Atlanta Hawks: Danny Ferry covets wing player but no hurry to add one
Yes, Hawks GM Danny Ferry is considering using the final open roster spot (assuming Ivan Johnson eventually signs his qualifying offer) to add a small forward.
“I would say probably a wing that can compete defensively at a high level would be a good thing to be able to add at some point,” Ferry said.
Ferry taking his time with 15th roster spot. (Photo: Johnny Crawford/AJC)
But, no, that doesn’t mean he’s in a hurry to acquire such a player.
“That may happen,” Ferry said. “How that happens, I can’t sit here and tell you. Could it be someone we sign? Could it be a trade at some point and, if so, when could that be? Trades happen in their own time. We have until February to do it.”
And, Ferry said, if the Hawks do sign a free-agent wing, it’s likely the player would have to accept a non-guaranteed contract.
“There is a good chance we will carry 15,” he said. “But preferably that 15th person will be on a ‘make good’ situation that allows us the flexibility needed in case injuries happen and so on. Being locked into 15 [guaranteed contracts] is generally not ideal.”
Players with non-guaranteed deals are easier to include in trades because the team that acquires them can release them to save money. All players contracts become guaranteed on Jan. 10.
Ferry presumably is waiting to see who he can get through a trade or on a non-guaranteed deal because the wing players still on the market aren’t enticing enough to offer a guaranteed contract now. The wing also could come from among those on Atlanta’s summer roster, though Ferry said he and his staff still are deciding which free agents to invite to veterans’ camp.
The next key date for the Hawks is Sept. 11. That’s when the players acquired in the Joe Johnson trade and Devin Harris will be eligible to be used in trades that aggregate their salaries under CBA rules (60 days after they were acquired).
For now, the Hawks will stick with Kyle Korver as the closest thing to a true wing. But, considering Ferry’s flurry of transactions in his short time with the Hawks, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make a trade this summer or early in the season to reconfigure Atlanta’s unbalanced roster.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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428 comments Add your comment
glw
August 12th, 2012
9:16 pm
@steven a smith
I think he will be offered Roy Hibbert kind of money.
**********************
Hibbert was restricted coming off his 1st contract, actually he did get max or near max money.
Bynum is on his 2nd contract and his salary is 16 million. I would assume he will accept no less than a salary in the 17 mill a year range. So I would assume Bynum will do at least 4 yr/70 million range
KevinM
August 12th, 2012
9:58 pm
Bynum will be getting a max deal with some people thinking he is the best if not number 2 big man in the league. We will see Collins try to annoint him the ‘captain’ along with Evan Turner and put the pressure on them to lead their new roster. If Bynum bites, he’s staying in Philly and getting a max deal. All they have to do is threaten Miami.
GDad, looking back, how bad is it that we tried to make Diaw a PG instead of where every other team after us played him? I give Woody a 1/2 way pass on that one because I’ve never seen any NBA player besides Diaw that had to be told to shoot the ball once you got into the lane.
Diaw had little development given to him by this organization.
DeMarr simply got bit by the off the court bug and took a serious injury to declare him an afterthought. That’s just bad luck at the time. BK also thought Joe Johnson was a leader when he is probably is not even a #2.
And for all the prognostication that has Zaza on the bench, there is no way we start Korver at SF. We would get killed on the frontline depending on him to make any impact as a SF. He’s a gunner, plain and simple and gets paid to shoot the ball from long distance.
Ra'mon
August 12th, 2012
10:11 pm
O’B, there’s no way to know if the Hawks would’ve played better with a healthy Al. I actually don’t think they would have, because with Horford in the line up, I don’t think LD would’ve allowed Josh to become the focal point as much in the second half of the season with Joe and Al still there.
Next off season, I hope the Hawks have a lottery pick. Rather from their record (though I doubt it) or from trading Harris (or Zaza) to another team at the trading deadline. Next season will have a high number of centers, and I think that will be the perfect time to draft Zaza’s replacement. Think about it. Even if the Hawks would’ve lost three more games this season, they would’ve been able to select Sullinger or Melo for Zaza’s replacement (though I’m happy with Jenkins). I feel like there is no way you go into 2013-2014 season with Zaza and Al both on the roster. If you move Al for a wing like Rudy Gay or Granger, then you re-sign Zaza. I actually would be for trading Zaza THIS off season for one of Houston’s rookie wing players.
