Atlanta Hawks: The next step
No, there is nothing new to report on the Hawks and Dwight Howard. As far as I know, nothing has changed since what I wrote two days ago. If I hear anything different, I promise I won’t keep it to myself.
With that out of the way, on to some housekeeping . . . .
Once the trades become official on July 11, and after the Hawks compete an expected buy out of Jordan Farmar, they will have nine players under contract. Draft picks John Jenkins and Mike Scott will make it 11 once they sign their deals. Ivan Johnson will make it 12 if he signs his qualifying offer.
Here are the cap salaries for those 12 players (in millions):
Josh Smith: $13.2
Al Horford: $12.0
Devin Harris: $8.5
Zaza Pachulia: $5.2
Anthony Morrow: $4.0
Johan Petro: $3.5
Jeff Teague: $2.4
Jordan Farmar: $1.5*
John Jenkins: $1.2
Ivan Johnson: $.96+
DeShawn Stevenson: $.852.33^
Jordan Williams: $.76
Mike Scott: $.40
Total: $50.4755.95
*Amount of buyout.
^Cap charge for minimum-salaried veteran with three or more seasons.
(Update: Luke Adams of HoopsRumors.com notes that Chad Ford reports Stevenson’s first-year salary as $2.33 million, not the minimum. And reader Tyler Cromey emailed to point out I left Morrow off the salary list.)
+Amount of qualifying offer extended by Hawks.
According to Larry Coon, the salary-cap level is expected to remain at about $58 million for 2012-13. But that $7.5 2 million or so in cap space is theoretical for the Hawks.
They still would have about $18 million in cap holds because of their free agents. Those holds won’t be released until those players sign a new contract or the Hawks renounce them. Even if the Hawks clear all of those cap holds, they would take a roster charge of $400,000 for having less than 12 players on the roster following Farmar’s buyout.
All of that is a long way of getting to this bottom line: The Hawks can clear up to a maximum of roughly $7.0 1.5 million in cap space. They can then sign free agents using that space and/or the “room” mid-level exception that allows a two-year contract starting at $2.5 million. So that means, theoretically, the Hawks could spend up to about $9.5 8 million on anywhere from two (to get to the roster minimum of 13) to four players (to carry the maximum 15).
(Update: Because their cap space would be less than the amount of their exceptions, the Hawks would be limited to using all or part of the $5 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception; all or part of the $1.96 bi-annual exception; and minimum-salary exceptions to sign from two [to get to the roster minimum of 13] to four [to carry the maximum 15] players.)
(If any of my calculations appear off, blog people, shoot me an email: mcunningham at ajc.com.)
After the Hawks made trades that set them up to have maximum flexibility to make moves in the long term, they still believe they can remain competitive in the short term. It’s not hard to think they can do so with the remaining core of Smith, Horford, Teague, Pachulia plus new additions Morrow and Jenkins.
Once the trades are completed and Farmar is bought out, Atlanta’s depth chart will look something like this (just for example, so please save your outrage if you disagree):
PG: Jeff Teague/Devin Harris
SG: Anthony Morrow/John Jenkins/Devin Harris/DeShawn Stevenson
SF: Josh Smith/Anthony Morrow/DeShawn Stevenson
PF: Josh Smith/Ivan Johnson/Jordan Williams/Mike Scott
C: Al Horford/Zaza Pachulia/Johan Petro
The Hawks could use a starting lineup with Zaza at center and Al and Josh shifting over–Larry Drew said he could envision that alignment even before the trades–but the Hawks clearly need a true wing. They could probably use another center, too, to guard against needing to use Petro or Johnson there for major minutes if Al or Zaza goes down.
I’d expect the Hawks will get serious about free agents once the market shakes out. They’ve expressed interest in Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis but obviously those players will see what the market may bear.
