Atlanta Hawks: New era begins
“We would be good, but not good enough.”
When Danny Ferry said it, I felt like Micheal Keaton in “The Paper” (underrated flick, by the way).
“He said the headline! The guy actually said the headline!”
Ferry succinctly summed up the frustrations I’ve heard expressed so many times by my blog people. That’s why the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive to Ferry’s decision to extract the franchise from two burdensome contracts.
But already I sense some anxiety among you about the next step. No doubt that feeling is heightened by Ferry’s failed (for now) pursuit of a trade for Dwight Howard, who’s status is in limbo. I’ve seen Hawks fans already fretting that no superstar would ever actually choose to sign with this franchise.
None of this surprises me, of course. It didn’t take me long in this job to learn that a sense of insecurity and pending dread appears to be a common symptom of your affection for the Hawks.
But, more than that, these concerns are reasonable. You recognize this is just the first step in a plan that’s difficult to execute. Bold moves may be necessary at times but they don’t always or even usually lead to more success than the status quo.
Ferry’s decision to take a step back comes with significant risk. That’s still true even if you believe there never would be any greater reward for staying pat.
Ferry chuckled when I told him that elation among Hawks fans about the trades had been supplanted by some nervousness that there would be no follow-through.
“I can’t give you all the answers,” he said. “We were good but not good enough, and now how do we find a way to get even better than before?”
Some tweeps interpreted Ferry’s comments about the status quo not being good enough as a shot at his predecessors and the team’s ownership. I didn’t read it that way–and, besides, Bruce Levenson himself was blunt in acknowledging that the franchise’s basketball operations needed a fresh philosophy.
On the day Ferry was introduced as GM, he mentioned that the organization seemed a bit too humble in light of its accomplishments. He seemed a bit incredulous when reporters peppered him with questions about his plan to make the Hawks better.
“They’ve been good here and I have to come to that with respect,” Ferry said. “There are teams that are trying to get to where the Atlanta Hawks are at now.”
These new Hawks are now behind those Hawks and it’s up to Ferry to get them where they’ve never been. He has the assets to do it now: expiring contracts, productive young players with reasonable deals, draft picks and massive cap space in the near future.
In fact, those chips should help alleviate your worries about free agents choosing Atlanta. Ferry has the tools to bring talent here in trades (the cap space will make that simpler, too). It’s telling that when Ferry is asked about free agents, he usually comes back to trades.
“There should be options but it’s also not all going to happen on July 15,” he said. “We have through to the trade deadline and we will continue to build on our team.”
Ferry decided that the Hawks’ good wasn’t good enough. It may take a while before my blog people can hope for greatness and it’s possible it may never come. But you said all along you wanted the Hawks to shoot for a championship and now they can at least try.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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264 comments Add your comment
Art Vandelay
July 12th, 2012
11:35 am
No, actually it WAS from me. The real me. Once school gets back in session and our anonymous troll enters 8th grade in the Fall, hopefully the grownups here will be allowed to continue having an intelligent conversation since he’ll be stuck in class and won’t be able to entertain himself here.
Ray
July 12th, 2012
11:35 am
The last post on page 3 isn’t from me that’s for sure, and I know there is a blog troll most of those posts with Rev in Tampa and some others are not there’s knew that one easily.
Hoops
July 12th, 2012
11:35 am
I had a good nights rest out here in West Yellowstone. I sleep on this trade. See what you think:
The Lakers get Dwight Howard (they like that). The Hawks get Andrew Bynum (they like that). The Magic get Al Horford (they like that plus they get a quality player and cap space). I know that we would send the Magic the first round pick that we got from the Nets and there might have to be some more players and picks included by both teams, but as I see this trade everybody gets what they want.
doc
July 12th, 2012
11:36 am
exact imitation cant be continuously conceived i see.
champion chipz
July 12th, 2012
11:44 am
If we keep Horford and see what center we can get in free agency next year, our frontcourt would be killer (assuming Josh Smith re-signs). Depending on what happens from now to next offseason, we would hypothetically have a shot at getting Dwight Howard, Andrew Bynum or Al Jefferson. We could offer max contracts and a shot at a title. Re-sign Teague for around $3 million, re-sign Josh Smith for around $12-$15 million. We would have a frontcourt of Horford, Smith, Howard/Bynum/Jefferson and a backcourt of Teague, Jenkins/Williams. I could see a team like this contending for a title. This is skeptical, but it is definitely possible (based on what I know, which, in retrospect, isn’t too much). As for this season, I really don’t know exactly what Ferry has in mind. He has made some very good moves, I just hope the players he brings in are on 1yr deals. I expect the 2012-2013 Hawks to be better than last year. Wouldn’t be surprised to see them beat out teams like the Pacers, Nets, Sixers etc. for a top four seed and then go on to have a decent playoff run.