Also, a deal I would explore (I know some will hate me for suggesting this, but oh well), is trading Horford and Morrow for Chandler and Shumpert. Next off season you go into the season with a chance of adding Harden and another all star caliber player to go with the front court of Chandler and re-signed Josh and Zaza.
Ra'mon
August 12th, 2012
10:22 pm
KevinM, in this lineup, with no more additions, I would start Stevenson at the SF position. Even with him being 6′5, he plays bigger. All you need is the first 6 minutes of the first and third quarters from him. He’s guarded every wing player in the league. Give him the Royal Ivey role.
SteveW
August 13th, 2012
12:13 am
I still say a consolation prize for a C next offseason of Al Jefferson if we whiff on Howard and Bynum is not that bad. I don’t know what kind of money I throw at Jefferson however. 4 year 60 mill gets him? I don’t know.
But a frontline of The Al’s and Josh, with a backcourt of Lou,
Jenkins, and if we re-sign Teague and Zaza is not a bad foundation for a team going forward.
Still pretty young also, with all the major players still in their 20’s.
SteveW
August 13th, 2012
12:21 am
Ra’mon – I would start either Josh or Morrow at the 3. But I do think Stevenson can be a serviceable player. Plays good D, no O.
I can’t see starting korver .
And yes I know Morrow would be an undersized 3, exploited by bigger 3’s; but the roster as is has limitations, and you have to pick your poison of deficiencies so to speak.
Grandad
August 13th, 2012
12:53 am
Personally, I do not see Danny Ferry tanking this season,
nor do I see him going through the season undermanned.
He will try to win every game and finish as high as possible.
Then will try to go as far as the Hawks can go in the play-offs.
He will even make a deadline trade if necessary
to make our Hawks as letahal as possible in the play-offs.
LD must realize; he has a short leash.
Plus, LD must realize, it`s about [more] than winning;
he must convince Mr Ferry real quick, that he is a:
teacher, that he is fastidious [attn to details], he is prepared,
that he prepares his team to the fullest extent, he has a clue,
and most of all – he commands respect !
If Ferry does not witness such; LD will be gone … quickly !
Why ?
He is building a ” Winning Culture ” !
To do so he must hit the ground running and he knows it.
Next summer when Free Agents begin to sift through
potential landing sites;
Atlanta already will need to have changed our perception
as loserville.
Ferry knows this, he has jumped off to a great start.
Now he must build his momentum as he persuades FA`s
they wish to [live] and play in the ATL.
`Tis more than throwing $ at players;
they want to win and challenge for a ring.
DF must be able to “Give them that Hope”.
We will not become the SA Spurs overnight;
however, we must show that we are a 1st class organization
that is / who is striving to be the very best & win Championships.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 13th, 2012
3:30 am
“Pau Gasol’s critics had a good opportunity to review their opinion.
Excellent gold medal game.”
FIBA uses different rules. Pau Gasol has eleven years worth of an NBA track record that are a hell of a lot more relevant than something he does in the Olympics.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 13th, 2012
3:34 am
“We have several players that are capable of taking the last shot, starting with JTeague”
I seem to remember him throwing up a gigantic airball the last time he tried to take the last shot.
Teague is my favorite Hawk and I am not sorry to see Joe get traded, but nobody on this current roster has a track record of making shots in crunch time like Joe. There’s no getting around that.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 13th, 2012
3:36 am
“Pau Gasol is one of the 10 best players in the world.”
LeBron, Kobe, Durant, CP3, Deron Williams, Dwight Howard, Wade, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony.
No.
(That list is not in order, nor is it necessarily my opinion of the 10 best players in the world… it is just a set of 10 players who happen to be better than Pau Gasol.)
Najeh Davenpoop
August 13th, 2012
3:40 am
“People keep talking about offense when it comes to the Hawks, but you better be talking about the defense. That’s where the problems are going to arise with this team, if Ferry keeps them as is.”
