Atlanta Hawks: What about Dwight?
Almost immediately after Hawks GM Danny Ferry took what were most definitely not half measures the speculation turned to whether it’s all just a prelude to a trade for Dwight Howard.
All of the usual dots have been connected: Howard wants out of Orlando, Howard is from Atlanta, and he’s boys with Josh Smith. But the one blank I have yet to see filled in is a desire by Howard to play for his hometown franchise over the long term.
In fact, the only thing I’ve ever heard is the opposite. Howard used to regularly attend Dream games at Phillips Arena during summers. Witnesses tell me that Howard would tell anyone who would listen that Philips is supposed to be his house but “they don’t know how to act.” And by “they” he of course means the team’s owners and management.
And then there were Howard’s comments during the 2011 playoffs, when he said he hates losing, “especially to the Hawks.” Asked to elaborate, Howard, annoyed by the question, snapped: “Come on. You know the answer to that.”
The answer is that Howard, like his pal Smith, doesn’t view the Hawks as a serious franchise. Or at least he didn’t back then. Obviously Danny Ferry is trying to change the perception of the Hawks, so maybe Howard (and/or Smith) changes his mind.
There’s been no word that’s happened so far, though. Howard still wants a trade to the Nets, who now are in no hurry to move him.
The Magic and Hawks had trade discussions over the past week involving Howard and I’m sure they are ongoing. But I don’t think Ferry is willing to trade Al Horford and the four years remaining on his reasonable contract for one year of Howard and all the associated drama.
The Hawks had serious trade discussions with Orlando for Howard back in December, the early days of the Dwightmare. Atlanta apparently was willing to make the deal without an assurance that Howard would even opt-in for next season. Horford was the main piece in that proposed deal.
But I don’t see the Hawks as being willing to trade for Howard without a long-term commitment now. That’s especially true if Orlando, as reported, is looking to unload one of its bad contracts as part of any deal for Howard.
The Hawks clearly would do that if Howard declares he’ll sign an extension here. Until that happens I doubt Howard will have a homecoming.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
Follow ajchawks on Twitter
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
1,008 comments Add your comment
drmaryb.(""_*).
July 5th, 2012
9:54 am
I Eat Resident Trolls!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=484595374889749&set=a.105477129468244.11192.100000178719878&type=3
“When the power of love exceeds the love of power the world will know peace.” – Jimmy Hendrix -
_____________
Funny thing is … When I eat nasty trolls, my bowel release nicely. What a load off.
_____________
Now, back to the real world: Let’s go Mr. Ferry! Put these hawks back into the national conversation re: R E S P E C T.
Good day cohorts, i gotta’ go pay sum bills now. I’ll check back later today for some breaking news.
yoursporthousedotcom
July 5th, 2012
9:54 am
Uh Ken Strickland,
If Ferry makes the trade, he’s not making it without a deal, so he won’t be able to bolt. A trade with Howard will not be made unless a long term deal is inked.
SteveW
July 5th, 2012
9:55 am
KenS – I hear you – but we’ll just have to disagree on this one. If D12 is healthy, you gotta get him.
And even if he now wants to come here, he has to keep it on the down low, because if he says it out loud, the Nets void their deal for JJ, and we can’t acquire Dwight.
So Dwight may very well want to come here now, but no way he can say anything or it ruins the deal.
doc
July 5th, 2012
9:57 am
stevew yes! you got it right and it was what i was saying waaaay back in 06 that the notion you can get into the ecf by the draft is a very flawed concept. okc pulled it off but they are the only one who has. chicago tried it when jordan exited and failed as has everyone since. you need to start at the top with a good program and a very smart gm and money. the last item may be the kicker until these guys get another investor and make their desire to become champions a reality. you have to get lucky with a draft pick and if not be very persuasive and spend your pennies just right.
the core four was a concept for mediocrity. we had to shake it up. now that it is shook how best to put it back together again? three main choices; trade for howard now and give al and teague up, let josh walk and try to fill in and maybe get howard as a high bidder outside of orlando keeping al and teague, try to keep josh and al and fill with sat cp3 which is tough because he will get a lot more to stay in lala
land. it is a far stretch you can ever team up al, josh and d12. something still needs to give. 12 months to make it happen.
SteveW
July 5th, 2012
9:58 am
The chasm talent wise between D12 and Al Horford is vast. 1 is 1st team All NBA, and the other 3rd team – but the canyon is huge.
Al can’t guard D12 even a little bit. But D12, if he wanted to, could G Al – but chooses to stay closer to the basket.
D12 is a genetic freak, Al is not. Plain and simple.
