Atlanta Hawks: Danny Ferry uncut
Some excerpts from Danny Ferry’s session with reporters following his introduction as Hawks GM.
From Ferry’s opening statement:
I was not looking to leave San Antonio. [Owner] Peter Holt, [coach] Gregg Popovich, [GM] R.C. Buford were incredible to me and my family. Obviously it’s a wonderful place to work.
But getting to know Bruce [Levenson] over the last several weeks made myself think and challenge myself whether this is the right thing to do. I was struck by his humble approach to the past [especially] for a team that has done well. There was a real sense of humility. I was really struck by his intensity, his focus, his energy about going toward the future and trying to build something from the ground up. This was critical to me to know that it can and will be done the right way.
Over the last four years, from 10,000 feet looking at it from San Antonio, this place has done pretty well. Rick [Sund] is a big part of that, Larry [Drew] last year obviously was a big part of that. I am coming here to build on what they’ve done a good job with so far.
My approach coming here, to be clear, is to try to have a value-based identity with good guys that play hard, play together, share the ball [and[ that can be professional on the court. From a program standpoint, from an operation standpoint being progressive, being systematic in how we go about everything whether it's the draft, player development, medical, and so on. And then just a consistent commitment from us building inside out with a good, strong culture and a family atmosphere. Those are the things we will look at every day and hopefully we are doing a good job with it.
Q. How will things work with the draft?
A. "I've been working, just not for the Hawks. I've gone and seen games all year. I am somewhat prepared for the draft as it relates to where the San Antonio Spurs where at [No. 59] and the players we were looking at. My focus changes now with the pick in the first round that the Hawks have in the first round. [The current staff] have done a good job. I will sit in on the process, I will be a part of the process and ultimately will be a big part of making the decision and the things that happen here over the next week.”
Q. What can you bring from San Antonio that can help you here?
“San Antonio, first of all, had a committed ownership. The Holts were fantastic. My conversations with Bruce made me feel comfortable that’s very much where he is and his heart and time and energy are going to go into that going forward. Values-driven; there are good people there. ‘Popp,’ R.C., go down the list of players, that’s a good group of people and ultimately that gives you the best chance to succeed.
“A systematic approach; on the court, the Spurs play a certain way. Hopefully the Hawks will build an identity in that regard even more from where they are now. And then building with the right people in general. The front office, when you look at the people who have come through there—Sam Presti, Rob Hennigan now, R.C. . . .
“‘Popp’ and R.C. have built a good program there and obviously it’s something people are trying to emulate. I had the opportunity to build a program in Cleveland, something I was proud of. We had a lot of success. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves. There are good things here. There are good players. They’ve had a succesful program. This has been a good program but also not something people are satisfied with here.”
Q. Why did you choose here instead of Philly?
“It would have been a great privilege working with Doug Collins. I think he’s a great basketball mind. . . . I got really comfortable with this opportunity as it relates to Bruce. What I get is a great sense of humility but also a sense of intense focus and passion and pride about what can happen here going forward, the resources, the willingness that made me excited about this opportunity.”
Q. This is a team that has been considered good but hasn’t been able to get over the hump. How can you get them there?
“This has been a good team. From the outside looking in, this has been a program that has been right there. I have my opinions from the outside but before I really answer I want to sit down with Rick and Larry. I don’t know all of the behind-the-scenes here. To be able to sit down with the two of those guys and really come up with where they think they are, I will be better able to answer that question. There are some good players. They’ve had some success. That’s one of the things I’m looking forward to.”
Q. What will Rick Sund’s role be?
A. “What we agreed with is let’s work together the next month [through] the draft, free agency, summer league. And really table the discussion until then as far as what he wants and what’s ultimately best for the organization.”
Q. Did you come in here with the expectation that you could make a change with the head coach?
“I look forward to working with Larry. We will have a lot of time together over the next month to really get to know each other. They did a nice job last year as a team. As we get to know each other, hopefully something I can help him with going forward is growing as a coach and he helping me grow as a professional, as well.”
Q. Are there any ‘untouchables’ on the roster?
“I’m here [only] a day. . . . At the end of the day we want to win a championship. At some point we will uncover every stone and look at everything. This group has had a lot of success. It’s a question of, can you go to the next level or are there opportunities? You have got to know what the opportunites are, as well. I think this is a good group of players that has done well.”
Q. This team is in a situation where it’s good but not championship-caliber, yet not bad enough to get high draft picks. With no cap space and lots of committed salaries, how can you improve the team in these circumstances?