Co-sign.
It is possible, if Teague makes the leap, that this team may end up better offensively this year than it did the last couple of years. But if they finish anywhere near their defensive ranking from last year it will be a miracle. That is what happens when you subtract two above-average-sized players from the lineup, who are at least decent defensively, and replace them with a bunch of undersized players who range from mediocre to terrible defensively.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 13th, 2012
3:42 am
“I declair, it apprears some of you so called Hawk fans are hoping for Ferry, Drew, and the Hawks to have a bad season. All you do is bitch, whine and complain about everything involving the Hawks.”
Ken, you have brimmed with optimism about the Hawks for at least the last three offseasons, and you were one of the most forceful voices on this blog extolling the revolutionary new offense LD was going to install and talking about what a huge upgrade he would be over Woody. If I am not mistaken you are old enough to remember the entire history of this team. Surely at this point you should know better than to be overly optimistic about any ATL franchise.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 13th, 2012
3:45 am
“Jamal has the talent to be a much better offensive basketball player than what he is. But it’s his crazy shot selection that will always keep him out of the discussion to be a guy you can count on to make plays.”
Likewise, Pau Gasol has the talent to be a much better overall basketball player than what he is. But being soft as tissue paper, he is kept out of the discussion of guys you can count on to lead teams anywhere meaningful. With his skills, he should have been a better version of KG.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 13th, 2012
3:47 am
“steven a, Bynum made $16M+ THIS year, but you somehow think he’ll sign a FA contract for
$12M / yr?
LMFAO”
Pretty sure you just set a Guinness World Record for being the oldest person to ever say “LMFAO”
Najeh Davenpoop
August 13th, 2012
3:49 am
“For after Sept. 11: Anthony Morrow and Devin Harris for Wilson Chandler and Andre Miller.”
That would be amazing but I highly doubt Denver goes for that trade, seeing as how the best two players in the deal are both coming to the Hawks.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 13th, 2012
3:49 am
All you prognosticators keep sleeping on the Wizards. That team will make the playoffs this year.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 13th, 2012
4:00 am
Miami
Indiana
Washington
Boston
Brooklyn
Philly
Chicago
Atlanta
It is a real coin flip for me to pick between Chicago, New York, and Atlanta for the last two spots, but I am picking New York to miss mainly because I hate all New York teams. But those three teams are pretty much even to me.
ag
August 13th, 2012
6:59 am
ND – I hope you have finally gone to sleep. The Wizards will improve and just may get an 8th seed – but no way are they going to finish third. I think you have been drinking to much Nationals lemonade!
Ken Strickland
August 13th, 2012
8:22 am
NAJEH DAVENPOOP-Over the last 3 yrs, the Hawk have exceeded the expectations and predictions of most fans and prognosticators, including you. I haven’t been one of those fans, so I have reason to be optimistic. I won’t say that LDrew’s MOTION OFF is revalutionary, but compared to Woodson’s total dependence on ISO Joe, it might appear that way to some.
I was alluding to his MOTION OFF when I said JJ consistently limited ball and player movement by hijacking the OFF to go ISO. Add Josh’s habit of stopping ball and player movement by launching jumpers as soon as the ball hit his hands, and there wasn’t much chance for Drew’s MOTION OFF to have much of an impact, at least not consistently.
It will be up to HC LDrew to install a team oriented DEF, much like the Bulls did so successfully under their new HC. If he’s unsuccessful, and the teams DEF falls apart because he can’t get it done, then he’ll be replaced. While DEF definitely has its place, you can’t hang your hat on it exclusively and expect to be a championship caliber team without the aid of a competent OFF.
Just ask the Bulls, who have struggled mightly offensively, especially in the playoffs, even though they’ve ranked in the top 2 defensively over the past 2yrs. I harken back to the Nuggets when everyone, especially Nugget fans, immediately assumed they would suffer offensively after trading PG AIverson, and defensively after trading OC MCamby. As it turned out, they actually improved, especially defensively, due to the impact of the new players they received in the 2 trades.
