Atlanta Hawks: Danny Ferry looking to trade but avoid the tax
Danny Ferry didn’t make the decisions that led to the Hawks owing $61 million in salaries next season to six veteran players on a team that’s topped out in the second round of the playoffs.
But now that’s he’s Hawks GM, Ferry will have to build a roster for next season without much financial flexibility. And he will have to start doing it pretty much on the fly because the free-agent negotiating period opens Sunday, less than a week after he took the job.
“It’s a crash course, for sure,” Ferry said. “I think we want to make the best decisions possible in the short term. We want to make right decisions, whether it’s a trade, whether it’s free agency. But especially trades.”
The trade market remains the best way for the Hawks to make significant additions to the roster (which of course means they’d also have to make significant subtractions).
They continue to get a lot of calls about Josh Smith but the impetus for pursuing Pau Gasol came from Rick Sund and Ferry so far hasn’t taken that baton. Ferry hasn’t even had a chance to fully assess the roster or meet the players.
Smith has a lot of value as a talented and productive player on a reasonable contract that expires after next season. Al Horford is an attractive piece, too, because he’s an All-Star big man locked up for four years and $48 million. Good luck dealing Joe Johnson with four years and $90 million remaining on his contract.
(Aside: I’ve heard some of my blog people wonder if Ferry will be “allowed” to trade Marvin Williams. Please accept that the Hawks have tried to trade Williams for at least two years and no one is biting. That shouldn’t be hard to do since you don’t want him on your team at his salary, either.)
If the Hawks don’t make a trade, then they’ll have to find some value on the free-agent market and perhaps get some contributions from unheralded rookies.
After signing first-round draft pick John Jenkins, Atlanta will have roughly $62 million in salaries committed to seven players. If second-round pick Mike Scott makes the roster and sticks for the year, that’s another $473,604. Ferry said he hasn’t decided if he will extend a qualifying offer to Ivan Johnson; if the Hawks do so and Johnson ends up playing on that deal, add about $1 million.
That’s about $63.5 million dollars for nine players. The roster minimum is 13 and the maximum is 15. The salary cap next season will be no less than $58 million. The luxury-tax threshold last season was $70.3 million and won’t rise significantly unless the players and league agree on a big increase in projected BRI for next season.
So, basically, the Hawks likely will have somewhere in the neighborhood of $6.5 to $9 million of room below the tax line to sign four to six players. Ferry said he’s authorized to spend into the tax but would like to avoid doing so.
“I want to build a roster that has some flexibility to it,” Ferry said. “Ownership has told me when appropriate, that when going over the tax makes sense as far as making us a better team, that is something we would be allowed to do. I want to use that judiciously, though, when you are given that opportunity to do so.
“In this new CBA, some of the challenges when being over the tax as far as trade restrictions as far as exceptions available to you going forward have changed the spending habits in the NBA. Would I think over the next few years we would go over the tax? I think there is a good chance but, again, I want to do that in a judicious manner.”
Ferry is talking about the more-punitive tax penalties that begin in 2012-13. Teams over the threshold will pay a higher tax; will have a smaller mid-level exception and no bi-annual exception; can’t take as much salary back in trades; and won’t be able to receive a player in a sign-and-trade if they are $4 million or more above the tax level.
Translation for the Hawks: Ferry can use the mid-level and bi-annual exceptions and make the Hawks tax-payers again but he’d better be sure he’s signing players that put the Hawks over the top.
“If the belief was it was going to make us a lot better, those things are on the table whether now or later in the year,” Ferry said. “The dollar amount certainly is a parameter as it relates to the tax. You’d prefer not to go over it. But right time, right trade, right thing [then] ownership, Bruce Levenson, has told me that if it’s appropriate and right and it would really make a difference we would have the ability to do so.
“I want to say with that I don’t think it’s always the right thing to go over the tax because of the rule and because of the way things operate. Most teams are never one player away. I think that’s a mistake sometimes teams make. We are going to look at opportunities and make a decision.”
The opportunities will be there for the Hawks on the trade market. There’s a sense of urgency because free agency opens in a couple days but Ferry said he plans to stay patient.
“Every player we may like, [the process] will take its own pace,” he said. “We will have some control over that but the players will have some control over that, as well. So we are going to make our calls on July 1, we are going to explore every option and hopefully we can make good decisions.
