Atlanta Hawks: Danny Ferry focused on salary cap ‘flexibility’ with trades
The word new Hawks GM Danny Ferry kept using after the draft Thursday was “flexibility” and nothing would create it more than trading guard Joe Johnson’s contract for players with shorter deals.
The Hawks were not close to any trades as of this afternoon, according to a person with knowledge of their plans, but talks are fluid. They’ve continued discussions with the Nets about Johnson, and clearly Brooklyn (feels weird to write that) has plenty of expiring contracts to offer in return.
Update 4:55 p.m.: ESPN.com’s Marc Stein reports that a discussed proposal would have the Nets sending Atlanta Jordan Farmar, Johan Petro, Anthony Morrow and Jordan Williams. According to Stein, the Hawks are insisting that former Tucker High star MarShon Brooks be included in the deal while Brooklyn would rather Atlanta take on one of its free agents in a sign-and-trade.
Stein also reports the Nets won’t make the trade until free agent guard Deron Williams commits to re-signing. Williams reportedly will meet with Brooklyn and Dallas tomorrow.
The Hawks could swing a deal that leaves them with massive amounts of cap space next summer. The Nets also have about $4.4 million in trade exceptions available, which function as a credit to be used against the salary-matching requirements. That means the Hawks could take back significantly less salary in a trade with the Nets.
It’s still possible all of this trade talk leads to no deals now and the Hawks wait until later in the summer or next season to pursue trades. But already it’s clear that Ferry is willing to trade a piece of the team’s proverbial “core” in an effort to gain cap space to re-build the roster.
In addition to Johnson, the Hawks have been open to moving forward Josh Smith though they’ve resisted offers so far. Apparently the Hawks balked at a potential deal with the Lakers for Pau Gasol because L.A. wanted another major piece to go along with Smith. That would leave the Hawks with less than six players under contract, less talent, and no short-term cap relief because of the $38 million and two years remaining on Gasol’s contract.
Before Ferry was hired, Smith told the Hawks he wants to be traded to a franchise he considers to be more committed to winning a championship. There’s been no indication that Smith has changed his mind after Ferry’s hire, which does nothing to placate Smith’s desire to also play in what he believes to be a better sports market. Smith’s contract expires after next season.
Ferry said he plans to meet with Smith soon.
“I have talked to Josh, and we agreed to get together,” he said. “It was a positive conversation.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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564 comments Add your comment
Big Ray
July 2nd, 2012
12:18 am
Joe seems (these days, anyway) to get one of those injuries every year where he struggles badly for several games. It’s great as an alibi for him, but hurts the team each time. So much for aging gracefully, as was suggested. It ain’t gonna get better.
MV7 Fan.
July 2nd, 2012
12:28 am
After the JJ trade Al is next.
Cunningham confirmed that trade talks between the two teams had taken place but that it was unlikely that Josh Smith was a part of them. Cunningham further cites that the Hawks would be reluctant to include Smith because of the hope that the presence of his child-hood friend would entice Howard to sign a long-term extension with the club. That would leave the deal to center around either Johnson and or center Al Horford.
In a recent interview with ESPN Radio, Horford was asked about the rumors and was genuinely taken aback.
“Wow,” Horford said. “I guess I’m heading back to Florida. … I don’t know, that’s interesting, I know that Dwight is from here, but as far as I know, this is the first I’ve heard of it. But it’ll be interesting.”
Hoops
July 2nd, 2012
12:30 am
The Nets will try to get the Joe Johnson deal done on Monday. That should help convince D-Will to re-up with the Nets. The Hawks will want to finish this deal ASAP so they can move on other players before all the good free agents are signed.
Mike
July 2nd, 2012
12:31 am
The fact the Hawks are getting greedy with this trade shows how overrated Ferry is. Just get it done. Get JJ’s contract off the books. Who cares if they put in Marshon Brooks? Take the gift for what it is.
Atlhawksfan
July 2nd, 2012
12:35 am
hawks need to get this done and get a younger star to team up with Josh, AL and Jeff T
Bulldawgs
July 2nd, 2012
12:35 am
How in the world were you guys suckered into paying Al Horford 12million base salary plus 3 million in incentives. thats way to much money being blown for a guy who was replaced by Ivan Johnson and zaza Pachulia. what the hell were you thinking guys. 15 million for 12 pts and 8rbs?
SMFH
Thats why you guys are losers Stupid stuff like that. GO DAWGS!
Bulldawgs
July 2nd, 2012
12:37 am
Yall got to shed that 12 – 15 million Al is making. next. How the hell is Danny Ferry gonna do that?
