Atlanta Hawks: Can Harris-Teague in Atlanta work like Harris-Terry in Dallas?

Good together? (Photo by Getty Images)

Good together? (Photo by Getty Images)

Devin Harris is asked how he will fit on a team that already has Jeff Teague and lets out a chuckle before the question is even finished.

Apparently, he’s heard this one a few times before.

“They’ve been talking a lot about playing us together,” Harris said. “That’s something I’m accustomed to doing. I played with Jason Terry in Dallas with a small backcourt. We played a similar type way, getting up and down the floor. I think it can work out the same way [with Teague]. Obviously he’s one of the few remaining guys on the team that knows the system and knows it well. I think if we play together it can be a good tandem.”

The Hawks can only hope Teague-Harris works out the same way as Harris-Terry. In 2006-07, their one full year starting together, both Harris and Terry had strong seasons as Dallas won 67 games and scored 111.3 points per 100 possessions (second in the league).

According to Basketball-Reference, in 2006-07 Dallas used nine lineups in which Harris and Terry shared the backcourt for at least 20 minutes. The Mavericks were +380 with those lineups.

(Those nine lineups, by the way, played at a plodding pace of 88.4. That probably has a lot to do with Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard gobbling up a big chunk of the possessions.)

Harris had the most efficient scoring season of his career in 2006-07 with a true shooting percentage of 57.4. He averaged 14.6 points per 36 minutes with a usage percentage of 19.1.

Terry’s 58.7 true shooting percentage in 2006-07 is the second-best mark of his career. He averaged 17.1 points per 36 minutes with a usage percentage of 21.3.

Harris said he and Terry had no issues about who handled the ball.

“Whoever gets it pretty much goes and runs the break and the other guy sprints,” Harris said. “We didn’t worry too much about who brought the ball up. If it was halfcourt sets, usually I brought the ball up he’s the better shooter of us two.”

Evaluating defenders depends heavily on a team context, but Harris and Terry worked as a defensive tandem for the Mavs in 2006-07.

Harris was a defensive ace back then and the numbers show it. The Mavs allowed 8.6 points fewer points per 100 possessions with Harris on the floor and his opponent PER was 13.3.

Dallas allowed 1.9 points more per possession with Terry on the court in 2006-07. His opponent PER was 14.5 as the shooting guard, presumably because he cross-matched with Harris actually guarding twos, and 16.9 as the point guard.

The best available evidence suggests the small backcourt of Harris and Terry worked quite well for the Mavericks in 2006-07. That doesn’t mean Harris-Teague will work for the Hawks, of course, and there are reasons to be skeptical that those two will enjoy the same comfortable fit.

For one, Harris and Terry complemented each other–Harris was the relentless attacker, Terry was the sharpshooter–whereas Harris and Teague both want to get to the basket off the dribble.

In 2006-07, Harris tried 5.17 shot attempts at the rim per 36 minutes (51 percent of his attempts) and made 61 percent. By contrast, 32 percent of Terry’s field-goal attempts (343) that year were long 2s with a shooting percentage of 49, and 35 percent of Terry’s shots were 3-pointers with a true shooting percentage of 65.7.

Also, Harris isn’t the same player as he was during his Dallas days. He doesn’t go to the rim as often. His percentage of shot attempts at the rim each season since 2006-07: 42, 39, 34, 36, and 25. There’s also been a declining trend in Harris’ shooting percentage at the rim, from pretty good to poor (though he continues to be a foul magnet).

There are a couple exceptions to Harris’ dwindling numbers. He shot a career-high 37.4 percent on 3-pointers last season while attempting them at a higher rate than ever (206 in 1,689 minutes) and he shot 65 percent at the rim. Both numbers are outliers season for his career but, in regards to the 3-point shooting, it’s worth noting that Harris was more of a spot-up shooter last season.

A career-high 87 percent of Harris’ 3-pointers in 2011-12 were assisted. In addition, spot-ups were Harris’ most frequent play type in the halfcourt last season, according to Synergy Sports Technology, and his 1.09 points per possession ranked 45th in the league.

So maybe Harris can get those same spot-up opportunities this season and make them at a high clip and Teague also can have another good year spotting up for 3-pointers. And it’s possible Teague and Harris can set each other up for drives to the basket, with space created by the shooters the Hawks can put on the wing. Certainly Josh Smith and Al Horford in the post can feed either guard for spot-ups or, if defenders close hard, show-and-gos.