“We have our draft choices going forward, first of all. That’s important going forward. We are not encumbered in any way. That being said, the discussions I’ve had with Bruce and the organization have been nothing about players necessarily so far. It’s been more about, ‘Are you willing to do this the right way? Are you willing to invest? There’s a lot of things that we’ll invest in that you won’t see. NBA teams are fragile. The NBA is hard. You invest in all of those things ultimately you put yourself in the best position to succeed. I got comfortable Bruce is in this for the right way and the right reasons and willing to do the things to build the best program to have a chance to succeed and not be fragile and be more successful than average.”
Q. Bruce said you had concerns about this franchise that had to be addressed. What were those concerns? Was it the stability of the ownership? The sale that fell through? The lawsuits they’ve had in the past?
“This organization, Rick has done a good job. It’s had its challenges to deal with: the lawsuit, the sale. That’s a tough thing for a team to deal with. They’ve done a good job, they really, have. From the outside looking in, they’ve been a successful team. I don’t think they are satisfied, and they shouldn’t be. I’m here to build on that success but I knew I need the tools and the ability to be able to build on that. How we build the road map, that’s the stuff we start to dig into now. What are the options? What is the right direction based off of those options? Those are all of the things, I’m fortunate to be able to work with Rick over the next month, hopefully more than that, and get to know Larry over the next month and really dissect what the opportunities are. Look, I’m not walking into this blindly. But [evaluating the roster] is not where my main focus was at the start of this thing.”
Q. Why did you leave Cleveland?
A. “My contract was up. We were on different pages as far as the future. The dynamics of ownership changed on some level. They had five great years in Cleveland. We had the best record the last couple years. We went to the finals. I think we are all proud of what we did. At the end of the day, we didn’t win a championship. That’s disappointing but I’m proud of the program we had there and proud of what we did. Chris [Grant] is the GM there because we did a good job. Lance Blanks, who worked for me, he’s the general manager in Phoenix. Michael Winger is the No. 2 guy in Oklahoma City. We had a good program and good people. We are looking forward to putting together a program here and watching it grow.
“I had a good thing in San Antonio. I would not have made the decision to come here if I didn’t think it was good opportunity and a good challenge. It’s not something that’s going to be built over the first week, it’s not something that’s going to be six months or even the first year. Hopefully over time you will see that we’ve built a program that’s really well run, well-organized and prepared to make the best decision we can make and hopefully make the best decision going forward.”
Q. There is a debate here core about whether it’s time to break up the core of players. Where do you stand on that?
A. “There is going to be debate around every team. There was debate over what to do in San Antonio, there was debate over what to do in Cleveland, there is debate over what to do with the Lakers right now. It’s part of this. At the end of the day we will look at all the possible road maps are there and make decisions and move in a direction and hopefully we do it while building a stronger program than what’s already here. Again, they’ve been pretty good. Teams are trying to get where the hawks have been the last few years. So I have to walk in there with a certain respect for that. I’m looking forward to building on that as many ways as we can.”
Q. Both you and Bruce mentioned analytics as an area in which you want to invest. Some teams have proprietary systems. Would that be something you would bring here?
“We are going to look at everything. But I am allowed to do everything. If that’s something that makes sense and come to them and say this is something I want to do, I’m very confident the answer is going to be yes. We are going to look at everything in how we can get better in the organization and what resources need to help make that happen. I’m very comfortable with Bruce’s commitment to do that.”
Q. How much do you use advanced statistics?
“I think you use everything you can. You throw the kitchen sink at things and then you make a decision.”
Q. Do you think the issue of selling team is off the table?
“I would not have come here if I thought that was an issue and if I didn’t feel comfortable with that. Bruce has made me comfortable that he’s in this for the long haul and he hopes I’m standing next to him 12 years from now.”
Q. Do you anticipate there will be changes on your basketball operations staff?
“I don’t think there is time to think about anything right now other than draft and free agency. I am sure there will be changes. Whether that just means addition or whether that means changes we will have to dig into that. Based on what they tell me that we are going to build more programs, I would think we will have a few more people working for us.”
Q. You said that you will be heavily involved in the draft preparation. Will the pick ultimately be your decision?
“Hopefully we can build consensus over what the right hing is. But ultimately I will be the one that will have to make that decision if we can’t come to a consensus.”
Q. You were already doing draft prep for San Antonio. Will it be a matter of comparing notes with the Hawks’ staff?
“Yeah but, granted, we were preparing for the 50th pick. When Manu [Ginobili] got hurt early in the year we looked at the lottery because we didn’t know what the hell was going to happen. I’ve been out watching college games throughout the year and studied tape and done all of the things that we needed to do to prepare ourselves for the draft. For example, Kawhi Leonard we traded to get that draft pick. We traded to get George Hill.