Atlhawksfan
July 2nd, 2012
12:39 am
Horford didn’t even play the whole season
Atlhawksfan
July 2nd, 2012
12:41 am
The hawks wont get rid of Horford unless Howard comes to Atlanta which is unlikely. Horford is a young allstar center
GO HAWKS
Neki
July 2nd, 2012
12:41 am
Danny, just take the deal and run for it. Its crazy that you can get 4 expired, 1st round and one more. Brooks or no Brooks. I think this deal will be done tonight or tomorrow
random
July 2nd, 2012
12:43 am
To be honest i think ferry going after dwight after he gets the joe johnson deal done
O'Brien
July 2nd, 2012
12:44 am
Ra’mon,
So you dont think al at $12 mil is that good a value, but you think hibbert at $15 mil is fair value? Why am i not surprised?
Btw, i havent looked at the numbers yet, but it will be interesting to see what horford’s numbers are head to head against hibbert.
And u mentioned hibbert as a 3rd/4th option, which he was. But wasnt al the 4th option too behind joe, josh and jamal ( for 2 years). And look at al’s numbers when guys were out. And he did average 15 and 9 last year, did he not?
Atlhawksfan
July 2nd, 2012
12:45 am
Once Joe is Traded the Hawks need to trade Marvin to anyone. Who cares who we get back. Once those two players are gone we can trade Orlando Horford and Hinrich for DHoward
Mad Money
July 2nd, 2012
12:45 am
Actually Al has announced that he will be happy to play center and will bulk up during the offseason as well as work on strength and conditioning. In addition Al has stated that he will take 5 million off his salary to make from 7-12 million in order to help atlanta sign more talent to get them to then next level. Al said he is tired of being selfish and now wants a ring.
http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2011/2/10/1986270/should-the-hawks-play-al-horford-at-power-forward-full-time-tito
Grandad
July 2nd, 2012
12:49 am
Work through the nite Mr Ferry.
“Git er done”
random
July 2nd, 2012
12:49 am
lmao mad money that sht is from a year ago
Family Affair.
July 2nd, 2012
12:51 am
“I’ve been begging [general manager] Rick Sund and the Hawks for the last three years – please get a center so my son can pay his normal position,” the elder Horford said Tuesday from his home in the Dominican Republic. “He can’t push guys out of the box like I could. If he moved to forward, he would have a longer career.” – Tito Horford .
Atlhawksfan
July 2nd, 2012
12:52 am
A year ago Feb 2011
Mad Money
July 2nd, 2012
12:53 am
Damn Al’s longer Career we are trying to win a championship. We need to hurry up and trade Al’s soft ass. And his pappy too.
Atlhawksfan
July 2nd, 2012
12:54 am
soft how is Al Soft
Melvin
July 2nd, 2012
12:54 am
“Sources say that the Nets are insisting that the trade includes at least one of their free agents via sign-and-trade — such as Stevenson or Gerald Green — in hopes of keeping themselves over the salary cap. That would allow Brooklyn to keep its mid-level exception to sign an additional free agent”
I don’t blame the Hawks for not wanting to do a S-n-T. I would prefer the additional cap space to sign a player i want instead of taking on a contact of an unwanted player.
Tito Horford
July 2nd, 2012
12:54 am
He cant push guys out of the box Like I could Please dont hurt him… move him to a safer forward position please Sund.
Atlhawksfan
July 2nd, 2012
12:56 am
Hes undersized he original position is pf that doesn’t make him soft. I know u don’t watch hawks games
The Real cp
July 2nd, 2012
12:57 am
I want no parts of Stevenson on this team. Dude is terrible. I want Joe’s contract moved but not for that garbage. Hawks have to get Green or Brooks although I prefer both.
Atlhawksfan
July 2nd, 2012
1:00 am
Id prefer green because Brooks is more of an one on one player and takes too many shots but he is 4 years younger
The Real cp
July 2nd, 2012
1:03 am
Either guy works for me but I dont want Stevenson at all.
The legend lives.
July 2nd, 2012
1:11 am
Tell Al Horford this is how a Man protects the rim.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJkJJU1oVDI
The legend lives.
July 2nd, 2012
1:15 am
this is how Al protects the rim.
► 0:46► 0:46
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBGA75YCAuM
Atlhawksfan
July 2nd, 2012
1:18 am
LOL Horford still averaged more blocks than Griffin
Jae Evolution
July 2nd, 2012
1:18 am
Sorry the deal doesn’t happen without Brooks, tell them that.
Steve
July 2nd, 2012
1:30 am
Lopez is HORRIBLY overrated. Soft, soft, soft.
Gasol is HORRIBLY overrated. Soft, soft, soft … and OLD.
I don’t like Lopez and the guys we would be getting at all .. but .. if it takes Joe Johnson’s contract off our hands it would be worth it. Joe is the best player mentioned in the Nets deal by FAR, but he is overpaid and his contract kills the Hawks flexibility.