I’m not saying this will automatically happen with the Hawks, but it’s always a possibility. And you said you remember one(1) last min shot taken by Teague that was an airball. And in your mind, that 1 shot is the defining moment in his career as a potential clutch player. I guess you’ve never seen JJ miss badly on a gm winning shot.
Basketball is an ever changing sport that can be greatly impacted one way or the other by the addition or subtraction of just 1 or 2 players, or the right HC. LDrew definitely didn’t command the respect of JJ or Josh, and wasn’t any more of an inspiration to Marvin than Woodson was. But unlike Woodson, he was at least willing to bench Marvin for his lack of involvement and production.
This team will still have the same horses along the frontline that propelled this team last yr(Josh, Zaza, and Ivan). Add big man Petro, who was more productive than JCollins and EDampier combined, the return of Horford, and the stable of young, quick, fast, and athletic shooters we now have, and you have the potential for a very rewarding regular season and playoffs.
Fortunately for the Hawks, the season and playoff seeds will be determined by their play on the court, not the often bias and uninformed opinions and predictions of fans. GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Astro Joe
August 13th, 2012
8:23 am
Grabdad, I don;t think Ferry will make short-sighed moves to help this specific roster at the risk of cap space. I’m sure that if he could acquire a long-term starter at the trade deadline (or sooner), then he will do it. But I don’t see him trading for a rotational player or an average starter with a multiyear contract, even if that player could immediately improve the current roster. For example, I don’t think he would trade for richard jefferson (a guy who competes defensively) because he has 2 years left on his deal and would not likely be a long-term fit for the team. But he clearly would be a player who would help this specific roster.
Again, this is a transition team… a roster full of future trivia questions (”what year did Johan Petro and Deshawn Stevenson play for the Hawks?”).
ag
August 13th, 2012
8:46 am
I don’t understand all the ZaZa love on the blogs? he did play okay – but I really don’t want him as our starting center. We have one of the top centers in the league – and has shown improvement every year. I am excited to see what he is going to do.
Ditto for Jeff Teague. He has shown improvement every year. The three starters we keep have improved. Our team will be good.
Lastly, wanted an opinion on the Summer Leagues. Williams and Pape Sy looked horrible. I think Benson and Jenkins looked good.
KevinM
August 13th, 2012
9:34 am
ag, from what I saw from the SL, it is Jenkins from that roster and that should be it. There is way too much talent trying to get a bench slot than trying to groom another Solomon Jones. These guys aren’t going to help us win anything of significance. If you get one productive game out of them after sitting game after game, consider it a bonus. They will be practice dummies for the most part.
I’ll take a vet over Benson or Scott. Both guys need to go to the NBDL and get playing time and not sit around in nice hotels on game days.
I still laugh every time LD comments about Pape Sy. The guy isn’t good enough to play NBDL. Send him back to his homeland and see if he can make his own Olympic squad in 4 years. Another wasted investment courtesy of LD and Sund.
KevinM
August 13th, 2012
9:46 am
“Najeh Davenpoop
August 13th, 2012
3:49 am
All you prognosticators keep sleeping on the Wizards. That team will make the playoffs this year.”
Najeh, I thought they had a shot at winning last year, but the youngsters didn’t step up like I expected. They do have more experience this year, but I won’t be predicting them for the playoffs. Wittman hasn’t done anything with any of his teams yet.
vava74
August 13th, 2012
10:25 am
Najeh,
There is no way that Knicks will not finish ahead of us.
If ‘Melo is a top #10 player, his team certainly has to make it to the playoffs.
My opinion of ‘Melo is mixed, I think he has huge deficiencies (mainly mental) but he will have a lot of quality guys around him this year (albeit some old) so I have no doubt that the Knicks will make the playoffs.
You did mention your anti-NY bias, but even so…
On Pau and his softness: yes, he is not by all means a bully in the paint, but he is not as soft as sometimes he is advertised.
What I saw yesterday was Pau dancing, almost at will, around Love (who can’t guard a granny on a wheelchair, so he is for me still a worse player than Pau, in spite of his incredible rebounding skills) and… Chandler, the alleged best defensive C in the NBA.
Pau was a major, major piece on Kobe’s last two rings and that is coming from a Portuguese, so I have absolutely NO motivation to show any love for a Spaniard.
