Atlanta Hawks: NBA free agency begins
The NBA’s free-agent period has officially started.
Teams can now come to contract terms with free agents. Deals can’t become official until July 11, after the league and union complete their annual audit to set the projected salary cap and luxury-tax levels for the 2012-13 season.
Nine Hawks players became unrestricted free agents today: Jason Collins, Erick Dampier, Willie Green, Kirk Hinrch, Ivan Johnson, Tracy McGrady, Jannero Pargo, Vladimir Radmanovic and Jerry Stackhouse. All those players except for Hinrich played for the league minimum last season.
Update: The Hawks extended a qualifying offer to Johnson by Sunday’s deadline. He’s a restricted free agent with Atlanta maintaining salary-matching rights.
NBA.com has a cool, sortable free-agent tracker page. One potential free agent is already off the market as Kevin Garnett and the Celtics reportedly agreed to a three-year, $34 million contract.
The Hawks are over the salary cap but have full mid-level and bi-annual exceptions available in addition to minimum player salary exceptions.
The MLE can be used to sign free agents for as many as four years at a maximum starting salary of $5 million with annual raises of as much as 4.5 percent. It can be split to sign more than one player.
The BAE can be used to sign free agents for as many as two years at a maximum starting salary of $1.957 million with a raise of up to 4.5 percent in the second year. It can be split to sign more than one player.
Minimum salary contracts can be up to two years in length. The salary is determined based on the player’s experience.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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280 comments Add your comment
Ray
July 1st, 2012
9:21 am
PF and SG are the two easiest positions to get back
1) Center
2) Point Guard(legit)
3) Small forward
4) SG
5) PF
Every team around the league has a PF like seriously
BIG DOG
July 1st, 2012
9:22 am
Trading Joe 90mill contract and also in return a expiring contract in Morrow with true center Brook Lopez is a win win for the Hawks.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Ray
July 1st, 2012
9:25 am
@ Rufus1
Wade vs. Joe on defense yes I understand that, but on offense Wade is light years away from Joe Johnson.
Joe isn’t a scrub I’m just saying compared to Wade and Kobe that Joe is nowhere near their league, and that the people that are behind Joe aren’t too far behind.
James Harden for example and Eric Gordon if both are who people think they are their not that far behind Joe at all.
Ray
July 1st, 2012
9:26 am
Well if we keep Horford bringing in someone like Lopez means Josh moves SF no matter what cause Lopez again barring injury is a starter in this league he’s not going to sit behind Horford especially being much taller.
Ray
July 1st, 2012
9:29 am
MIP means most improved player, but that’s okay instead you guys want to trade for Deron Coach Killer Williams okay.
BIG DOG
July 1st, 2012
9:30 am
Rufus 1 – No one say Joe is a scrub, matter of fact Joe is a top 5 SG in the NBA, its the money he make.
Not this season but next the CB kick in with Luxary tax.
So Teams has to be carefull specially the Hawks.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Rufus1
July 1st, 2012
9:33 am
I will give you center
Paul, Nash, Rondo, Lowry, DWill, Parker, Westbrook, Lawson, Holliday, Irving, Dragic, Nelson, Teague, Lin, Kidd, Rubio, Conley, Miller, Wall, Jennings, Chalmers, Rose and Curry.
Bosh, Amare, Josh, AL, Pau, Aldridge, Love, Griffin, Dirk, Nene, Scola, Lee, Milsap, Bass, Ibaka and KG ……………………………… Smoking NBA Knowledge, get some
Rufus1
July 1st, 2012
9:37 am
Ray,
Name the Legit SG in the league.
Ray
July 1st, 2012
9:38 am
@ Rufus
The reason I said PG is tough is because it took awhile to get some of those PG’s for a lot of teams.
Plus of all those Teague, Lin, Rubio, Wall, Jennings, Curry the jury is still out on them why? because Teague, Lin this was technically their first full years. Wall, Jennings, and Curry took backwards steps. Add Irving to that as well as a wait and see cause he’s only been here one year.
As for Kidd, Nash, and Miller while still good on the way out sooner or later.
Chalmers and Nelson even Dragic shouldn’t be on that list
Rufus1
July 1st, 2012
9:39 am
“Smoking NBA Knowledge, get some” That is for the person that thinks I am smoking.
Rufus1
July 1st, 2012
9:39 am
“Smoking NBA Knowledge, get some” That is for the person that thinks I am smoking.
Ray
July 1st, 2012
9:40 am
@ Rufus
When did I say anything about a legit SG????????
Ray
July 1st, 2012
9:41 am
@ Danny Dan
Do you really think Horford would agree with coming off the bench? Seriously I need to hear this answer.
Ray
July 1st, 2012
9:45 am
If Lopez, Horford, and Smith are here you have no choice, but to have Smith to move to SF guys Horford is not coming off that bench. I mean he’s not Marvin for crying out loud.
Ray
July 1st, 2012
9:50 am
@ Danny Dan
Look my man Danny Ferry is looking for cap room, and Marvin and Joe are the two easiest candidates seeing as one is overpa………………well excuse both are overpaid, but one is extremely overpaid and the other while overpaid doesn’t produce stats worthy of even a Sixth Man role.