As for Josh Smith, I wouldn’t trade him for Gasol straight up and considering the Lakers are wanting ‘other pieces’ in the trade I think they are straight up delusional.
Would Josh want to stay if we can somehow move Joe and then use that to restructure and give Josh more money .. while bringing in more talent around him? I think we could fill in a Free Agent and give Jenkins and Hinrich some tiem at 2G without missing a beat, but we MUST have someone that will pull the defense off Horford. Al should be who we run the offense thru and with Joe gone it might actually happen.
Even if Joe stays I hope they realize that Joe would excel if we run the offense thru Al and let Joe run free a little more. Joe handling the ball for 60-70% of the game is NOT what he should be used for at this stage of his career. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are perfect examples. When the Boston offense runs thru them, they suffer and the team suffers. Same with the Hawks.
Ra'mon
July 2nd, 2012
1:41 am
O’b, I don’t look at that, because when Al came out he was said to be the MOST NBA READY player in the draft. When Hibbert came in the league he was said to be a long term project. Al’s 3rd season was much better than Bynum’s 3rd season. But I still would have considered Bynum worthy of a max contract, and Al not. Hibbert is a 7 foot center, who’s getting BETTER, and still relatively young. Al is a good center, who wants to play PF where he’s marginal, that’s not max dollars. Also, if Hibbert went out for a season, and Indiana still managed to finish with the same exact seed as they did this year, then I would believe that Hibbert isn’t worth a max contract. But if your team loses their top 6th man scoring, and also loses you for an entire season, yet that team doesn’t see any negative affect record wise, then no I don’t think you’re worth the $12 Million that you’re being paid. I feel that $12 million dollars could be paid to 2 other productive players to add even more depth on the team.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
July 2nd, 2012
1:42 am
Man hurry up and get the trade done before the Nets come off their high.
silenthawksblogger
July 2nd, 2012
2:06 am
Has anyone noticed that Ivan is a restricted free agent? Why did we get no report that the Hawks gave him an offer before the deadline?
hawkville
July 2nd, 2012
2:13 am
this guy is destroy the team…. you are gutting a good team for what purpose, to have money to spend on who. once a playoff team, soon to be the Bobcats…. ARE YOU F**KING KIDDING ME MAN…. who once to to go to a game and watch a bunch of scrubs…. You should be adding pieces…
Teague 24, Johnson 31, Smith 26, Horford 25, Pachuilla 27, Williams 25 find a damn coach who can work with the talent thats available.
with these moves, soon to be ex hawk fan
silenthawksblogger
July 2nd, 2012
2:22 am
Williams is awful, Josh is gone unless we trade him, and Joe’s contract is way too toxic to make any significant improvements to this team. Trade Joe if we can, Amnesty Marvin. and trade for a quality center or SF with Smith. Besides, we’ll never go anywhere as long as iso Joe continues.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
July 2nd, 2012
2:27 am
silenthawksblogger
July 2nd, 2012
2:06 am
Has anyone noticed that Ivan is a restricted free agent? Why did we get no report that the Hawks gave him an offer before the deadline?
Hawks did not appreciate his services.
silenthawksblogger
July 2nd, 2012
2:37 am
The fact that he’s restricted means they did.
Columbus
July 2nd, 2012
2:52 am
I love Joe but the contract is killing us if the Hawks cannot win with him and so far they havent found a way. Somebod has to go. IF the hawks can make ANY trade that that frees up a signifint amoun of money quickly, I do NOT CARE WHO the Hawks get in return for that “flexibility” Ferry is taling about. If you do not have ANY flexibility, you cant make any moves that must be made and ARE STUCK. I do not care. Free up that cap room and cash and go shopping. The Hawks STILL will have Teague, Horford, Josh, Zaza and Jenkins. That will make the playoffs by itself. Add in the players in trade for Joe and maybe another SHREWD during the season next year and things will NO be any worse than this season. ALso add in the possibility of trading Josh for a CENTER!!!!! sincet hey wont use Zaza enough and THEN come the summer of 2013, the Hawks will be in th catbirds seat. Personally it wouldnt ut my feelins to stink it up in 2012-2013 and get a good draft pick to go along with the cash and trades to add QUALITY depth and MAYBE even TRADE UP for a difference maker. FLEXIBILITY will come from trading JOE and no other way. Possibilities are endless if Joe is traded and the ONLY question is are we looking to o ALL out for 2012 OR wait for 2013? That is why Ferry gets paid the big bucks and I guess he will decide by how things go this summer. But trade Joe if you can free up much needed cap room. Dont care who you get in return to be honest.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
July 2nd, 2012
2:52 am
Hawks ain’t offer Big Ivan nothing. LD didn’t like a rookie calling out his precious veterans.