Art Vandelay
July 12th, 2012
11:50 am
11:43 — not me. Troll, drop dead.
Ken Strickland
July 12th, 2012
11:54 am
MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM-an ANAL MINDED TROL has infiltrated our blog and is post ignorant crap under our names. Please get his IP and/or Email address and block him.
Rod from College Park
July 12th, 2012
11:56 am
” who would take hinrich rod?”
Ask Buddy G. He seems to love him. The point is you had two bums on your roster, Kirk Hinrich and Marvin Williams making 8 mil per. If we had a real GM, he should have done whatever it took to keep our second leading scorer on the team for 5 to 6 million dollars, especially knowing that we can’t score in the playoffs. Kirk Hinrich and Marvin Williams were 16 mill dollars of our salry cap last year, and I can’t remember either guy doing anything substantial last year.
jhan
July 12th, 2012
12:19 pm
Rod – you are the only one worrying about Jamal. It’s been 2 years since he played here. Get over him.
doc
July 12th, 2012
12:25 pm
blame the gm and the asg then,rod? again, the question i asked you to answer never got answered considering hinrich was injured how do you move him. reality rod reality. dont let your response to buddy g be the answer to my questions that were very specific, who takes an injured person? or was sund or should have sund seen hinrich’s injury coming? it was also cba standstill and a player lockout where moves couldnt be made in their usual order. once injured there was no way to do what you say rod. reality check or give me a very specific scenario any team would have taken damaged goods. you cant is why you dont answer it, so my case rests.
Ray
July 12th, 2012
12:59 pm
MC
I know you probably won’t read this, but it’s time for you guys to upgrade the comment section so people can actually sign in and post without having to worry about identities.
UGA
July 12th, 2012
1:10 pm
Korver talks with Wolves and Blazers have died. Assume Bulls will circle back to Atlanta, which has traded player exception he’d fit into.
UGA
July 12th, 2012
1:10 pm
that was tweet from Bulls beat writer
O'Brien
July 12th, 2012
1:22 pm
From ESPN.com;
After several months of trying to trade Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan called the All-Star center Wednesday night to see if he’d reconsider giving Hennigan and the Magic’s new regime a chance to keep Howard in Orlando, a source close to Howard said.
Hennigan, the source said, based his plea on the fact that he was new to the organization and had not been party to the issues that drove Howard to make his trade request.
Team president Alex Martins, who also was on the call, the source said, made a similar plea to Howard last winter when Martins took control of basketball decisions over GM Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy.
Howard was not willing to change his stance, the source said. “I already heard that from the other guy on the phone,” said Howard, according to the source..
Haha. Orlando should have traded him already, but they keep holding out for the moon and the stars.
Buddy Grizzard
July 12th, 2012
1:25 pm
“He stayed injured, was not good at all defensively unless he played the 2, and was terrible offensively.”
Listen, Rod. You hate white people. It’s ok. We’re here to help you work out your issues. Just say it out loud:
“I hate Kirk Hinrich because he’s white.”
Just get it out in the open, scream it if you have to, you will feel better.
But as far as saying Kirk can only guard 2’s, you know as well as I do that MC did a whole post on Game 2 breaking down every defensive possession for ATL’s back court. You know as well as I do that Rondo did not score a single basket while Kirk was guarding him. You know as well as I do that Rondo went to the bucket at will when Teague or Pargo was guarding him.
Just say it out loud:
“I HATE WHITE PEOPLE.”
O'Brien
July 12th, 2012
1:26 pm
I would have preferred Jamal over Marvin and Hinrich.
But the reality is Hinrich was injured, and in a short season due to the lockout, nobody was going to trade for him, unless we gave up a draft pick with him. And the ASG was not going to amnesty him, because he was on an expiring contract, and the amnesty was better off in their back pocket in case they decided to use it on Marvin or JJ.
And had we kept Jamal, we would have ended up in luxury tax territory, which ASG is unwilling to do.
O'Brien
July 12th, 2012
1:30 pm
Ken S,
Secondly, to do a sign and trade, both parties involved must agree to trade, and you don’t know if Lopez would want to to be traded after playing a yr with GWallace, JJohnson, DWilliams, MBrooks and REvans..