“Honestly, last year–I know I keep crediting Rick–but I thought they did a pretty nice job filling out their roster from where they were. Hopefully we can find avenues to do as well, [and] hopefully even better.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
363 comments Add your comment
Michael
June 30th, 2012
6:48 pm
The problem with Jenkins, as some have said, is he could have been had 10 picks later. Worse yet, Doron Lamb was a MUCH better player overall than Jenkins. Lamb can drive and finish layups, floaters or short jumpers. Lamb plays better defense too. I just don’t get the love for Jenkins. He shoots good, but he’ll never, ever make a starter in the NBA. He is just not athletic enough.
I cannot believe Jenkins went before Lamb. Worse yet, I can’t believe Jenkins went before his own versatile and athletic teammate, Taylor. Taylor could play 3 positions and shoots reasonably well.
Jenkins is a #40 ranked prospect being a “steal” at 23 in the minds of Larry Drew and Danny Ferry. Same old Hawks is an understatement.
You know what this reminds me of… the Sheldon Williams “steal”. He didn’t do a whole lot well either and the Hawks got him at what, pick 8, when they could have gotten him at pick 25 or so.
At least trade down and get SOMETHING (get rid of a salary, get a first round pick in 2015, or second round pick in 2013…anything).
Grandad aka Jerry Sundusky
June 30th, 2012
6:51 pm
IVAN>AL Horford
Buddy Grizzard
June 30th, 2012
6:52 pm
Yep, defensively challenged streak shooters like Jodie Meeks are a dime a dozen. Too bad we spent our first round pick on one when a backup center (Ezeli), backup point guard (Teague), potential future starter (PJ3) and defensive small forward (Jeff Taylor) were available.
Jerry Rice
June 30th, 2012
6:59 pm
You know Grandad I dont know how you can go around bragging about your association with Jerry Sundusky. That is not a good thing. It may make you popular on this site but your notoriety is base on a well known but infamous person.
In fact his whole school is corrupt and an harassment to society. Heres the latest on your party buddy:
Penn State Sandusky
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Emails show Penn State’s former president Graham Spanier agreed not to take allegations of sex abuse against ex-assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky to authorities but worried university officials would be “vulnerable” for failing to report it, a news organization has reported.
CNN says the emails, first obtained by and reported on by NBC, followed a graduate assistant’s 2001 report of seeing Sandusky sexually assaulting a boy in a team locker room shower.
Emails from 2001 between Penn State University’s former president, vice president and athletic director discussing what to do about Jerry Sandusky’s alleged encounter with a boy in the shower are raising new questions, CNN reports.
The messages from February 26-28, 2001 may illustrate a cover-up by former Penn State president Graham Spanier, then vice president Gary Schultz and former athletic director Tim Curley.
University officials “knew they had a problem with Sandusky after a 2001 shower incident, but apparently first decided to handle it using a ‘humane’ approach before contacting outside authorities whose job it is to investigate suspected abuse,” CNN reports.
On June 22, Sandusky was convicted of abusing 10 boys over 15 years.
CNN said it does not have the emails but that the alleged contents were made available to them.
In one email, Spanier allegedly acknowledges Penn State could be “vulnerable” for not reporting the incident. “The only downside for us is if the message (to Sandusky) isn’t ‘heard’ and acted upon, and we then become vulnerable for not having reported it,” Spanier allegedly writes.
On February 26, 2001, Schultz allegedly writes to Curley that he assumes Curley’s “got the ball” about a three-part plan to “talk with the subject asap regarding the future appropriate use of the University facility,” … “contacting the chair of the charitable organization” and “contacting the Department of Welfare.”
However, Curley apparently changed his mind and refers to a conversation he had with head football coach Joe Paterno. It’s not known what the two discussed.
Curley writes later that he rather just meet with Sandusky, tell him there’s “a problem,” and that “we want to assist the individual to get professional help,” according to CNN.
Schultz and Curley are currently charged with perjury and failing to report suspected child abuse. They have pleaded not guilty.
The new emails could lead to further charges, CNN reports.
Roy Marble
June 30th, 2012
7:01 pm
I am so glad Sund got fired. What an idiot trying to trade Smoove. our best player. I like the fact that Danny Ferry is more incline to trade Al hoford and go after a real center.
Good for you Danny.