“Do I know all of the guys that are going to be available at 23 like the back of my hand? No, but I know them pretty well. I will use the next few days to dig into those guys in particular. We will be looking at the whole draft because, who knows, maybe we do something else? We’ll see.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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195 comments Add your comment
Wink
June 25th, 2012
11:59 pm
No surprise in the answers given by Ferry. The telling one was in regards to the core and he just kept saying they have done pretty good and he want to help them grow from there. Which probably means the ASG may have already slipped him the Kool Aid! Sound like the Core Survives as I suspected for at least two years!
The first year is observation, should they go second round, then a year of tweaking talk, while the contracts run out….so two years of the same, which is the same formula used by Sund when he came to the job!!!!!!
Tootsi
June 26th, 2012
12:00 am
MC,
Any idea why it seems as though only Levenson was involved? Ferry never referred to Gearon during the presser and I’m wondering if there’s any reason behind that as Gearon has been the basketball guy while Levenson was the hockey guy. Have they finally realized that nothing good comes from Gearon opening his mouth, or is there some larger issue at work?
Grandad
June 26th, 2012
12:04 am
Slimjr
ORL is strong on Harkless
You -&- I are the A.N. fan club //// keep the faith
Think McHale and or Dream Shake on his footwork.
* [No - I`m not saying he is gonna be a Hall 0` Famer]
Slimmer – be hopeful for Harkless as well ! … [tradin` up]
Melvin
June 26th, 2012
12:21 am
MC,
Did you get a feel from your interview with Ferry that he will shake up this core this summer?
High-sider
June 26th, 2012
12:45 am
@Sautee
Sautee
June 25th, 2012
5:12 pm
“Many NBA experts and analysts have said that LeBron James (essentially) took a bad Cavs team to the ‘07 NBA Finals and I agree with them on this particular assessment. ”
That team was 5th in the league in defensive points allowed. In the playoffs they were 1st.
Do you think LeBron covered all 5 players of the opposition? LMFAO.
——————————————————————————————-
Yeah, I think he [LeBron James] covered his man [opponent] and helped his teammates with their defensive coverage[s] on their [four] opponents. He [LeBron James] does just about “everything” on the [basketball] court anyways. Except for LeBron James, who [else] on that ‘06-’07 Cavs [NBA Finals] team had “championship moxie”? Larry Hughes? Zydrunas Ilgauskas? Drew Gooden? Sasha Pavlovic? Donyell Marshall? Anderson Varejao? Damon Jones? Daniel Gibson? Eric Snow? Get real. Like I said earlier, that ‘06-’07 Cavs team didn’t really have a legitimate No. 2 scoring option and none of LBJ’s teammates could come close to matching his [LBJ's] individual contribution[s] to the team. LeBron James did the “lion’s share” of the work on that ‘06-’07 Cavs team.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CLE/2007.html
Ronnie
June 26th, 2012
1:18 am
High-Sider,
Cleveland wasn’t (isn’t) exactly an attractive market even when they were dominating the East. And this was before the “let’s team up!” mentality of today’s players really began. So to suggest that ll of these free agents were running to play there, or to trash Ferry because he didn’t bring them in, is a little misguided. The fact of the matter is, those Cavs teams with one superstar accomplished more in 5 years than these Hawks have in 40 years. When Ferry walked in the door in Cleveland, they were coming off a 42-40 season of missing the playoffs, so no high draft picks to add another young star like Seattle/OKC did. Two years later, they were in the Finals and had one of the deepest rotations in the league.
High-sider
June 26th, 2012
1:52 am
@Grandad [and Buddy Grizzard]
“…Perhaps you have no understanding of the concept of Team.
-Why-
`Tis where human beings come together and work for the greater good.
I Corinthians 1:10;
‘`I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree with one another
so that there may be no divisions among you
and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought`’
-The Apostle Paul-
May I ask you sir;
do only black basketball players enter heaven ?
-or-
just black people in general ?
-also-
I have asked this before:
Do we – white folks – get to claim Shane Battier ?
Yawl can have Bibby ?
How about Joakim Noah ?
I seriously do not know about Blake Griffin ?
