Atlanta Hawks: Rookie draft pick Mike Scott signs contract

Cosign!

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So does this mean he is just a camp invite or that he is definitely apart of the team? We are getting close to the 15 player number and with the rumblings of Tolliver, and Anderson plus no movement with Ivan are we to assume that this might in fact be out opening day roster?

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WE WANT IVAN! WE WANT IVAN! WE WANT IVAN! shoot – develope him dag gommit!

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I think most old heads on this blog now can agree we can finally be patience with this team it took awhile, but I feel better than I use to.

After the 3rd time we went back to the playoffs(horrible loss to the Magic and Joe Contract situation) it was like UGGHGHGHHGHGH!!! When is the season over basically.

Now I’m just happy to take it one day at a time because I feel like we got one thing we’re missing stability.

If Danny Ferry can rid us of Larry Drew(or he does the unthinkable and actually coach), and get us some good draft picks.

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I actually like Mike Scott. No way I play Petro, or possibly even Zaza at pf of this kid. lol.

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Co-sign Clyde. Kyle O’ Quinn. A physical rugged PF/C with 7′5 length (close to Elton Brand) was available. Wait and see but this guy is on a 2 year deal because he lacks defense and inside game.

He’s a power forward with no power. no defense.no length to block or rebound or even try to contest and alter shots at all. He can shoot the sh*t out of the rock but if he cant defend he’s giving it all back on defense. Based on what we saw from Summer League
I feel we missed out on a real gem in O’Quinn.

Alright now go prove me wrong Mike Scott! Now what did Rakim say? Oh yeah. Peace.

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And for all you disillusioned Smooth Josh fanatic’s,get over it. Smith will never be a sf. sf.

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BC, if some folks had their way they would move All NBA to the 4 slot and move Josh to the 3?

I do not believe they would call themselves Josh fanatic’s? Hmmmmmmmm

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Really need Ivan back, but I have no problem with Mike Scott in the 13th or 14th roster spot. Kid was active in summer league. Rebounds…steals…fouls…drawing fouls…turnovers…etc… No inner dog issues here. Kid ain’t scared to mix it up.

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Maybe we signed him so we can include him in a trade, as possibly another team has interest in him?

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I feel a trade coming after Tuesday, Sept. 11. Get ready!!!

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Hey Billy Knight Jr:

I looked up the “nimbers” just for you to let the “nimbers” explain like I told Grandad in the previous blog, the playoffs defense ratchets up as you advance beyond the “regular season” and that set shot [or whatever you'd like to call it] is rendered ineffective or obsolete..

All NBA/ ALLSTAR AL

Career Avg: 12.8 ppg on .536 shooting= Allstar? Whatever….

Playoff Avg: 9.4 ppg on .450 shooting= No ECF or Finals in this time line..

Also his rebounding drops to 7 per game in the playoffs…And you guys complained about ISO’s rebounding? Hmmmm

Thanks for the motivation..Actually had time to look it up…Hmmmmm

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Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA
Brooklyn plans to conduct a free agent workout with forwards Dominic McGuire and Josh Childress early next week, league sources tell Y!
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Marvin Williams numbers @ half the price = Austin Daye

Marvin Williams Stats @ 36 M/game: FT%=80%, TRB=6.3, STL=.9, BLK=0.5, PPG=13.6
Austin Daye Stats @36 M/game: FT%=79%, TRB=6.5, STL=1.0, BLK=1.0, PPG=13.1

“If he returns to the Pistons for training camp, it’ll be a little crowded with the additions — 2011 second-round pick Kyle Singler, who returned from the Spanish league and looks more than ready for a heavy load; rookie swingman Khris Middleton (2012 second-round pick); veteran swingman Corey Maggette (trade with the Bobcats), and veteran Tayshaun Prince.

“If not here, then it is what it is,” Daye said. “I’ll try to get somewhere and play, do my thing. I know we’re really loaded at the 3s and 4s (forward spots).”

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120711/SPORTS0102/207110335#ixzz25kM4LPnd

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Detroit needs a 2 guard like Stevenson, and they could take Williams. We were after Rashard Lewis, Tolliver, Randolph…………so a deal for Daye makes sense.

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Pape Sy was a project now its Mike Scott.

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Those days of us drafting players with potential and either cutting them or letting him rot on the bench with no effort to develop them are over. Scott will be on the team, but won’t likely dress unless their are injuries. He’ll watch and learn and get a lot of practice time in. He’ll get his chance to become a productive player next yr.

If Ferry doesn’t initiate a trade that brings in a SF candidate sometime after 9-11, look for JSmith to be our starting SF. Remember, you heard it from me 1st.

WORLDWIDE CLYDE-DHarris will be our starting 2 guard, not AMorrow. That will be made possible because LWilliams has the ability to be an effective PG off the bench.

PG-JTeague-LWilliams
SG-DHarris-AMorrow-JJenkins
SF-JSmith-KKorver
PF-AHorford-IJohnson
OC-ZPachulia-JWilliams-JPetro
Scott-Benson-Stevenson and/or Anderson on inactive roster.

Harris will be more effective than Hinrich was offensively and defensively, which is an improvement. Josh will be just as effective as JJ was at SF, if not more so, in terms of DEF, passing, scoring, except for 3pt shooting, and rebounding. That’s an overall improvement. Horford will be just as effective as Josh was at PF, and Zaza will more than hold his own at OC.

I see this yrs starting lineup being better than last yrs both offensively and defensively, and this yrs bench will be infinitely deeper, more versatile and talented. This yrs team is more suited to playing the uptempo style of fast breaking basketball that Ferry invisions.

We’ll be able to shoot over any DEF, with our abundance of excellent 3pt shooters, and break down any DEF with our abundance of speed, quickness and athleticism. GOOOO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!