KevinM
August 13th, 2012
10:40 am
I’d rather have Gasol at 19M then Joe at 21M.
Pau would improve our backline and I’d make him the team leader. It’s a shame Hawks’ management didn’t see his talent when we drafted him for Billy Knight. We decided on a 20/10 guy who played on bad teams every year instead.
ag
August 13th, 2012
10:43 am
I would take a project over Collins or Damp.
Hawkfan55
August 13th, 2012
10:47 am
tayshawn prince please
Rod from College Park
August 13th, 2012
11:17 am
“NAJEH DAVENPOOP-Over the last 3 yrs, the Hawk have exceeded the expectations and predictions of most fans and prognosticators, including you. I haven’t been one of those fans, so I have reason to be optimistic. I won’t say that LDrew’s MOTION OFF is revalutionary, but compared to Woodson’s total dependence on ISO Joe, it might appear that way to some.”
Getting put out in the first round of the playoffs last year by an aging team, who had their best player miss one game in the playoffs, and another of their stars playing on one leg for the series is not exceeding expectations. The Hawks played well in the regular season, but choked in the playoffs.
KevinM
August 13th, 2012
11:39 am
LD exceeded expectations so much as the HC that he continues to live on 1 year extensions.
Well, we’re down to 1 All-Star now, so let’s see what magic LD continues to keep us just above average. As long as LD is here, we’re all about being just above average at best.
Ken Strickland
August 13th, 2012
12:00 pm
ROD FROM CP-Your mind is so warped with NEGATIVE MINDED BS that you can’t seem to see the forest for the trees. You also seem to think everyone else is as clueless as you’ve proven to be. Even before the last season started, you, and NEGATIVE MINDED individuals just like you, started predicting the Hawks wouldn’t even make the playoffs, and that was before we lost Horford for the season.
Now, after conveniently forgetting all of your previous BS predictions and prognostications, you start making an issue of the teams 1st rd exit, like you had expections of the team doing better all along. You also show your bias when you specifically make an issue of Boston’s injuries while conveniently ignoring the injury issues we also had. And if I’m not mistaken, that same OLD, INJURIED Celtic team that eliminated us also gave the NBA CHAMPION Heat a run for their money.
You spend so much of your time challenging everyone on these blogs and trying making your point, that you seldom make much sense.
vava74
August 13th, 2012
12:13 pm
Rod from College Park
August 13th, 2012
11:17 am
We didn’t choke. We were:
1. Out-coached.
2. Shafted by the refs.
3. Had more significant injuries than the Celts.
You simply insist that we choked because you want forcefully to make the loss of Jamal “the issue” behind not getting past the first round.
KevinM
August 13th, 2012
12:16 pm
Thoughts on the LAL/Magic rip-off:
Reading the Magic blog, what a farce for them to think they got anything near a good deal for D12. One comment from a Magic writer:
“I believed the Magic could build around the unpredictable Bynum, 24, but I’m not privy to the medical reports on his knees. The Magic don’t believe he will hold up for long.”
Yes, the Magic has a crystal ball that tells them Bynum wasn’t worth the risk. So they go with tried and true Harrington who has a bad deal and Afflalo who is not worth his contract. Those 2 guys will not lead any team to the playoffs and its a joke to try to convince the fan base to believe in the city’s only pro team.
The numbers on JRich and Duhon were smaller than the return and it makes this team look comical. Clearing big contracts huh? And that 17M TPE contract is comical. They can now take on a Gay, a Zach Randolph, a Boozer or a Stoudamire and not have to return anything. I can see ORL helping out another team along the way.
As for LAL, just recently we saw them acquire Payton and Karl Malone and annointed them the champs immediately. Anyone recall what happened?
The Lakers won 56 games and reached the Finals before drying up during three consecutive defeats against the Detroit Pistons.
Their HOF lineup didn’t get it done. I still like OKC and the fire that burns within them. They are going to get back to the WCF next year.
KevinM
August 13th, 2012
12:20 pm
hoopshype just updated their team salaries for 2012. It is so nice not the see Marvin’s nimbers working against us. A great move by Danny to get anything of value.
pointguardslim
August 13th, 2012
12:26 pm
Ken S – Hawks get whipped like a bitch in the playoffs for the 4th time in 5 years so yeah Im gonna “whine and bitch”.