Next offseason, it wouldn’t matter what Lopez wants. He will be under contract, so the Nets can trade him without his permission.
Thirdly, we will already be stuck with the bloated contracts of past their prime underachievers Turkalou, Jefferson, and whoever, which we’d have to take off Orlando’s hands if we traded for Dwight..
I would only take back one of their bad contracts (either Turk or Richardson). Turk’s contract is only partially guaranteed next year. Therefore, we could buy him out for $6 mil, and he would be off our books after this season. If we get Jason Richardson instead, he has 3 years, $17 mil left on his deal. Therefore, we would only be stuck with him for this year and next, because after that, he will be a trade asset as an expiring contract.
Since Dwight has been in the league, how many teams have managed to win NBA titles without him?.
Lakers, Miami, Spurs, and Mavericks come to mind. But what do these teams have in common? All-NBA talent. Kobe, Wade, LeBron, Tim Duncan, Dirk etc. Howard is an all-NBA talent, and you will not win an NBA title w/o a superstar.
Who is Gault? A Fictional Character, Einstein!
July 12th, 2012
1:32 pm
“Bruce Levenson himself was blunt in acknowledging that the franchise’s basketball operations needed a fresh philosophy” YA THINK???????!????
Astro Joe
July 12th, 2012
1:32 pm
OB, yeah I read that and it made me oh so excited to bring that drama to the Hawks. Yippee!
jay
July 12th, 2012
1:36 pm
Here’s what I think is going to happen now. Lakers will send Bynum to Orlando. He’s not a true professional so he will seek the security of the max 5 year deal. So even though he hasn’t said he’ll stay in Orlando, but there’s no way he’ll leave 25 mill on the table. So Orlando will take the gamble on him. The lakers will get Howard. The lakers will then send Pau to Houston. Houston will send some of their draft picks, young players and expiring contracts to both Orlando and LA. Houston will also take on some of the messy Orlando contracts, while the Lakers will get some of the cheaper messy Orlando contracts. I think the Hawks are toast if this is what’s being proposed.
Lewis
July 12th, 2012
1:40 pm
Buddy,
I’m white. Rod definitely does not seem to like white basketball players.
But i’m with skip bayless on this one. “i would never draft a white american basketball player in the first round”
doc
July 12th, 2012
1:41 pm
o’b, i have already tried logic and that isnt going to work, said exactly what you did twice especially the luxury tax where the asg has to pay other teams for the luxury of adding a piece that was not going to take them to the next level as tried for two years already. we have enough of those players and why as my premise was we are turning the page. it is hard for him to turn the page and i predict there will be others here in even greater force whining about not having jj here and not being able to turn the page. they were not deal breaker players and never will be without having someone take them there.
i also think someone will have a hard time answering my direct questions without alteration or trying to bring another subject in he is more comfortable with. he will prefer to let it drop and move onto the next topic when it arrives. it is a fantasy world on this issue vs psychosis and not actually looking at facts. i answered his question, am not married to any argument or player only for some sanity in the discussion and for the hawks being a better team in the long run.
Who is Gault? A Fictional Character, Einstein!
July 12th, 2012
1:45 pm
HEHE… I’m white too… and I agree with Lewis
TonyPC
July 12th, 2012
1:47 pm
I’d much rather see the Hawks acquire a top-flight point guard (Chris Paul a year from now, if possible) and a big defense/offense-is-frosting center (remember Tree Rollins? No? Look him up!). This is no dig at Jeff Teague, either, I just think he has a lower ceiling as a 1 than as a 1/2 backup. Dwight Howard is a tremendous player on both ends and I certainly wouldn’t cry if the Hawks got him, but I think what the Hawks need more than numbers from one guy is one key player to get the most production and success out of who they do have.
Wabe
July 12th, 2012
1:47 pm
According to ESPN, talks about Korver have died with the other two suitors, so the Bulls are expected to circle back around to Atlanta.
Ra'mon
July 12th, 2012
1:47 pm
Seems like the Hawks may end up with Korver. I guess this season will not be about defense.
terrell
July 12th, 2012
1:49 pm
I just dont see how anyone can be disappointed in removing two of the worst contracts in Hawks history???? I’m more excited than I’ve been in years. Win or lose, this TEAM should be more fun to watch. Cant take another day of Iso and Marvin. Yet along, another year. Go Hawks.