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For all:

Any trade in Sept. cannot have players who came to us in trades
from Brooklyn or Utah, in the JJohnson / Marvin deals;
unless they are singular trades.

Any of those players cannot be combined with another player.

Example – D.Stephenson & J.Petro cannot be combined in a trade.

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Ken…I just don’t see that starting lineup scoring in half court sets at all. I would play off the guards, and Josh, and force them to make pull up jumpers. Stick with Al, and double/help with my center as I know that ZaZa can’t shoot and he finishes below the rim when around the basket, which gives my big man time to recover and alter the shot (no elevation needed when ZaZa’s releasing the ball at the 9 ft mark). In summary, take Al’s jumper away, play off the guards / go under screens, double Josh in the post only, and make ZaZa and your jump shooters (not named Horford) beat me. I think that lineup really struggles to score points.

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BC i dont think there is a fascination with josh at sf as much as there is a need to move Al out of the center position so Al supporters would like to move josh out of the power forward position to find a place for Al since he has failed at center.

I know thats very illogical thinking because Josh is a much better pf than Al, so you would down grade the position to help al get out of playing center. Its really stupid and sick thinking but its not about improving the hawks its about helping Al.

The best way to improve the hawks is to get a real center and let Al come off the bench to help the center or Josh. he could get maybe 25-30 minutes a game is a limited role as a back up. Other than that, I agree with Danny Ferry’s attempts to trade Al, but as I understand it, there are not that many teams interested in building with Al.

Which begs the question… Why are we?

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Very big Cosign to Slimjr: and thumbs up to Steven A Smith, And the Master T.S.

All NBA/ ALLSTAR AL

Career Avg: 12.8 ppg on .536 shooting= Allstar? Whatever….

Playoff Avg: 9.4 ppg on .450 shooting= No ECF or Finals in this time line..

Also his rebounding drops to 7 per game in the playoffs…And you guys complained about ISO’s rebounding? Hmmmm

Thanks for the motivation..Actually had time to look it up…Hmmmmm

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“GM Danny Ferry said he’s strictly a power forward. That means Scott is slotted behind Josh Smith…”- M. Cunningham

Johnny cant read.

“SF-JSmith” – Ken Strickly an idiot/ ” SF – Smoove – Hawks blog idiot World Wide Fool

“GM Danny Ferry said he’s strictly a power forward. That means Scott is slotted behind Josh Smith…” – M.Cunningham

GM Danny Ferry said he’s strictly a power forward. That means Scott is slotted behind Josh Smith,

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Imagine what Worldwide Clyde will be saying if Lame Duck starts giving minutes to Mike Scott that would otherwise go to Ivan Johnson? I think the biggest danger with this roster is there are too many rotation players. Drew will try to play everybody instead of picking a 9-player rotation and sticking with it.

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The guy is undersize, the guy has no length, the guy has no power, the guy lacks athleticism and he[has no future in the NBA per Buddy G.]

Wait a minute, is this Rick Sund reminding us that he’s still around pushing buttons too?

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Sure seems like it to me Slimjr.

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MC,

On August 30, this twit went out, “Former Charlotte Bobcats small forward, Derrick Brown, is set to workout with the San Antonio Spurs next week and the Atlanta Hawks the following week, according to his agent Calvin Andrews of BDA Sports Management. CSNNW.com”

Have u heard anything about Derrick Brown’s workout with the Hawks?

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Derrick Brown averaged 8.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in only 22.2 minutes per game last season. His 17.4 points per 48 minutes is only slightly behind Marvin Williams’ 18.5 and beats McGrady’s 15.7.

http://www.csnnw.com/pages/landingblazers?Derrick-Brown-to-workout-for-Spurs-Hawks=1&blockID=765417&feedID=5212

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JUST JOE-That lineup can consistently and effectively score in a half court set. With Teague and Harris, you actually have 2 PGs that can penetrate off the dribble and finish at the rim without the need for ISOs or clearouts. Horford is one of the NBAs most effecient and effective midrange jumpshooters, which gives us what amounts to a stretch 4.

Zaza might have trouble finishing at the rim, but he has an effective short range jumper. On most nights, Josh will have a size, height, weight, strength, and/or athletic advantage over most NBA SFs near the paint. This lineup can definitely score in a half court set, but it will have to be done intelligently, which is were HC LDrew comes into play.

Besides, with JJ gone the ability to consistently and effectively run LDrew’s MOTION OFF will be a lot easier. There was one thing that always bugged me about JJ and the MOTION OFF. Whenever he came off a curl and got the ball, he never went straight up for the shot, never. He’d catch the ball, turn, stare down his defender, then go into ISO JOE mode. That’s when the ball and the OFF stopped, and everyone knew to clearout.

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Ken…the offense you just described had Teague, Harris & Josh finishing in the paint, with Horford & ZaZa adding mid-range jumpers.

No spacing…easy for opposing teams to provide help defense…will not work against teams with size advantage up front.

Take out ZaZa (or Horford by trade for star) & Harris, and add two shooters (preferably ones that at least give effort on defense / may not be on the team yet), and the offense really opens up.

See what Miami is trying to do. Chalmers, Lebron & 3 scorers/shooters (Wade, Allen, Battier, Bosh, Lewis, Miller). Teague, Josh & 3 scorers/shooters is the way to go, IMO. ZaZa & Ivan should have the same roles as Anthony & Haslem. Not comparing our players to Miami, but I am comparing “roles”. We need to retain Josh, upgrade or retain Teague if he improves, and fill in the 3 scorer/shooter roles.