And just because you make zero sense doesn’t mean you have to start cursing trick.
Byron Mullens
Taj Gibson
O.J. Mayo
Brandon Rush
Kevin Martin
D.J. Augustin
Chris Paul
Andrew Bynum
Tony Allen
Monta Ellis
Nikola Pekovic
James Harden
Serge Ibaka
Dwight Howard
Andre Iguodala
Tyreke Evans
Al Jefferson
Paul Millsap
That’s your list of expiring Free Agents. Your criteria does not exist. An expiring small forward that will make the Hawks championship contenders? Please. And how would Ferry trade for said person? Our assets are also expirings. Harris and Korver for Iguodala? What would be the point of swapping expirings? LOL
Maybe Ivan Johnson for a rising rookie SFs contract?
You need to think things through sometimes.
And stop playing word games. Ferry’s criteria is(was) to get EXPIRING contracts.
So actually look at the list Free Agents before leaping mouthfirst into Ferry’s lap.
And then even worse, you back yourself into a hole by saying Ferry won’t be looking to draft a SF.
“What’s so mythical about Ferry being able to sign or trade for a SF that can fit his criteria? After what he did with JJ and Marvin’s contracts, are you actually making an issue of his ability to get the SF he covets?”
Here’s what’s mythical.
A) He doesn’t want long term contracts. Henceforth he turned those 2 into expiring backup players. B) Other than Andre Iguodala, who is a point forward who you don’t want shooting ie redundant with Josh Smith, and can’t do nathing to guard or score on Lebron, other than that, THERE ARE NO FREE AGENT SFs.
ag
August 13th, 2012
12:26 pm
Injuries robbed Shariff. He was the heart and soul of the Hawks while he was here. I even witnessed him scoring 50 one night
pointguardslim
August 13th, 2012
12:32 pm
Maybe that last response was a bit cynical >:D, but it’s comical you talk about Free Agency without looking at the actual Free Agents. I see no Lebron, no Durant, no Carmelo, not even Granger.
The only SF is a miniature redundant form of Josh Smith in Andre Iguodala, and also who as of now is going to be back to his original position of big passing guard with Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari.
pointguardslim
August 13th, 2012
12:40 pm
Hawks did not choke in the playoffs. THe Cs regularly whipped them. And Ivan Johnson never got off the bench to go up against KG. In Game 2, the undersized Josh Smith gets injured on a ludicrously routine big man play vs KG. A defensive rebound smdh
If we had Zaza it would have been different. Maybe a bigger core, Zaza for Marvin. Josh on Pierce, probably doesnt get injured on a rebound, and Zaza on KG, Horf on Bass.
Funny how Dampier and Collins played on the floor and Ivan never saw the floor though. Screw LD and his small lineups
pointguardslim
August 13th, 2012
12:41 pm
Hawks aren’t using their cap space trading for Andre Miller and Wilson Chandler. Come on.
O'Brien
August 13th, 2012
12:48 pm
Including the Hawks QO to Teague, our 2013-2014 team salary is $13.3 mil. Impressive job by Ferry.
Hopefully we will spend wisely next year.
KevinM
August 13th, 2012
1:04 pm
pgs, I said all along the Zaza was the biggest factor vs. Boston as opposed to have to depend on Al. Truth being, Zaza was playing well enough to ignore Al being out. The ASG, being as frugal as they were, were not interested in bringing in an Al replacement. So instead of another big man, we reverted to survival with Dampier and Collins, who both deserve to be at the barber shop telling tall tales.
Will that happen on Danny’s watch?
glw
August 13th, 2012
1:17 pm
@ O’Brien
Including the Hawks QO to Teague, our 2013-2014 team salary is $13.3 mil. Impressive job by Ferry.
********************
Actually its closer to 19 Mil with Lou contract included in there. So wishfully thinking the cap maybe increases a bit to 59/60 million. That leaves 40 million in cap space. But if Josh (15M) and Teague stay then its probably only around 20 million, enough to get 1 max player.
