On hiatus
I’m headed for a few days of R&R. C-Viv is on the beat to keep you updated while I’m away.
The plan is to maintain a space here for your to discuss the Hawks. Be cool, keep it clean and and the forum stays open.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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451 comments Add your comment
Raymond
July 12th, 2012
6:57 pm
JaVale McGee and Josh > Al Horford and Josh.
steven a smith
July 12th, 2012
7:01 pm
Hawks are now a Low-post scorer away from moving past the 2nd round. Especially if they can swing a deal for Kyle Korver.
BENCH-Ivan, Korver, Jenkins, Jordan Williams, Zsa Zsa, Morrow, Lou Williams, Devin Harris and FA Small Forward. Mike Scott will prob. be cut.
steven a smith
July 12th, 2012
7:03 pm
Louis Scola was just ammnestied. Surprising move..
donte080
July 12th, 2012
7:04 pm
re: “Jamal Crawford averaged 14 PPG last season”-High-Sider
All the while shooting a blistering .384 from the field..that’s Jordan Crawford territory, my man…
Raymond
July 12th, 2012
7:11 pm
Smith, whose contract expires after next season, expressed his concerns about the team’s direction in a recent meeting with Ferry. The Hawks GM in turn told Smith his short- and long-term visions for making the team a contender.
Ferry acknowledged meeting with Smith last week.
“It went great,” Ferry said. “It went fine.”
Ferry declined to elaborate on any details about the conversation with Smith but, speaking generally about the effects of major trades on players, said there can be shock initially.
“If changes are made there is a sense of loss because relationships get built in this business,” Ferry said. “It takes time for everyone to adjust.”
If Smith was stung by Johnson’s departure, it would make sense on a couple levels.
For one, as mentioned, the Hawks right now have less talent than at any time during their five-year playoffs streak. Smith has told the team he wants to be traded to a franchise he believes is more serious about playing for championships. That’s certainly part of Ferry’s long-term plan but the Hawks took a step back in the interim.
The other factor is Smith had a solid relationship with Johnson, who was Smith’s longest-tenured teammate along with Zaza Pachulia and Marvin Williams. Smith was in his second season when Johnson arrived in Atlanta with the expectation of being the team’s star. Smith and Johnson’s strong chemistry on the court was obvious, too, with Smith often looking to pass to Johnson in transition or spotting up in the half court.
Rod from College Park
July 12th, 2012
7:12 pm
“All the while shooting a blistering .384 from the field..that’s Jordan Crawford territory, my man…”
It’s also Lou Williams, Deron Williams, Nick Young, OJ Mayo, Brandon Jennings and Danny Granger territory. I guess you don’t like any of those guys either huh?
SuckerFree
July 12th, 2012
7:14 pm
I agree with Steven a smith…..need Anthony Randolph badly
Barry
July 12th, 2012
7:15 pm
“Hawks are now a Low-post scorer away from moving past the 2nd round” – Pot head
Hawks need a defensive minded center to defend the rim in half courts sets of the Playoffs.
SuckerFree
July 12th, 2012
7:17 pm
But of course I’m Steven a smith
LMC
July 12th, 2012
7:28 pm
Enjoy the time off. Your coverage of the last few weeks has been A+ and appreciated by all.
vince
July 12th, 2012
7:28 pm
If the hawks are fortunate to get howard, do you think he will play his best for a team it was reported he didnt want to go to in the first place? I hope with all of the stalled talks he somehow lands in the ATL. If he does and they get chris paul next year we will have a big three in ATL and will in a championchip.
Ray C.
July 12th, 2012
7:30 pm
The never ending NBA trade rumors surrounding Dwight Howard will seemingly continue as the summer moves along, but who will finally end up with the current Orlando Magic star? Howard says it’s Brooklyn or bust for him, but recent rumored talks have heated up. Could the Magic man be headed somewhere else?
Reports have Howard going to Los Angeles, Brooklyn, and any other city you can think of. Well, what about Chicago?