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Hate to say it but this is GM DF’s first bad move(not of much significance though). Mike Scott is not a player we need, even to develop. He’s a 6′8 PF and I think we are good on the tweener PF’s. We REALLY need after last years fiasco, some backup C’s incase ZaZa or AL get hurt we are going to be really thin there. There are two positions I believe you need 3 guys at in your 12 man rosters, 3 at PG and 3 at C. SG/SF/PF are guys that are usually somewhat flexible to be able to play other positions for bursts depending on the team your playing.
It’s good to see this blog open again and I know this blog will really heat up once Sept 11 rolls around because I know GM DF has a few trades in the works already to move some of these guys and use that TE. Has anyone heard if any other team has contacted Ivan? I think Ivan will be our glue guy off the bench to eat up minutes from our bigs while being consistentley productive.
PG-Teague SG-Lou Will SF-Josh PF-AL C-ZaZa
thats our lineup, I hope. Let Devin come in and blow by everyone and Ivan relieve ZaZa, and then Korver or Jenkins can start drilling three’s. I think Morrow and Jordan Williams will get traded(for a big man) and maybe petro for that backup defensive SF. Would have much rather heard Keith Benson was signed than Mike Scott.

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I guess no 2nd round pick need to get a job with the Hawks if he is supposed to be compared with a marginal NBA player with experience. Come on people, what difference does it make who is the 12th-15th guy on the roster of a team that won’t see the 2nd round of the playoffs?

Yes, we need a SF but that will (likely) happen at the expense of the guard glut.

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Buddy

Assuming Ivan is signed, there is still a roster spot for Benson

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I personally would like to start Jenkins esp if he truly DESERVES IT, by out hustling any and every guard on this team during training camp/practices/pre-season games, regardless of his ‘inexperience” in the NBA. The top 10 rookies of this past draft will be starting so no REAL excuse there, ESP since there is a new found opening in the SG position with Joe being gone. All I read on his twitter page is being at the gym. If he comes into training camp proving many of his doubters and the coach wrong, THEN WHY NOT START HIM? NOT ASKING FOR STARTER-LIKE MINUTES FOR THE WHOLE GAME. JUST TO COME IN AND GET SOME RUN IN b/c if Jenkins dont start, I DOUBT VERY SERIOUSLY HE GETS ANY TIME IN THE GAME OTHER THAN GARBAGE TIME. We should be investing into those guys who are long-term! Teague, Jenkins, Josh, Horford, Zaza is a nice balanced starting group while having a KNOCKOUT BENCH!! Harris, Lou, Korver(Morrow might be traded this Tuesday), Ivan, Horford or Benson if he get signed..Petro/Williams/Stevenson might be traded as well for a SF.

SO THERE U HAVE IT!!

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By the way, I LOVE Horford in the 2nd line-up with Harris and Lou. Could see Horford being the play maker in that line-up, plus he also passes very well for a BIG. Assist to Harris and Korver in the corner while Lou creating for himself…WOW, CAN THE SEASON BEGIN ALREADY!!

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Ken S,

That will be made possible because LWilliams has the ability to be an effective PG off the bench.

I disagree. Lou is a SG inside a PG’s body. His job is to be a scorer off the bench like Jamal was…not to be a PG and run the offense.

Even if LD decides to start Teague and Harris, I think one of them will shift to PG when Lou comes in the game.

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AJ, would love to see the Knicks and Hawks go at it in the 1st round..

It wont take long to find out if this Hawks team is ready for [PRIME TIME] with 5 of the 1st 8 games on the road..The Hawks were only one game above .500 hundred on the road last year which is unacceptable!

They will have to run like the wind cause they wont be able to stop anybody..

Run and gun..[.Golden St. of the East]

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Slim, I’m not a Knicks fan like you (and still doubt that Melo and Amare are a good fit to form a true contender), but I do believe that this Knicks team is much better than the Hawks. Celtics, Nets and Knicks could be 3 of the best 4 teams int he conference (IMO).

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AJ, 1st I’m an NBA fan..I cheer for both the Hawks and Knicks too..[I know its a hard concept to comprehend cause it's outside the "proverbial" box but respect it]. It is what is Sir.

I’d could not bear to be a long suffering Hawk fan only. No way Jose..Too many let downs from this underachieving franchise over almost 50 years in its existence in the ATL…Whew…..

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Slim, I’ve always had a favorite team outside of the conference of the Atlanta teams. So since i hated the Celtics, I picked the Lakers as my favorite Western Conference team. It started way back when with Norm Nixon, Jamal Wilkes and Kareem. I spent 10 years in the NYC area, so I have some fondness for both Nets & Knicks (more Nets than Knicks… easier to get tickets to watch Kenny Anderson, Derrick Coleman and Chris Morris, than Ewing, Mason and Starks).

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astro joe,

u may be right about that. i find it strange we havent heard anything about him. i get the impression ivan doesnt care where he plays ball so as long as he is playing basketball

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Jerry, agreed. Kind of like a construction worker… he just wants to build something, it doesn’t too much matter what and where… just give him some tools and a hard hat.

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O’Brien
September 7th, 2012
1:27 pm

Benson has had his opportunity, and imo, he has not done enough to get that spot. Is he better than Mike Scott? Maybe , but I am ok with giving Mike Scott an opportunity to see what he can do. However, I am surprised that DF offered him a 2 year contract (instead of one).

That’s BS. Last year the Hawks did not have a summer league team and Benson got cut before the season. That’s not much of an opportunity. In the summer league this year Benson looked way better than Scott but the Hawks chose to give Scott a contract.

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Clyde,

I forgot we didn’t have a summer league team with the lockout. But wasn’t Benson in camp last year? Or did he get cut just because LD wanted to go with veterans?

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Lou is a fantastic 6′1″ two guard….Yes..

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Pape Sy had opportunity.

Marvin Williams had opportunity.

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OB, yeah, Hawks held a super short mini-camp last year (that is where they found Ivan).

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And giving Scott a guaranteed contract doesn’t mean that he won’t spend time in the D-League.

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“Alpha dog”

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In Summer League, Scott out-rebounded Benson and got to the foul line more frequently than Benson.

