Atlanta Hawks: Danny Ferry hired as GM
Update: The Hawks today hired Danny Ferry to be the team’s president of basketball operations and general manager.
The Hawks signed Ferry to a six-year contract.
“My family and I are thrilled to join the Hawks organization and Atlanta community,” Ferry said in a statement. “There were many components that made this the right fit for me but clearly my confidence in the ownership group and their dedication to building a championship-caliber franchise was most important. They are committed to building with the right people and investing in critical areas for development; both essential elements if we want to create sustained success. “
Ferry succeeds Rick Sund, Atlanta’s GM since 2008. Ferry said he would work alongside Sund over the next month, after which Sund could remain with the organization in a some role. Sund has expressed an interest in remaining with the Hawks as a consultant.
Ferry said he would collaborate with Sund and the rest of the basketball staff in preparation for Thursday’s draft. Ferry said he hoped to reach a consensus on which players the Hawks would select but that the decision ultimately would be his.
Ferry, who played in 917 NBA games from 1990-91 to 2003-03, was most recently vice president of basketball operations for the San Antonio Spurs. He was general manager for the Cavaliers from 2005 to 2010, where he was charged with building a roster around LeBron James.
Ferry had been in discussions with the 76ers about becoming their general manager with Rod Thorn stepping down soon.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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523 comments Add your comment
Slimjr
June 25th, 2012
7:10 pm
Yea the Fal-cons improved alright?
Never seen a playoff Offense get shutout by a 27th ranked defense before…
But then again [Ice] does [melt] when ya add heat…. Yawn…..
Mike Smith= Norv Turner….. [round peg, square hole]
Just Joe
June 25th, 2012
7:17 pm
Hawks’ biggest need is a starting SF. You can fill that need a couple ways. You can add a player at another position and move Joe or Josh to SF, or you can bring in an actual SF. Then there’s the whole other matter of what skills do you want out of your starting SF. Defense and 3-pt shooting? A guy that can create his own shot? How these questions get answered, and this need gets filled, is the second biggest offseason question mark for me (behind, will Josh Smith be traded).
Buddy Grizzard
June 25th, 2012
7:20 pm
“Who is Ferry is going to bring with him to Atlanta for scouting and front-office matters?”
I’m pretty sure this is what Ferry was referring to in his intro quotes. He wanted to make sure the Hawks were going to spend in the area of scouting.
“That doesn’t mean Ferry is a bad GM, but it does mean that the Cavs’ record while he was there should be viewed in the appropriate context.”
Yeah crediting Ferry with the Cav’s record is kinda dumb. I judge Ferry by the value he obtained in the draft despite the fact that three first round picks during his 5 years as GM were traded away before he even got there, and by the three former all stars he got for nothing.
Astro Joe
June 25th, 2012
7:22 pm
Just Joe, I agree. And better than Hinrich (who sent Marvin to the bench for the last 20 or so regular season games).
Slimjr
June 25th, 2012
7:25 pm
I never like Josh at the 3 because of the broke jumpshot..You need a scorer at the 3 spot..A dude that has multiple ways of scoring the ball at the professional level…[Paul Piece type of player]..
I would move Joe to the 3 spot before I move Josh there…Need strong handles at the 3 spot. Josh’s are not there yet and may well never be?
Slimjr
June 25th, 2012
7:35 pm
[Pierce]^^^^
KevinM
June 25th, 2012
7:44 pm
Here come the rumors….
“Well, that didn’t take long: with Atlanta GM Danny Ferry in his first day on the job, the message is spreading that he’ll be looking to shake up the Hawks’ roster and rebuild in some capacity. No specifics yet, but forward Josh Smith has tremendous value and an expiring contract (next season at $13.2 million), center Al Horford will be healthy again and is an attractive piece as well (four years, $48 million remaining) and shooting guard Joe Johnson has the sort of deal that any sane GM would try – and likely try in vain – to get rid of (four years and $89.3 million left). Sulia”
So I would expect if anything, there will be some draft slot movement. It could get very interesting.
donte080
June 25th, 2012
8:01 pm
“Never seen a playoff offense get shut out..”
By the eventual Super Bowl Champions? Are you just a hater, or that dumb?
Falcons.never had two winning seasons consecutive until new management team brought in…..5-11 the season before management changes, since then 11-5, 9-7, 13-3, and 10-6..playoffs 3 straight years, all 3 playoff losses to eventual super bowl teams….
Give it up. You just are being dumb.
Ken Strickland
June 25th, 2012
8:04 pm
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1229678-nba-trade-rumors-atlanta-hawks-must-flip-josh-smith-for-lottery-pick
I happen to agree with this suggestion. Having Josh for one more yr and then losing him with no compensation would be an absolutely stupid move, and he’s definitely leaving, one way or the other.
pointguardslim
June 25th, 2012
8:27 pm
Josh Smith gives you blocks and steals and rebounds as an SF. And he can shoot midrange. He finally has the size inside so why should he shoot 3s? Why not shoot midrange and layups and control the painted area?