Or perhaps Teague and Harris can make all of that not matter so much because they push a breakneck pace (with big men who can keep up) and are disruptive enough on defense to mask their relative lack of size.

“Obviously with the shooting [Danny Ferry's] added that’s going to open up the paint for me, which is something I like to do is get in the paint and cause havoc,” Harris said. “Defensively, [we will be] getting after it and changing defenses. It’s going to be a fun way to play. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
Follow @ajchawks on Twitter.

264 comments Add your comment

MsDee

August 10th, 2012
9:12 am

I dont think its that all ‘cut and dry’ northcyde cause if thats the case, why did the Lakers fold on the 1st try in trading for Dwight months ago??

northcyde

August 10th, 2012
9:15 am

And these are the Lakers we’re talking about here/ Even after Kobe and Nash get “old”, all they’ll do is re-load. They’ll trade Gasol after this season to a team looking to shed salary ( and be willing to give up their star player to do it ). Think Memphis trading Rudy Gay or Zach Randolph to LA for Gasol.

Then once Kobe’s contract is up, he’ll either re-sign for a modest amount ( 2 more years at 10+ mill a year ) . . or the Lakers will let him go altogether ( along with Nash ), and clear up enough cap space to make a run at a player that wants to play for the Lakers. ( And there are ALWAYS player who want to play for the Lakers *** cough *** Kevin Love *** cough ***

So 3 years from now, the new “Big 3″ in LA could very easily be Howard – Love – Gay.

That’s how they do things out there. That’s why they’ve only missed the playoffs 5 times in their 64 year history. They’re not scared to make franchise changing moves. And they’re not scared off by Luxury Tax penalties. And because of that, they’ll always be able to prey on NBA teams who aren’t willing to go all out like they do.

It is what it is.

Rufus1

August 10th, 2012
9:19 am

TURD in the Bowl….

northcyde

August 10th, 2012
9:20 am

The Lakers didn’t “fold”. It was Orlando who didn’t want to do the deal. It’s always been Orlando’s call on this. They obviously wanted to get younger, accumulate draft picks, and shed salary.

Meanwhile, the Lakers were always willing to trade either Bynum or Gasol to get Howard. That’s just their mentality.

MsDee

August 10th, 2012
9:22 am

Also, why all these sports correspondents and announcers & etc consistently states that he will not sign extension IF its a VERY HIGHLY CHANCE he WILL stay with the Lakers?? And to compare JJ situation with Dwight is crazy. 1st of all, JJ WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO MAKE THE MONEY DWIGHT WILL EVER MAKE SO IT WAS UNDERSTANDABLE FOR JOE TO DO WHAT HE DID BUT DWIGHT HAS MANY OTHER OPTIONS IN MAKING MONEY THAN JOE WOULD EVER SEE!!

“LA > ATL in every way, shape, and form.”

Yea for now but like I said, “THEY ARE AND WILL BE VERY VERY OLD AND PLAYING LIKE TMAC 3-5 YEARS FROM NOW. While our new found ‘core’ guys are and WILL be MUCH MUCH younger than the Lakers ‘core’ guys.

northcyde

August 10th, 2012
9:24 am

Now the attention turns to Josh Smith. What does HE do at the end of the season? Or more important, what is Ferry willing to do to keep him here?

I’ve said all along that Smith is going to get a MAX contract from somebody. The only question left is if the Hawks are willing to pay Smith more than what he’ll make somewhere else? Then the question will be, should they even do it?

Rev in Tampa

August 10th, 2012
9:28 am

“For some strange reason, I STILL see Dwight choosing Atlanta over the Lakers or any other team IF he decides to become a free agent after next season.”

MsDee, don’t pay any mind to Northcyde. He’s just crabby, like the rest of us, that Dwight is going to the Lakers instead of the Hawks.

I still say that I would like to have been a fly on the wall for Danny Ferry’s post-season lunch with Josh Smith. For some reason Josh did a complete 180 in his attitude toward the Hawks.

EmirS.

August 10th, 2012
9:28 am

From the looks off it…..the Magic didn’t get anything they were after. SO why do this trade? I have not read into it, but Philly got Bynum and the Nuggets got Igoudala and the Magic we’re unable to land either one of them??