It’s apples to oranges though. Two different players that played different positions.

Benson also got a look at the end of the year in Golden State. I don’t think he made it off the bench much though.

I wouldn’t mind both Benson & Scott being on this roster if we could upgrade the Jordan Williams and Johan Petro roster spots. I have no use for either of those guys.

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I agree with Astro – who gives a flip about players who will only play in blowouts anyway. Benson, Scott, Williams, Petro – they all are bench warmers at best.

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MC, Did Ivan Johnson sign the qualifying offer?

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“They will have to run like the wind cause they wont be able to stop anybody..”

Nah the Hawks front line is used to it. They used to play with JC1 and Bibby. They just got a lil break the last two years with Hinrich on the squad and Teague playing for the first time (not a good defender, but fast enough not to be terrible like Bibby and JC1).

“Benson looked way better than Scott..”

What Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde said.

“Scott took the Gamma dog role.”

Zeta dog.

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“Benson looked way better than Scott..”

What Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde said.

“Scott took the Gamma dog role.”

Zeta dog.

And giving Scott a guaranteed contract doesn’t mean that he won’t spend time in the D-League.”

MC said “some” guarantees for the two years. It’s only a partially guaranteed deal. It could only be guaranteed for 100k per season for all we know, so they could cut him at a cost of $200k.

Dear Mike Scott

Welcome to the NBA. I hope you got thick skin because you’re going to need it playing on this team and in this town. It would seem after 5 games in a summer league, some bloggers/pundits already know your game and have determined your fate in the NBA. Proving them wrong will be up to you.

Since the Truth has not been told on you yet, at least you know what they think.

We Shall See

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Ivan should be in here, and Scott should plan on heading to our new DL affiliate to get plenty of minutes.

I’m in the minority here, but if there’s enough offense on the front line and Teague, than perhaps Stevenson is the starting SG.

And I think Zaza has enough in him to be a starter in his contract year. He did us quite well last year.

DF has given LD plenty of options to manuever…..let’s see if a group of NJ bench players can make any kind of contribution.

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“Can some one tell me why All The Al Hoford Fans Want to move Josh Smith one of the best power forwards in the game out of his position to make room for LOL AL hoford?” -world be free-

You’ll have to ask the resident basketball expert that question. Now I read some of his fans want him to move to the 3? Oh the humanity…..

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CLYDE-You can’t tell me that Collins and Dampier showed more versatility, athleticism, rebounding, scoring and shotblocking ability or potential than Benson. He was simply the victim of a HC that valued experience enough to ignore their limitations, total lack of upside and/or long range potential.

DFerry is having the team establish and fund a player development program to put an end to this foolishness. Under Sund we not only failed to develop any of our 2nd rd picks, we actually failed to put forth any effort to develop our 1st rd picks.

As far as Ivan Johnson is concerned, the Hawks have an offer on the table and it’s up to him when or if he signs it, not the Hawks. I’m certain he’s waiting in hopes of getting a better offer that the Hawks will match. It’s funny to see someone say Scott is an undersized PF at 6′8″, but at the same time show concern that IJohnson, a 6′ 8″ PF/OC, hasn’t been signed. WHERE’S THE LOGIC?

OBRIEN-I get your point, but Teague, Harris and Williams are all capable of playing PG and SG, particularly Harris and Williams. These 3 will make up our primary guard rotation, and all 3 will be counted on to play PG while Lou and Harris will play a combo role.

We’ll also see Morrow, Jenkins, and even Korver, play SG from time to time. We’ll likely see Morrow and Korver play some SF as well. The long range shooting ability and accuracy of Morrow, Korver, Jenkins, LWilliams and Harris will definitely spread the floor. That means their will be lots of room near the lane for Josh, Horford, Ivan, JWilliams, and Zaza to operate.

This yrs team won’t be as focused on one player like it was in yrs past, but it’ll be just as good, if not better, and far more entertaining to watch. I got very little satisfaction out of seeing clearouts while JJ pounded the ball in ISO until the clock ran down only to end up taking a jumpshot or a floater in the lane. It’ll be refreshing to see someone other than Teague blow by his man without the need of a clearout and/or a lot of ball pounding, stumbling and falling in the lane.

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CORRECTION:

AL Horford

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2012-2013 Atlanta Hawks Roster
PG-Jeff Teague/Lou Williams
SG-Mickael Petrus/John Jenkins/A. Morrow
SF-Taj Gibson/Kyle Korver/Deshawn Stevenson
PF-AL Horford/Ivan Johnson/Mike Scott
C-AL Jefferson/Johan Petro

Devin Harris will be traded to the Chicago Bulls for Taj Gibson +1. Josh Smith to Utah for Jefferson and a Box of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.

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I’d be pretty content with a starting lineup of Teague-Harris-McGuire-Josh-Al with Lou, Morrow, and Zaza anchoring the second unit and Korver getting spot minutes. At least with a configuration like that, there is some hope that they can be decent defensively. As it stands, with either Morrow or Korver slated to play starters’ minutes at the 3, they have little to no hope of being a decent defensive team.

This team will be entertaining this year and may even end up improving offensively over the last two years, but whether they end up in the lottery or the playoffs depends on their ability to play D. An average showing defensively may get them into the playoffs. A poor one will not, even if the offense improves.

Of course, with it being a transition year and all, a lottery trip may be better than a playoff trip that is sure to end early.

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Sautee, Stop Trolling and stealing my handle.

Al Horford = Mavin Williams

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We finally get another blog going and the ANALS are right on que with their extremely childish BS. How can anything but someone suffering from ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT get such continuous joy and satisfaction out of such a childish endeavor?

Here’s an example of the supreme stupidity and anal mindedness that characterizes this/these ANALS. I suggested that we play Josh at SF, and was admonished for suggesting that one of the NBAs top PFs be moved to SF. Yet, this same ANAL MINDED MORON suggested that we bench AHorford, who’s become a 2 time Allstar and 1 time All NBA center in his 1st 4yrs. NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL TOTAL STUPIDITY AT ITS BEST.