Horford isn’t overpaid by the slighest that’s about where he should be in that range.
Ray
July 1st, 2012
9:52 am
@ Danny Dan
Everyone here realizes that Horford isn’t Josh, but both have unique skills that make them both good to have on the roster. Horford got a post up game and mid range shot while on the flip side Josh is more athletic and can cut to the rim at any time.
Both play great defense no matter what you say. It’s better to have them to be without either one that’s all I’m saying.
Rufus1
July 1st, 2012
9:53 am
There is a player that is top 5 at their position, that doesn’t get top or MAX money in any league.
PPL get caught up in the money he makes and lose prospective how good he is… That is how my friend left his wife for the office slut…. Complaining about his wife demanded too much but now he think she was worth it.. but she is gone.
Until I know who will replace Joe, I will be against this trade… But I will trust Ferry.
Ray
July 1st, 2012
9:54 am
Danny okay we don’t know how Horford ranks because since being here he’s been playing Center like the entire time so saying he could be 15-30 you’re only assuming cause again he hasn’t play much anything else besides Center even though this past season we had like 4 behind him he still played C.
Dude could probably be a Top 3 PF for all we know he don’t have the frame size to be a Center especially against bigger ones like Perkins, Hibbert, Howard etc.
Rufus1
July 1st, 2012
9:56 am
Ray,
My mistake if I attributed that statement to you.
brigadierjerry
July 1st, 2012
10:07 am
http://hoopshype.com/salaries.htm
Fundamentals
July 1st, 2012
10:24 am
Josh needs to work on a very short mid-range jumper all summer and learn to stay down low.
Joe isn’t as good or bad as you all claim. His time here is done, his price tag is too high. I’d rather have 3-5 quality young guys developing for his $20 million.
Horford is no championship center, but a good coach could manage he, josh, Zaza and a legit C if championships and not personal stats were our focus.
Teague needs to work on play making and his jumper. He did well last year.
Marvin will never improve as our 6th option. Without the spotlight, he fails to check in.
wcj
July 1st, 2012
10:29 am
IF the Nets really want Joe Johnson that bad, and if the Altanta Hawks can Brooks Lopez and Marshon Brooks for him: Go for it!!!. Do you want Joe Johnson to remain in altanta? The Nets are willing to take his 90 million dollar contract. Please Danny, don’t blow this.
Ray
July 1st, 2012
10:32 am
@ Danny Dan
If Horford does not do well at PF then yes I can say he’s expendable, but until that time comes I doubt he’d be worse as a PF in fact he might get better without having to worry about the bigger Centers.
Ray
July 1st, 2012
10:34 am
When I think about the only SF’s Josh must challenge to ensure a spot at All-star only in the east is Melo and Lebron.
Honestly it’s really him vs. Lebron Melo is good, but only on that offensive side cause Josh outdoes him on the defensively it’s not even close.
Ray
July 1st, 2012
10:35 am
@ Fundamentals
Been awhile man good to have you back and I agree we all think a legit HC and not a caretaker is something the hawks seriously need. To be honest about 1/3 of the season through if L.D isn’t doing what he’s suppose to you can expect him to be fired.
Moorman
July 1st, 2012
10:36 am
The only thing horford has going is that mid range jumpshot and a better basketball i.q. than josh. Other than that, he is overated. The proof is the hawks were able to win without him. If that had been josh smith gone for 2/3 of the season instead of horford, the hawks wouldve been finished….
Ray
July 1st, 2012
10:47 am
@ Moorman
Yet with Horford healthy we get to round 2 of the playoffs
Look at it this way back when we drafted Horford we never got to the playoffs with the core of just Marvin, Joe, and Josh.
Now adding both Horford and Bibby we get into the first round to be bounced by champs Boston Celtics.
Next year after Horford’s rookie season we get to round 2 and the year after that round 2 again. All the way up till now.
The 2011-2012 season we get to the playoffs without Al Horford why because yes Josh did improve a lot more than people willing to give credit. But without Horford we don’t make it into Round 2 even with Joe Johnson we didn’t make it to round 2.
Yeah Horford came back to play, but being real he wasn’t the same Horford from previous seasons or the start of this one because being out the loop for 4 months can do that to ya.
If come next year we just have Teague, Josh, and Zaza expect us to only make round one as a 6-8 seed or worse we don’t make it.
I like Josh, but realize that giving up Joe, Marvin, and Horford sets us back way toooo far.
Ray
July 1st, 2012
10:49 am
Blog monster ate my post GRRRR!!!
Ray
July 1st, 2012
10:50 am
All I said was without Horford and Zaza we’re no better than a first round team.
O'Brien
July 1st, 2012
10:50 am
For those talking about Al and his salary, it is $12 mil every year for the next 4 years. All those other centers on the list will have higher salaries each year.
Melvin,
Hibbert is not worth a max contract, but that’s how owners get themselves in trouble. Indy may not want to take a step back (which they will if they lose Hibbert), so I can see them matching, especially since N.O. will match any offer to Eric Gordon.