The Celtics already have offered Allen $12 million over two years and he’s set to pick from that offer, the Clippers and the Heat. Lewis says he’s seeking to play for a championship contender.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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583 comments Add your comment
O'Brien
July 5th, 2012
5:29 pm
SteveW,
If there is one thing we dont need, its more 2G. We already have Jenkins, Morrow and Stevenson.
hawksfancents95
July 5th, 2012
5:37 pm
ok, get your fantasy caps on cuz here is a few trades i managed to conjur up. mainly revolving devin harris as i hate to see 10 mill on the bench when our starting SG is anthony GSW D morrow and josh smith is our best starter at SF currently.
devin harris and our 1st to DET for their 1st and corey maggette
devin harris and our 1st to Philly for andre iggy
devin harris to DAL for trade exemptions(3M 4.2M 2.1M) and a 1st
devin harris to CHI for ronnie brewer or kyle korver and cj watson and CHI 2nd RD
devin harris to CLE for luke walton and daniel gibson and CLE 1st
devin harris for tayshaun prince and will bynum
devin harris to WASH for andray blatch and trade exception(1.7M) and WASH 1st;amnesty blatche
devin harris to SAC for john salmons and a 1st; amnesty salmons
devin harris to MINN for derrick williams and luke ridnour
Birdman
July 5th, 2012
5:37 pm
I would love the Hawks to improve the basketball enviroment in ATL with big names this year, but I really feel we will take a step back before moving forward and contending with the best. Howard isnt going anywhere this year (options are getting slim) and Ferry realizes the best approach is to go after CP3 and D12 or insert name here after the season when he can fully use the roster and free agency to his advantage.
yoursporthousedotcom
July 5th, 2012
5:41 pm
Ken Strickland,
Once again let me explain: DANNY FERRY IS NOT TRADING FOR A ONE YEAR DWIGHT HOWARD, IT WOULD BE SIGN AND TRADE!!
hawksfancents95
July 5th, 2012
5:43 pm
and a few involving our disposable players from Brooklyn
johan petro and a 2nd to DET for will bynum
johan petro to LAL for josh Mcroberts
johan Petro and a 2nd to GSW for Dorrell wright
jordan williams to GSW for jeremy tyler
jordan williams to HOU for jon leur(everyone on here’s favorite)
johan petro and our 2nd to CHI for CJ watson.
i hope we move devin harris first and foremost as we need help at our STARTING SG and SF. i kind of like the idea, not totally bought, of having Anthony Morrow start at SG and have John Jenkins come in off the bench so our SG spot is always a danger to hit shots as well as deshawn(did he even play anywhere last year) stevenson rotate in when we need some perimeter D.
Slimjr
July 5th, 2012
5:49 pm
@yoursporthousedotcom, can you repeat what you just typed again for the “hard of hearing”? [joke] lol!
Slimjr
July 5th, 2012
6:03 pm
“Once the trades are completed and Farmar is bought out, Atlanta’s depth chart will look something like this (just for example, so please save your outrage if you disagree):
PG: Jeff Teague/Devin Harris
SG: Anthony Morrow/John Jenkins/Devin Harris/DeShawn Stevenson
SF: Josh Smith/Anthony Morrow/DeShawn Stevenson
PF: Josh Smith/Ivan Johnson/Jordan Williams/Mike Scott
C: Al Horford/Zaza Pachulia/Johan Petro”
It maybe delusional to believe this team can compete with Miami/NYx2, Chicago and others in the East as presently configured.. It will definitely be another losing record against the winners without a doubt….8-12 wins?
We’ll see what magic Danny has left before long?
NORRIS CHUCK
July 5th, 2012
6:06 pm
Slimjr,
Thats pretty much the lineup i was hoping to see. But i still think Danny F is gonna pick up a SF. But either way that still would be a very competitive lineup. Maybe a 7 seed at worse.
donte080
July 5th, 2012
6:09 pm
“D12’s game is built for championships” slimjr
In 8 seasons D12 has won ZERO championships…
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
July 5th, 2012
6:14 pm
Me personally I think the Hawks will make the playoffs with the team we have right now. Teague, Smooth, Horford and Zaza have the chemistry to pull together a winning season. What we do in the playoffs is another story.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
July 5th, 2012
6:17 pm
I like this speed lineup:
Teague, Devin Harris, Morrow, Smooth, Horford
Run at will.
David
July 5th, 2012
6:18 pm
give it time……you guys don’t expect this to be their final roster do you? The front office is working on a plan of action and obviously freeing up money is there number 1 concern at this point.
moboman
July 5th, 2012
6:23 pm
The Hawks are going nowhere with the above printed team. We lost a guy who could take over a game, at least in the regular season. I was for trading Joe, but lets not forget he was our leading scorer on most nights. Smoove is good but needs help. Morrow took the Net’s nowhere, all the sudden he’s gonna come here and replace Joe. Man, thats delusional. Ferry’s not done, or the Hawks are done for next year. Not enough puzzle pieces yet to go anywhere. Ask Deron Williams about that.