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I wonder if the Hawks intend on bringing 6′ 9″ PF/C Soroklis Schortsanitis to training camp. He’s the player we got the rights to in the Willie Green trade. I also wonder what Ferry’s plans are as far as the players we have stashed overseas. If I remember correctly, they are known for being good outside shooters, which we already have in abundance.

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A balanced Championship squad in Atlanta for a change:

How bout a front line just as skilled as the guards have been for the Hawks over the the years?

What a novel idea?

How bout a front line that can carry the team for a change? Especially when the guards are worn down going into 4th quarters and are unable to maintain leads? [28-47] against the winners proves that.

Lack of scoring on the front line consistently in crunch time against the winners has been a major [Achilles Heel] for Larry’s team. Matter-a-fact for years its been a major problem….

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“It’s funny to see someone say Scott is an undersized PF at 6′8″, but at the same time show concern that IJohnson, a 6′ 8″ PF/OC, hasn’t been signed. WHERE’S THE LOGIC?”

Please tell me someone was trolling your handle Ken. S.

Yes, Ivan Johnson is 6-8 but he has proven himself in the NBA at three positions. He plays above the rim, gets highlight blocks and dunks, and has the foot speed to blow by Chris Bosh like he’s not even there.

Ivan last year outplayed All-Star centers Andrew Bogut and Marc Gasol and was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in April. The only players in the NBA who have strength comparable to Ivan’s are Dwight Howard and LeBron James.

So now you want to compare him to Mike Scott, a player who hasn’t proven that he HAS AN NBA POSITION, much less that he can match up with All-Stars at multiple positions?

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Buddy G. with the step back 3! Bang!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Soroklis Schortsanitis is a Hamburger away from 440lbs! What a fat out of shape professional..He would be joke on the Hawks roster..

We want Championships now.. Enough already!

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Why would you trade a player you can have for $1m this season for a player that’s making $14m this season if it doesn’t represent a major upgrade in talent? The Hawks went as far as Memphis did in the playoffs last season… why would we want their center? Bogut can’t stay healthy… why pay him $13m?

You’re missing the point. Ivan Johnson is as big of a story right now as Jeremy Lin, but nobody other than Charles Barkley realizes it. He’s better than several players that are making north of $10m per season, but because of concerns about his character, nobody is going to pay him what he’s worth. If the Hawks get Ivan this season for the qualifying offer of $1m or the room exception just under $2m, that will be the best contract in the NBA.

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Buddy, Ivan had a few games when he appeared to be Jason Maxiell-like. That’s about it. Let’s not get carried away with suggestions that his bull-in-the-china-shop routine was as impactful as Lin’s breakout performance last season.

And yes, my handle was clearly “borrowed” earlier today.

Najeh, I’d like to see McGuire added but I can’t envision him making a material difference ont he team’s fortunes. If Ferry wants to upgrade this year’s roster and make a material impact, he will need to use some of the stale bags of chips acquired around 55 days ago for Joe. I can’t get too excited about any vet’s minimum, free agent signing completed in, what, the 10th week of free agency?

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Astro, you might not be saying that if LD hadn’t decided to hold Ivan out of the Celtics series when the team needed him most. The only reason we don’t know Ivan’s ceiling right now is because Drew has held him back. He makes mistakes on defense because he hasn’t learned the NBA game yet, not because he lacks strength or quickness. When he has the technique to go with world-class strength and foot speed, then you will know his true potential. I can tell you right now he is the Hawk most qualified to guard Dwight Howard.

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Let’s see.

Dwight is 6-9.

Ivan is 6-8

Dwight is one of the 10 strongest players in the NBA.

Ivan is one of the 10 strongest players in the NBA.

Dwight has incredible speed for his size.

Ivan has incredible speed for his size.

Dwight is an All-Star center.

Ivan has proven that he can match up with All-Star centers.

Get a life, steven a smith. This forum is for people who know something about basketball.

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Buddy: “You’re missing the point. Ivan Johnson is as big of a story right now as Jeremy Lin, but nobody other than Charles Barkley realizes it. He’s better than several players that are making north of $10m per season, but because of concerns about his character, nobody is going to pay him what he’s worth. If the Hawks get Ivan this season for the qualifying offer of $1m or the room exception just under $2m, that will be the best contract in the NBA.”

Co-sign.

Ivan is extremely talented. He drives both ways but even though he is right handed, does it brilliantly going left.

Has a decent jumper (as his D-League stats proved), soft hands around the rim.

Rebounds well, has excellent lateral quickness, has excellent and quick hands on D, has a no nonsense attitude not backing down from anyone nor anything.

Not a fantastic jumper BUT has excellent timing, allowing him to dunk on or block taller players using his bulk and decisiveness.

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On Scott:

Scott improved… as the summer league went on. He rebounded consistently and got to the FT line often.

AND, his “forte” – the jump shot was not falling, probably due to some lack of confidence/jitters.

If he had shot marginally better – for instance in the mid .400 FG and .800* on FT- he would have averaged 3 ppg more and overall, the image he would have made in our minds would have been substantially different.

* he shot .808 in his last year in college.

He is not overly athletic – not by a mile – but he seems steady minded and disciplined. which for a reserve big typically ensures rotation minutes (not saying this year though).

For the lazy…

http://www.nba.com/summer-league/2012/players/sl_mike_scott/

And usually… when a guy who is not noticeably athletic gets offensive rebounds as he did in the summer league, that is a good sign.

Love can’t jump a lick but his positioning gets him loads of rebounds.

There is more than 1 way to skin a cat.

