would you do? Poison his food and drink and tie him to his locker?
Grandad
May 17th, 2012
8:39 am
Still, do not confuse my comments !
I am not recommending LD stay.
Just do not blame him for sins he did not commit.
LD is not horrible / neither is he great.
My point:
Mediocrity does not promote a ” Winning Culture “.
The same goes for JoeJohnson !
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 17th, 2012
8:42 am
Grand-Daddy
Mr. Woodson and Mr. Drew, (hand picked by the players “coup de grat”) were two rookie coaches who, worked on learning curves.
O’Brien and others are talking about replacing the coach with proven, elite, established and of a championship ilk. We have NEVER had that here. Like Obie just said, “It is easier to replace a coach than a star player.” Not only that, it makes more sense in reality.
A high level coach would make all the difference in the world in, influence, respect factors, imposing their wills and defining roles. That remains to be seen in Atlanta.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 17th, 2012
8:46 am
Hugh?
Can you trade a player`s team option ?
Grandad
May 17th, 2012
7:19 am
Then cut him ?
________
Grand-Daddy, You saw that too? SMH (scratching my head) there.
Grandad
May 17th, 2012
8:46 am
For those that Love Josh;
How much would you love him if the ASG gave him JoeJohnson $
in order to keep him in Atlanta ?
Do you love him that much $120 with 6 zeroes following ?
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 17th, 2012
8:47 am
Grand-Daddy
Josh is not a MAX PLAYER. Neither was Joe Johnson. So, the answer is no.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 17th, 2012
8:50 am
Josh will get a slightly above the Horford/Noah type deal. imho. 5 years @ 70M.
Didn’t Horford/Noah get 5/$55 – $58M?
Grandad
May 17th, 2012
8:55 am
Mary Ellen
My query was intended:
Can team [A] trade a player with his team option;
then team [B] cut the player after they obtain the rights to said player ?
Buddy G – then replied – Yes !
So, in the trade proposal in question;
two plyrs with team options would be included
to balance the trade [matching salaries] for CBA purposes.
Grandad
May 17th, 2012
8:57 am
What makes Josh above Al ?
In terms of salary ?
If you are the GM negotiating ! … Not Josh`s agent.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 17th, 2012
8:57 am
Grand-Daddy
Oh OK. I wasn’t following there. Haha
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 17th, 2012
9:00 am
Grand Daddy
Does Josh believe he is a Max Player? I haven’t heard him say this. I wonder what he perceives his dollar value to be to another team?
Or, is it more about playing for an org committed to winning a championship that offers unrelenting fan support – and, not so much the money?
Grandad
May 17th, 2012
9:07 am
I think we are off topic.
My question was more esoteric than open.
Not really about hard cash either.
It was really about true love.
How much do the folks who defend Josh so mightily;
… really, really love him ?
I`m not a Josh basher !
I have become more and more of a realist concerning Joe.
Grandad
May 17th, 2012
9:08 am
9:07 am was for Mary Ellen !
Grandad
May 17th, 2012
9:09 am
-and then there`s pore ol` Marvin-
morehouse man
May 17th, 2012
9:11 am
josh should have been an all star the last two season at power forward. al is not an all star at power forward. he is an all star at center is because of his speed and quickness. at power forward he would be an average player.
Grandad
May 17th, 2012
9:14 am
Draft comin` up … right now I`m honed in on these two
[doubtful K-Murph will be there in the 2nd / we need to trade up]
Andrew Nicholson – St Bonnie / 1st round
-&-
Kevin Murphy – Tn Tech / 2nd round
*combine & workouts still to come
doc
May 17th, 2012
9:30 am
really feeling down
anither long post denied by the blog monster
beginning to feel like josh up against kg
i want a trade to greener pastures
STRONGHAWK
May 17th, 2012
10:02 am
JOE NEED TO GO BEFORE JOSH JOSH HAS MORE HEART THAN JOE ALL THE HAWK NEED IS A SKILLED BIG MAN WHO THEY CAN RUNS SOME PLAYS THREW AND PLAY SOME D WHICH WOULD FREE UP AL AND YES WE NEED A BETTER COACH WHO CAN MAKE THE RIGHT SUBS AT THE RIGHT TIME
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 17th, 2012
10:16 am
STRONGHAWK
The point is:
Josh has demanded a trade and will be an UFA after next season.