Wabe
July 12th, 2012
1:49 pm
John Hollinger
RT @KCJHoop: Korver talks with Wolves and Blazers have died. Assume Bulls will circle back to Atlanta, which has traded player exception …
41 minutes ago
terrell
July 12th, 2012
1:50 pm
“alone”
donte080
July 12th, 2012
1:50 pm
We have a good PG in Teague, why would hawks overspend for Chris Paul?
And Dwight Howard is a big crybaby……
vava74
July 12th, 2012
1:54 pm
The issue about Rod’s post, where he made that question, is not the question itself since that can have several answers, depending on the beholder.
Where he was completely and dead wrong was when he tried to create a parallel between MIA’s success and title with ISO play.
MIA won the title because they played incredible defense, something that Jamal has never been a part of.
Yes, MIA played a lot of isolation, one on one, kick out basketball, but what allowed that to be successful was their strong defense.
So, where is the f@cking parallel with Jamal and the Hawks?
Nowhere.
Yes, Jamal is a very talented ISO player, but not as efficient as he could be.
I don’t see Wade or Lebron shooting .380 from the field for a season.
Also, Jamal is not even known to be a guy who drives on ISO plays and kicks to the open man (he has the skills to do so, but not the inclination).
Typically his move is, drive and shoot no matter how difficult the shot is.
Does he hit incredible shots? Sure, unbelievable ones at times but he also never understands when to stop his move and pass.
Then, on the other side… on defense he does NOTHING.
So there is no parallel at all between MIA winning a championship playing ISO+Kick outs with Jamal being retrospectively a real factor in giving the Hawks a better chance to beat BOS.
We lost to BOS because:
- Smoove got injured during game 2 and was never the same the rest of the way.
- The refs killed us.
- LD is dumb as a door knob and – amongst other egregious mistakes – went ISO-Joe to close games, time after time.
We did not lose the series against BOS because we missed Jamal, nor because Hinrich was not productive.
Hinrich was indeed miserable last year – there is no way to put it differently since he looked slow, old and many times lost in the dust, but at least he has the excuse that he was recovering from a very serious injury.
donte080
July 12th, 2012
1:54 pm
…and Jamal Crawford had a horrible season last year, worse than Hinrich…heck, worse than Marvin’s….why people on this board long for him is a mystery…we just got a younger and better version in Lou Williams….
MsDee
July 12th, 2012
2:03 pm
@Ra’mon “Seems like the Hawks may end up with Korver. I guess this season will not be about defense.”
Well if ya cant beat’em, join’em. Other teams like Miami, Spurs, and OKC are all jump shooting teams. Would be great if we could land Dwight here but Ferry may still be making us some-what competitive this season with some excellent jump shooters on the squad. If nothing else, I love the fact that we will be seeing a new squad FINALLY next season.
NORRIS CHUCK
July 12th, 2012
2:07 pm
Wouldnt mind having Korver on the team…cause he lit the Hawks up everytime he faced them!
Astro Joe
July 12th, 2012
2:08 pm
Ra’mon, Bulls seem to be able to defend well with Korver on their squad. Hopefully, he won’t be the sole SF on the team.
O'Brien
July 12th, 2012
2:10 pm
AJ,
I can see it now. Dwight signs an extension with the Hawks just to get up out of Orlando. And then next offseason, he asks the Hawks for a trade to Brooklyn
But think about it this way. Hawks never get mentioned in the national media, so having Dwight and his drama would be good for publicity right
NORRIS CHUCK
July 12th, 2012
2:11 pm
So are these (Korver)just rumors or has someone put it out via reliable source?
O'Brien
July 12th, 2012
2:12 pm
Doc,
What’s ironic too is Rod thinks the same GM who gave up 2 first round picks for Hinrich (which was a TURRIBLE move), would be smart enough to find a way to get rid of him without overpaying again.
The bottom line is Rick Sund made some terrible moves, but at this point, it is what it is. I’m just glad Ferry was able to get rid of Marvin, which was another one of Sund’s terrible moves (imo).
UGA
July 12th, 2012
2:13 pm
Reliable source, came from the Bulls beat writer. Korver would be a back up here, plus he did play for one of the best defenses in the NBA
Who is Gault? A Fictional Character, Einstein!
July 12th, 2012
2:14 pm
Publicity? That doesn’t help win games. Dwight leaving after a year would be terrible from any perspective, including from a national publicity standpoint.
vava74
July 12th, 2012
2:14 pm
Forgot to mention another factor:
We missed Zaza
O'Brien
July 12th, 2012
2:15 pm
FTPB,
Ra’mon,
How long can the Bulls continue to pay Noah ($11 mil and rising), Boozer ($15 mil and rising), Taj Gibson (who is a RFA next year), and Asik (3 years, $25 mil if they match)? Oh BTW, lets not forget the max extension Rose got.