Talk about getting screwed over.

Does anyone think Philly got better or did they take a step down? When they lost Louis WIlliams, I figured it wasn’t a big deal…but now they lost Igoudala but gained Bynum. It’s kinda hard to judge….

northcyde

August 10th, 2012
9:32 am

MsDee . . here’s another question. When has any report ever surfaced about Dwight Howard WANTING to come to Atlanta to play?

You’re not going to find one. He never wanted to come here.

Stephen A Smith supposedly was with Dwight when news came down that he was going to be traded to the Lakers. Stephen A said he was “estatic”. That’s a pretty good indication that he’ll probably re-sign with the Lakers. And when all of the endorsements and movie and TV opportunities start coming his way, that will be all the more reason he’ll stay in LA.

It’s over. Time to let it go.

northcyde

August 10th, 2012
9:36 am

LOL @ Rev. I’ve never believed for one second that the Hawks would get Dwight, because he’s never said that he wanted to come here and play.

I said before the start of the 2011 season, that the Hawks should’ve traded 2 of their core members ( no matter who they were ) to bring Dwight in. That’s when Orlando may have taken back raw talent for Dwight, instead of draft picks. The Hawks didn’t pull the trigger, so we are where we are.

@ Emir S. . . . . the Magic got exactly what they wanted. They got to trim their payroll and they get a plethora of 1st round draft picks ( even if all of them may be outside of the lottery ). That’s what they wanted. To rebuild their team with a bunch of kids and draft picks that they can move for good players in the future.

KevinM

August 10th, 2012
9:37 am

“For some strange reason, I STILL see Dwight choosing Atlanta over the Lakers or any other team IF he decides to become a free agent after next season.”

Really? Wow, no way this becomes a consideration.

Northcyde, I gotta agree with you; it’s all about Josh right now. We have to go get something for him before he walks. He is going to get more money from what we should offer him. He is not the leader of a championship contender, and you can’t pay him to try to be that.

And for any team who continues to make deals with LA, how idiotic does it make you look one year later? I just don’t get it.

Orlando got assets to show they don’t want to tank and rebuild. They are getting very little for the best big man in the league. Remember what Minny got for Garnett? Nothing, and today they have nothing to show for it.

These teams that deal with LA or Boston are just embaciles..you freeze them out and let them build from FA and the draft themselves.

I’m ready to see what Danny has in mind now….if in fact we offered a better deal than LA/PHI/DEN, then what can you do? You have to get creative now.

I just don’t see keeping Josh now. It’s time to rebuild completely.

northcyde

August 10th, 2012
9:38 am

If Hawk fans want Josh Smith to return, they better tone down the criticism this season. If he becomes the scapegoat for a mediocre to bad Hawks season, he may bounce right out of here.

KevinM

August 10th, 2012
9:40 am

The Lakers have 11 titles with their previous big men. They simply just punk the league over and over.

Orlando has no clue what they’re doing. Now they compete with us for a 7th or 8th seed.

MsDee

August 10th, 2012
9:40 am

Lets face it northcyde,

NEITHER ONE OF US REALLY KNOWS WHAT DWIGHT WILL DO, HECK HE DOESNT ALWAYS KNOW WHAT HE WILL DO. Cleveland’s owner WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT LEBRON WOULD HAVE LEFT ALL THAT MONEY ON THE TABLE FOR A PAY CUT!! So to sit here and say we have no chance in &*%$ to get Dwight is just plain SILLY!!

Astro Joe

August 10th, 2012
9:43 am

Why would Howard leave a championship franchise and around $25M (in the 5th year of his contract) to sign with a franchise like Atlanta? Because afterspending all of that time in Orlando, he suddenly gets home-sick?

I’m glad the drama is over. And I am thrilled that howard is NOT a Hawk… we don’t need that nonsense from someone incapable of being an offensive factor at the end of a tight and meaningful game.

Orlando clearly wanted dude out of the conference. Meanwhile, Philly takes a big step forward. They will likely dangle Hawes to make further improvement to their team.

Jay Dubu

August 10th, 2012
9:49 am

Dwight Howard has been removed from the Hawks radar, so the masses can stop speculating about how much Howard would sacrifice to play along side Josh Smithe who, by the way, will be gone from the Hawks after next season.