Big Ray
July 5th, 2012
6:23 pm
Northcyde ,
Peter Vescey IS a joke. But you knew that already. Also, excellent analysis on this statement:
Its Teagues team to run…NOT Josh’s and i think thats whats on managements mind after watching Rondo’s, Deron Williams’ and CP3 run their prospective teams. So get ready Atlanta!
I could not agree with your assessment more…
Melvin
July 5th, 2012
6:26 pm
The Mavs missed out the Deron, Nash and Kidd. Oh well, they still have cap space…. SMH…..
Big Ray
July 5th, 2012
6:27 pm
What some folks may not see is that with JJ gone, Smith will see this as even more of an opportunity to be a team leader, something I’m not convinced he can ever be. Can he play lights out all over the court (except being a deadeye perimeter shooter)? Yeah. Does that make a person a leader? No.
Look no further than Shawn Marion in his prime. He was one of the most versatile players on that Phoenix squad from that 2001-2004 era. Was even more produtive than Smith (minus the blocked shots and what not). Team leader? Nope. That was Steve Nash. And Marion gave the ball up to him and Barbosa on the break. Marion understood he was a FINISHER.
Something Smith never seems to get these days. START the break with rebounding, FINISH at the basket, where no one can stop you. Instead, he runs the floor. Sometimes it looks very flashy. Other times, the ball goes someplace that only a fan can appreciate…
NORRIS CHUCK
July 5th, 2012
6:31 pm
Melvin,
And to think, ALL 3 of them played for the Mavs before.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
July 5th, 2012
6:31 pm
moboman
July 5th, 2012
6:23 pm
The Hawks are going nowhere with the above printed team. We lost a guy who could take over a game, at least in the regular season.
Losing in the first round with Joe is just as bad as not getting to the playoffs without him.
corporate tv ball sux
July 5th, 2012
6:33 pm
great job so far danny! must have been tough in the hawks locker room last season to expect ivan to come off the bench and provide the energy nite after nite when joe was making all the dough. tough team chemistry without better dollar balance. thanks danny! would also like to see the hawks keep hinerich. always thought the energy and defense stepped it up when he came in. seemed more like a tight team. more control of the game. always came in looking to move the ball. have needed that mentality at pg since mookie left. and he can hit the 3.
Big Ray
July 5th, 2012
6:33 pm
The only time your PG shouldn’t be a floor general and team leader is when you have A) Kobe, B) Lebron, C) Wade, or somebody like that on your team, and therefore don’t have or don’t need such a player at the point.
Now whether or not Teague can be that kind of guy still remains to be seen. On the “current” roster, he’ll HAVE to be that guy from day one in camp, otherwise he’ll lose starter status (don’t think LD won’t do that in a freakin’ heartbeat) to Devin Harris very quickly, as others have already mentioned. Then again, long term plans where Harris is concerned, might derail that idea, but who knows….
Don’t know if there are going to be any more major moves this season. We may just sign up a couple of vet minimum contracts and roll like this.
What I do know is this – if Smith tries taking over and it rubs Teague/Harris the wrong way, we’ll have more Smith drama and more losses, and it won’t have as much to do with talent….yet talent is what overcame it LAST year, and the one before that.
I wonder if this will put those “veiled” post game comments to rest now….or not?
Big Ray
July 5th, 2012
6:34 pm
Melvin ,
You can thank that damn Billy Knight for all of that….
darrell starks
July 5th, 2012
6:34 pm
Hawks are still a pretty good team.
Big Ray.
I agree this is Teague team now, Josh must let him run the show this year, time for him get going now in year4.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big Ray
July 5th, 2012
6:35 pm
Losing in the first round with Joe is just as bad as not getting to the playoffs without him.
Talk about short-term, narrow-minded thinking…
Melvin
July 5th, 2012
6:38 pm
“Losing in the first round with Joe is just as bad as not getting to the playoffs without him.”
Agreed Clyde. I think it’s even better b/c the Hawks will get a lottery pick and chance at the #1 pick with possibly franchise type talent in the 2013 draft….
Melvin
July 5th, 2012
6:42 pm
Dallas going after Ramon Session. Oh well, you have to spend the money on somebody…. Add OJ Mayo and that’s not a bad backcourt. Then they can sign Chris Kaman long with Dirk and Marion then you have a pretty good team. And the best about all those signing, it will take them out of the Howard sweepstakes/lottery….LOL
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
July 5th, 2012
6:47 pm
Hawks gotta get the mentally of championship or nothing.