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I see Scott, and hope for Udonis Haslem. Haslem is a self-made man. He realized quickly after not being drafted and playing overseas, that his niche would have to be rebounding and defending the high post / pick n roll. The mid-range jumper has always been there. Great teammate. Hustle player. Not afraid of anything including having the ball in his hands with the game on the line.

Scott and Haslem have very similar measurables (height, weight, wingspan, age when entering the league, etc…), let’s just hope that Scott has the same drive and determination.

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The roster Ferry has assembled will either be a HCs dream or nightmare. If the HC is competent and versatile enough to utilize multiple systems and talent, and loves a challenge, then it’s a dream. Otherwise, it’s a nightmare. We’ll find out this season where LDrew fits. It looks like IJohnson has joined JSmith as a player that has a fan or fans with a MAN CRUSH on him.

It seems that 1 decent yr as a backup, after getting kicked out of the Korean Basketball League and playing the rest of his career on the D League level, suddenly makes a player like Ivan Johnson a potential All Star. Yet becoming a 2 time All Star and All NBA makes a player like Al Horford a so called scrub. WHERE’S THE DOGGONE LOGIC?

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Ken Strickland

September 9th, 2012
10:13 am

Ditto. I do agree that Al is far better defending Dwight Howard than Ivan could.

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“It seems that 1 decent yr as a backup, after getting kicked out of the Korean Basketball League and playing the rest of his career on the D League level, suddenly makes a player like Ivan Johnson a potential All Star.”

No, taking All-Star Chris Bosh to the hole and outplaying All-Star centers Bogut and Gasol makes Ivan a potential All-Star. Name one other player in the league who has the foot speed, dribbling and outside shooting ability to play small forward while AT THE SAME TIME having the ability to match up with All-Stars at either end of the court at power forward AND center?

*Crickets*

There is no comparable talent in the NBA to Ivan. Nobody. He is completely unique. Does this mean he will be an All-Star? No, that’s going to depend entirely on his team’s ability to develop his talent to its full potential and his ability to control his attitude and behavior to gain the trust of the coaching staff so that he can play consistent minutes.

Astro said there is no comparison between Ivan and Jeremy Lin. Well, guess what? The assistant coach who helped Lin break out is now under contract with the Hawks. If Ferry gets Ivan under contract, he’s going to be coached by one of the rising stars of player development, Kenny Atkinson. What a great move by Ferry!

But as of right now, Larry Drew still holds the key to Ivan’s development. He will be the one who decides if Ivan plays. You guys should really think about applying for LD’s staff. You would fit right in. Can’t see the talent that’s right under your nose. Drew only played Teague and Zaza out of necessity, not out of realization of how valuable they are as players. On top of that, Ivan has a huge strike against him after he was suspended for questioning the entire team’s effort. LD is so insecure he doesn’t need a minimum salary rookie doing what should have been his job.

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Lay off the “hallucinogens” Buddy, you may need to be “Baker Acted” soon if you keep this up!

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Buddy, if basketball were all about physical tools, Harold Miner would be in the HOF (and Javale McGee would be on his way there).

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Buddy, fair enough. But let’s not put it all on the coaching staff, not when Ivan has indicated that he doesn;t watch film of other players. Surely, if bloggers can find so called “scouting videos” of players on YouTube, Ivan can learn about opposing players on his own time.

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“Surely, if bloggers can find so called “scouting videos” of players on YouTube, Ivan can learn about opposing players on his own time.”

And that’s what’s great about the Atkinson hiring. Jeremy Lin said he could call Atkinson in the middle of the night to ask him to prepare game film regarding specific aspects of his game, and he would have it ready first thing in the morning. Ivan now has the perfect coach to show him the aspects of his game that need improvement, as well as to prepare scouting film for upcoming opponents.

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It’s hard to believe that things will turn out good as long as LD is still our coach.

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I believe that Ivan has the potential to really help the hawks but ld did a lot to hurt Ivan & thu s the hawks,LD really screwed us in the playoffs.

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Ivan has the handles, the foot speed and the hunger to give us quality minutes at all 3 frontcourt positions.

It only depends on match ups when he would log more minutes but I would definitively have him as the 7th or 8th guy in the rotation and I would not even disregard the possibility of starting him at the SF and see what happens.

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Buddy,

I don’t even think this was a specific “competence issue”, or at least that was not the only factor. I am sure that it was a loyalty issue.

Ferry certainly wants to have within the staff people that are loyal to him and can be his eyes and ears inside the locker room.

It’s doubtful that Gattison and Hill would not feel somewhat compelled to be loyal to LD and be protective of the info they would supply.

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“I don’t even think this was a specific “competence issue”, or at least that was not the only factor. I am sure that it was a loyalty issue.”

I think it’s a combination of both factors. If you look at the Spurs game last season when Bonner, a chubby, slow white guy, kept getting open for jumpers, I think you’ll agree that advance scouting was a weakness for the Hawks last year. If you look at the failure to develop obvious talent (Why don’t Zaza and All-NBA have a post game? Why doesn’t Teague know how to fight through picks?), I think you’ll agree this was an issue as well.

Larry Drew has failed for two consecutive season to make this team realize its full potential. The decision was made before Ferry was hired to retain Drew for this season. With Drew’s option already exercised, Ferry improved the coaching staff the only way he could.

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I would not call Bonner exactly “chubby”, but that is as far as I go in disagreeing with you.

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Ty Hill was the big man coach. So I guess he was fired because of the poor play of Josh, Al and Zaza over the tenure of his stay with the Hawks (or do we ignore that set and only focus on Hilton Armstrong, Josh Powell and Etan Thomas)? Honestly, I’m not sure what Gattison did. Neither, from what little I know, had scouting responsibilities (isn’t that Ballard’s job).