Then there`s Miles Plumlee; I mean look at how high he jumped ?” – Grandad @5:21pm dated 6/25/2012
Are you, Grandad, accusing me of being divisive? I, High-sider, did not set up Jim Crow, “white only, ‘colored’ only,” segregation/apartheid and “sitting in the back of the bus.” I, High-sider, never killed, murdered, lynched, firebombed, enslaved, disenfranchised, and/or dragged a white person because he or she is/was [a] white [person]. I, High-sider, have never refused to employ/hire, promote, or “give an opportunity” to a white person because he or she is/was a white person.
Did you read that same scripture [I Gal. 1:10] to your white brethren in those white segregated churches in the past, to Ku Klux Klansmen and to White Citizens’ Counselors? Who is/are the real divider[s] and who is/are the real unifier[s]? Do you know of the story of the “Tuskegee Airmen”? Where was the (black/white) teamwork in that (military) situation/scenario/action?
I am not God so I don’t know who will be permitted into heaven? That was a silly and foolish question on your behalf and I’m sure you meant to be silly and foolish. And you can “claim” whomever you like [to be a part of the white race] but, first, you might want to ask “those [people]” who you are “claiming” if they will “claim” you and your [white] race. Out of curiosity, have you [Grandad] ever asked or petitioned your local, county, state and/or federal government to allow you and others to “claim” mulatto, biracial, biethnic, mixed-race and/or multiracial individuals/people for the white race? What was your stance/opinion during the “one-drop rule” era/debate/phenomenon? Grandad, don’t put this (racism/white supremacy) back on me because I’m able to “call it like I see it” (for what it is).
THE IMMORTAL...I MUS WRITE
June 26th, 2012
2:04 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=HL1340690540&v=UeJDQzU-KOg&feature=player_detailpage
THE IMMORTAL...I MUS WRITE
June 26th, 2012
2:10 am
“Promises” Will I be alive to see a Brave,Hawks,or Falcons CHAMPIONSHIP……
THE IMMORTAL...I MUS WRITE
June 26th, 2012
2:29 am
@ Ronnie this is true, He put a solid group around Lebron,but he also had one owner with deep pockets and not a collection of misfits that operate on the cheap. Wait a minute did he just say “CORE” Dirty word around these parts.
Great another yr of Marvin and Joe Camel….Its almost like a bad dream.
If Ferry can get rid of those two for servicable peices and sumhow can LD……”The crowd goes wild”
Get a competent coach. Look what Doug Collins did this yr with a collection of roll players. This Nichols kid is growing on me -He is Vinn Baker like…….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g76Yn457_Vg&feature=player_detailpage
Insomniacs Theatre ….I sure could use sum cheese cake from Fridays…
Najeh Davenpoop
June 26th, 2012
2:34 am
“Obviously Poop is the type of guy who sees the glass half empty… Dude needs Tony Robbins motivational tapes,,,GET THEM NOW DAVENPOOP!!!
From an earlier post criticizing the the Ferry hire…”
I don’t think the glass is half full or half empty. I just see that half the glass either does or doesn’t have something in it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3CSDvxHO1M
Najeh Davenpoop
June 26th, 2012
2:39 am
“The following NBA players had talent: Charles Barkley, Alex English, Ernest “Kiki” Vandeweghe, Patrick Ewing, Dale Ellis, Tom Chambers, Xavier McDaniel, Chris Mullin, Mark Price, George Gervin, Brad Daugherty, Mitch Richmond, Tim Hardaway, Patrick Ewing, Bernard King, Dominique Wilkins, Pete Maravich, Adrian Dantley, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Sidney Moncrief, Terry Cummings, Ricky Pierce, Reggie Miller, Kevin Johnson and others.
But guess what, Najeh? The aforementioned NBA players were never (team) members of an NBA championship team. Winning an NBA championship is a (delicate) mix of decisions, (hard) work/labor, talent, strategy/schematics, opportunity, timing, situation(s) and circumstance(s), etc. Let’s not act like talent and decisions are more important than (hard) work when it comes to “getting it done” or winning an NBA championship. Hard work takes precedent over talent and decisions in this scenario/example.”
If I had an objective way to quantify how much every player worked, I could show you a list 100 times longer of players who worked their asses off and never won a ring. Many of them might even be on that list above. In fact, off the top of my head, I wouldn’t be surprised if half those players you mentioned worked harder than Shaq ever did, and yet Shaq retired with four rings.
Everyone who makes the NBA works hard. You can’t make it to the elite level in any profession without hard work. But once you get there, talent trumps all. Every player on the Hawks’ roster can work their asses off 24 hours a day and they will still never be as good as LeBron.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
June 26th, 2012
2:40 am
I’m sold on Festus Ezeli. He’s the next Mutombo. Protecting the rim has been a problem for a while and we need someone that is defensive minded.