Joe is not an UFA and, would have to be proactively shopped by management to a team that is willing to pay him that MAX SALARY. Do you know of such a team with cap space?
Two totally different circumstances.
More than likely, Josh will go first … and, that is Josh’s prerogative – not the Hawks.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 17th, 2012
10:17 am
Trust!
I trust Grand-Daddy more than Sund, when it comes to the best draft picks. G-Daddy is a proven and better talent scout.
O'brien
May 17th, 2012
10:19 am
dmb,
Give me Jerry Sloan. I think he will give this team more credibility, and having coached Karl Malone all those years, maybe he would have a positive effect on Josh.
In Karl Malone’s 18 seasons, he attempted a total of 310 3-ptrs (he shot 27%). In Josh’s 8 seasons, he has attempted 741 3-ptrs (career 28% from 3, but yet he keeps shooting SMH).
O'brien
May 17th, 2012
10:20 am
doc,
If I have a long post, I will post one paragraph at a time. That way, you are less ikely to lose the whole thing.
O'brien
May 17th, 2012
10:22 am
And for the Josh Smith discussion…He has not “demanded” a trade. He has asked for one. Big difference. And to his credit, it has not been a distraction for him or for the team (remember how the Melo thing played out).
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 17th, 2012
10:31 am
That’s Coaching!
“Give me Jerry Sloan. I think he will give this team more credibility, and having coached Karl Malone all those years, maybe he would have a positive effect on Josh.
In Karl Malone’s 18 seasons, he attempted a total of 310 3-ptrs (he shot 27%). In Josh’s 8 seasons, he has attempted 741 3-ptrs (career 28% from 3, but yet he keeps shooting SMH).” -Obie-
____________
That’s coaching! What we need.
“And for the Josh Smith discussion…He has not “demanded” a trade. He has asked for one. Big difference. And to his credit, it has not been a distraction for him or for the team (remember how the Melo thing played out).” – Obie -
________
I’m hoping you are right here, OBIE.
I was hoping Josh just needed more hugs and validation from the city and fans. The real caveat however, will prove to be management and their “commitment” to spend some more money for the right, supportive, role pieces. That alone should take care of the fan support.
I guess Josh wants what we ALL want – a real commitment to becoming an elite contender.
vava74
May 17th, 2012
10:48 am
Offer Jerry Sloan whatever he wants.
It’s cheaper than using the amnesty clause.
His salary would be paid just on playoff revenue.
vava74
May 17th, 2012
10:49 am
Without Josh, Zaza must go to the bench again.
Zaza and Horford would not fly. Only a fool would think it would work.
It would be lay up practice down our lane (not saying that Horford does not play good D, simply not “at the rim D” (neither Zaza).
Just Joe
May 17th, 2012
10:51 am
Josh stands to make $13.2M in the upcoming season. If the Hawks had not blown his last free agent period (matching Memphis’s offer which now keeps them from offering Josh an extension), then a 4 yr $60M extension would probably be market value. That’s based on Josh getting 5% raises in each of the next 4 years (roughly $13.9M in 2013/14, $14.6M in 2014/15, $15.4Min 2015/16, & $16.1M in 2016/17). I believe that takes Josh up to the age of 31 (probably his last big contract due to his # of yrs in the league & a game based on athleticism).
I could live with Josh making that kind of money, but if the man wants to collect that check somewhere else, then there’s nothing we can do about it other than turn the team over to him. What position do you want, SF or PF? (I think he would choose SF by the way). Who do you want to coach? Give us your input on the offense? Is Teague a good enough PG for you? What free agents should we pursue? In other words, give him the treatment that Orlando & Brooklyn are giving Dwight Howard & Deron Williams right now.
vava74
May 17th, 2012
10:52 am
JJ was posting great clutch numbers this year:
http://www.82games.com/1112/CSORT11.HTM
I grant – obviously – that these numbers came mostly against non-playoff teams.
But anyone pretending that JJ going ISO in slow motion game after game is not the coach’s fault is a fool (sorry Grandad, but you are being a fool on this one).
I am not saying that JJ is exempt of guilt. He isn’t – I said that his commentaries were both LAME and RIGHT.
JJ should be getting the shots to close the game, but NOT EXCLUSIVELY and CERTAINLY NOT OUT OF ISO PLAYS.
That’s on the coach.