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
High-sider
June 24th, 2012
6:34 pm
@Buddy Grizzard
“…High-Sider, please tell us why you arrived at this opinion. I would like to hear what criticisms you have of Ferry that convince you that somebody who was twice a member of the best front office in professional sports (San Antonio) is a sure bust as GM of the Hawks.” – Buddy Grizzard
Danny Ferry was the Cavs GM from 6/25/2005 through 6/4/2010. The Cavs draft picks from 2005-2010 are as follows:
2006 – Shannon Brown, 1st round, 25th pick; Daniel Gibson, 2nd round, 42nd pick; Ejike Ugboaja, 2nd round, 55th pick
2008 – J.J. Hickson – 1st round, 19th pick
2009 – Christian Eyenga, 1st round, 30th pick; Danny Green, 2nd round, 46th pick
He (Danny Ferry) acquired Maurice “Mo” Williams and Damon Jones via a 3-team trade in August 2008, acquired a “washed up” Shaq [O'Neal] via trade in June 2009, acquired a “washed up” Ben Wallace in February 2008, and acquired a “washed up” Wally Szczerbiak and “head case” Delonte West in February 2008. Dude (Ferry) does not know how to build around or add complementary pieces to (an) A+ level talent (LeBron James). The NBA is full of nepotism and cronyism especially when it comes to giving head coaching and executive positions to “unaccomplished” white (Jew[ish] or Gentile) men who (have) failed (horribly) in (recent) previous positions (e.g., John Kuester, Lawrence Frank, Danny Ferry, Vinny Del Negro, etc.) and overrates the accomplishments of white executives such as Sam Presti, R.C. Buford, etc. How hard it is to acquire and build around a good player if you are picking in the top five of the (NBA) draft (e.g. Tim Duncan, 1st pick, ‘97; Kevin Durant, 2nd pick, ‘07; Russell Westbrook; 4th pick, ‘08)? On the other hand, the “affirmative action [hire]” idiots like former GM’s Billy Knight and Otis Smith make the issue of and/or case for diversity look very unattractive (to minorities as well as majorities). [SMH]
“Take one step forward in order to take five steps backward(s).” [SMH]
Moral to the story: Hire the best and most qualified and not the most popular/liked/well-known.
tjhook
June 24th, 2012
6:34 pm
Ray we also got Jamal Crawford and a solid bench on peanuts last year. He was not the problem.
tjhook
June 24th, 2012
6:36 pm
On a positive note, maybe Shannon Brown will be interested in joining the Hawks since Danny Ferry drafted him and his wife is Atlanta native Monica.
Buddy Grizzard
June 24th, 2012
6:36 pm
AJ, Danny Ferry knew he wanted to be a GM again. He will have been preparing for this draft both in the event that he got a job before the draft, and because a top-flight organization like SA is ALWAYS evaluating players and ready to make a trade to jump in and grab a player they want. See Kawhi Leonard last year.
Grandad
June 24th, 2012
6:37 pm
A lot of you guys have been asking questions about one of my best friends Jerry Sandusky. Just to clear the air, we never abuse boys together. hes always been his own man. He got caught and Im sorry he did but he has to work that out. He will always be my best friend. You can call me Sandusky part II the sequel.
I am a firm believer that we should trade Al horford. While he was a solid draft pick he has since turned into “captain average” Im afraid the guy has peaked and weve seen the best of him.
12pt 8 reb career average
12pt 5 reb college average
5pt 3 reb all star average
11pt 7 reb playoff average -
Al was the most rested player in the playoffs after loafing off the whole year with that self inflicted injury. With all that rest he did not dominate 1 game over players who were worn down and tired after a full season of work. Its time to trade Al Horford if we are ever going to get over the slide we are experiencing now.
The Monger
June 24th, 2012
6:41 pm
THANK YOU ASG!!! For once you made a very smart move, by bringing in someone from a classy, championship organization!! This is the first and ONLY smart move you have made, hopefully this is the start of something big, and maybe he can bring us up to the Spurs level of championship caliber basketball in the next 2 or 3 years, but with this mess of a roster…more likely is it will take him 6 or 7.
steven a smith
June 24th, 2012
6:42 pm
tjhook
June 24th, 2012
6:32 pm
A lot of people want to slam Sund but he was not the problem.
Rick Sund had no vision for this team. Poor judge of talent. He could have done better than”Twin Collins” Erika Dampier, Keith Benson, etc…Beside those obvious gaffs, he was not that bad.LMAO
Grandad
June 24th, 2012
6:42 pm
Since the Wizards have Okafor and Nene it probably means JaVale McGee is coming to Atlanta straight up for Al Hoford.