Hoops
July 5th, 2012
10:00 am
The next month will be interesting for the Hawks future! If nothing more happens, Ferry has done a remarkable job thus far!!!
SteveW
July 5th, 2012
10:02 am
Doc – That’s why when most everyone else was bashing the Julio Jones trade for the Falcons, I was thinking if Jones is what I think he is after seeing him at Alabama, I have no problem with it. When Julio is in the HOF, and our picks in the 20’s in the first round, and the other rounds are struggling or out of the league – it will look like a great trade.
drmaryb.(""_*).
July 5th, 2012
10:02 am
Red or White?
https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/198352_484483324900954_826072582_n.jpg
SteveW
July 5th, 2012
10:05 am
Didn’t Washington just trade 3 or 4 1st picks for RGIII? Man, it’s just what you do.
And if Dwight and Smoove commit, and you trade the 4 1st picks, yours are going to be in the 22+ range for all three of ours – Houston’s we can’t control, and it’s lottery protected anyway – so it’s not like we’re trading lottery picks probably for Dwight. More like 25, 26, 27 picks, which ASG would sell anyway (sarcasm).
drmaryb.(""_*).
July 5th, 2012
10:11 am
darrell starks!
“JOSH, HORFORD, TEAGUE ARE THE HAWKS FUTURE.”
_________
Press REWIND & PLAY. Can you see ALL the 2nd round exits & 1st round exit this year? Don’t Digress.
_________
PEACE!!!
Astro Joe
July 5th, 2012
10:12 am
If Ferry was such a great GM, why didn’t he sign the imminently great Hasheem Thabeet? We could have had the next great center for pennies on the dollar.
(Yes, that was a very sarcastic post given the MAD love that scrub gets on this board for simply being tall).
Astro Joe
July 5th, 2012
10:21 am
$20M body, $.10 head (trending down).
$12M body. $.10 head (trending up).
Too much risk.
Just Joe
July 5th, 2012
10:22 am
I don’t care about the picks we give up, I just want to start THIS season with this group plus filler/one-yr contracts:
Teague
Morrow / Jenkins
Turkoglu
Smith / Scott
Howard
I’d be OK if at the end of the year all I had was:
Teague
Jenkins
Scott
$6M in guaranteed money owed toward Turk’s $12M salary
Bird rights or cap space
A draft pick every other year for a while
i_am_soulstar
July 5th, 2012
10:25 am
co-sign Astro. At least Marvin became a serviceable NBA player. Thabeet has to be one of the most disappointing #2 draft picks ever.
Mike
July 5th, 2012
10:30 am
but you dont put all your eggs in one basket, when that guy is so wishy washy, if he want to come here and stay here longer then Orlando can get anything they want.
Big Ray
July 5th, 2012
10:46 am
Nash to the Lakers…well, well, well. I was wondering what the big splash would be…and of course they are likely not done. They’ll still probably make a play for Dwight. Or somebody else.
i_am_soulstar
July 5th, 2012
10:58 am
I haven’t heard any other free agent talk regarding the Hawks. In need of a bug-sized remote control spying device that can get in Ferry’s office and find out what he’s working on.
Big Ray
July 5th, 2012
10:59 am
SteveW ,
As I understand it, the only contingency connected to the trade of JJ to the Nets was whether or not Deron Williams re-signed with them. He did, so that should be a done deal. I think the Nets still very much want to make a play for D12, but now the question is whether or not they’ll have what the Magic want, who are now very much in it for themselves and don’t give a dang whether or not it’s something that makes D12 happy.
That’s honestly where the Hawks may have the advantage. What we can offer could be more attractive to the Magic. Or maybe Houston wins this battle, who knows? Orlando is going to be in rebuild mode, and they may not want D12 to go to a division rival, prefering to send him out west.
I don’t know, hard to say, Nets might walk away with him in the end, we’ll see. I think Orlando is just making it clear at this point that they are very unhappy with the way D12 treated them, and so they’re publicly letting it be known that they’ll trade him wherever they feel like doing so. Funny thing is, it still might be to the Nets. They’d get Marshon Brooks, a first round draft pick (probably a good one at that) and Brook Lopez, who is a “real” center.
I wonder what Orlando wants more? First round picks or established players? If it’s the former, then Houston probably wins the trade sweepstakes. If it’s the latter, do you like Lopez/Brooks/1st rounder better than say, Horford/Teague/1st rounder? Probably not that simple, but it is what it is. I actually don’t think the Lakers have as good a shot at this as some feel they do. Why? Because while Orlando would probably want some credible players along with a pick(s), they’re gonna be happier with younger ones (Lopez, Horford) than they will older ones (Gasol).