Grandad
June 30th, 2012
7:06 pm
Sundusky was and is a very good friend of mine. We partied and did our thing but its not my fault he was caught. I never said anything and whatever Jerry and I did, well that’s between us. Jerry is going to have to serve time…. he got caught. Im not parting like I use to so I have nothing to worry about. So yea, Sundusky is still my friend. whats the problem? Move on haters.
Buddy Grizzard
June 30th, 2012
7:10 pm
I’m sitting here refreshing this thread and hoops hype waiting to hear if Ivan was extended a xo. If they refuse to even try to retain a proven rotation player backing up three positions for a sub-veteran’s-minimum salary, that could be the last straw for me.
random
June 30th, 2012
7:18 pm
why are people saying john jenkins isn’t athletic?
John Jenkins:http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/John-Jenkins-5826/
Doron Lamb:http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Doron-Lamb-5213/
Just because John Jenkins isn’t dunking doesn’t mean hes not athletic lol, hes clearly stronger and more athletic than lamb if you look at the predraft measurements.
So i wish you guys can stop saying he isn’t athletic.
Sameba
June 30th, 2012
7:39 pm
Good job Danny! A+ for the draft picks.
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
7:47 pm
O’Brien . . I think Heisley is trying to make that team as attractive as possible, so that he can sell the team. But he also likes rooting for a winner, and loves the fact that Memphis is a legit playoff team. So he’s willing to “go for it” for at least one year, and see what happens.
That’s what I wish Gearon and Levenson would do . . . just “go for it” for one year. Very rarely does a team have enough talent on deck to make a legit run at a tile, especially if you’re not one of the traditional powers. So when you do have that talent on hand, you better take your shot NOW. And that’s what Memphis is looking to do.
I support the Griz because I like to party on Beale St afterwards . . lol. It’s a good environment for basketball when that team is good. They just don’t have the type of financial demographics to make it work fully in that city. And it doesn’t help that the college team Memphis Tigers are just as popular as the Griz during the same time of year. So that directly competes with the Grizzlies.
And with the Tigers going to the Big East, Tigers games become even more attractive ( until the Big East is demolished ).
But yeah, the Griz are definitely doing what they should do right now. They have a 2 year “window of opportunity” and they know it.
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
7:52 pm
Been working on this most of the afternoon, with it being 107 degrees in Tennessee. Still 105 as I type this. Fug going outside until about 9 ( when it will still be 95 degrees ).
Possible typical game rotation ( 10 man rotation ) if Smith + Marvin for Gasol is done:
Possible main rotation Bench additions:
- Andre Miller ( PG ) . . add for 3 mill/yr
- Willie Green ( SG ) . . vet min . . 854K
- Matt Barnes ( SF ) . . vet min . . 854K
- Mike Scott ( PF ) . . 2nd rd pick . . 500K
Rest of bench players are cheap, young undrafted FAs costing 500K apiece. Maybe add another vet min at 854K.
Substitutions are in BOLD
********************
Start of game to 7:00 mark
PG: Teague ( 5 minutes played )
G: Jenkins ( 5 )
F: Johnson ( 5 )
PF: Horford ( 5 )
C: Gasol ( 5 )
7:00 mark to 3:00 timeout ( 1st quarter )
PG: Teague ( 9 )
G: Jenkins ( 9 )
F: Johnson ( 9 )
PF: Horford ( 9 )
C: Zaza ( 4 )
3:00 timeout to end of 1st quarter
PG: Miller ( 3 )
G: Green ( 3 )
F: Barnes ( 3 )
PF: Gasol ( 5 min C – 3 min PF )
C: Zaza ( 7 )
**********************
Start of 2nd quarter to 9:00 timeout
PG: Miller ( 6 )
G: Green ( 6 )
F: Barnes ( 6 )
PF: Scott ( 3 )
C: Gasol ( 8 min C – 3 min PF )
9:00 timeout to 6:00 timeout ( 2nd quarter )
PG: Miller ( 9 )
G: Johnson ( 9 min F – 3 min SG )
F: Barnes ( 9 )
PF: Scott ( 6 )
C: Horford ( 9 min PF – 3 min C )
6:00 timeout to 3:00 timeout ( 2nd quarter )
PG: Teague ( 12 )
G: Miller ( 9 min PG – 3 min SG ) . .