THE IMMORTAL...I MUS WRITE
June 26th, 2012
2:43 am
Highsider you are in rare form LMAO…. Shane Battier is the whitest black guy in America…..Well next to Brian Gumble. Bibby-Blake ??? No Clue.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 26th, 2012
2:48 am
“You seem to give a lot of credit to the Hawks for progress, which is fine, but you almost ignore the Falcons’ progress from drafting 3rd overall. Is this a Vick thing?”
This is the typical response of Falcons Kool-Aid drinkers who encounter anyone who isn’t getting on their knees for everything Dimitroff does. “Is this a Vick thing?” Anyone who isn’t worshipping at the altar of Dimitroff must be reminiscing about Vick, right? No, it is a factual assessment.
Of course the Falcons deserve credit for their progress from drafting 3rd overall. To get from drafting 3rd overall in 2008 to making the playoffs in 2008 is remarkable. The problem is that they are in the exact same position in which they found themselves after losing to Arizona that same season. You know, kind of like how the Hawks taking the Celtics to 7 games in the first round in 2008 is remarkable, if not for the fact that they just finished taking the Celtics to 6 games in the first round four years later with only two second-round playoff game victories to show for it.
Dimitroff is still living off the rep that his first season got him. Since then the Falcons have not improved at all. You really could say that about Matt Ryan too. And for some reason, Falcons fans are totally content with it. It makes absolutely no sense.
High-sider
June 26th, 2012
3:24 am
@Najeh Davenpoop
“…Everyone who makes the NBA works hard. You can’t make it to the elite level in any profession without hard work. But once you get there, talent trumps all. Every player on the Hawks’ roster can work their asses off 24 hours a day and they will still never be as good as LeBron.” – Najeh Davenpoop @2:39am dated 6/26/2012
LeBron James won the NBA’s MVP Award twice (’08-’09 and ‘09-’10) as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers but the Cavaliers (in those years that LeBron James won the MVP Award) did not even make it to the NBA Finals. Why didn’t his (LBJ’s) “talent trump all” during his MVP years with the Cavs and carry the Cavs to an NBA championship? Talent is important but (more so) a player or team has to “put in (the) work” to win a(n NBA) championship. A less talented player or team can “outwork” and defeat a more talented player or team. “Outworking your opponent” can or may mean working harder, smarter, or more efficiently than your opponent.
High-sider
June 26th, 2012
3:43 am
@THE IMMORTAL…I MUS WRITE
“…Shane Battier is the whitest black guy in America…..Well next to Brian Gumble…” – THE IMMORTAL…I MUS WRITE, June 26th, 2012 @2:43 am
Is he (Shane Battier) whiter than (the self-proclaimed “Cablinasian”) Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods? (Remember the “one-drop rule.”)
————————————————————————————————
@donte080
“…He traded for Jamal Crawford, which was unarguably a good move…” – donte080 @5:00pm dated 6/25/2012
As much as you have criticized and ridiculed Jamal Crawford, I can’t believe you (donte080) actually wrote that the Hawks acquiring Jamal Crawford via trade was “a good move.”
northcyde
June 26th, 2012
3:44 am
Q. How much do you use advanced statistics?
“I think you use everything you can. You throw the kitchen sink at things and then you make a decision.”
***********************
Thank you Ferry. Please look at everything.
This dude sounds to be thorough in how he approaches his job. That’s exactly what we need around here. Someone who will go over things with a fine tooth comb, to see what pieces we need, and what moves we can make to be a better ballclub.
Ferry isn’t afraid to take risks, so hopefully Levenson and Co. will let him run the show.
And speaking of Levenson, I’m glad he was the “point man” in this deal. He seems like the more level-headed guy amongst the ownership group. Gearon Jr is way too emotional and unstable to be making the big time decisions around here. Let the GM do his job, and you just “own”. If you don’t like what the GM does, then you fire or replace him.
AG
June 26th, 2012
7:22 am
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”
Only one team will win the championship next season. Should OKC blow up there squad since they fell short? It is crazy for everyone to say trade Josh for a couple of draft picks. I say build around your strongest players and fill in with role players.
The Hawks have tried to destroy the team twice.. both with bad results. Getting rid of Mutumbo, Steve Smith, Mookie, losing in the 2nd round 31-19 record etc..how did that work? Yet, the biggest difference is that team was very old. Then they added draft picks Roshown McCloud, Cal Bowdler, Dion Glover and a mix of vets Bimbo Coles, Jimmy Jackson…
Then, we drafted JT,Dan Dickau obtain Shareef, Toni Kukoc etc… and improved slightly – but never to a point of being a playoff team.. then KA BOOM!!