And lol at saying the Hawks need a Paul Pierce type. A hall of fame do it all swingman than can go toe to toe with Lebron… How many of those are there?
If you had prime Pierce his shooting would be enough to make up for Horford and Smith being out of position but no. Were not getting that. Get a center and put people in the right DEFENSIVE positions.
The Detroit model didn’t have any Jamal Crawfords or Paul Pierce’s iirc. They won games at 80ppg and got points when they came but they werent giving up any size.
In FACT…Joe Johnson averaged more than Rip Hamilton. Josh averaged more than Wallace last year and Horford always averages more than Rasheed Wallace.
What does that tell you?
Stop trying to pump up the scoring like erratic rabbits and focus on defense. The points will come. Draft Ezeli or this team will go belly up and never win. Remember Lebron is still young, and will own anybody drafted this year for years to come.
Do you really want to rebuild in the age of Lebron?
Najeh Davenpoop
June 25th, 2012
8:34 pm
“If Dimitroff left the Falcons today, the team is in a much better place than it was when he took the job.”
So? All that means is that they were in a terrible place before he took the job. Why is everyone so quick to accept playoff futility with the Falcons? Were we all singing kumbaya when the Hawks got swept by the Magic? No, so why are we singing kumbaya when the Falcons get embarrassed — not just beat, but embarrassed — by the Packers and Giants in consecutive seasons?
This is the standard pro-Dimitroff line: “The Falcons sucked for 40 years, never won back to back seasons, and now they win every year.” Big f-cking deal. The Hawks have also sucked for 40 years and now they win every year. We are not satisfied, nor should we be. Why are we satisfied with the Falcons? Because of some intangible hope that one day their “core” will become championship-caliber? What have Matt Ryan and Michael Turner shown you that Josh Smith and Joe Johnson haven’t?
I will happily admit I am wrong if this group of players develops into something more than first-round playoff fodder. But I will also go on the record as predicting that the Falcons will not win the division this year, will struggle to win a wild card spot, and will lose again in the first round if they make it to the playoffs. If that happens, that would make a half a decade in which Dimitroff would have failed to win a playoff game. Would y’all still be happy with him then?
Najeh Davenpoop
June 25th, 2012
8:36 pm
“By the eventual Super Bowl Champions? Are you just a hater, or that dumb?”
The Giants were 9-7. They got beat at home by Tarvaris Jackson and Vince Young. They were good, but they were nowhere near good enough to pitch a playoff shutout.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 25th, 2012
8:38 pm
““Who is Ferry is going to bring with him to Atlanta for scouting and front-office matters?”
I’m pretty sure this is what Ferry was referring to in his intro quotes. He wanted to make sure the Hawks were going to spend in the area of scouting.”
Wish he had the opportunity to pick his own coach too.
donte080
June 25th, 2012
8:44 pm
re” Giants were nowhere near that good”
Tell that to the Patriots…..and keep blowing that smoke up your eh, nose.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 25th, 2012
8:44 pm
“not as easy to draft pro bowl players when you pick in the late 20’s every year”
In 2008, 2009, and 2010 at least 2 players picked between 20 and 32 in the first round have become Pro Bowlers. And in that time, the Falcons’ lowest first-round pick was #24.
Buddy Grizzard
June 25th, 2012
8:45 pm
“Wish he had the opportunity to pick his own coach too.”
He will. There’s no easier coach to fire mid season than a lame duck on a budget contract.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 25th, 2012
8:48 pm
“Tell that to the Patriots…..and keep blowing that smoke up your eh, nose.”
The Patriots who at least managed to score 17 points against them.
Only one team finished with a single-digit point total against the Giants last year, and it is the same one that got embarrassed at home in the playoffs by the Packers the previous year and lost to an 8-8 Cardinals team in the playoffs two years before that.
At some point, Dimitroff has to be held accountable. The Lions were 0-16 when Dimitroff took over the Falcons and now they are at the same place the Falcons are. But by all means keep responding to my facts with meaningless dismissive catchphrases. As the great philosopher Sean Combs once said, I tell it how it is while you tell it how it might be.
News Indeed
June 25th, 2012
8:51 pm
From Bleacher Report:
“Josh Smith is a malcontent, and the Hawks would be wise to part ways with the $13.2 million they owe him next year. According to Sam Amico of foxsportsohio.com, the Hawks may consider using Smith to move into the NBA Draft lottery.”
“The Hawks are said to be one team placing calls to improve their draft position. They currently own the No. 23 pick. One GM said the Hawks floated the names of both Josh Smith and Marvin Williams as potential trade chips.”