I’m not defending the performace of Hill and Gattison as much as I would NOT hold them accountable for a 27 YO who bounced around various pro leagues not performing at a consistent and superlative level in his rookie season in the world’s best pro basketball league. And I have never been of the opinion that “player development” is the sole responsibility of a coaching staff. There are too many examples of individual players making their own investment in maintaining employment in the NBA (and likewise, too many examples of players who waste away the opportunity).

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I really like having both AHorford and JSmith on our team, because they compliment each other nicely. With the unlikelihood of us getting an impactful SF through any trades using our newly acquired players in combination with others, we’ll most likely have to get it done from within.

The only way we can get Horford and Josh on the floor at the same time is to play Al at OC and Josh at PF, or Josh at SF and Al at PF. Because of the improved size and matchup advantages we’d have by starting Zaza at OC, with Al and Josh playing the wings, that might be our best starting frontline.

It would certainly be our best DEF frontline, as well as make us much stronger inside. The advantages of starting Josh at SF and Horford at PF would definitely outweigh any potential disadvantages. It would allow them to go up against defenders that would almost certainly be shorter, smaller, and/or weaker than the players they usually go up against at their respective OC and PF positions.

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“With the unlikelihood of us getting an impactful SF through any trades using our newly acquired players in combination with others, we’ll most likely have to get it done from within.” – KenS

Ken, what are you basing this on?

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Ken…Grandad was mistaken. After 60 days, we’re free to package players in a trade without any restrictions.

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That’s why I have steadfastly refused to even conjecture about our roster for this season. If it’s the same on the first day of training camp as it is today, I’ll be totally shocked.

But that wouldn’t be the first time.

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Mary Schmitt Boyer/Jodie Valade: F/G Alonzo Gee, who started 31 games at SF for the #Cavs last season, has agreed to a multiyear contract with the team, NBA source says Twitter

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Ferry also made the comment in an interview that a defensive-minded wing player would be the “logical” next piece to the roster, but that it may not happen until the trade deadline.

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“Ty Hill was the big man coach. So I guess he was fired because of the poor play of Josh, Al and Zaza over the tenure of his stay with the Hawks.”

Let’s see. Al Horford, no discernible post game. Zaza Pachulia, no discernible post game. Ivan Johnson, matches up well vs. Marc Gasol and Andrew Bogut but sits on the playoffs because he doesn’t know what to do on defense. He’s physically capable… but he doesn’t know what to do. Coaching? Sounds like Ferry made the right call when he handed Hill his walking papers.

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Josh avoiding contact due to chronic knee issues?

http://repatl.blogspot.com/2012/09/josh-and-long-two-breakdown-by-kirk.html

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Players don’t take any blame for Bonner? Someone was supposed to guard him. I’m sure the coaches assigned the task somehow.

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Buddy, I wasn’t involved in the Bonner discussion. You make it sound like everyone in a Hawks management position is incredibly incompetent and yet you seem giddy about a guy like Ivan Johnson who spent many years toiling across the globe until that very group of Hawks execs invited him to camp and kept him (over a drafted player who typically would get the nod in those situations). If they find a player from the scrap heap, they are lucky and if they don’t find a gem in the rough they are incompetent. That is some serious self-loathing going on there, if you truly are that emotionally invested in an organization that you believe is incapable of doing anything right.

And, BTW, Zaza had as much to do with the Hawks having homecourt advantage last year (a clear measure of a very good regular season) as any player other than Joe and Josh. I guess now that Atkinson is on board, each and every Hawk will have a career year, huh? After all, he is singularly responsible for Lin’s success, right?

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it was only a matter of time:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/isiah-thomas-might-joining-york-knicks-officially-least-170054825–nba.html

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Is it only 3 weeks til the start of training camp? Man, this offseason has flown by!

Funny how we still have to promote the opponent on the team web site….gotta have Lebron on there…some things never change.

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“If they find a player from the scrap heap, they are lucky and if they don’t find a gem in the rough they are incompetent.”

You have me confused with another blogger. I’m probably Sund’s biggest fan on this blog. He was responsible for drafting Teague, getting rid of Bibby, bringing in Hinrich, recommending Dwane Casey as head coach and discovering Ivan Johnson. Larry Drew was responsible for overplaying Bibby, keeping Teague on the bench until he had no other options, sitting Hinrich in the 4th quarter of a playoff game to let Pargo lose the series for us and sitting Ivan rather than letting him match up with Garnett. Hawks ownership is responsible for installing, then extending, the worst coach in the NBA, not Sund.

“I guess now that Atkinson is on board, each and every Hawk will have a career year, huh? After all, he is singularly responsible for Lin’s success, right?”

Jeremy Lin is a guy who got the most out of his talent last year. Al Horford, Jeff Teague, Josh Smith, Zaza Pachulia and Ivan Johnson are all players who DID NOT get the most out of their talent last year. This is an indictment of Atlanta’s coaching staff, and Danny Ferry, a competent GM, has taken reasonable action. Atkinson may not be “singularly responsible for Lin’s success,” (kind of a sad straw-man argument – come on you can do better) but he’s a pretty clear upgrade.

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“And isn’t it nice to have another ex-Woody assistant on the sidelines this year for us? The family just keeps growing!”

If you’re talking about Atkinson, he was the only coach that was retained from D’Antoni’s staff after Woody took over. He was an outsider to Woody’s staff and sat behind the bench, not on it. Dolan initially wanted Atkinson fired but was talked out of it, then refused to let him interview for a job in Portland.

I doubt he came to the Hawks on Woody’s recommendation… don’t see him doing LD any favors.

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BUDDY G-We are in total agreement. Let’s face it, even without JJ, Marvin and all of the jumpshooters we’ve had since MWoodson became HC, we were primarily a jumpshooting team that seldom attacked the lane. But now, this team currently has at least 5 players(Korver, Jenkins, Morrow, Williams, Harris), that are as good at shooting the 3 as anyone we’ve had in the past.