Talk about making a team instantly able to compete with the Miami Heat!
The latest rumor doesn’t have the big man landing in the Windy City, but if Bleacher Report is correct, and the Bulls jump into this trade party, it would make Chicago a much deeper team in the fall.
According to Bleacher Report: The Hawks would get Dwight Howard and Carlos Boozer.
The Chicago Bulls would receive Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson, Glen Davis and Quentin Richardson while the Orlando Magic would get Al Horford, Kyle Korver, Richard Hamilton, and a first-round pick from Atlanta and a first-round pick from Chicago.
That sounds like the Bulls would make out nice!
Right now Chicago is 9/2 to win the 2012-13 Championship. Adding veteran talent, along with a healthy Derrick Rose could be what the Bulls need to get back to their championship ways.
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
7:56 pm
Did some fool just say Javale McGee>Al Horford then say McGee is more smart. We really have some of the dumbest fans in the NBA by a mile. Just flat out retarded fans. Ying Yang Twins riding the short bus type of fans.
Ray
July 12th, 2012
7:56 pm
Okay people keep knocking on Horford, but still don’t understand dude only played 14 games all year. I’m a Josh fan through and through, but I’m not going to be stupid.
We got to the playoffs when Al got here not before and Josh was on the team before Horford again I say we’re better off with both Josh and Horford then most people seem to comprehend or even understand.
Ray
July 12th, 2012
7:57 pm
@ Big Ray
I’m not going that far I’d love to take a shot at Javale Mcgee, but in no way I’m I ever going to say Mcgee>Hoford not now or ever possibly.
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
7:57 pm
Speaking of damn funny, I see some folks are never going to get over the Hinrich-Jamal-Lou Williams thing. Damn, poor Lou…he hasn’t even practiced as a hawk yet, and already he’s being drawn into inane debates…
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
7:59 pm
Ray ,
I have nothing against McGee…but that post was just too damn funny. It was the analogy itself that caught my eye, not the basis for the argument, which I am not going to join in with….
Ray
July 12th, 2012
8:01 pm
@ Big Ray
Okay always good to have you on the blog to show these people a thing or two.
As for the Hinrich-Jamal-Lou-Marvin Whatever lovefest these people having I’m not in that anymore either I’m tired of it.
Quite honestly how do you criticize someone who has yet to play in the Hawks uni?????
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
8:02 pm
We got to the playoffs when Al got here not before and Josh was on the team before Horford again I say we’re better off with both Josh and Horford then most people seem to comprehend or even understand.
Indeed, we very well may be. I felt like Joe became such a ball stopper that it was hurting more than it was helping a lot of times. I blame that on coaching as much or more than I do anything else. I mean, what else can you say? Either ISO Joe (and ISO Josh, and ISO whoever) was the game plan, or guys were “going rogue” and getting away from the gameplan all the time. Guess what? It doesn’t matter, because either way the biggest influence on the situation comes from coaching.
If the guys were constantly getting away from LD’s gameplan, then that means one thing – he’s an ineffective, inept, incompetent coach. Period.
Ray
July 12th, 2012
8:06 pm
I do agree with that I’m not very supportive of L.D what so ever. I’d sooner have Casey or Sloan(if he would come here) be coach instead I was pretty sold on Dwayne Casey though.
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
8:06 pm
Ray ,
Thanks…I’m just another fan with an opinion…some folks think more highly of themselves…I can’t speak for them (nor do I want to).
As for the ongoing Jamal-Hinrich-Marvin…..I mean damn…those guys don’t even play for the team anymore, how is it we can’t get past this. But I’ll tell you why – because some folks just can’t . All they know how to do is be negative about something ….ANYTHING…so long as they can be negative. I felt the same way many times when ownership/management kept doing the same crap, but I was usually able to find something a little bit positive somewhere.
But now….we have a competent GM doing things that needed done some time ago. And he’s not done by a long shot. So there’s reason to have some hope and quit hanging on to the problems of the past…. particularly when they aren’t here to be problems any longer .
