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
KevinM
July 6th, 2012
11:44 am
BuddyG, I miss Kirk more than Marvin, but not by much. For what he costs, he was marginal at best.
KevinM
July 6th, 2012
11:47 am
For anyone who thinks we still need backcourt help, someone tell Danny to go inquire about Bledsoe quick before someone grabs him.
BIG DOG
July 6th, 2012
11:47 am
2013
Josh 5 years 75mill
D12 4 years 80mill
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
GStateBen
July 6th, 2012
11:52 am
Looks like Anthony Randolph is meeting with the Hawks. He’d be a very good pick up as he’s been very productive in limited minutes plus he’s only 22 years old.
KevinM
July 6th, 2012
11:53 am
Not new news, but confirmed by MC:
“@ajchawks: @ahmetkaradag07 Negotiated buy out by both parties. Farmar gets his release so he can pursue a long-term contract, Hawks save $”
Time for Danny to make his next move.
KevinM
July 6th, 2012
11:55 am
“GStateBen
July 6th, 2012
11:52 am
Looks like Anthony Randolph is meeting with the Hawks. He’d be a very good pick up as he’s been very productive in limited minutes plus he’s only 22 years old.”
I am interested as well IF the SF’s role gets him off the 3 point line.
LD leaves the SF out there, or Marvin was just persistent to stand there.
Randolph has no 3 pt shot, and that is his crutch to find significant minutes. If he had Odom range, he has a very good skill set.
hawks_4_life
July 6th, 2012
11:55 am
According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, free agent forward Anthony Randolph is meeting with the Hawks this weekend and will visit the Mavericks on Tuesday.
Randolph is potentially a low-risk (in terms of dollars), high-reward type of player. Believe it or not, he won’t turn 23 until next week and even after four NBA seasons there is a chance that he could blossom in the right role.
The Hawks and Mavericks are two teams suddenly in rebuild mode, and adding a young 6-foot-11 forward with a variety of skills could be a nice piece for either team. Dallas is his hometown, however, which could give the Mavs the edge here. We’ll let you know when we hear more.
Adios Corps
July 6th, 2012
11:56 am
Al lost his dog when he almost took that little guys head off on a fast break in Atl. put the little feller in the hospital.
ain’t been the same since.
BIG DOG
July 6th, 2012
11:58 am
Teague 3mill
Gerald Green 3mill
Josh 15mill
Horford 12mill
D12 20mill
53mill for your starters leave you at least 19mill for you bench.
Jenkins 1mill
Scott 5hund
Resign Devin 4 years 17mill
Resign Zaza 4years 16mill
Resign Ivan 4years 10mill
Resign Morrow 3years 10mill.
15mill for your bench.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
THE IMMORTAL...I MUS WRITE
July 6th, 2012
12:01 pm
Big Ray
July 6th, 2012
9:53 am
Wes Unseld played center at 6′7, You have to have the kiss a__ mentality to play in the paint as an undersized Center…..Al doesnt have that dog in him -hence the constant crying about plying PF. heres an idea, Practice post moves instead of shooting Jumpers all summer.
If he is moved for the right peice im all for it-Ive always said I prefer josh over jumpshot AL.
1) Al HAD that dog in him. Ask the Celtics about the 2008 playoffs, first round. Ask the rest of the League what Al was like the first 2-3 years in the League. You didn’t have $hit to say then ….now where he lost that dog at is MY question. Because he doesn’t seem to have it anymore…let’s put an ad out for Al’s lost dog.
Man WTH are you talking about… Jeez… I could care less what Al did as a rookie. 2008 was long ago stop living in the past. Ask the players who has a better game without a doubt it would be JOSH….. I didnt have ish to say the first couple of yrs because he was playing well, the last couple of yrs he has been ehhhh ..Al and JC1 were MIA against Orlando in 2011- there were awful…..
Josh is who he is he was better last yr and will continue to improve. I think we know what we have in Al at this point – hustle guy 14/15 points 8 rebounds. A robotic post game -good mid range shooter. Ivan johnson filled in for Al and we didnt miss a beat. If josh went down this yr instead of Jumpshot Al….we dont make the playoffs.
Al: “Im to little to play with the big boys, I really wanna shoot jumpers. I really hope DH12 joins the Hawks -He dominates me everytime we play -O and his muscles are big too”
BIG DOG
July 6th, 2012
12:03 pm
2013
Teague, Gerald, Josh, Horford, D12
Devin, Jenkins, Morrow, Ivan, Zaza
Scott, ? , ?