Sautee
July 5th, 2012
6:48 pm
“As I much as I hate Al’s whining and moaning about playing the center position, much like Josh, I seriously doubt he’s done developing.” – I_am_soulstar
soulstar, I challenge you to find a single quote where Al Horford is “whining and moaning” about playing center. Just one quote. You won’t find one because this is a fallacy. Have you been duped by all of T-s negativity?
I agree that he’s still developing, but while he has “discussed” which position he thinks he is most suited for, he has NOT “whined and moaned” about playing center. Far from it. Here’s what he told MC in an interview in the summer of 2010:
“We need to get another big guy, another center, that’s able to help myself and Josh out,” he said. “We need to have someone to come in and have an impact. I think that is the position we need if we want to be any type of contender in the East.”
Al said he doesn’t necessarily mean getting a center to supplant him as the starter so he can move to power forward. Rather, it could be a scenario where the new center plays a lot of minutes and L.D. can mix and match from among the new guy, Al, Josh, Zaza and any other big guys Sund adds (a Jason Collins return is a possibility if he gets in better shape).
“I don’t have a problem splitting time [at center],” Al said. “I played a little four last year with Zaza in the game at the same time and I thought that was good. I know I am going to still play the five.”
He said he’s fine with that (it seems odd that an All-Star has to say that). He said he knows some fans and media seem to be more concerned about his position than him. But the way he sees it the Hawks have to play to their strengths, which includes a lineup with him at center.
“I think we create a lot of problems when have an athletic lineup with Josh at the four, me at the five and Marvin at the three,” Al said. “I think we create serious problems for people. I think that is one of our strengths as a team is we are so versatile.”
————————————————————————————————————
http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2010/07/09/atlanta-hawks-catching-up-again-with-al-horford/
Did you see ANY “whining and moaning” there? Let me know if you find any actual quote where Al is “whining and moaning” about playing center. I don’t think any exist.
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
July 5th, 2012
6:48 pm
If your not going to win a championship I say be as sorry as you can be.
Big Ray
July 5th, 2012
6:55 pm
I think it’s even better b/c the Hawks will get a lottery pick and chance at the #1 pick with possibly franchise type talent in the 2013 draft….
Now see, that makes sense. Not only that, but you’re not paying somebody 20 mil a year to LOSE like that in the playoffs.
moboman
July 5th, 2012
7:05 pm
@Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
Like I said, Im for the Joe Trade. But Im also for the D12 move. Having another impact player is what will open up the shots for AMo and Devin Harris. My comment was merely that we haven’t assembled enough pieces YET. I love Morrow, and the fact that he’s built himself an NBA career no thanks to CPH. But his skill set is limited and streaky. He’s a good complimentary piece to have on a night when he’s hot. But the lineup as listed above as a stopping point is short staffed to make the playoffs.
SteveW
July 5th, 2012
7:14 pm
OB – The Point I was making is that neither of the 3 players we have at the 2 spot is really a starter in my opinion.
PG – Better than last season
SF – If Josh is there – Better than last season
Frontline – Basically a wash.
So we are weaker at the 2 by a ton. I’m just searching for somebody we can get that can get us at least close to JJ’s level – because if we can, we have a chance to be a really good team.
We went 40-26 without Al for most of the season – we may be pretty good without JJ and Marvin if we build the team correctly.
That is the point
SteveW
July 5th, 2012
7:16 pm
Maybe Ferry pulls another trade like Harris and Morrow for Kmart or something after the 2 month waiting period is over Sept. 11th.
Not suggesting that trade – just that type of deal. I like Harris and Morrow.
TNScott
July 5th, 2012
7:25 pm
SAY J-HEY!!!
SteveW
July 5th, 2012
7:25 pm
CJ Miles anyone?
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2012
7:26 pm
Interesting short-term idea from Hoopinion:
Bret LaGree @hoopinion
Post-KLOE to Raptors, doesn’t a Devin Harris-Kevin Martin swap make short-term sense for Hawks and Rockets w/o harming long-term plans?
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Both players are expiring this year. I’m not the biggest Kevin Martin fan but the Hawks do need a starter on the wing for this season, and trading Harris (a backup) for Martin (who would be a starter) is probably good for building up trade value through the season and eventually flipping Martin for (a) pick(s).
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2012
7:27 pm
Why would Houston do it? With Lowry gone, Scott Machado is their #1 PG on their depth chart.