The new model of drafting and picking up key free-agents (4 of 5 starters were draft picks)- may have even worked better with better decisions drafting i.e. Benson,Pape Sy, Sheldon Williams & Marvin Williams.
My point – and I guess I am sounding like Rick Sund – I really enjoy going to the area with the ability to win EVERY night! First move, sign Josh to long term deal – sign and trade Hinrich – then acquire some long range shooters and defensive specialist i.e Matt Barnes, Petrious, etc.
romelo X
June 26th, 2012
7:29 am
Enter your comments here
E. LOVE
June 26th, 2012
7:31 am
GET BOLD!!!!!! BRANDON ROY is available. Make him a HAWK NOW
romelo X
June 26th, 2012
7:32 am
My opinion on Ferry is its a great hire compared to what we had, plus I think we should move ISO Joe along with horford for bynum
Blah Blah Blah
June 26th, 2012
7:41 am
Did Ferry answer a single question directly? All of his answers were a bunch of hot air BS. I do like that he didn’t definitely say Drew will remain the coach. Get Sloan or SVG.
Ray
June 26th, 2012
7:44 am
@ Big Ray
Thank you for your post on the first page we need to get rid of Joe Johnson well Marvin too, but that contract got to go the only way we’re getting the premium players is if Joe and his contract hit the road.
Someone like Hoston might be willing to trade their draft picks and we could have Kevin Martin as well plus a guy like Dalembert.
Blah Blah Blah
June 26th, 2012
7:56 am
BTW, Romelo X, that is the dumbest post in the history of a Hawks message board. I’m all for dumping JJ’s contract, but trading him and Horford for Bynum? You are an idiot.
Just Joe
June 26th, 2012
8:02 am
Will Ferry be a fan of Ivan Johnson? See his comment above about being “professional on the court”.
HAWKLESS
June 26th, 2012
8:03 am
Ferry is a good hire for the Hawks but again they do things completely backward. They should never have picked up the option on LD if they were going to make this kind of change. Now if the Hawks get started very slow next season and they have to fire LD in mid season then we will have another wasted season.
justahawkfan
June 26th, 2012
8:20 am
Everyone love Danny now. Let see how long it will be before you start hating. It’s gonna happen.
Ray
June 26th, 2012
8:20 am
@ Just Joe
Maybe not I like Ivan a lot as well, but he’s that type of player that needs to be reeled in by someone like Boston or Spurs that can put him in his place sometimes players need to be around organizations like those.
I still hope he stays he’s become a mini favorite of mine especially earlier in the season.
Geemack
June 26th, 2012
8:23 am
The real reasons the Spurs and Cavs were successful were Duncan & LeBron. I don’t see neither one on this roster.
Ray
June 26th, 2012
8:35 am
@ HAWKLESS
Who knows if L.D does get fired and they replace him with a quality coach like Jerry Sloan who knows what the team could accomplish.
Funny thing is With the past two GM’s Rick Sund and Billy Knight they were pretty much the worse Rick Sund is better than BK, but not by much.
With this coaching stuff L.D was worse than Woodson(yes I said it) if I would have known it was going to be L.D that got the H.C job why not let Woodson stay here for another 2 years. It would have been one thing if L.D was a H.C on another team, or even a assistant on a championship/WCF/ECF bound team then I’d understand.
So here’s hoping that Ferry if he does fire L.D sometime next season he’ll pick up a quality coach, and honestly Jerry Sloan is my pick.
falCans
June 26th, 2012
9:12 am
GREAT HIRE UNLESS HE TRADES JOSH!!! THEN ALL BETS ARE OFF
doc
June 26th, 2012
9:22 am
ray:
With this coaching stuff L.D was worse than Woodson(yes I said it) if I would have known it was going to be L.D that got the H.C job why not let Woodson stay here for another 2 years.
simple answer, i dont think woody would have taken a 75% pay cut or more down to the level of ld. do you? ld got a lot more milage out of this team at his pay scale or .8 to 1 mil year than any coach in the nba is my guess. thibs and brooks might rival it but i think they get more a standard pay scale for nba coaches. woody was hauling in about 4 mi a year. i really think he would have blown a gasket at a pay cut to say 3 mil much less .8 mil.
folks seem to overlook where the franchise has been a long time, on the sales block. reality is teams or business’ like that dont do many capital expenditures to rebuild or renew their product. so we got sund and ld for a combined 2 mil a year max. i think ferry will take that much home alone if not more.
the hire does speak more for stability than we have had since jj was hired and the asg became the basg in court legally as well as on the court in the nba. the costs for that are huge.