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
O'Brien
July 6th, 2012
12:08 pm
The Philadelphia 76ers will use the NBA’s amnesty clause to cut Elton Brand and the $18.2 million left on his contract, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Elton Brand can be claimed off amnesty waivers by teams under the cap. If no team claims Brand off the amnesty wire, he will become a free agent and can sign with any team. Brand, 33, averaged 11 points and 7.2 rebounds for the 76ers last season.
In part, this move clears the way for the Sixers to sign Los Angeles Clippers free agent Nick Young to a one-year, $6 million deal..
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba–sixers-to-waive-elton-brand-under-nba-s-amnesty-policy.html/
I’m just glad they offered 5 years $80 mil to Brand instead of Josh. But I am surprised that they are using the amnesty clause on a player who has an expiring contract.
i_am_soulstar
July 6th, 2012
12:10 pm
Randolph would definitely be a great SF to have off the bench, considering he’s got no range.
But I guess if he was a three point threat, the Hawks wouldn’t be able to afford him right now.
O'Brien
July 6th, 2012
12:10 pm
Isn’t Anthony Randolph a PF? If that is the case, we dont need any more PF.
vava74
July 6th, 2012
12:12 pm
OB,
I am baffled at PHI’s move.
Brand could still be used as trade bait, just like our bad contracts were, so it’s kind of an odd move.
I see him signing with the Celtics to provide front court depth and if he does, he will be a good pick up for them.
O'Brien
July 6th, 2012
12:12 pm
BTW, Although Randolph has no 3-pt shot, he knows it. He has only attempted 14 in 170 games.
hawks_4_life
July 6th, 2012
12:13 pm
Obrien,
Randolph is a player ill take a chance on because he is young, talented and just may need a chance to play to put it together.
hawks_4_life
July 6th, 2012
12:13 pm
Regardless of position
Buddy G
July 6th, 2012
12:13 pm
“Josh is angry that he can’t get chosen as an alternate.”
LD is a big part of the problem. How much influence do you think he has in the coaching fraternity? Ferry’s presence will make a difference.
Funny thing about Brand is the Hawks are under the cap and can bid on him.
doc
July 6th, 2012
12:16 pm
Well i still remain optimistic with a few solid fill ins we could be a competitive and nuisance type team that could be trouble. I will not underestimate what al and josh can do without jj bogging down the ball movement but only time and about 25 games will tell. With a solid replacement for marvin, a good perimeter defender at the 2/3 spot and a real big i could get happy about watching this team if it plays hard. I think it is doable.
Aj says we are a .500 club. That is what we were very close to only two years ago with the core four healthy relatively and intact umm with jamal as well. Yes even jamal couldnt realy push us to elite status that year.
Last year was a good year numbers wise but because of the short season those numbers are throw away and reflect a youngish vet team in years of experience together and attrition and other teams quitting early to station themselves for the lottery. It was amazing what they accomplished but fell way short losing to the old celts in six when they had pushed them to 7 four years earlier when they were in their youth. Thatvwas what really woke this franchiesvup to its decline i also said we were in at the beginning of last year.
Anyway back when it happened i said we dodged a bullet when the sixers turned to brand and left josh standing alone without a real good contract to bring home of his true worth. I said huge mistake for them and good for us that josh’s numbers would far exceed brands iin the next five years. With the amnesty it seems they recognized their mistake by billy king i think it was. Could that same king have helped us again with jj? I think so, though jj and his numbers may not decline as much as brands did but the outcome will be in our favor in the end.
Astro Joe
July 6th, 2012
12:16 pm
Randolph had some good games after Kevin Love was injured late last year. He is NOT a SF, he is a shot-blocking PF who is still an unknown after finishing his rookie contract.
Check out what he did in April last season when he got more than 20 minutes/game.
http://espn.go.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/3455/anthony-randolph
BIG DOG
July 6th, 2012
12:16 pm
Anthony Randolph would not be great move for the Hawks, he is a project PF.
Horford PF
Ivan PF
Josh SF AND PF
To many PF already on the team.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
THE IMMORTAL...I MUS WRITE
July 6th, 2012
12:16 pm
That dogg he had in 08 09 was done with smoke and mirrors…His true passion was…u guessed it launching mid range jumpers. AH15 “Bombs away baby” I AM Detlef Schrempf….I Am Dirk Nowitzki
“I MUS was right about me yall, Im kinda soft but I shoot the rock well, I have no desire to bang in the post- thats why we signed Ivan. I just wanna shoot. Have yall seen my wife? Shes fine but she also rebounds for me in the summer when im perfecting my jumper. Nice huh?