At some point soon (imo), Bulls will take a step back. I think they will amnesty Boozer (not this offseason though), and keep Asik, especially with Noah possibly getting injured again.
Astro Joe
July 12th, 2012
2:19 pm
OB, the thought of spening a full year trying to recruit Dwight AND Josh while knowing that LD will bne replaced and trying to figure out how that factors into their retention sounds like we’ll spend more time reading about the Hawks on TMZ than we will in The Sporting News.
Dwight is a living episode of “Basketball Wives”… Unneccesary and Stupid Non-Basketball Drama!
northcyde
July 12th, 2012
2:22 pm
These are the following guys who can play guard for the Hawks, along with the main position they can play
- Teague ( PG )
- Harris ( PG )
- Jenkins ( SG )
- Williams ( SG – PG )
- Morrow ( SG – SF )
- Stevenson ( SF – SG )
You have 48 minutes per position that you can use.
Example: This was the Game 1 backcourt and wing rotation of the Hawks vs Boston
PG: Teague ( 33 minutes ) – Pargo ( 10 ) – Hinrich ( 5 )
SG: Hinrich ( 27 ) – Johnson ( 11 ) – Green ( 10 )
How would you distribute the minutes at the PG and SG positions? Would you have guys playing 2 positions? Would you have guys not playing at all?
If you need to go to 3 positions, and distribute minutes at the SF spot to help yourself out, you may do that. Matter of fact, let’s go ahead and do that.
Here is that same game, with the minutes at SF added:
SF: Johnson ( 27 ) – McGrady ( 14 ) – Williams ( 7 )
For you Josh Smith at SF lovers, consider that too in the rotation. How many minutes do you want Josh Smith playing at PF.
So there is your challenge. Set the rotation of players and minutes at PG, SG, and SF
doc
July 12th, 2012
2:25 pm
o’b how long do you think it took df to get his point across to the basg gently, what suckers they had been always blaming fans and writers for doing what fans a writers do? that is either liking what you do or voting with complaints or their feet as to how good you are or in asking the hard questions and write on the responses, wins or losses. they again didnt seem to realize they were in a business not unlike their own business’ where customers are important and but different in that the public is not allowed to look in and comment through the newspapers. why did they think differently, that fan reactions werent important and papers would be on the scene non stop doing their jobs?
Rod from College Park
July 12th, 2012
2:31 pm
“…and Jamal Crawford had a horrible season last year, worse than Hinrich…heck, worse than Marvin’s….why people on this board long for him is a mystery…we just got a younger and better version in Lou Williams….”
Actually Jamal had almost had a better year than Hinrich and Marvin combined, and it was one of his worst years, and Lou Williams in not better than Jamal in anything. At least if you are going to make statement back then up with facts.
Astro Joe
July 12th, 2012
2:37 pm
northcyde, fun challenge. Since I want a lottery pick next year, let’s go with:
PG = Teague (30); Harris (15); Williams (3)
SG = Morrow (16); Williams (27 but off the bench); Jenkins (5)
SF = Josh (24); Minimum Vet TBD Guy (16); Morrow (8)
Rod from College Park
July 12th, 2012
2:41 pm
“I hate Kirk Hinrich because he’s white.”
I actually don’t dislike Kirk at all. He just is not a good baskeball player at this point. He is overhyped because he is white. He gets the label that he has a high basketball IQ, and he is a smart basketball player because he is white. I saw none of his high baskeball IQ rub off on this dumb basketball team at any point while he was here. His defense is severely overated and he was even more overpaid than Marvin Williams. He can barely get the ball across half court when pressure is applied, as has no chance staying in front of quick point guards. I have no problems with race issues because they exist in everyday life, but a bad baskeball player is a bad basketball player black or white. Kirk is getting about what he is worth now 3 mil per. He is worse than Marvin Williams at 8 mil per.
jhan
July 12th, 2012
2:41 pm
pointguard wrote “Josh at SF enhances the whole team with his defense blocks posting up and boards.”
What happens if teams leave their SF at the three point line all game? Won’t that cut into the amount of rebounds & blocks Josh will get? You will also be asking our worst outside shooter to increase his amount of outside shots on offense. I think Josh is a tremendous player – not just a tremendous SF. If he was he would already be playing that position.
Larry Drew
July 12th, 2012
2:41 pm
Hey Najeh – you are not trying to get a rid of me, are you? Or, aren’t you?