Astro Joe
June 26th, 2012
9:26 am
The other thing I thought about is that Ferry had Chris Grant (current Cavs GM) on his staff in Cleveland. Hopefully, that is a sign that he knows how to find competent people to place around him.
I also wonder if Levinson is (or has) purchased a larger share of the Hawks. Again, I find it interesting that he made this happen and it gives me a little hope (which will surely be smashed) that he gets it where Gearon did not. But Bruce (I think) was the primary owner in charge of the Thrashers and we know how that turned out. Maybe he leraned his lesson. A 6-year contract seems like a very big-boy organization thing to do.
AUDIO: Danny Ferry: “It Would’ve Been A Great Priviledge To Work With Doug Collins” « Thoughts In Passing
June 26th, 2012
9:38 am
[...] won’t. Reason why we’re running this, an excerpt from the transcript of Ferry’s Monday introduction speech to the Atlanta media. Q. Why did you choose here instead of [...]
Astro Joe
June 26th, 2012
9:42 am
doc, I agree. Ferry may fail miserably (although I doubt it) but I think this is the first clear sign of big-boy basketball operations since we added Joe Johnson in 2005. The other big move was traded Shelden and scraps for Bibby… that was a big-time move. In both cases, the team added needed stability. Those moves did not rersult in an ECF appearance, but it got us out of those discussions about which lottery candidate would help turn the team around. This Ferry hire brings even more stability becuase it is at the top. The other thing, Ferry was actually “selling” the franchise. Not just the players but also the owners. Did Sund ever do that, if so, I don’t remember. It all feels like a seismic shift from the top. IMO, the roster composition in October/November won’t be nearly as important as the cultural change that will be initiated this summer.
O'Brien
June 26th, 2012
9:53 am
From espn.com;
The Hawks don’t have any depth behind point guard Jeff Teague. Sources say that, in the past few weeks, they’ve become enamored with Wroten. His shot is broken and he can be wild, but he has enormous upside as a big point guard who can see the floor and get to the rim..
Astro Joe
June 26th, 2012
9:55 am
Interesting article on Wroten (maybe is does have a defined skill set… defense & passing).
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/26/huskies-wroten-intrigues-grizzlies/?partner=RSS
DawgNole
June 26th, 2012
9:55 am
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?
______________________
From a previous blog, yeah, but it bears repeating because it goes to the heart of why this city has so seldom (only once) achieved pro sports championship status; i.e., too much satisfaction (even happiness) with mediocrity.
As far as Ferry, I share the wait-and-see view of many others on here. Let’s give him a shot before we condemn him. He’s been closely associated with 60-game winners and Finals participants–something the Hawks have NEVER come close to being–so he can’t be all bad. And like others, I’m just relieved to see the Hawks do SOMETHING that at least on its surface APPEARS to be a positive first step–as opposed to simply rehiring the mundane Sund and maintaining the status quo.
Ray
June 26th, 2012
9:58 am
@ O’Brien
All I can say is OH BOY
There are PG’s we can get from the FA market right now we need Center help and the big man out of Vandy is a good value at #23 I like him a lot more than Fab Melo that’s for sure.
Wasting a draft pick on Wroten will be another big mistake by ASG.
Ray
June 26th, 2012
10:01 am
DraftExpress
Got us taking Fab Melo and then Andrew is right behind going with the Cavs ASG do the right thing draft Nicholson damnit or the C out of Vandy.
According to them Tony Wroten is a second round draft pick if that’s the case just trade up in the second round in fact send Marvin for Clevelands two second round draft picks darn it.
O'Brien
June 26th, 2012
10:05 am
There have been rumors about Josh wanting to leave, and although he has not admitted to it, he also has not come out and denied it.
I think when Ferry talks to him, he will be asked about his desire to be apart of the team going forward (not just this year). And if Josh’s response is “I will play out my contract and go from there”, I will not be surprised to see Ferry start looking at trade options for Josh.
Also, I think they should amnesty Marvin Williams. Ferry is coming from the Spurs, and they made 2 mistakes on Richard Jefferson. 1) when they traded for him and 2) they gave him a new deal. Ownership realized it wasn’t working, so they used the amnesty to get rid of him, despite being owed $30 mil, and it brought them under the luxury tax.