F: Johnson ( 12 min SF – 3 min SG )
PF: Horford ( 12 min PF – 3 min C )
C: Gasol ( 11 min C – 3 min PF )
3:00 timeout to halftime
PG: Teague ( 15 )
G: Jenkins ( 12 )
F: Johnson ( 15 min SF – 3 min SG )
PF: Gasol ( 11 min C – 6 min PF )
C: Horford ( 12 min PF – 6 min C )
*******************
1st half minute distribution
Johnson: ( 18 )
Horford: ( 18 )
Gasol: ( 17 )
Teague: ( 15 )
Jenkins: ( 12 )
Miller: ( 12 )
Barnes: ( 9 )
Zaza: ( 7 )
Scott: ( 6 )
Green: ( 6 )
( Drew sometimes likes to do like Woody, and sub out most of the key starters under the 2 minute mark, and let the reserves finish the quarter. I actually hate that he does it, but he does it. So some of the minutes of the starters may be reduced by a minute or two )
2nd half breakdown is next.
Melvin
June 30th, 2012
7:57 pm
Hawks could offer Kaman the entire MLE. Then try to package ZaZa/Marvin for a wing player…
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
7:58 pm
Halftime to 7:00 timeout ( 3rd quarter )
PG: Teague ( 20 )
G: Jenkins ( 17 )
F: Johnson ( 20 min SF – 3 min SG )
PF: Horford ( 17 min PF – 6 min C )
C: Gasol ( 16 min C – 6 min PF )
7:00 to 3:00 timeout ( 3rd quarter )
PG: Teague ( 24 )
G: Johnson ( 20 min SF – 7 min SG )
F: Barnes ( 13 )
PF: Gasol ( 16 min C – 10 min PF )
C: Zaza ( 11 )
3:00 to end of 3rd quarter
PG: Miller ( 12 min PG – 3 min SG )
G: Green ( 9 )
F: Barnes ( 16 )
PF: Gasol ( 16 min C – 13 min PF )
C: Zaza ( 14 )
*******************
Start of 4th to 9:00 timeout
PG: Miller ( 15 min PG – 3 min SG )
G: Jenkins ( 20 )
F: Barnes ( 19 )
PF: Horford ( 20 min PF – 6 min C )
C: Zaza ( 17 )
9:00 to 6:00 timeout ( 4th quarter )
PG: Teague ( 27 )
G: Jenkins ( 23 )
F: Johnson ( 23 min SF – 7 SG )
PF: Horford ( 23 min PF – 6 min C )
C: Zaza ( 20 )
6:00 to 3:00 timeout ( 4th quarter )
PG: Teague ( 30 )
G: Jenkins ( 26 )
F: Johnson ( 26 min SF – 7 min SG )
PF: Horford ( 26 min PF – 6 min C )
C: Gasol ( 19 min C – 13 min PF )
3:00 to end of 4th quarter
PG: Teague ( 33 )
G: Miller ( 15 min PG – 6 min SG )
F: Johnson ( 29 min SG – 7 min SG )
PF: Horford ( 29 min PF – 6 min C )
C: Gasol ( 22 min C – 13 min PF )
*******************
Total Minutes
PG: Teague ( 33 ) – Miller ( 15 )
G: Jenkins ( 26 ) – Green ( 9 ) – Johnson ( 7 ) – Miller ( 6 )
F: Johnson ( 29 ) – Barnes ( 19 )
PF: Horford ( 29 ) – Gasol ( 13 ) – Scott ( 6 )
C: Gasol ( 22 ) – Zaza ( 20 ) – Horford ( 6 )
Johnson ( 36 )
Horford ( 35 )
Gasol ( 35 )
Teague ( 33 )
Jenkins ( 26 )
Miller ( 21 )
Barnes ( 19 )
Zaza ( 17 )
Green ( 9 )
Scott ( 9 )
* Lineup can be tweaked to give people like Zaza, Miller or Barnes more minutes if need be, if the young guys aren’t ready for heavy responsibility.
* Miller can effectively play the 2 in certain situations, and may come in handy as an additional post up option when playing PG. Successfully played the 2 alongside Lawson @ Denver.
* If Scott can play some 3 on the defensive end in this lineup, that would be big time, and may see his minutes increase.
* Joe Johnson would have to be more of a rebounder with this group, unless Gasol, Horford, and Zaza can just dominate the boards, which would actually be a good possibility.
I could see both Gasol and Horford averaging 10 boards a game, with Zaza in the 5 – 6 rebound range ( for the minutes he’s playing. Still, it would be nice if JJ could get back around 5 boards a game with this group, especially with him getting heavy minutes at SF.