It will provide the Hawks an almost clean slate to build the team through the draft, trades, and level 2 free agents.

The team could be basking in the glow of at least an Eastern Conference Final, if they ‘d had a GM who knew how to use all of the 1st round (some lottery) picks that they wasted.

Waisted picks by the Haws:
Marvin Williams (2), Shelden Williams (5), Josh Childress (6), Acie Law (11), Boris Diaw (21), Pau Gasol (3), Demar Johnson (6).

KevinM

August 10th, 2012
9:50 am

Yes, I now see it….D12 leaving LA to take a 25M paycut so he can play in Atlanta…..all I can say about that going forward is I appreciate Danny giving it a run, more than what Sund did in his 4 years here.
Good riddance to Sund.

We have other problems now to work on, with the 1st being our head coach. We then have to deal with Josh being here or overpaying him to stay. I don’t like the latter option.

northcyde

August 10th, 2012
9:52 am

MsDee . . . history tells me what Dwight will do.

And let’s keep it real about the Lebron and Cleveland situation. There were things going on behind the scenes there that contributed to Lebron leaving. With one of those being one of his own teammates sexing his mama . . and the team knowing about it. Also with Cleveland, the writing was on the wall that they were not probably going to get past Boston with the team they constructed.

So Lebron gets wooed by Pat Riley ( former Lakers coach and current Miami GM ), and by D-Wade to come to Miami. That honestly was an easy decision for Lebron.

Stay in Cleveland, and struggle to win a title because he’s the only superstar on the team . . . or go to Miami and team up with another top 5 league player and win a title there.

Easy decision.

But with the Howard situation, you want to believe that there is some remote possibility that Dwight will leave a storied franchise like LA, and leave teammates like Kobe and Nash . . . to come to the Hawks ( a bottom 15 league franchise historically ), and play with Josh Smith and Al Horford?

Even you have to admit that doesn’t sound right.

He might leave LA. But he’s not leaving LA to come to us. If he wanted to come here, he would’ve said so.

MsDee

August 10th, 2012
9:53 am

The Lakers will be old old old and Dwight would be looking like the Orlando of old..playing for a team who just dont have it!! Kobe and Nash will drain and Dwight will again be on a contract that keeps him there.

And like what Rev from Tampa just said, “I still say that I would like to have been a fly on the wall for Danny Ferry’s post-season lunch with Josh Smith. For some reason Josh did a complete 180 in his attitude toward the Hawks”

Exactly, we DONT KNOW WHAT DANNY HAS TOLD JOSH AND DWIGHT (FOR THAT MATTER THRU JOSH) WHAT HIS FUTURE PLANS ARE! Danny is getting rid of all the non factor coaching staff to be replaced by maybe Jerry Sloan type choices b4 letting LD go after this season.

Like I said, NO ONE KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER NEXT SEASON, MAYBE THATS THE REAL REASON DWIGHT WANT TO CHECK OUT HIS OPTIONS 1ST B4 MAKING A DECISION.

O'Brien

August 10th, 2012
9:53 am

Ms Dee,

I would love for Dwight to sign with us next year. But don’t hold your breath. The Lakers have too many advantages (imo).

Lakers Offer: 5 years, $100 milI

Hawks offer: 4 years, $80 mil.

Advantage: Lakers

Lakers have Kobe, Gasol and Nash. Hawks have Horford, Josh (assuming he stays) and Teague. Advantage: Lakers

Lakers owned by the Buss family. Hawks owned by ASG. Advantage Lakers

Lakers play in LA, Hawks play in ATL. Advantage Lakers.

Lakers have more marketing, endorsements, movie opportunities. Hawks have…?

So why would Dwight sign with us?

MsDee

August 10th, 2012
9:58 am

See northcyde u keep saying, “But with the Howard situation, you want to believe that there is some remote possibility that Dwight will leave a storied franchise like LA, and leave teammates like Kobe and Nash . . . to come to the Hawks ( a bottom 15 league franchise historically ), and play with Josh Smith and Al Horford?”

And I say, YES there is STILL a possibility. Must I post it again, “Yea, having teammates named Kobe, Nash, MWP, and Pau on your team sounds like peaches n cream BUT will those SAME names be effective 3-5 years from now?? THEY ARE AND WILL BE VERY VERY OLD AND PLAYING LIKE TMAC 3-5 YEARS FROM NOW. That is what Dwight will be looking at IF he stays there long term. Our new found ‘core’ guys are and WILL be MUCH MUCH younger than the Lakers ‘core’ guys.”