But like I said earlier…just the opinion of another fan…
GT Alum
July 12th, 2012
8:08 pm
Sounds like Brooklyn’s out of the Howard sweepstakes unless he starts the year in Orlando – http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=8159324.
Ray
July 12th, 2012
8:08 pm
Still though I feel like so far this 2012 version of the hawks in many ways is a bit better than 2011………………………wait a minute trying to figure out if I can say 2011 season did start Christmas Day.
Nevermind, but we don’t know what any of these guys got also we don’t know if Ferry is even done I’m going to be patience with him more than I was with Rick Sund.
Ray
July 12th, 2012
8:16 pm
@ Big Ray
Can you blame them in some ways though. I mean in our history in ATL we’ve never been to a ECF or a NBA Finals.
When teams like Sacramento and New Jersery have been to WCF and NBA finals respectively what does that make us look like?
We (Atlanta) make ourselves out bigger than we should sometimes and while the mid 80’s and 90’s were a great period for us we still didn’t get to the ECF or Finals for that matter.
Where as teams like Rockets, Magic, Heat, Knicks, Cleveland, Bulls(MJ I know), OKC, and Sacramento technically have a better history than we do. Oh forgot New Jersery and Suns.
These teams all have better history than we do and they’ve at least gotten to a WCF or ECF if not Finals game.
So again in some ways I don’t blame them ATL is a city of Mediocrity dare I say North GA is really. That’s harsh, but even over here in the other A-town(Athens) Bulldogs done settled for it as well.
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
8:19 pm
I was okay with Casey as well. I kinda wondered if Avery Johnson was a good choice, but in retrospect I’m glad he’s not here. I think there is a time and place for being firm, but that dude strikes me as being confrontational. I think it’s partially what got him canned from Dallas. It’s certainly contributed to Stan Van Gundy’s demise in Orlando.
That doesn’t work well in the NBA. You have to be smarter than “I’m gonna crack the whip, and you’re gonna jump when I say so.”
At the same time….
“If you don’t hold your team accountable, then you lose credibility and your team will be spoiled.” – John Brady
Ray
July 12th, 2012
8:24 pm
With a quote like that it really applied to the Washington Wizards very badly lol.
Still just doing quick research it sucks how relevant we are in history in our ATL history we join the ranks of the Toronto Raptors and T’wolves in terms of achieving anything at all.
When teams like Sacramento which is a laughing stock right now or even Wizards have more credibility then we do that ish hurts man lol.
J.J.M.
July 12th, 2012
8:25 pm
what does queef mean?
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
8:25 pm
Ray ,
I get your points, but we can surely remember the Braves being good and some nice years for the Bulldog nation under Vince Dooley.
Again, I get your points….but should we continue to hash over what has happened when possibilities and opportunities exist? I think both the Falcons and Hawks have a chance at good and great things, though right now the future of the Hawks is less certain than that of the Falcons. We shall see.
We all choose to feel about it how we want, in the end.
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
8:27 pm
I don’t have time for a “woe is us” mentality. It’s just sports. A pasttime. A hobby. Entertainment. Doesn’t feed my family or clothe them, or shelter them. It’ll be alright.
O'Brien
July 12th, 2012
8:46 pm
To be fair,we got to the playoffs not just because of Al, but also because we traded for Bibby. If we dont trade for Bibby, I dont think we would have made the playoffs.
Remember, we gave up scraps to get him, and he contributed that year by providing some stability at PG.
O'Brien
July 12th, 2012
8:53 pm
Rod,
None of us are GM’s, but how was Rick supposed to trade Hinrich when there was a lockout, so no NBA business until December, and Hinrich wasnt expected to play for another 2 months?
And why mention trading for an injured Dwight in the same sentence as trading for an injured Hinrich? Poeple would take a chance on Dwight,, because if and when he is healthy, he is arguably the best center in the NBA. Kirk wasnt even the best PG or best SG on the Hawks team.