Sameba
June 30th, 2012
7:59 pm
If Josh is traded, I am not going to be Hawks fan anymore, even if Zaza (my fellow countryman) is sill there
bama52
June 30th, 2012
8:06 pm
If Joe and Marvin are getting paid so much Danny Ferry should work at restructuring their contracts. What ever he does,he shouldn’t trade Josh, Al, or Jeff. Gasol is getting old and he can’t run the floor like Josh.
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
8:08 pm
The people who said that Jenkins could’ve been had 10 picks later aren’t realizing that we didn’t have a pick 10 picks later. Honestly, if that’s the guy that they coveted, who cares where they picked him.
And if the report is true about how Memphis is wanting a shooter or backup PG, whose to say that THEY choose Jenkins at 25, and not Wroten? If Jenkins is the guy that they wanted, it shouldn’t matter where he was picked.
Melvin
June 30th, 2012
8:12 pm
Hoopsworld has created their list of the steals of 2012 draft. I wonder why John Jenkins didn’t make their list? I see PJ3 did….LOL
http://www.hoopsworld.com/the-steals-of-the-2012-nba-draft
Sameba
June 30th, 2012
8:12 pm
bama52:
co-sign
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
8:18 pm
@ Sameba . . . well that means you’re weren’t a Hawks fan to begin with. One player is not bigger than the team as a whole. If you root for the Hawks because of a certain player, cool. But you’re probably not the type of fan that the team needs to appeal to anyway.
@ bama . . . no way should Marvin’s contract be restructured. We either need to trade him away, amnesty him, or just play it out. To extend the contract means that we’d keep him around for 3 or 4 more years. Unless he becomes a truly “lights out” shooter, the Hawks shouldn’t keep Marvin around for that length of time, even if it does make our cap situation a little better.
As for JJ, the answer to that question is here:
http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q59
KevinM
June 30th, 2012
8:27 pm
The Hawks brought Lamb and Jenkins in twice….if nothing else, they convinced themselves Jenkins was the better choice ad worth of 23.
So saying that, I think our bench is going to finally have some youth there to build for the coming years.
Time will tell if we have a contributor. He was a big threat at Vandy, but never really had to show his defensive skills.
Greg Anthony thought this was a perfect pick for us because we are considered an iso team. T me, that sounds a lot like Woody is still here.
I can’t see how we can go into the season with the same core. There is nothing left to prove that we are stuck in mediocrity.
Looking at the batch of FAs, we won’t be a factor mainly because of Marvin’s contract. NBA TV doing a show on it right now.
Buddy Grizzard
June 30th, 2012
8:29 pm
northcyde I have the following issues with your rotation.
1. Ivan Johnson is listed
2. It still shows Willie Green, one of the most marginal players in the NBA, in the rotation
3. It assumes that Scott will make the team and/or ever see an NBA floor
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
8:29 pm
Hey Melvin, that same guy wrote this article 6 days earlier
http://www.hoopsworld.com/seeking-out-this-drafts-franchise-players
Just because some writer at hoopsworld says something, doesn’t make it gospel. He may not be more qualified to assess these players than you or I. A lot of these writers/bloggers are not hardcore basketball fans. They simply repeat what others say on another website, and put their twist to it. Depending on where that guy lives, I would bet that he hadn’t watched very many ( or any ) John Jenkins games while at Vandy.
KevinM
June 30th, 2012
8:32 pm
FYI, the amnesty period for the remaining 23 teams who haven’t used their amnesty rights runs from July 11 to the 17th this year.
Notables that could be amnestied:
Blather / Calderon / Childress / Haywood / Salmons / Tyrus Thomas are the examples given tonight. Calderon is the only one of the bunch with 1 year left….all the others have at least 3.
Marvin’s fits this perfectly.
KevinM
June 30th, 2012
8:33 pm
Blather means Andre Blatche of the Wizards.
Sameba
June 30th, 2012
8:37 pm
northcyde:
Well, I started be a Hawks fan only a year ago, when learned that Zaza was playing there… From what I saw during the last year, can be described by a simple formulae: Hawks=Josh, and vice versa. Due to him, Hawks got its own identity, which I like. This team has two major problems, that has to be dealt with, and were mentioned before by bama52. What concerns your statements on types of fan I am: it is up to you, I do not care what you think about this;-)
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
8:37 pm
Buddy
- Ivan isn’t listed because I don’t know if he’ll be re-signed. Doing this rotation with Ivan would be a whole lot easier, because I’d try to play him a few minutes at SF and PF. What I don’t want to do , is reduce the minutes of Gasol and Horford at PF.