Point-forward

August 10th, 2012
9:59 am

Magic definitely got the “doo doo” end of the stick on this one. I guess Hennigan decided to go all out on the tank and draft way of rebuilding.

O'Brien

August 10th, 2012
10:00 am

Rod,

Imo, this has nothing to do with Horford. I think Orlando didn’t want to trade Dwight within the division. But if I’m an Orlando fan, I’m not happy with the new GM at all. Houston, Brooklyn and Atlanta (allegedly) all had better offers than what the Magic ended up with.

northcyde

August 10th, 2012
10:01 am

MsDee . . . listen to Keyshia Cole. She’s telling you right about Dwight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hybj2Gfk6G8

Point-forward

August 10th, 2012
10:01 am

And the Nuggets must plan on starting 5 SF’s for the upcoming season.

O'Brien

August 10th, 2012
10:01 am

People wonder why teams like the Lakers are always wining championships, whereas a team like the Hawks have not even been to the ECF SMH.

I like this deal for Philly. With Iggy gone, Evan Turner and Jrue Holiday will have a chance to step up, and Bynum is the second best center in the NBA. Plus he grew up close to Philly, so I think chances are great he will resign. Plus why would he leave $20 mil on the table to leave as a free agent, especially with his injury history?

I cant wait to see what the Hawks do with their salary cap space next offseason.

KevinM

August 10th, 2012
10:01 am

So skipping over the Lakers, the Sixers now have Hawes, Bynum and Kwame Brown. They aren’t going to training camp with that roster.

Can we provide Josh to them now?

Funny how the real Stephen A Smith can get an interview right after D12 gets traded where you couldn’t find him at his own kids’ camp 2 days prior?

MsDee

August 10th, 2012
10:02 am

O’Brien,

And again I say, “NEITHER ONE OF US REALLY KNOWS WHAT DWIGHT WILL DO, HECK HE DOESNT ALWAYS KNOW WHAT HE WILL DO. Cleveland’s owner WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT LEBRON WOULD HAVE LEFT ALL THAT MONEY ON THE TABLE FOR A PAY CUT!! So to sit here and say we have no chance in &*%$ to get Dwight is just plain SILLY!!”

And for the record, Im not saying we the GREATEST chance of getting him, Im just telling yall to sit here and say we have no chance in &*%$ to get Dwight is just plain SILLY!!”

Astro Joe

August 10th, 2012
10:03 am

Interesting analysis from Hollinger about how Denver has off-loaded players that they signed months earlier.

As an aside, it also appears the Nuggets have become masters of what we’ll call the “delayed sign-and-trade.” After mild overpays of both Nene and Afflalo last summer, done to keep each from departing without compensation, Denver quickly moved them along before the deals came back to bite it. The race between Wilson Chandler and JaVale McGee to be the next one should be entertaining.

MsDee

August 10th, 2012
10:06 am

Though two league sources stipulated that they had not heard directly from Orlando management that the Magic have signed off on the trade, the deal is expected to put Howard’s former team in full-on rebuilding mode in the wake of the franchise center’s long awaited departure. On paper, the Magic’s haul of Al Harrington and Arron Afflalo from Denver, Nikola Vucevic and Moe Harkless from Philadelphia and three first-round picks is underwhelming. But with Harrington expected to be bought out of his partially guaranteed contract next summer, the Magic are positioned to have more than $20 million in cap space in the summer of 2014 as a result of the deal. CBSSports.com

MsDee

August 10th, 2012
10:07 am

Looks like Orlando has yet to truly sign off to this trade..maybe having 2nd thoughts cause they look mighty crazy with a trade that gives them nothing.