Post Game -Back to the basket? Whats that? Pass me the rock baby -Bombs away. Watch me do my salsa dance -Im better than that victor Cruz.
Also josh is the real leader of this team- I just a squirrel in his world tryn to get a nut. Thanx for the kind words Ray but im soft’er than toilet paper, cotton candy and my wifes legs put together……Ok gotta goo time to go shoot baby”
Buddy G
July 6th, 2012
12:17 pm
Vava Brand is not a UFA. All teams under the cap can place bids for him. The amount of the highest bid is deducted from what PHI owes him. The only way he has a choice about which team he goes to is if no team with cap space places a bid. That won’t happen. The bidding team will have him for one season since that’s how many years were left on his contract with PHI.
doc
July 6th, 2012
12:18 pm
O’b wasnt it billy king who took brand instead of josh?
i_am_soulstar
July 6th, 2012
12:18 pm
O’Brien…
Think Lamar Odom w/ no 3-point shot. He can play most positions on the court. He gets used at PF because of his lack of 3 point shot, but his game is really more suitable for the SF position IMHO.
THE IMMORTAL...I MUS WRITE
July 6th, 2012
12:19 pm
I dont understand the Love for Gerald Green….Super athletic SG/SF with good size 6′8….What exactly has he done in this league besides change teams and win the Dunk Contest. Did I miss something. Marvin has done more in this league than Gerald benchrider Green
O'Brien
July 6th, 2012
12:20 pm
I MUS WRITE,
Al: “Im to little to play with the big boys, I really wanna shoot jumpers..
Correct me if I’mwrong, but isn’t Josh guilty of shooting too many jumpers too? At least Al shoots a better % on his jumpers.
That being said, Josh is the better player by far (imo). But as a result, he will be paid accordingly. Al makes $12 mil per, but I think Josh’s next contract will be $16+ mil.
vava74
July 6th, 2012
12:20 pm
Buddy,
Last year’s amnestied players mentioned at some stage that if they were picked up by I team that did not like, they would not show up.
I think there will be some margin for that.
But you are right in pointing out that.
Just Joe
July 6th, 2012
12:20 pm
I don’t think the Hawks are under the cap, but could get there if we renounced all our free agents. This is why we have the full MLE and the bi-annual to use. Hinrich alone has like a $10M cap hold.
HAWKS
July 6th, 2012
12:21 pm
ESPN REPORTING LAKERS AND MAVERICKS ARE OUT OF THE HOWARD SWEEPSTAKES.
MAVERICKS ARE SETTLEING FOR ELTON BRAND AND SOURCES SAY LAKERS ARE KEEPING THE TEAM THE WAY IT IS.
ATLANTA NEEDS TO ATTEMPT TO GET HOWARD NOW!
i_am_soulstar
July 6th, 2012
12:23 pm
I think w/ Danny Ferry’s insistence on player development, maybe he plans to help Randolph improve that part of his game.
O'Brien
July 6th, 2012
12:24 pm
doc,
I think you’re right. Billy King signed him.
vava,
Brand may end up in Brooklyn, where the GM who signed him in Philly (Billy King) is the GM there.
Also, if Nets do not bring back Humphries, there will be alot of minutes available at PF.
However, all this is moot if a team under the cap claims him off waivers.
BIG DOG
July 6th, 2012
12:25 pm
Hawks just clear a lot of money of the cap, must be careful on spending money to get ready for 2103.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
KevinM
July 6th, 2012
12:26 pm
Well, if Randolph is a PF, then I’m not interested….we don’t have enough of those already!
We must be looking at SFs, right?
OB, AJ, JJ, let me ask this amnesty question…..say the ASG decided to go with the amnesty provision for Joe. Now, he is on the open market and is able to sign any deal he wants.
Someone tell me, if Joe signed for the max or near max, wouldn’t the ASG only be responsible for the difference? To me, the ASG might have been off the hook for that paycheck.
He was a better candidate than Marvin for that provision, but we had to move Marvin off this roster.
What I do like is we don’t have anyone that is an amnesty candidate now. Let’s hope Danny doesn’t get desperate and pick up a bad contract.