We all knew what was in store for us if Flip Murray, Jamal Crawford, JJohnson, MBibby, or KHinrich, weren’t hitting their 3s or outside shots. What are the odds of high percentage shooters(especially 3pt shooting)like Jenkins, Morrow, Korver, Williams and Harris being off in their shooting during the same gm? And if Anderson manages to make the active roster, we can add another potential high percentage shooter to the list.

Ferry intends for this team to be more like the Spurs on OFF and DEF. We’ll be loaded with high percentage 3pt threats, which will definitely spread the DEF. This will allow more room for Josh, Horford, JWilliams and Ivan to provide the inside scoring, while Teague, Harris, Morrow, and Williams will consistently attacks the lane.

I’ll guarantee you that Ferry will have a big hand in restructuring the DEF approach. He’ll have us switch from the individual style of one on one DEF to a more team oriented DEF system, which the Spurs have relied on. Since BBowen retired, TDuncan is the only player they can count on consistently to be a DEF stopper. You can’t convince me that Bonner, TParker, Ginobilli, or any of their other key players, other than Duncan, are better than average defenders.

Just like the Bulls and Celtics, they’ve made the team DEF concept work for them. In order for LDrew to keep his job after this season, he’ll have to successfully impliment the approach Ferry wants for this team from here on out. Otherwise, we might see him get replaced by a Spurs assistant.

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Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA
Free agent forward Damion James has reached agreement on a one-year deal with Atlanta, agent Mark Bartelstein told Yahoo! Sports.
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Gotta wonder if the invisible hand of Rick Sund was behind this signing, seeing as how Sund drafted him.

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Damion James. He wasn’t too bad with the Nets when i saw him on the court, for however short a period that was. Too bad, I was really hoping the Hawks worked something out with Pietrus.

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Didn’t expect much from whoever we did sign. He can rebound, defend (I guess), and hustle for transition points. Not going to expect much more from him, he’ll play his hardest for us for the year looking for a roster spot next summer.

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Heard Damion James was primarily a defensive guy coming out of college. The sample size might be inadequate, but I’m sure it’s a low risk situation.

I hear the Spurs are still trying to move Dejuan Blair. It’s amazing that they have so many talented bigs on their roster they could actively shop of a guy like Blair who’s still on a rookie contract.

ACLs or no ACLs, I’d trade Jenkins for Blair, and match whatever gets thrown at Blair as an RFA in 2013.

I like Jenkins, but Blair has already shown that he’s an NBA starter-caliber player. And he won’t have to worry about there being a glut of 4s (Splitter, Bonner, Duncan) that limit his playing time.

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I guess Ferry’s serious about this player development thing.

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Which probably means that the days of the Hawks signing guys in the twilight of their careers (unless it’s someone really good) are over for a while.

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Well, at least Damion isn’t likely to hoist a ton of jumpers.

Najeh, hard to say if Sund was drafting to keep him or if the trade with NJ was already done and Sund was drafting him on their behalf.

I seem to recall that he was considered something of a “sleeper pick” before that draft… of course, that didn’t project him to be hurt more often than healthy.

That being said, I’d be shocked if he is signed to a fully guaranteed deal and I wouldn’t assume this is the last move to acquire a SF by Ferry.

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Are we SURE Mike Scott can’t play the SF position?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok8bXyISyH8

I really don’t see him translating into a PF in thye NBA

He May be 6′8 but he’s no Ivan the Terrible.

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James is 6′7″ with a 7′0″ wingspan. I was happy when we made the pick (projected to go anywhere from 20-40 that year), but I was also happy when we traded him for Jordan Crawford & the 31st pick. Then I was disappointed when we sold the 31st pick.

Coming out of college, people thought he would be able to shoot the 3 & defend. In what’s shaping up to be a transition year, I have no problem with bringing in guys like Anderson & James to see what they can do. I’d much rather give them a spot on the roster than Deshawn Stevenson, who has no future with this team past this year.

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Just Joe, co-sign. Let’s bring in all of the most recent first rounders who were dumped by their original team during their rookie contract. Where’s Jonny Flynn?

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Seeing LD coach with this bunch is gonna be muy interesante. I think he’s in over his head. I like the guy, but with his weird rotations with players he was familiar with, I’m wondering what’s gonna happen with this new crop.

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Najeh Davenpoop “My guess is there are no guarantees in his deal, seeing as how he has been injured pretty much his entire NBA career.”

What kind of injury did he have? I couldnt find it.

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Excerpt from ESPN.

A broken right foot limited versatile forward Damion James to 32 games in his first two NBA seasons with the Nets, but that wasn’t enough to deter Atlanta.

If he can stay healthy, James could end up being a bargain in Atlanta, with Kyle Korver being the scoring small forward and James being the defensive-oriented 3.

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“What IMO won’t be much different is LD; no way he learns to coach a different way all of a sudden.”

I don’t think he learns a new way to coach, I think he gets to coach the way he knows how to coach now that ball-stopper Joe is out of the picture. As long as Joe was here, LD was going to bow and scrape for him. Now that he’s gone and the two focal points of the offense, Josh and Al, are willing passers, he has the opportunity to really implement his motion offense. I trash LD pretty hard core, but I’m actually expecting good things from him this year.

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So current roster is:

Teague, Harris, LouWill, Morrow, Jenkins, Stevenson, Korver, Anderson, James, Smith, Scott, Jordan Williams, Horford, Pachulia, and Petro.

That’s 15. Ivan would make 16. You can carry up to 20 going in to traning camp.

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I said before not to be suprised if LD’s offense looks good with this crew. There will be lots of open jump shots for a team full of jumpshooters – could be interesting.

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At this moment, the Nyets are paper tigers.

They have to perform on the court as well. Currently, they don’t have advantages over many teams. With them not having any time to mesh more than one camp, they could very easily start off very slow.

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