Bama Hawk
July 5th, 2012
7:27 pm
I think the Lakers are scared of D12 back.
ryan
July 5th, 2012
7:31 pm
Which team will move first for Howard its also a possibility he may end up staying till 13 FA we have money to spend be great to get CP3 and D12 next summer all we can do is wait .
Rufus1
July 5th, 2012
7:34 pm
Does D12 really want to play with Josh?
They don’t compliment each others game and Josh would make it harder on him(D12) to score.(defenses packing the lane)
He could have come to the Hawks last year for Horford and picks and that team would have been very Good. Josh, D12, Joe, Teague.. Zaza or Marvin…With last years bench.
Maybe he is just being nice to his friend and stringing him along…..Because the Hawks are still not on his list and we are now a worse team without Joe.
The only reason Josh is still here is to recruit D12 and he has an expiring contract…. if you think Ferry wants to build this team around Josh, you are not paying attention…. Check the model(Spurs)
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2012
7:34 pm
I like Jamal Crawford, but that deal the Clippers gave him might be the worst contract of this year’s free agency period. He’s going to be 36 when that deal expires.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2012
7:36 pm
“LD’s Offense??? vs The players left…
I don’t think those player fit his style”
LD has a style?
tyger
July 5th, 2012
7:41 pm
Elden Brand, Darko Milicic, Luke Ridenour…
D.S.G.B.
July 5th, 2012
7:47 pm
i love the lineup with teague and harris in the backcourt! but in order to do that, were gonna need another pg to come off the bench. i suggest signing johnny flynn to help out with pg duties. for sf i like rashad, and or tracy. here goes starting 5
1. teague
2. harris
3. rashad/tracy
4. smith
5. horford
Slimjr
July 5th, 2012
7:49 pm
ESPN: Jeremy Lin agrees to sign offer sheet with the Houston Rockets! 4yrs/30mil!
He is a restricted Free Agent… Word on the street the Knicks can afford him and will match offer…
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2012
7:52 pm
“They don’t compliment each others game and Josh would make it harder on him(D12) to score.(defenses packing the lane)”
Haha @ all this “complementing each other’s game” stuff. LeBron and Wade don’t complement each other either. Good players find a way to make it work. Dwight has spent his entire career surrounded by soft jump shooters. We really have no idea whether a guy who is most effective 15 feet and in will complement him or not. I think Josh and Dwight can coexist, just like Josh and Al can coexist.
O'Brien
July 5th, 2012
7:52 pm
So despite having salary cap space, great fans, great owner, good coach, a superstar player, and just one year removed from a world championship, Mavs miss out on their FA targets (Deron, Nash, Kidd).
But yet some fans would prefer the Hawks go into next offseason with cap space and try and convince CP3, Harden, Dwight, etc to leave money on the table with their respective teams, and come play for the Hawks.
If the Mavs can get left out, what do you think can happen to the Hawks chances?
All-In.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2012
7:53 pm
“Look no further than Shawn Marion in his prime. He was one of the most versatile players on that Phoenix squad from that 2001-2004 era. Was even more produtive than Smith (minus the blocked shots and what not). Team leader? Nope. That was Steve Nash. And Marion gave the ball up to him and Barbosa on the break. Marion understood he was a FINISHER.”
Not necessarily disagreeing with your overall point, but it’s not really fair to compare Marion’s production to Josh’s production when Marion played in one of the league’s fastest offenses and a Hall of Fame PG while Josh has played in one of the league’s slower offenses with back court teammates who dominate the ball.
Jae Evolution
July 5th, 2012
7:55 pm
I like the trade Najeh, seeing as Kevin Martin is a Joe Johnson lite and he can get to the line around 7-8 times per game when healthy. If Knicks match the contract that the Rockets just offered Lin, and many expect them to, I think we should try to make this move.
It also frees up some space for newly drafted Jeremy Lamb.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2012
7:55 pm
“But yet some fans would prefer the Hawks go into next offseason with cap space and try and convince CP3, Harden, Dwight, etc to leave money on the table with their respective teams, and come play for the Hawks.
If the Mavs can get left out, what do you think can happen to the Hawks chances?”
Yeah, I think it’s becoming more and more obvious that more than endorsements or market size, that extra 5th year is the trump card that really swings many of these players’ choices.
Get Dwight here and let everything else sort itself out.
D.S.G.B.
July 5th, 2012
7:57 pm
does erson from the bucks play small forward?