Ray
June 24th, 2012
6:43 pm
@ tjhook
And that was a good thing I remember when it was announced Jamal would come here and I remember a lot of Golden St. fans breathing sighs of relief and also mocking us telling us that we’d be sorry, and they were correct.
Jamal Crawford is something this team doesn’t and didn’t need we need people to play defense not just be a offensive weapon cause that means he becomes useless and basically makes the other 4 people on the court work that much harder to get by with a win.
Ray
June 24th, 2012
6:45 pm
I still feel as though if Keith Benson actually had a chance he might have been good how good who knows, but do we even have someone here to develop 6′11 above people anyway?
steven a smith
June 24th, 2012
6:45 pm
Any reference to “Jerry Sandusky” should be done with “respect”, to the children whose lives he destroyed, and to their families…
The Monger
June 24th, 2012
6:46 pm
I was begging for ASG to bring in someone from either the Oklahoma City or San Antonio organizations….Finally shows they are somewhat serious about building a quality, sound organization at every level and most importantly winning a championship. This guy comes from an organization that built a team with Manu Ginobli, Tim Duncan, and Tony Parker as their core and surrounded them with the deepest bench in the league and the best coach in the league. I have a feeling one of Ferry’s moves will be to let Larry Drew walk after this year, and bring in a quality coach in the Greg Popovich mold. He can’t fix the roster overnight, but putting the amnesty on Joe and trading away Marvin for anything will be a start.
Buddy Grizzard
June 24th, 2012
6:46 pm
Wow, High-Sider, you’re a f-ing idiot. What does race have to do with it? Very few ex-players have had success in front office positions. Think Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor and Isaiah Thomas, three of the worst executives in NBA history. Does it make you mad that among the successful ones (think Jerry West, Pat Riley, Danny Ainge, Larry Bird), so many of them are white?
The Monger
June 24th, 2012
6:47 pm
The Spurs built a bench with guys like Matt Bonner, Tiago Splitter, and Dejuan Blair. By contrast the Hawks bench last year had Jason Collins, Eric Dampier, and Jerry Stackhouse on it. Do you see the difference between an organization like the Spurs, who win championships….and the Hawks??
Grandad
June 24th, 2012
6:48 pm
A lot of you guys have been asking questions about one of my best friends Jerry Sandusky. Just to clear the air, we never abuse boys together. hes always been his own man. He got caught and Im sorry he did but he has to work that out. He will always be my best friend.
I am a firm believer that we should trade Al horford. While he was a solid draft pick he has since turned into “captain average” Im afraid the guy has peaked and weve seen the best of him.
12pt 8 reb career average
12pt 5 reb college average
5pt 3 reb all star average
11pt 7 reb playoff average -
Al was the most rested player in the playoffs after loafing off the whole year with that self inflicted injury. With all that rest he did not dominate 1 game over players who were worn down and tired after a full season of work. Its time to trade Al Horford if we are ever going to get over the slide we are experiencing now.
Now that the Wiz have Okafor and Nene it probably will mean that the Al horford for JaVale McGee trade is on.
Make since, we send them a soft defending injury prone 6′10 1/2″ 265lb center who wants to be a power forward for a true center with tremendous skills whose main problem is his immaturity.
It looks like a good trade, and the numbers fit. JaVale will grow up. Al has peaked. Time to move on.
pointguardslim
June 24th, 2012
6:49 pm
1st unit
J. Teague Joe Johnson Josh Smith Al Horford Zaza Pachulia
2nd unit
K. Hinrich Kevin Murphy* Marvin Williams Ivan Johnson Festus Ezeli*
*draftees
Reserves: Al Thornton/Willie Green; J.Pargo ; slimmer E.Dampier
steven a smith
June 24th, 2012
6:50 pm
Buddy Grizzard
June 24th, 2012
6:46 pm
Wow, High-Sider, you’re a f-ing idiot. What does race have to do with it? Very few ex-players have had success in front office positions. Think Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor and Isaiah Thomas, three of the worst executives in NBA history. Does it make you mad that among the successful, if you never ones (think Jerry West, Pat Riley, Danny Ainge, Larry Bird),
Great point Buddy. Amen on that one. However, if you never earn an opportunity, you could never succeed.., ie Tony Dungy Mike Tomlin, Jerry Reese
Grandad
June 24th, 2012
6:51 pm
*Make sense
Man, Im not only old but im stupid too
Buddy Grizzard
June 24th, 2012
6:53 pm
LMAO that you bring up John Kuester, who was hired by a black GM, Joe Dumars.
“…overrates the accomplishments of white executives such as Sam Presti, R.C. Buford, etc.”
Yeah 4 championships for SA… totally overrated organization. Seriously High-Sider, you are the dumbest person I have ever had a conversation with. Seriously. You’re dumb as a box of rocks.