“While the source cautioned that multiteam trades are complex and that involved executives could always change their minds in the morning, a trade call is expected to take place in the morning or afternoon and the deal is structured as follows: the Lakers would get Howard; Orlando would get Denver guard Arron Afflalo, Denver forward Al Harrington, Philadelphia small forward Moe Harkless, Philadelphia center Nikola Vucevic, three future first-round picks and multiple second-round picks; Philadelphia would get Lakers center Andrew Bynum and Orlando guard Jason Richardson; and Denver would get Sixers forward Andre Iguodala. One source said Philadelphia was very reluctant to give up Harkless, the 15th pick in the June draft, and that Sixers officials continued looking for ways to avoid having to do so late Thursday. SI.com

KevinM

August 10th, 2012
10:08 am

“Point-forward

August 10th, 2012
10:01 am
And the Nuggets must plan on starting 5 SF’s for the upcoming season”

How does McGee, Mosgov, Gallinari, Iggy, Faried and Lawson look like 5 SFs? Their lineup is better than Danny’s.

Stephen A feels sorry for what the Magic got in return. All junk in comparison. They got rid of what bad contracts? Duhon and JRich? Haha, and they kept Turk? Wow.

northcyde

August 10th, 2012
10:09 am

MsDee . . . once again, the Lakers simply re-load. I’ve told you what they’ll do

- they’ll trade Pau Gasol to a team looking to shed salary, and give up their overpaid star to do it

- they’ll then use the money coming off the books with Nash and possibly Kobe leaving ( or retiring ), to bring in another star.

The “Big 3″ in LA 3 years from now could very easily be

- Dwight Howard
- Kevin Love
- Rudy Gay

Along with that team using other tradeable assets like Ron Artest. And they’ll always be able to get cheap vet free agents who are willing to play there to win a title, instead of going to a mediocre to bad team for more money.

That is simply what the Lakers do. They laugh at the Luxury Tax, and feast off the misfortune of lesser teams.

Hoosierhawk

August 10th, 2012
10:10 am

ANybody think with the logjam at SF for Denver they trade us Chandler for Harris? Havent checked the salaries, but just an example.

Sautee

August 10th, 2012
10:11 am

MsDee, I truly feel for you. Grasping at straws is never solace for a loss.

O'Brien

August 10th, 2012
10:14 am

Ms Dee,

Cleveland’s owner WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT LEBRON WOULD HAVE LEFT ALL THAT MONEY ON THE TABLE FOR A PAY CUT!.

1) Florida does not have a state tax, so LeBron made some of that money back
2) Playing in South Beach probably led to more endorsements
3) LeBron left because he knew Miami would be closer to a championship (compared to Cleveland).

The Hawks are not closer to a championship, and we have no way for Dwight to make up the $20 mil he would lose by signing elsewhere.

northcyde,

Plus what if Kyrie Irving says he will not stay in Cleveland? One way or another, the Lakers will reload.

northcyde

August 10th, 2012
10:16 am

Orlando’s plan

- buy out Harrington

- trade Affalo and Jameer Nelson before or at the trade deadline to a playoff level team for an expiring contract

- throw a MAX contract at either James Harden or Josh Smith in the summer of 2013 . . or both

glw

August 10th, 2012
10:35 am

@Ms Dee

I will back you a little and say that it isnt totally over for Dwight. He will be a free agent next summer and lots of things can happen between now and then. At the very least come July 1, 2013, Ferry will be on the phone or maybe meeting face to face with Dwight. He will offer Dwight a max contract and will get him to buy into coming home, talkin about the changing of the culture he is building. here now. I think Ferry is a good salesman, he seems to have gotten Josh to buy in.

Does that mean Dwight signs here? Probably not, Dwight has gone Hollywood and will be hard to convince him to leave. But it aint over till the fat lady sings. But damn, I hear her clearing her throat now.

jlewis

August 10th, 2012
10:41 am

People, as i’ve said before, Danny Ferry was not brought in here to attract Dwight Howard or CP3, its to shed salary and be barely competitive so the owners can make their money back and then sell the team. With the Hawks roster right now, they won’t make the playoffs and they won’t be terrible enough to get into the lottery, so we’re stuck. JJ is gone, that was the scapegoat, if they give Josh max money that would be an even bigger mistake, since his athleticism will leave in another year, and you know his b-ball IQ is low.
Look for a sell and move of this team in the next couple of years.

ryan

August 10th, 2012
10:44 am

What do the Hawks do now we got all this money and no D12 i guess it means the ASG still own this team Atlanta will never get a big star never going to happen in my life time New York and LA always gets it all so could Josh Smith be traded now that Howard off the market .