And even if Rick had traded Hinrich, it would not have allowed him to keep Jamal, because we would have to take salary back in a Hinrich trade.
Jamal was only here for 2 years, and has already been gone 1 year, but yet he continues to dominate the blog (along with Kirk).
Astro Joe
July 12th, 2012
8:55 pm
So Houston can put together a Big 3 next summer also. Scola will be a good get for a team, I always liked him coming off the bench and provided some crafty big man low post points. I wonder if the Raptors will take a shot at landing him. They are building a nice roster up there for Dwayne Casey.
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
9:09 pm
Guess I’ll watch the U.S. vs. DR game.
In the meantime, those Rockets are really something. Just amnestied Luis Scola. Desperate times…
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
9:11 pm
They want Dwight (or Bynum) so bad, they’ll do anything it takes. Daryl Morey doesn’t do stuff like this for no reason.
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
9:12 pm
Al Horford drawing fouls…
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
9:13 pm
There he goes with that “stare down the opponent for a few seconds before trying to make a move”…..FAIL…hate when he does that.
The Truth
July 12th, 2012
9:13 pm
Amnesty Claim on Scola Prohibitive
“As confirmed by cap guru Larry Coon, a player with a partially guarantee salary requires a minimum bid of the non-guaranteed amount. Scola is set to make $9.4 million and $10.2 million over the next two years. His final season is for $11.0 million with just $1 million guaranteed.
Therefore a minimum amnesty claim for Scola would start at the non-guarantee portion of exactly $10,041,037, per year”
http://www.hoopsworld.com/amnesty-claim-on-scola-prohibitive
If the Hawks were interested in Scola, waiting for him to show up in the dollar store (clearing waivers) makes the most the sense.
Ray
July 12th, 2012
9:15 pm
@ Big Ray
I know the Hawks future is extremely bright and really it’s brighter than it is under this GM then it has been the last 10 years.
I don’t discount what Joe Johnson and crew gave us, but I’m saying Danny Ferry is more active without being too active he’s not Otis Smith and he’s not Rick Sund he’s smart he knew this culture needed a tune up even said so in the interview.
As for Luis Scola say what you want, but I wouldn’t mine picking him up then again him and Horford seem Redundant in some ways.
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
9:16 pm
U.S. defense is nasty. So is our fast break.
Meanwhile Iggy strips Horford as he makes his move to the basket.
Slimjr
July 12th, 2012
9:18 pm
All NBA at the 4 matched up against Lebron?? Not fair…
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
9:18 pm
As for Luis Scola say what you want, but I wouldn’t mine picking him up then again him and Horford seem Redundant in some ways.
I wouldn’t turn my nose up at Scola. He always played well against US….
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
9:19 pm
Oh hell, there went the damn party…
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
9:23 pm
Al showing some grit down low. Got fouled on the offensive rebound and putback attempt. Gonna need a lot more of that from him, but the DR has no chance. USA defense is so versatile, everybody’s a ballhawk, we are light years ahead of this team.
Big Ray
July 12th, 2012
9:24 pm
Durant is straight murder from 3 point range.
Slimjr
July 12th, 2012
9:26 pm
C’mon All dont give so easy on the low block against Love! Drop step his azz.
C’mon man…
doc
July 12th, 2012
9:30 pm
Rod from College Park
July 12th, 2012
4:35 pm
“rod you never answered my question. as i said you couldnt so you wouldnt. i’ll repeat it for you, who would take an injured hinrich? i also credit hinrich as a gamer and baller to come back way ahead of schedule form his shoulder repair. even you legitimately cant take that away from him. he could have collected a paycheck and waited it out is my guess.”