Grandad
June 24th, 2012
6:54 pm
1st unit
Point guard to be named later. J. Teague Joe Johnson ,Josh Smith JaVale McGee
steven a smith
June 24th, 2012
6:56 pm
Sounds good and looks good on paper…Having said that, Josh “Bricklayer” Smith, must go. He has peaked. There is no more room for him to grow.
Sautee (support Sandusky)
June 24th, 2012
6:59 pm
A GM position is for White Men. Every body know that. Black boys are too dumb to be GM. Thats why Sund F ed up, Hes part black through his cousins best friend uncles pet poodles owner. You black guys dont get it. It was us that brought yall here as slaves. Now play your position, and stay in your lane.
We will hire another white man.
steven a smith
June 24th, 2012
7:00 pm
I really miss having fat penis’s in my butthole…
The Monger
June 24th, 2012
7:01 pm
From High Sider: “How hard it is to acquire and build around a good player if you are picking in the top five of the (NBA) draft?”
I dont know why don’t you ask the Hawks, since they’ve failed everytime… Let’s see for every Tim Duncan and Kevin Durant, there are 3 duds in the top 5 every year. Just ask Sheldon Williams, or Marvin Williams, or how about Darko Milicic?? Secondly, I think your comments on Danny Ferry are a little biased and one-sided.. He wasn’t put into an ideal position when he came in, the Cavs were the laughing stock of the league back then and had never been serious title contenders until Ferry got there. Not saying he single-handedly turned that organization around, but in did stabilize it and turn it into an annual title contender every year, most years the Cavs were the #1 seed and routinely won around 55-60 games a year. Yes they had LeBron, but stability was also added by an underrated coach in Mike Brown and LeBron’s help wasn’t as feeble as you make it out to be. They played their roles perfectly, similar to last year’s Bulls team. They had Zydranus Ilgaskus in the middle, Anderson Varajeo, all-star guard Mo Williams, Shaquille O’Neal (a little after his prime, but still), Anthony Parker, Leon Powe, and former All-Star Antawn Jamison. I mean Lebron James by himself didn’t win 60 something games by himself, Ferry brought in some good talent….unprecedented talent for Cleveland. And he gets double bonus points because he brought in that much talent to Cleveland, a city that NOBODY wants to play in. He will face a similar predicament in Atlanta, because Atlanta is not a hot spot for NBA players either.
Grandad
June 24th, 2012
7:02 pm
Ray
-agreed-
At least B.Knight did something !
Something is better than nothing !
BK > Sund
steven a smith
June 24th, 2012
7:03 pm
If you guys keep asking for Al hoefart to be traded I will also ask that we trade Josh Smoove because I want to give his position to Al.
I found a rubber in my rectum, does anybody know who it belongs to so I can return it ?
pointguardslim
June 24th, 2012
7:07 pm
Highsider you didnt need to bring race into it.
While I agree that some GMs are overrated at times, cronyism is on both sides of the aisle.
RC Buford got Duncan and Tim Robinson fall into their laps but that organization is solid,
Presti and the Thunder on the other hand do not impress.
top pick for Ray Allen ok that becomes Oden but Durant goes second
“reach” for Westbrook, this is a steal
Harden over Tyreke and Rubio seems like common sense, he fit Westbrook and Durant better.
But then Kendrick Perkins’s contract…Perk is a positional defender..and Ibaka isn’t as talented as Garnett so Perk is not as good as he was with the Cs…but I guess…it got them to the finals, Ibaka to me has peaked as a jump shooter with lax post game average big man length and skinny/weak post defense.
That team as a whole has peaked and needs a dominant PF ie Pau…and it would regress if Harden leaves,
i_am_soulstar
June 24th, 2012
7:10 pm
Grandad:
McGee doesn’t play for the Wizards anymore. He was traded to the Nuggets back in March.
Just Joe
June 24th, 2012
7:10 pm
San Antonio model:
Hawks trade Josh and Marvin for Gasol (closest we can get to Timmy).
Teague as a wannabe Tony Parker
Hawks draft Fournier at 23 to be the next Ginobli
Joe Johnson > Danny Green
Horford > Boris Diaw
Ivan close to Blair
Brian Butch as Matt Bonner
Pachulia > Splitter
We just have to find a Kawhi Leonard, Stephen Jackson, and a couple of backup PG’s
The Monger
June 24th, 2012
7:10 pm
For the record the Cavaliers went 272-138 under Ferry, and who doesn’t want this guy in Atlanta??
Secondly, after that feat with Cleveland he is coming from the Spurs organization who finished with the #1 seed this year, was arguably the best team in the league entering the playoffs, as they went 50-16.