KevinM

August 10th, 2012
10:46 am

Only way Josh stays is if we give him max money before anyone else gets a shot at it. He isn’t going to settle for a ‘fair’ contract.

Now what Danny? You still think Josh is the guy to build around? You better get him signed if so.

O'Brien

August 10th, 2012
10:56 am

northcyde,

…Orlando’s plan

- throw a MAX contract at either James Harden or Josh Smith in the summer of 2013 . . or both.

I think that’s ATL’s plan too, and we would still have money left over to add another solid piece.

As for Denver, they now have Iggy ($13+ mil), Gallinari ($10 mil) and Chandler ($6+ mil) all listed at SF. Something has to give.

What kind of deal can we work out to get Wilson Chandler to be our SF?

Melvin

August 10th, 2012
10:59 am

Not that its likely but Dwight could force the Lakers hand by refusing to resign with them in which they would be more inclined to do a sign and trade to receive compensation or at the least a TPE. Hey, anything could happen.

Rod from College Park

August 10th, 2012
11:03 am

This truly is one of the most idiotic trades that I have ever seen. Orlando gets draft picks, but none of them will be high picks. You get a first round pick from the Lakers, Philly and Denver. All teams that you just helped become better, and will probably be some of the better teams in the league. You don’t trade Howard in you division, but you help a team in your conference Philly get much better, get rid of an overpaid Iggy, and aquire the second best center in the league. All Orlando gets is late first round picks, Harrington, Affalao and unproven Mo Harkless (who all play essentailly the same position). Dumbest move ever. I guess David Stern is back to playing puppet master.

Rod from College Park

August 10th, 2012
11:07 am

Ms. Dee,

Me and northcyde never agree, but he is 100% correct. We have no chance in hell of getting Dwight now. He will never leave LA to come to Atlanta. It would be possibly one of the dumbest moves in sports history. I understand that we could not get Dwight, but damn, could we not play the role of Philly and get Bynum? No we have a ton of cap space, and no star player to spend it on. SMH

KevinM

August 10th, 2012
11:10 am

“As for Denver, they now have Iggy ($13+ mil), Gallinari ($10 mil) and Chandler ($6+ mil) all listed at SF. Something has to give”

Denver drafted Fournier, QMIller from Baylor and Izzet Turkyilmaz from Turkey, 7′1″. They are building a deep roster now for going forward.
They got rid of a bad Harrington contract, a bad Afflalo contract and now can put young guys off the bench.

I can see McGee, Faried, Gallinari, Iggy, and Lawson as their lineup.
Gallinari will be their stretch 4 on offense. Karl is very creative with talented guys.

Denver is looking very deep heading into the season.

MsDee

August 10th, 2012
11:11 am

Melvin
August 10th, 2012
10:59 am

Not that its likely but Dwight could force the Lakers hand by refusing to resign with them in which they would be more inclined to do a sign and trade to receive compensation or at the least a TPE. Hey, anything could happen.

EXACTLY!!

Melvin

August 10th, 2012
11:12 am

OB,

I still think Ferry will keep cap flexibility for next season. I don’t see him acquiring a player with a multiple year contract unless it’s a major piece going forward. Not sure Chandler fit that bill…

KevinM

August 10th, 2012
11:13 am

To have cap space is good, but to have too much cap space is not good if you want to contend.
Bynum, Harden, and maybe even Josh will get max contracts from multiple teams. The benefit to come to Atlanta is what? That is what has to be addressed here.

We dont have stars and stars want to play with stars. It takes getting one first to have others follow. To play with Josh is not going to get it done and Josh wants to play with stars.

Heck of an offseason for the NBA as a whole.

MsDee

August 10th, 2012
11:15 am

Rod from College Park
August 10th, 2012
11:07 am

Ms. Dee,

Me and northcyde never agree, but he is 100% correct. We have no chance in hell of getting Dwight now. He will never leave LA to come to Atlanta. It would be possibly one of the dumbest moves in sports history. I understand that we could not get Dwight, but damn, could we not play the role of Philly and get Bynum? No we have a ton of cap space, and no star player to spend it on. SMH

Again, we dont know WHAT Danny has in plans for Atlanta. There is STILL CP3 that could lur Dwight to return back home. Yeah, its not over til the fat lady sings and I until Dwight signs that dotted line to stay with the Lakers, I will continue to hear crickets til than!!