- Willie is the guy Ken Strickland threw out there, so I added him just to see what the rotation would look like. In retrospect, I would probably add another SF instead of Green, so I could give JJ more minutes at the 2. JJ would take Willie’s 9 minutes at SG, while I would give some other guy 9 minutes to play SF in place of JJ. That would give JJ ( 20 min SF – 16 min SG ) time on the floor.
- With us only having 6 guys signed, and with the Hawks not offering ( up to this point ) a Qualifying Offer to Ivan, Scott will probably have to not only make the team, but play. He better be able to come right in and give us “something”, if the Hawks have decided that they don’t want Ivan.
Roy Kittles
June 30th, 2012
8:43 pm
Enter your comments hereHollis Thompson and sims both out of georgetown would be nice additions.
Jerry West
June 30th, 2012
8:44 pm
@Bama52 – you can’t restructure a player’s contract in the NBA. This isn’t the NFL. Both sides could agree to void it, but that’s a big time rarity. I’ve only seen it done with Derek Fisher when he left the Jazz to move his daughter closer to a doctor.
@Ken Strickland
JERRY WEST-The Lakers wouldn’t have to send cash, just agree to pay the difference in the 2 players annual salaries over the course of the next 2yrs. It wouldn’t be any different, or cost them a penny more, than keeping Gasol for the remaining 2yrs of his contract.
This isn’t possible under NBA rules either, sounds more like an MLB thing. Well at least it’s not possible when the difference of the salaries is so great (Josh’s 13mil vs. Pau’s 19mil). If they were a lot closer, I think the Lakers could send some money in the deal.
Roy Kittles
June 30th, 2012
8:45 pm
Scott machado, Hollis Thompson, Henry sims would be some nice additions.
Melvin
June 30th, 2012
8:47 pm
Jenkins was 2nd round talent which I would’ve preferred to see the Hawks either select a guy who was not projected to be available (PJ3/Moultrie) at 23 or have to trade several spots back (like the did with Jordan Crawford) to select Jenkins. However I’m a Hawks fans and I hope Jenkins (and Scott) turns into a good player for the Hawks.
Jason S
June 30th, 2012
8:48 pm
Can the Hawks trade Larry Drew for northcyde?
Melvin
June 30th, 2012
8:53 pm
northcyde,
You know you are my guy but if you are going to say the writer on the Hoopsworld website is just another blogger like you and I. Then what makes you qualified to discredit his blog or point of view? Sounds to me, he has an opinion just like you and I.
Mr.E
June 30th, 2012
8:58 pm
I Lol’d Jason S
High-sider
June 30th, 2012
9:04 pm
Misspelled “Joe ‘Kleine’” in earlier post.
High-sider [is] having technical difficulties.
High-sider
June 30th, 2012
9:12 pm
@Sautee
“…So I ask again about this quote:
“GM Ferry will move a good player with some attitude issues like Josh Smith but will look to keep an overrated, mediocre player like Kirk Hinrich.” – High-Sider
What are you basing this accusation on? If you have no problems discussing race, then this should be easy.” – Sautee @10:16am dated 6/30/2012
Can’t I have a hunch? Do I always need evidence to make an assertion on this blog. BTW, I have given you the dates and times of the posts in question. If you can’t find my posts in question, then I don’t know what else to tell you.
Melvin
June 30th, 2012
9:22 pm
I haven’t seen any articles that mention who the Hawks are pursing in free agency. SMH
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
9:23 pm
Melvin . . that’s my point. We’re all just giving opinions. There are a lot of established sportswriters who don’t have a clue ( Chad Ford comes to mind ).
I’m not discrediting his blog . . totally. I’m just saying that just because a writer for a website says certain guys are “steals”, doesn’t make them “steals”. His definition of a “steal” is a guy who went lower than projected, and fell to a team that might could use him.
A lot of guys are over or underrated due to their athletic ability or size. That’s what makes the NBA draft one of the more unpredictable drafts in sports. Teams will take a guy like Hasheem Thabeet at #2, based solely on size and potential, and not on playing ability.