So lets see the last 4 years all his teams have been #1 seeds…
08-09 Cleveland #1 seed
09-10 Cleveland #1 seed
10-11 San Antonio #1 seed
11-12 San Antonio #1 seed
All I’m saying is this guy is around championship organizations, and he knows what it takes to build lasting, dynamic teams. A guy doesn’t spend time with teams that go to the NBA Finals and earn #1 seeds and not know what he is doing…Championship basketball coming to Atlanta with Danny Ferry!!!
steven a smith
June 24th, 2012
7:10 pm
Hey never mind, I know who’s rubber that was I found. Ray send me a mailing address.
Grandad
June 24th, 2012
7:12 pm
Ditch~Weed
I`m inviting you to the draft party.
I`ll be looking forward to mtg you.
Buddy Grizzard
June 24th, 2012
7:14 pm
I guess the fact that Presti hired a black assistant GM, Troy Weaver, to help him find players like Harden and Westbrook is an example of “plantation mentality.” By the way, Weaver has been mentioned as a candidate for multiple GM jobs. I guess he’s a beneficiary of white cronyism too.
Just Joe
June 24th, 2012
7:14 pm
Non of you guys smoke as much weed as I do.
I Smoke weed every day.
Grandad
June 24th, 2012
7:15 pm
High-Sider
If that was really you ?
You have let your bias color your intellect.
I pity you, sir.
i_am_soulstar
June 24th, 2012
7:16 pm
But I think McGee’s a free agent now.
Grandad
June 24th, 2012
7:16 pm
Guy, as a show of support for my bestestess Jerry Sandusky, I will be using an honorary blog name from time to time over the next year.
Look for Grandusky.
Grandad
June 24th, 2012
7:17 pm
Ditch~Weed
You do understand, McGhee is with Denver now. – right -
Buddy Grizzard
June 24th, 2012
7:17 pm
“I dont know why don’t you ask the Hawks, since they’ve failed everytime…”
Wait wait… wasn’t Billy Knight the GM when we selected Marvin and Chills as lottery picks? What color was he I forget?
i_am_soulstar
June 24th, 2012
7:18 pm
Hopefully Ferry realizes that it’s okay to take a few steps back to build a contender in the long run.
Zipit
June 24th, 2012
7:19 pm
Honestly people the spurs are great because the coach is amazing not because D.F. got paid to hang out with them.
Grandad
June 24th, 2012
7:20 pm
Well we have to make room for JaVale and the best way to do that is to trade Al, who is making 12-14 million dollars a year to produce 12pts 8 rebs and fight with his teammates about playing Josh’s position of power forward.
That will be a non issue with JaVale. and this should also free up enough money to resign Josh. Thats a nice from court with JJ, Josh and Javale. …. Damn that 3 Jays. call it J ^ 3
Ray
June 24th, 2012
7:23 pm
Well I take it people stole other people’s name handles. They really should do something about that.
Buddy Grizzard
June 24th, 2012
7:24 pm
Please tell me what top 5 picks Danny Ferry has selected in his career. Hint, I listed every first round draft pick of Ferry’s 5-year career as CLE GM in a previous post.
Jay Dubu
June 24th, 2012
7:25 pm
LD is already in place for next year, and the draft is on Thursday. Even if the Hawks get Ferry in by Monday, how much can he really evaluate the team to see who to draft.
The 2012 draft board has already been decided upon.
The new GM, whoever it may be, will have some imput on the bench and that’s about it. until next year. Josh Smith isn’t gong to be traed, nor is Marvin, and the “core” is set.
Zipit
June 24th, 2012
7:31 pm
@Monger You should stop talking. You have said some really dumb things. Like really really dumb.Geez!
Buddy Grizzard
June 24th, 2012
7:32 pm
“Even if the Hawks get Ferry in by Monday, how much can he really evaluate the team to see who to draft.”
As I said previously, Ferry will have been preparing for this draft in case he landed another gig as GM. And San Antonio is always evaluating talent. That’s why they traded to get into the first round last year to pick Kawhi Leonard. They are ALWAYS evaluating talent, even if they have zero picks in a given draft.
Grandusky
June 24th, 2012
7:32 pm
Ditch~Weed
You do understand, McGhee is with Denver now. – right – but I do know he can be had easily. the guy averages 3.1 block. He and Josh will shut down the paint. Then all we need is a point guard.
prison mike
June 24th, 2012
7:36 pm
“He was general manager for the Cavaliers from 2005 to 2010, where he was charged with building a roster around LeBron James.”
Read it and weep, playboys.
http://hoopshype.com/general_managers/danny_ferry.htm
Major de`Coverly
June 24th, 2012
7:44 pm
Listen everyone. T.ruth S.erum is on line today. We all neded to send an email
to Michael Cuningham by using the box at the bottom of the comment box.
If we do this everytime he does this we cam keep him off the blog.