I’m not qualified to answer your question doc. I’m not a gm. Being injured does not prevent you from being traded. There seems to be a lot of noise and waiting around for Dwight Howard, a guy coming off back surgery to be traded. We all said Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams could never be traded, and look what happened. You will have to ask Rick Sund that question. All I know is he was an expiring contract who could have been moved in order to make room for a guy who could contribute.
hilarious rod, you cant answer because you arent a gm but know there is some way a gm could do it because it was a last year contract besides the point we have to take back salary and there still wouldnt be money for jamal, no? gm’s know that and you dont, tell me now how do we swing it?
huh?
also, so coming off back surgery, where d12 will be completely healed by the next season and able to be evaluated by docs now for the level of healing that should be complete before a trade is made? now how is that similar to the hawks and hinrich? you are aware that by now d12 has probably completely healed ? jerry rice did it in football in one season rememeber. d12 should be in training now unless he had nerve damage, which hasnt come out yet like peyton did.
again, rod are using that for comparison to where we were last year with hinrich a few weeks out of surgery and you were legitimately expecting a trade of that kind of player? you are aware that shoulder surgery takes longer to heal than routine back surgery? when was the last time a player that was on the injury list was traded that was ever able to perform again at the beginning of a season? yes, i know our own hawks trade for an individual injured but he was never play again, was insured, was bought out and it was into the season.
you will have to give me an example of one time a trade was made that would require a team to pay salary for a player on the injured list one year if you are going to use that argument, besides the real funny point you made that you arent a gm. you along with the rest of us criticize gm’s right and left so your thoughts are now invalid because you dont know what they know. you arent a coach and that doesnt slow you down in criticisms either as to what should be done. if you arent a gm then dont say marvin shouldnt have gotten his money because you obviously dont know the whole storysince you arent a gm. you cant use the argument on one and not the other rod.
are you pulling my leg to fall for those excuses to not answer the question? you dont think there is some passing of medical data back and forth on this before d12 signs any contract. wow apples and oranges and you do understand the complexity in a shortened acquisition time frame for any talent last year? you dont have to be a gm to understand that do you? rod i expected you to be a more stand up guy than that. you said it, i didnt, you are not qualified.
High-sider
July 12th, 2012
9:32 pm
@O’Brien
O’Brien
July 12th, 2012
8:53 pm
Rod,
None of us are GM’s, but how was Rick supposed to trade Hinrich when there was a lockout, so no NBA business until December, and Hinrich wasnt expected to play for another 2 months?
And why mention trading for an injured Dwight in the same sentence as trading for an injured Hinrich? Poeple would take a chance on Dwight,, because if and when he is healthy, he is arguably the best center in the NBA. Kirk wasnt even the best PG or best SG on the Hawks team.
And even if Rick had traded Hinrich, it would not have allowed him to keep Jamal, because we would have to take salary back in a Hinrich trade.
Jamal was only here for 2 years, and has already been gone 1 year, but yet he continues to dominate the blog (along with Kirk).
——————————————————————————————–
Portland was extremely frustrated with Raymond Felton’s performance at the point guard position this past season and even tried to participate in a 3-team trade that would have sent Jamal Crawford to MIN, Michael Beasley to LAL and Steve Blake [back] to POR. The proposed 3-team trade was not executed and, as a result, failed due to financial reasons. After Hinrich fully recovered from shoulder surgery, Rick Sund should’ve tried to swap Crawford for Hinrich straight up since POR was desperate for a point guard or at least a combo guard with rather extensive point guard experience to replace Felton and since the Hawks needed another proven scorer heading into the playoffs due to the Al Horford injury. The first half of last season was proof that Marvin Williams was not up to the challenge as being a reliable scorer for the Hawks.
What’s ironic is that the Hawks recently signed Lou Williams during free agency after he had a disappointing playoff performance this past post season but could’ve had Jamal Crawford all along. Lou Williams is basically a smaller [and younger] version of Jamal Crawford. Both players [J. Crawford and L. Williams] are “sixth men.”
Slimjr
July 12th, 2012
9:33 pm
All’s “stare down” = Lacks confidence, See how quickly he gives up the rock most of the time when he has one on one coverage.
5 years and nothing new there….
Slimjr
July 12th, 2012
9:34 pm
[give up]^^^^^
jjm
July 12th, 2012
9:37 pm
My god horford is garbage. His value is going down