Those same teams will bypass on guys like Isaiah Thomas ( the new Isaiah, PG for Sacramento ) because he’s too little ( listed at 5-11, but was really 5-8.75 without shoes ). The bottom line is that one could ball, and the other was a “potential” pick. Guess which one was the baller?
Thomas pretty much took ALL of Jimmer Fredette’s minutes as the backup PG, then became the starting PG, leaving Jimmer in the dust. Jimmer is rapidly becoming the next Salim Stoudamire, while Isaiah is already a better shooting version of Nate Robinson, with better PG skills.
Most of these blogging sportswriters are just that . . writers who have an opinion. It doesn’t mean that they’re right.
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
9:25 pm
LOL @ Jason.
Drew’s rotations were simply baffling sometimes. He acted like an AAU coach at times, trying to play everybody. Forget that. Just play the guys that will help you win games. And play the right combination of people.
Sautee
June 30th, 2012
9:26 pm
“Can’t I have a hunch?” – High-Sider
Of course you can, but in this case you didn’t indicate that it was: hunch, opinion, your take, seems to you, IMHO, or any other rejoinder that admitted that the quote wasn’t a statement of fact, but was how you personally feel.
But IF you make it appear (as you did) that it is a statement of fact, then be prepared to show what evidence you are going by. Maybe it seems small to you, but it seemed to me like a major slam on Ferry for no good reason. If it was your opinion, or a “hunch”, perhaps you should have said so.
OK, got it?
Just Joe
June 30th, 2012
9:30 pm
You guys see where Hawks and Nets talking Joe Johnson trade. Ferry and King are pretty tight. They may work something out.
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
9:31 pm
I forgot.
Jimmer went 7th to the Kings in last year’s draft
Thomas went dead last, the #60 pick in the 2nd round.
Thomas had a better season than more hyped guards Jimmer, Kemba Walker, and even #2 pick Derrick Williams. The only guys he didn’t flat out outperform were Kyrie Irving, Kenneth Faried and Brandon Knight. Pretty good for a severly undersized, and completely overlooked prospect last year.
Just Joe
June 30th, 2012
9:32 pm
Ferry would be my hero. I don’t care what we get back.
Just Joe
June 30th, 2012
9:33 pm
Farmar, Morrow, and Petro make about $12M. That’s a start!!!
Melvin
June 30th, 2012
9:36 pm
“Thomas pretty much took ALL of Jimmer Fredette’s minutes as the backup PG, then became the starting PG, leaving Jimmer in the dust. Jimmer is rapidly becoming the next Salim Stoudamire, while Isaiah is already a better shooting version of Nate Robinson, with better PG skills.” – northcyde
Your evaluation Jimmer Fredette reminds me of John Jenkins which is scary. John is a good shooter like Fredette but doesn’t handle the ball as well. Which has me concern if he could be effective without being able to create his own shot. I think his upside is Voshon Leonard. If not, he will be out the league or a career end of the bench guy.
Sautee
June 30th, 2012
9:38 pm
Just Joe,
Source?
glw
June 30th, 2012
9:40 pm
Just a thought,
But if Childress gets amnestied in Phoenix, anybody think the Hawks might look at him for that wing defender/potential starter at small forward here? I think he would fit perfectly here. I think his skills always fit well with Smoove and iso Joe, because he was better at getting to the basket than Marvin was, plus he was more willing to crash the boards than Marvin.
Jaded Hawks Fan
June 30th, 2012
9:40 pm
The Brooklyn Nets and the Atlanta Hawks are currently having talks to possibly trade All-Star guard Joe Johnson so he could be paired with Nets free-agent guard Deron Williams, Yahoo! Sports reports.
Williams reportedly will meet with the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.
Of course, this deal is dependent on Williams re-signing a deal with the Nets. Johnson, a six-time All-Star, has played 12 seasons with the Celtics, Suns and Hawks and averaged 18.8 points a game for the Hawks last season.
Just Joe
June 30th, 2012
9:44 pm
Does the Jenkins pick make a little more sense now?
glw
June 30th, 2012
9:45 pm
wow, I saw that too Just Joe, Yahoo sports saying Brooklyn wants Joe Johnson.
Ra'mon
June 30th, 2012
9:45 pm
Adrian Wojnarowski: Brooklyn and Atlanta are engaged in talks on a possible Joe Johnson trade, sources tell Y! Nets plan would be to pair with Deron Williams