Big Ray
July 5th, 2012
11:01 am
Astro Joe ,
Easy answer.
No need to sign Thabeet when you have the inestimable Johan Petro on our roster the minute the NBA moratorium is up. Sund would be proud.
Mike
July 5th, 2012
11:01 am
Big Ray
You are forgetting that Lopez is a RFA and Hump is a UFA as well, so they need to be resigned before they are traded. Orlando wants to clear salary not adding new salary on there. Same with the Lakers, I swear they say they want to clear Salary so they dont get touch by the LT penatlies.
Astro Joe
July 5th, 2012
11:06 am
Big Ray, that’s right. Thabeet’s older, shorter and equally talented brother… Petro. I wonder where their cousin is these days, Saer Sene?
O'brien
July 5th, 2012
11:16 am
I know Houston has a strong Asian following, but Jeremy Lin had a very good stretch of only 25 games, and that is enough to offer him $30-$35 mil?
And Dragic is offered 4 years $30 mil, with 4th year being a player option?
When will owners learn? And I can see Teague getting 4 years, $20-$28 mil from somebody next year.
KevinM
July 5th, 2012
11:24 am
FYI, Jameer Nelson just signed a deal to stay in ORL….now, does that change the need for Teague? I would so much like to keep him if we can somehow get D12 w/o moving Teague.
We need a PG in the worse way for Josh/D12 that we don’t have a viable option and now that my fav Nash is gone, I gotta lean on keeping Teague.
This might change the package that ORL would now look for. I’d be willing to take on JRich, but not Turk.
KevinM
July 5th, 2012
11:26 am
As far as ORL goes, it would not surprise me to see Bynum/MWP moved to ORL for D12/Turk if there can be such a trade of that salary magnitude.
O'brien
July 5th, 2012
11:27 am
Big Ray,
Chris Broussard said the nets are willing to give up Lopez, Brooks, humphries and 3 first round picks. Problem (IMO) is Orlando doesn’t want to please Howard by sending him to Brooklyn. Also, Lopez would have to agree to the deal (since he is restricted), and Orlando wants no part of humphries.
They are at a standoff until somebody gives in.
darrell starks
July 5th, 2012
11:28 am
Hawks need make a strong move for Gerald Green, cost of money wan’t be high at all plus your getting a legit SG who can shoot from outside drive to hole and play tough perimeter defense.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KevinM
July 5th, 2012
11:28 am
:i_am_soulstar
July 5th, 2012
10:25 am
co-sign Astro. At least Marvin became a serviceable NBA player. Thabeet has to be one of the most disappointing #2 draft picks ever”
Well, you gotta admit this, if anyone can develop a player, its OKC. They have proof of their success.
Even if we had gotten Thabeet, who would be his mentor? Collins? Ty Hill?
We don’t currently have development. LD wants the package wrapped and ready to open when it gets here. He doesn’t want to add a bow and tape to it and cut the paper to make it fit!
vava74
July 5th, 2012
11:29 am
KevinM,
I don’t see the LAL making a Bynum/Howard move. It does not make great sense, IMO.
KevinM
July 5th, 2012
11:30 am
“Josh Robbins: Nelson confirmed he’s reached a deal in principle. New deals can’t be signed until July 11. He would not disclose # of yrs”
Jameer just got himself a multi year deal instead of renewing his one year deal. Dude is staying in ORL.
Rev in Tampa
July 5th, 2012
11:31 am
Yea, Melvin, I’m on the darkside.
Just Joe
July 5th, 2012
11:33 am
I’d rather have Turkoglu than Richardson. Turkoglu is due $11.4M and $12.2M, but only $6M of next year’s contract is guaranteed. Richardson is due $5.8M, $6.2M, and $6.6M.
Then there’s the whole bigger need for a SF than a SG.
O'brien
July 5th, 2012
11:34 am
ken s,
Can the hawks win a championship with horford or Josh smith as their best player? I don’t think so. Can they win a championship with D12 as their best player? It’s possible.
And although I really like Jeff Teague, Miami just won a title with Mario chalmers and Norris Cole as their PG’s.
Is it risky? Yes. But what do we do with a boat load of cap space next year if Josh Smith leaves, and Dwight doesn’t come here, CP3 stays in LA (who can Offer him more $, and he plays with Blake griffin), and harden stays in OKC (they can amnesty Perkins)?