If/When Indy does, they will lose a lot of flexibility going forward, and will continue to be a second round team (sound familiar)? .
O'Brien
July 1st, 2012
10:55 am
I am not a fan of Brook Lopez. He is coming off an injury, and then he only averaged 4 rpg last year. For a 7’ center, that’s bad.
Ray
July 1st, 2012
10:59 am
@ Danny Dan
Thing is we don’t know what Horford would have posted had he stayed Healthy for all we know could have been a 20 ppg 15 rpg 3 bpg this year you never know now that he was out for 2/3.
As for Brook Lopez not a huge fan either, but we are trying to dump salary here and if Lopez is one of the people to be had so be it I’ll take that deal to get out of a contract like that.
Ray
July 1st, 2012
11:00 am
Also Danny I don’t think Ivan will post numbers like that he was good last year, but don’t get ahead of yourself.
BIG DOG
July 1st, 2012
11:04 am
O ‘Brien – Lopez coming to Atlanta make this team better automatic.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
July 1st, 2012
11:06 am
If the Hawks could get Brook Lopez and keep Josh, Teague, Horford, now we talking.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
July 1st, 2012
11:09 am
Teague, Gerald Green , Josh, Horford, Lopez
Pargo, Jenkins, Marvin, Ivan, Zaza
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
July 1st, 2012
11:13 am
Mike Scott and Anthony Morrow, Collins
Will be reserve.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Reality Check
July 1st, 2012
11:15 am
“1)Josh is a top 4 power forward and loves this position.”
Yep, that’s why he lost 25 pounds last summer, so he could fully embrace the PF position with the strength it needs. Oh, wait.
“2) Josh at the 3 takes one of the best interior defenders out of the post and on to the wing or perimeter for bombs way.”
LOL, Josh will bomb away regardless of which position he is listed. And on defense, exactly who is forcing Josh to not switch and guard the opposing PF on D? This idea that if he plays SF on offense that it’s automatic for him to guard the 3 is thinking totally inside the box.
Of course it’s a moot point since Josh is leaving after this season anyway. If he’s not traded before.
BIG DOG
July 1st, 2012
11:25 am
Josh lost 25pounds during the summer so he could play SF but Horford was injured, so that force him to play PF majority at PF, look Horford is not a center and Josh is not a PF there both undersized, this team has no toughnest because Hawks continue to march out there every year Joe, Marvin, Josh, Horford.
If any one think this team is good enough to play with big boys don’t no basketball.
Hawks must find them a true center.
Brook Lopez make this team better ASAP.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
native atlantan
July 1st, 2012
11:26 am
I dont know if Ferry knows just how screwed up the hawks and their ownership group are yet, but he knows loosers when he sees them in most of the team already.
westt1
July 1st, 2012
11:27 am
i always fel t like jj wasnt worth at much money anyway dont demand the ball and not clutch cut your loss if new jersey want him please come get him
BIG DOG
July 1st, 2012
11:30 am
Teague, Gerald Green, Josh, Horford, Lopez
Hawks make it to Easter Conference Finals.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Melvin
July 1st, 2012
11:32 am
Has the Hawks reach out to any free agents? I haven’t seen any reports about them….
Melvin
July 1st, 2012
11:34 am
If the Hawks trade Joe to the Nets, you better believe Lopez will not be part of the deal. No way, the Nets will give up their last trade piece for Howard.
brigadierjerry
July 1st, 2012
11:37 am
gerwald wallace just signed 4 year deal with Nets for 40 million and Nets arent waiting on Howard. I think Deron signs with Nets and I think Joe Johnson is going to be traded. I dont necessarily means it will be to the Nets but I think Johnson will be traded as well as Marvin will be either traded or amnestied
BIG DOG
July 1st, 2012
11:38 am
Danny Ferry need to call Bill Laimbeer or Sam Mitchell.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
westt1
July 1st, 2012
11:44 am
moving that joe contract open up your cap we have 6 player under contract and over paying most of them there alot of good free agent out there start rebuilding
Ray
July 1st, 2012
11:49 am
@ Danny Dan
Guess what you keep saying Al is only a 12 ppg and 8 rpg
Then why is 2010-2011 season did he put up 15.3 ppg and 9.3 rpg might as well say 10 there were nights he had about 12 or more.
Not only that looking at his stat line for the regular season only now this year he averaged 12.4 ppg and 7.0 rpg with 1.3 bpg.
ONLY PLAYING 10 GAMES now come on man.
Horford has the chance to be a 20/10/2 per game type guy you in denial my friend.
Talking about living in neverland you really do if all you think Horford will do is put up only 12ppg and 8rpg.
Oh here is another fun fact when Horford came back he basically put up his exact numbers from 2010-2011 season in the playoffs only playing 3 games.
BIG DOG
July 1st, 2012
11:58 am
Sekou Smith
HA
Great post
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Ray
July 1st, 2012
12:08 pm
Danny you didn’t even read the last post.
I’ll simplify it for you Al Horford had 15.3 pts 9.3 rebs and 1 blk last season 2010 and 2011.
That’s not even close to 12pts and 8rebs you must be talking about Zaza or even Marvin well nevermind Marvin sucks.