Kanye Shrug
August 13th, 2012
2:21 pm
Teague, Harris
Lou, Morrow, Jenkins
Josh, Korver, Stevenson
Horford, Ivan, Scott
Zaza, Petro, Jordan
ag
August 13th, 2012
2:31 pm
Why would you start ZaZa. It appears a lot of Hawks fans feel like this is our best lineup. ZaZa’s is an assist killer! Also all his stats are worse than Al’s. He is a backup and will be a career backup!
MsDee
August 13th, 2012
2:49 pm
Was reading on Jeff Schultz’s blog about how you NEED superstars to win Championships in this league. Well I beg to differ. ‘SuperStars’ are NOT just SuperStars because they are incredibly gifted offensively. THEY ARE ALSO INCREDIBLY SMART INDIVIDUALS WHO CONSISTENTLY MAKE THE RIGHT PLAY AT THE RIGHT TIME TO THE RIGHT TEAMMATE. Just having an offensive-mined Lebron, Wade, Bosh on your team would NOT have won u a ring. LeBron’s Bball IQ is remarkable! Teams like the Spurs bball IQ are INCREDIBLE, the Detroit Champs of 2004 (WITHOUT A SUPERSTAR, BUT WITH SEVERAL ALL-STAR; HALL OF FAME TYPE PLAYERS) won because of their SMART offensive and defensive play!
This is why I like our Danny Ferry is modeling our new-found team. YES, he made a pitch to Orlando for Dwight, but trust me, Danny isn’t crying in his boots cause we wasnt able to get him (tho I STILL feel we have a chance to land him). Danny is 1st starting with the coaching staff by hiring player development type coaches to work with the already gifted players we already have. (Teague, Jenkins, Ivan, and maybe Benson). By next season, most likely we will have a new HC who has the necessary SMARTS to lead our ball club to victory, (case in point, Jerry Sloan). So YES, having guys like Dwight and CP3, WOULD LOOK GREAT in Atlanta, but developing the necessary ’smarts’ into the guys we already have plus adding a GREAT piece in someone like James Harden and a DEF minded SF (Danny Granger will be an unrestricted FA in 2014..options to landing him would be to trade some key pieces of course but definitely possible) would be the icing on the CAKE!
MAKE IT HAPPEN!! MR. ELECTIVE OF THE YEAR!!
KevinM
August 13th, 2012
3:48 pm
“ag
August 13th, 2012
12:26 pm
Injuries robbed Shariff. He was the heart and soul of the Hawks while he was here. I even witnessed him scoring 50 one night”
ag, I saw Tony Delk score 53 one night….I didn’t see SAR lead us to anything in this short time here. We had a losing record and we were the 12th best team in the East. That was when we had Terry, Kukoc, Big Dog, Theo Ratliff, and DeMarr Johnson. That team had very little success.
Dreaming
August 13th, 2012
3:52 pm
The Hawks finish ahead of the Knicks.
That stuff is illegal Sir
Melvin
August 13th, 2012
3:53 pm
Check the below with a Q and A with Danny Ferry… Oh, you better believe he wanted Howard….
http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/34531/qa-hawks-gm-danny-ferry-on-dwight-howard-josh-smith-basketball-analytics-and-sam-prestis-wikipedia-page
Dreaming
August 13th, 2012
3:59 pm
KS= a 44 year Hawks Fan, aka Mr. Know-it-all.
Impressive resume indeed.
Slimjr
August 13th, 2012
4:09 pm
The Hawks will be better off if they can find a 3 who can score a multitude of ways..His game will be extremely valuable come playoffs..It is about time the front line step up and carry the team for a change which they have been unable to do 90 plus % of the time. The front line is the reason this team falters in the playoffs..They just seem easy to lock down on..”Game set and match”…Ooops, different game… LOL!
AG
August 13th, 2012
4:16 pm
KevinM
The talent surrounding SAR but pretty bad. When we traded for him – he was a 20 – 9 guy. He continued that throughout his career. He was a really consistent player every day. Euro players had not really made that much impact – much less a big guy, so I believe that is why we went with a proven guy over Gasol.