Are we really supposed to build around horford and Teague? Plus if josh leaves, and Dwight doesn’t come, why would another star want to come here, when we can’t get guys who are from Atl (josh and Dwight) to come?
darrell starks
July 5th, 2012
11:34 am
2012 HAWKS
STARTER TEAGUE, GERALD, JOSH, HORFORD, ZAZA.
BENCH DEVIN, JENKINS, MORROW, IVAN, COLLINS
RESERVE FARMAR, PETRO, SCOTT
STREET CLOTHES WILLIAM
This team is still good folks.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
O'brien
July 5th, 2012
11:41 am
All Dwight had to do was what Jameer Nelson did. Play the year out, opt out of the final year, and sign wherever he wants. And nobody would have said anything.
But I think he wanted to be traded because that way, when he resigns, he would get a 5 year max, instead of a 4 year max.
Steve W,
4 first round picks is too much.
KevinM
July 5th, 2012
11:46 am
I gotta say the offseason plan is coming together like I never expected.
My offseason wish was for us to get a guy in the draft who could get us buckets. In LD’s eyes, Jenkins was the best option there at 23.
The plan also was to move at least 2 or our captains and Marvin. I can’t believe how close we are to seeing this happen. We are ONE captain away from having the best summer we’ve had since…..Malone and Theus coming to us.
No matter whether we get D12 or not, this offseason is turning into one of the more memorable times in Hawks’ history. It reminds me of the BOOM that we got when the Falcons traded for the rights to Vick. There was no way we were going to go after Vick, but we did it.
If possible that we get D12, is it forseeable that LD can be moved along as well? I can’t see LD having any more success adding anyone to Josh on this roster. LD brings no mental advantage to our team.
If D12 doesn’t come, let LD coach his one year out and we regroup for 2013.
vava74
July 5th, 2012
11:52 am
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
ALL IN
This should be our motto!
MattP
July 5th, 2012
11:53 am
darrell starks ,
Please do not even say or joke about Collins coming back to this team. Dampier even looked better then Collins last season.
KevinM
July 5th, 2012
11:54 am
“Just Joe
July 5th, 2012
11:33 am
I’d rather have Turkoglu than Richardson. Turkoglu is due $11.4M and $12.2M, but only $6M of next year’s contract is guaranteed. Richardson is due $5.8M, $6.2M, and $6.6M.
Then there’s the whole bigger need for a SF than a SG.”
I totally disagree; we just moved our go-to scorer. If I’m looking for an option at the end of the game, I take JRich over Turk every time.
And your salary differences are only off 1.2M to buy out Turk for one year of service. We get 3 years of service for JRich, who to me is still a serviceable player. He can get points in spurts for us unlike Turk….Turk is done! Marvin can handle Turk!
We can find a SF for the vet min……give me T-Mac any day over Turk who would make 10X the $$.
Melvin
July 5th, 2012
12:03 pm
With the Magic agreeing to re-sign Jameer Nelson, I’m not sure they would be interested in Jeff Teague. Maybe they would prefer ZaZa or Devin (expiring contracts) or Farmar(b/c they can buy him out) along with picks from the Hawks..
I would prefer to keep Teague in ATL but no at the cost of getting Dwight….
ryan
July 5th, 2012
12:08 pm
Are there any new updates because its seems to have gotten quiet after the trades kind of worries me are still we actively going after D12 or not .
Mike
July 5th, 2012
12:19 pm
@ryan
I think Hawks is doing the right thing and let this play out. Besides even if we did get D12 it will be in Decemeber when he can start playing and Al is almost heal (kick butt at the FIBA) as well.
Ken Strickland
July 5th, 2012
12:19 pm
http://www.foxsportssouth.com/07/02/12/Analysis-Ferry-wields-power-to-retool-Ha/landing_hawks.html?blockID=755446&feedID=3557
Here’s a very informative article on Ferry. There’s on statement that says it all about Ferry’s role. He made certain that he didn’t have to deal with the same BS he dealt with with Cleveland’s owner. He negotiated the amount unquestioned control, without ASG interference, he’d have in dealing with this team and it’s roster. That was a smart move Mr Ferry. It also tells me that he’s intelligent enough not to be as carried away as some of our fans are about acquiring DHoward.
He has a 6yr contract, and definitely doesn’t want to spend the last 5 of them trying to salvage a broken franchise because he traded for Dwight, without assurances that he’ll resign, and he jumped ship. With the number of lies Dwight has told, getting that assurance, and trusting he’ll honor it, won’t be easy.