Trading Smith as he enters the final year of his contract is the ticket if you are the Hawks. He is an extremely talented, but polarizing, player. Atlanta seems to knock on the Eastern Conference’s door every year, but they can’t seem to get over the hump. Parting ways with Smith’s lackadaisical attitude will benefit the team in the long run.”
“Let’s look at two teams that should consider making the move for Smith in exchange for their lottery selection:
Golden State Warriors
Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News doesn’t believe the Warriors will move the No. 7 pick:
“Though they have explored many options, the Warriors are unlikely to trade the pick, according to several league sources. General manager Bob Myers and his staff have looked around for an established small forward, a move up to the second overall pick or possibly a move down to the middle of the round.”
“But if Smith and the No. 23 pick were put on the table, the Warriors may be willing to listen. Smith would fit the Warriors’ needs on the wing, and the Hawks would have a chance to start fresh. At No. 7, several quality players should be available. Harrison Barnes could slip through the cracks, although it’s doubtful. Barnes would give the Hawks a much needed, high-character player on the wing. He doesn’t have Smith’s exact skill set, but he is more disciplined and a better shooter. Also, the Hawks could look at Andre Drummond if he falls. Drummond would give the Hawks a center with tremendous upside, and they could use a player like him with Al Horford’s questionable health.
Golden State would benefit from staying put, but the Hawks could make an intriguing offer. A deal would be a good idea for both teams.”
Houston Rockets
“I think the Rockets will stay put at Nos. 14 and 16, but Smith would be intriguing. He would add a totally different dimension than Luis Scola at power forward, and he’s flat out better than Chandler Parsons at small forward. Houston doesn’t have any tremendous needs. Moving back to No. 23 wouldn’t be a death knell for their NBA Draft haul. The Hawks could target Tyler Zeller or Meyers Leonard with either pick. Both would add the same depth as the aforementioned Drummond, and both have high motors. Atlanta could also scoop up Terrence Jones or Perry Jones III here. These two are very similar to Smith (in negative ways too), but both are very talented. Atlanta would enjoy the upside both players present. The bottom line is the Hawks have options. If they don’t want Smith, I’m sure a suitor is out there. Lottery picks will be available, and the Hawks should take the plunge”
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1229678-nba-trade-rumors-atlanta-hawks-must-flip-josh-smith-for-lottery-pick
Ken Strickland
June 25th, 2012
8:53 pm
One thing I really like about Danny Ferry is he won’t allow management to interfere with his attempts to get the job done the way Cleveland’s owner did when he undermined him, especially when it came to dealing with Lebron James. What Lebron ended up doing to the Cleveland franchise was caused by their butt kissing back stabbing owner.
Of the 6 players we now have under contract, I believe JTeague, Zaza and Horford are the only ones that could be considered untouchable. Josh, Joe and Marvin will definitely be shopped. Joe can definitely be traded, but not without us paying a portion of his salary for a specified period of time.
If we could get a team to take him in return for us paying a portion of his contract and swapping draft positions, it could end up being a win win situation. If we paid half his salary, we’d still end up saving around $9M. And we wouldn’t have to pay anywhere close to that amount to sign a 1st rd draft pick, so we’d still end up saving.
Then trade Josh Smith for a top 10 pick, and we end up with 2 first rd picks. We could then get a quality Big and potential starting SF or SG. Signing 2 first rd picks would cost much less than the $13.2M Josh is due this yr. We could than use the money saved by the 2 moves to sign a quality FA SG like RAllen, or a scoring machine like JCrawford, or both.
Reality Check
June 25th, 2012
8:54 pm
“Josh Smith gives you blocks and steals and rebounds as an SF. And he can shoot midrange”
Sure, he CAN shoot midrange, but he’ll miss two out of three, LOL.
Slimjr
June 25th, 2012
8:59 pm
He aint the one[Matt Ryan] Grasshopper. Don’t hate on the messenger Junior…..
Let me let you in on a little secret Grasshopper…The Fal-cons have you fanatics deceived into believing they are legit players in the NFL…
NEWSFLASH:
Against teams with winning[.500 and above] records they are pathetic!!!!! And it blows up in their face in the playoffs..
2010: 3-4
2011: 1-6
combined= 4-10 or .400 which means they are pretenders..Got it oh thick skull?
And you calling me dumb? HaHahahaha Look in the mirror and what do you see now?
“Crack is Whack” -The great and never late Whitney Houston-
Michael Cunningham
June 25th, 2012
9:06 pm
new blog posted. shutting down this thread.
Hawks Hit Home Run With Ferry
June 26th, 2012
12:20 am
[...] operations for the San Antonio Spurs (and the former general manager in Cleveland) – until he was announced as the Hawks new GM this morning – has proved capable of mastering the mini-makeover. He did it several times in Cleveland [...]