O'Brien
July 6th, 2012
12:26 pm
I think Randolph is better suited at PF, which is one reason he wont sign here (imo). We already have Josh, Mike Scott, Jordan Williams, Ivan (maybe), and Al, who can all play minutes at PF.
i_am_soulstar
July 6th, 2012
12:26 pm
I don’t understand the Gerald Green love either. I thought he did well on a poor Nets team, but he was a loser many of the years before. Most teams didn’t want anything to do with him.
Kudos to him for improving, but I don’t know if I give a serious contract to a guy like that. Feels like a trap.
THE IMMORTAL...I MUS WRITE
July 6th, 2012
12:29 pm
Where U at 5.0 ….I guess your silence means im dead on huh? Jus so u know bro. Aient nothing changed im stil I MUS WRITE ….Git Sum
Astro Joe
July 6th, 2012
12:31 pm
Isn’t Ivan a RFA? If another team offers him a multi-year contrat (let’s say 4 years for $12M total), would Ferry match? Seems like bringing in Randolph is a msmart business decision (and may get Ivan to sign the contract sooner than later). Also, the more proactive GMs in the league often get acquainted with players a year or two in advance. Next season, we may be looking for depth at the PF position, so if ferry can give Randolph a positive impression, that can potentially help next summer (while Randolph develops on soem other team’s dime this season).
I’m surprised Nick Young only got a single year. Maybe Mayo will do the same and we can take a crack at him next summer.
BIG DOG
July 6th, 2012
12:31 pm
Now if that the case..
As much i like Horford that would be the only way i trade him is for D12.
Horford, Devin, Zaza and 2 1st for D12 and Turk.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Just Joe
July 6th, 2012
12:33 pm
KevinM…your JJ amnesty thought is correct, but why would any team pay Joe that much money when Joe makes the same amount no matter what. No incentive for Joe to sign a big deal when he makes $89M either way. He’s better off leaving his new team more money to spend on teammates.
O'Brien
July 6th, 2012
12:34 pm
KevinM,
Al and Zaza can be amnestied, but I think we can all agree that would be a terrible move.
But you’re correct in that ASG would be responsible for the difference if JJ was amenestied and somebody signed him. Problem is, if somebody signs him for $10 mil, then ASG would be responsible for payimg him another $10+ mil for the next 4 years. Its hard to pay somebody $40 mil to go away (unless you’re rich like the Heats, Nets, Mavs owners etc). ASG isn’t.
HAWKS
July 6th, 2012
12:35 pm
ESPN REPORT: LAKERS KEEPING TEAM TOGETHER
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/features/rumors?id=25998&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2ffeatures%2frumors%3fid%3d25998
Buddy G
July 6th, 2012
12:37 pm
“Last year’s amnestied players mentioned at some stage that if they were picked up by I team that did not like, they would not show up.”
That was Billups and Stern made a statement that any player claimed off amnesty waivers who didn’t report to their new team would have their contract voided. That means Brand would be out $19m.
vava74
July 6th, 2012
12:37 pm
Randolph coming to work out also gives us a back up plan for Josh’s potential trade, if we do not get Howard.
Believe me, if Howard gets to Brooklyn, we will definitively trade Josh because he is out of here at the end of his contract.
Astro Joe
July 6th, 2012
12:38 pm
KevinM,
Just Joe is kind of right. Except he makes it sound like Joe would have some say about leaving his new team money to spend on teammates. I don’t think teams would bid more than $6-8M/year for Joe. I think the Clippers got Billups last year at around $2M. There would be more teams bidding for Joe to drive up the price, but I doubt that ASG would get back half of his salary.
The Real cp
July 6th, 2012
12:39 pm
I like Randolph. I think he could help this team. I actually think he could be a better player off the bench at the pf position than a few guys we have already. I see no problem with signing this guy.
Gerald Green is a better player now than he was before. I really wanted him included in that trade. I watched a lot of Nets games last year and it was clear he had worked real hard on his game. I would still offer him a contract if I were the Hawks. He can play the 2 or 3.
HAWKS
July 6th, 2012
12:39 pm
MAVERICKS SETTLING FOR ELTON BRAND
https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/221274413813866496
vava74
July 6th, 2012
12:39 pm
Oh… our blog people will miss sooooo much discussing if fighting for the #4 seed is “elite” or not…
Just Joe
July 6th, 2012
12:39 pm
Mavs, Blazers, and Rockets are only teams under the cap.