Josh Smith
July 2nd, 2012
3:36 am
Dwight ain’t comin’ to dis fugazi ass city! Yall need to quit BOI STOP
I’m bout to go practice shootin’ mo’ threes!
northcyde
July 2nd, 2012
3:50 am
The legend lives.
July 2nd, 2012
1:15 am
this is how Al protects the rim.
► 0:46► 0:46
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBGA75YCAuM
*******************
He must’ve been made because Al did this to him earlier in that playoff series:
Al protecting the rim vs D-Wade
northcyde
July 2nd, 2012
3:51 am
This Al block is better though
northcyde
July 2nd, 2012
4:26 am
Columbus . . . teams that don’t have so-called “flexibility” make trades for assets. The Lakers didn’t have “flexibility”, yet, they were able to secure Pau Gasol because Memphis was looking to do the same type of salary dump that we’re doing with JJ. The Lakers had no interest in completely tearing down their squad. They wanted a player back in return. And they found a team that was in “rebuilding mode” at the time, and got that player to LA.
On the flip side, here’s how Memphis pulled off their rebuild so quickly
- They got a young asset center in Marc Gasol plus two draft picks in the trade for Pau
- They traded Darko Milicic to the Knicks for Q Richardson . . then traded Q to the Clippers for PF Zach Randolph, because the Clips had won the #1 pick and drafted Blake Griffin.
That was the major move for the Griz. They needed a big money player to simply prop their overall team payroll up anyway, and they went out and got a productive guy ( even though he had a bad rap as a player at that time ).
Instead of being down 4 or 5 years like most normal teams, they were able to bring in a guy who could almost immediately replace Pau’s production in Randolph, plus got a young center out of the deal who was ready to start by Day 1 in Memphis. And got decent role playing minutes out of those draft picks, if not just for a year or two.trading for OJ Mayo on draft night in 2008.
A total rebuild is unnecessary . . at least not yet.
Just restructure the team in the short term. If they trade off JJ, they need to get assets that they can use, or either trade away at a later date for a better player(s). Brooks is the talent that the Hawks must come away with in this potential trade. SG/SF all of a sudden becomes a major weakness on this team without JJ, so Brooks has to be the guy the Hawks have to get from them.
Jae Evolution
July 2nd, 2012
5:02 am
Farmar, Morrow, Petro, Tyshawn, Brooks S&T with Green/Humphries and future 1st. Tell them take it or leave it.
Half of those guys are barely rotational players, Nets are trying to low-ball us for a top 20 talent. If Nuggets got what they got we can squeeze something out similar to the trade above. If not it was reported we had other teams interested, this trade doesn’t end because BK doesn’t want to give us Brooks other teams have expiring that are looking to get a guy like JJ, patience is key.
corydillinger
July 2nd, 2012
5:19 am
For all those who just we can draft a superstar and everything will be fine.
Chris Paul
Deron Williams
Chris Bosh
Lebron James
Kevin Garnett
Ray Allen
Steve Nash
Carmelo Anthony
Amare Stoudamire
Tyson Chandler
Kobe Bryant
Pau Gasol
Dwight Howard
not one of those stars are with the team that drafted them so if we do get lucky enough to draft a star good luck keeping him while we try to get good enought to make the playoffs.
Jae Evolution
July 2nd, 2012
5:32 am
A source close to the situation confirmed reports that Howard requested a trade yet again Friday, telling new Magic general manager Rob Hennigan that he wanted out during a meeting in Los Angeles. The source said the Magic’s ears are certainly open for business when it comes to trade calls now, and various reports indicate talks are heating up with the Hawks, Lakers and Nets. SI.com
northcyde
July 2nd, 2012
5:37 am
Let’s cross Kobe off of that list, since he was traded on draft night. And Dwight isn’t gone . . yet. But yeah Cory, your point is very valid.
Kobe was the only one to have won a championship with the team he was on in his rookie year. He and Dwyane Wade . . . whom both had to have Shaq ( a dominant center ) on the team in order to win it.
Lebron and Dwight at least got their teams to the NBA Finals
The rest either couldn’t get past their Conference Finals, or deep in the playoffs at all.
What’s notable, is that a lot of those very guys are now either teaming up, or trying to team up with each other, so that they can win in the playoffs.
random
July 2nd, 2012
5:44 am
@cory,
For one thing tyson chandler isn’t a superstar, neither is amare, and ray allen is def not super star.
Just Joe
July 2nd, 2012
6:19 am
Brooklyn will hold on to Lopez and Brooks until they know that a Dwight Howard trade is dead.
I’d take Farmar, Morrow, Petro, Williams, Stevenson, and the first round pick (get Brooklyn’s, Houston’s is lottery protected for like 4 years and then turns into a second round pick).