We made 2 mistakes with Marvin. 1)Drafting him #2 and 2)Giving him the contract they did. However, he is only owed $15 mil, and is the best candidate to be amnestied (I don’t see us using it on JJ). Plus I think another team would pick Marvin up for $2-$3 mil, so Hawks would only be responsible for $4.5 – $5.5 mil each year
Would Ferry try and convince owners to let Marvin go? It would give us slightly more room under the luxury tax. Or will he be impressed by Marvin’s good game in the playoffs, and would the owners even be willing to throw away $10 mil, and still have to pay his replacement.
Jay Dubu
June 26th, 2012
10:09 am
No one on the Hawks roster is going the amnesty route. That means paying out millions for a player to “NOT” play for you. Unless you have cash to burn, and the Hawks don’t, it’s not even a discussion.
Ferry spoke a lot about programs, and putting them in place. That sounds like foudational structure for the organization.
Next season will be LD’s audition to find a job somewhere else. Because Sund has already agred to pay him, he stays this year. Don’t know about Josh. It would be nice to have him work with a coach that has vision and will hold him accountable. Could really be all he needs to vault him to the superstar player that the Hawks need in order to win.
Josh is the Hawks best talent, and has been for several years, but he needs a coach that can help him play the game smarter, to put him in a system that he can thrive and prosper in.
Astro Joe
June 26th, 2012
10:10 am
Here’s my summary of Hollinger’s insider article… Joe’s contract will make it hard to make big roster changes; Josh wants to go and has trade value; ownership previously wanted to keep thing afloat and give a new owner the responsibility of blowing it up and making major front office moves, the Ferry signing suggests they at least are willing to start the process themselves; Ferry’s 6-year deal suggests he wants to have a chance to blow it up and rebuild it; LD is vulnerable as incumbent head coach with new boss; Hawks have little money to fill 7 roster spots; Ferry hiring was overall a good move by the Hawks.
So a lot that we’ve discussed here before… nothing really new to local diehards.
Astro Joe
June 26th, 2012
10:16 am
I think you use amnesty to get a core player and not bench depth. If the Hawks use amnesty this summer, it should result in signing a player to a 3-4 year contract… a top 6 roster kind of player. I don’t want them to use amnesty just to sign 2 $2M players to a 1-2 year deal. Amnesty is a one shot deal, don’t use it to simply get rid of a player, use with a purposeful intent to get a player.
Jae Evolution
June 26th, 2012
10:19 am
Chase Budinger to Minn for the 18th pick. We couldn’t of shipped Marvin away for that pick? Damn.
MsDee
June 26th, 2012
10:25 am
OB, “Would Ferry try and convince owners to let Marvin go?”
Dont think ASG would have a choice considering the fact that Ferry has the authority now to make that kind of decision. Yes, he would bring it to their attention, but after making all the sense in the world to move him, I cant see the ASG stepping on his toes from keeping him from amnesty Marvin esp if no one wants him via trade.
glw
June 26th, 2012
10:30 am
@O’Brien,
I think the Spurs didnt amnesty him, but traded Jefferson and got Captain Jack in return. but yeah your point is valid, they made 2 mistakes with Jefferson, but that didnt stop them from ridding themselves of their mistake. I have less confidence in the hawks doing that, I dont think they want to pay anyone not to play. I think its more idealistic that they would make a trade for Marvin.
Michael Cunningham
June 26th, 2012
10:39 am
@ Tootsi:
“MC,
Any idea why it seems as though only Levenson was involved? Ferry never referred to Gearon during the presser and I’m wondering if there’s any reason behind that as Gearon has been the basketball guy while Levenson was the hockey guy. Have they finally realized that nothing good comes from Gearon opening his mouth, or is there some larger issue at work?”
Ferry says he talked to Gearon and Co. a few weeks back. it sounds as if Levenson was the front man for this. as for yesterday, Gearon was out of the country on a family vacation.
Sugar Ray
June 26th, 2012
10:39 am
“Dimitroff is still living off the rep that his first season got him. Since then the Falcons have not improved at all.”
I’ll give you the first sentence. You seem upset at my Vick comment, I only asked because it seems like every single person I’ve talked to who turned on the Falcons are the upset Vick fans. They will never accept Ryan because he is not Vick. I believe the Hawks and Falcons are on the same level, so I don’t bash either team more than the other. Fans should only focus on championships, which I why I think fans of both teams should stop overrating “fan favorites” past and present if they didn’t bring the city a parade down Peachtree. None of these guys have done anything… Vick, Ryan, Nique, Josh… no trophies in those cases. People in other cities would laugh if someone started bragging about them or acting as if they were all world and untouchable.