You don’t need a dominant center like Dwight to get to or win an NBA title. Oklahoma City, Dallas, and Miami were the participants in the last 2 NBA finals, with Dallas and Miami(after 2 trips)winning 1 each. AND NEITHER OF THESE 3 TEAMS HAVE A DOMINANT CENTER. What’s more important than going overboard to get a dominant center is getting one who’s skills best fit the talent around him and the OFF/DEF systems the team is playing.
The Hawks misfortune is that its last 2 HCs have been married to the halfcourt OFF approac. As a result, the speed, quickness, athleticism, and uptempo talent that we have accross the board, has simply been underutilized. Woodson and Drew focused on their half court OFF players(Bibby, JJ, Crawford, Flip) so much that the talents of uptempo players like Horford, Josh, Teague, Law, Marvin, were never fully taken advantage of.
There’s a definite reason why Horford and Josh became so frustrated with the slow pace of our OFF approach that they took it upon themselves to trigger their own fast breaks more often than not.
KevinM
July 5th, 2012
12:21 pm
Question: so since these deals have not been offically completed, can a guy who has been traded be moved prior to the official date of 7/11? I’m specifically thinking of Farmar, who sounds like he will not be here after 7/11.
If so, I wonder if it makes sense to try and move Farmar and his 4.2M deal so we can try and get an asset in that range?
Mike
July 5th, 2012
12:28 pm
I think so, KevinM. I know they are going to buy out Farmar, I think.
Just Joe
July 5th, 2012
12:33 pm
KevinM…I don’t consider Turkoglu or Richardson part of the Hawks plan past the 2012/13 season. With that said, Turkoglu’s contract will be a valuable trade asset next summer. Look what Washington did with the partially guaranteed contract of Rashard Lewis. A similar deal could be made using Turkoglu’s partially guaranteed contract. I don’t want the 3 year commitment that comes with Richardson. I feel pretty good about moving Turkoglu’s deal or buying him out.
I’m also not sure that I want Richardson creating offense at the end of a game. I want my point guard taking on that responsibility. Not having an iso-player on the wing will either totally expose Teague as “not good enough”, or help him take his game to the next level. Big season for Teague, if he’s a Hawk.
i_am_soulstar
July 5th, 2012
12:38 pm
KevinM
July 5th, 2012
11:28 am
:i_am_soulstar
July 5th, 2012
10:25 am
co-sign Astro. At least Marvin became a serviceable NBA player. Thabeet has to be one of the most disappointing #2 draft picks ever”
Well, you gotta admit this, if anyone can develop a player, its OKC. They have proof of their success.
Even if we had gotten Thabeet, who would be his mentor? Collins? Ty Hill?
We don’t currently have development. LD wants the package wrapped and ready to open when it gets here. He doesn’t want to add a bow and tape to it and cut the paper to make it fit!
*************************************
Kevin M,
I don’t what a mentor could possibly do for a guy veteran C averaging 2.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.9 blocks during his 5-year NBA career. After 5 years, I’d like to think that you either have it or you don’t.
Just Joe
July 5th, 2012
12:41 pm
Farmar can be traded, but in looking at the events (Farmar’s opting out and then changing his mind only for a buyout to be announced right after the trade), I think King & Ferry had an understanding that Farmar’s wish is to become a free agent this summer. Now, he might change his mind if he’s dealt to a team where he’d be promised significant playing time and a contract extension, but I think Farmar will have a say in what happens next (professional courtesy from Ferry).
KevinM
July 5th, 2012
12:47 pm
I-A-SS:”I don’t what a mentor could possibly do for a guy veteran C averaging 2.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.9 blocks during his 5-year NBA career. After 5 years, I’d like to think that you either have it or you don’t.”
That was more of a joke having Collins mentor any big man we brought in.
My point was he isn’t going to develop anymore than he has now if he ended up here.
IMO, big men usually take longer to develop than any other position. You see how long it took to get anything consistent from Zaza?
I think Thabeet may not be done just yet. And for all those Kwame jokes, the cat can still get a 7M payday, which is hard for any other position to garnish. Kwame just keeps adding to his bank account and may be around another 5-7 years.
Astro Joe
July 5th, 2012
12:49 pm
Just so I am clear what “all in” means, we’re willing to trade productive players for Dwight, even if he doesn’t sign an extension, right? And what about LD? Surely, Ferry will look to replace him as late as next June (if not earlier). So does “all in” mean that Ferry should work with Howard to hire a new head coach, since Howard may not sign an extension until he knows who will be the head coach? So dies “all in” mean trading productive players AND allowing dude to influence the head coaching hire all BEFORE an extension is signed?
i_am_soulstar
July 5th, 2012
12:50 pm
I think he’s trash, but we can agree to disagree.