We’re live! (And has Ainge stopped talking yet?)
Here's Danny Ainge with his mouth open. Gee, there's a shock.
(It’s 3:30. The Clippers are still on the clock.)
Sometimes the news gets better for a team even when it’s not doing anything. Case in point: The Hawks.
While the Hawks have positioned themselves for a chance to build into legitimate contender status in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, the recently dethroned-champion Boston Celtics could be sliding down. They were hurt by injuries and were bounced in the second round of the playoffs by Orlando. But they’re also getting old, and now they’re sniping at each other.
You probably heard rumors earlier this week that Boston was soliciting trade partners for point guard Rajon Rondo. I didn’t think much of it until general manager Danny Ainge went on a Boston sportstalk station Wednesday morning and – while shooting down the rumors – said Rondo needed to “grow up” and become “more of a leader” and “his presence hurt” the Celtics against Orlando.
(Let me just take a timeout for a brief editorial: Danny Ainge is a punk. We now resume.)
So. You didn’t really think the Rondo-Ainge battle was going to end there, did you?
The player’s agent, Bill Duffy went on radio station WEEI and fired back, saying, “I’m just surprised that Danny is speaking, even if he considers it constructively, in a public setting [about Rondo]. I don’t think that it’s appropriate to say that about one of your top players. Even if it’s spoken constructively, I don’t think it should be done in public.”
But I guess this means its OK for an agent to go on the radio and rip a general manager who ripped a player.
Duffy told the Boston Globe that Rondo’s “tough love for Danny isn’t necessary. He’s self-motivated and a self-starter.”
We’ll let you know if anybody’s wife or mother or sister goes on the radio to stand by their man.
Starting to feel better about things?
HOT NEW RUMORS!
Actually, there are none. I hate cheap page view tools. But here’s a few fresh notes:
♦ Golden State may not be done dealing. Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting the Warriors have spoken with Phoenix about acquiring Amare Stoudemire for Andris Biedrins and the No. 7 pick, but that coach Don Nelson is defusing the rumors.
♦ The Lakers have sold their first-round pick (29th overall) to the New York Knicks for a second-rounder and $3 million. L.A. is trying to limit its luxury tax hit. The Knicks reportedly are looking at Miami guard Jack McClinton.
♦ Josh Smith HAS NOT been traded! But he has been selected as one of 25 NBA players to participate in USA Basketball’s national team mini-camp in Las Vegas in July. The three-day camp will culminate in an all-star game July 25 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Former Georgia Tech player Thaddeus Young (Philadelphia) also was invited to the camp.
♦ A worthy Twitter from the website HoopsHype: “If you thought the NBA was rooting for a LeBron vs. Kobe Finals this year, how’s [it] going to be next season with Shaq also in the mix?
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74 comments Add your comment
DHawk
June 25th, 2009
9:59 pm
I would love to have a traditional PG as well, but I’m just not sure I see many of those in today’s NBA. Most of the PGs on the top teams distribute and shoot well. I think whoever was available this year would need to be molded into that kind of player. I just hope that RS knows more than BK did about the qualities it takes to become a great PG in this league. D Williams was my preference over Paul but I think I remember “deficiencies” being pointed out about both of them at the time.
Mitchell
June 25th, 2009
10:03 pm
The hawks don’t need the “traditional”point guard. Is anything about the hawks “traditional”. Instead of having a traditional power 6″10″ power forward who can post up and score, we have an athletic monster whose 6″9″ and can score in anyway, shape, or form ( ok maybe not shooting)… And can jump out of the gym. Instead of having the traditional >7″0″ center. We have horrors who is very athletic and is only 6″10″. And yet we still have why is considered one of the best frontcourts in the league. Thus in order to get the best out of these two future stars we need a just as athletic freak who can get to the rim whenever and either score and create his own shot, or dish to the big man. Nothing about this team is “traditional” and yet prior to this pick we were still considered to be very good. I’m all for teague and hope the best for maynor but I believe teague is a future all star.
legendary1
June 25th, 2009
10:07 pm
Mitchell, I couldn’t disagree with you more. The thing that you need to make this team of misfit freaks play up to their full potential is a traditional pg. Steve Nash or Jason Kidd in their prime would make this team unstoppable. Unfortunately neither is in their prime and they don’t grow on trees.
Reality
June 25th, 2009
10:18 pm
They were picking at 19. You aren’t going to get a perfect point guard at that place in the draft (outside of the rare situation of complete dumb luck). For there position in the draft, this was a very good pick.
Reality
June 25th, 2009
10:19 pm
*their (not there)
my bad….
Mitchell
June 25th, 2009
10:19 pm
Ok whether that’s true or not Eric maynor is NOT steve Nash or j kidd.
Mike R.
June 25th, 2009
10:19 pm
We tried the whole “non traditional” point guard thing… you obviously have a very short memory. Let me refresh you: it crashed and burned. Point is, you need a real point guard to make our high flying group of merry men work. This season with Crawford and Teague we are going to look like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut-off, especially when you consider we barely have a coach…
Good Feeling Gone
June 25th, 2009
10:28 pm
So Lawson goes to Denver for a future pick. Amare is rumored to be going to GS. Suddenly that glow I felt from the Crawford trade is fading. We drafted our 2011 starting PG, and I suppose I can’t blame the Hawks for Lawson (although I hope Sund picked up the phone and said, “Hey T-wolves, you know those three PGs you just drafted…”). Nothing to do now but wait for Aminu to be the wasted second round selection.
fan in disbelief
June 25th, 2009
10:32 pm
wow teague? really? did we not learn anything from the acie law experiment. after such a good trade i thought maybe they would make a good draft pick. guess i was wrong..
DHawk
June 25th, 2009
10:35 pm
You need a point guard with TALENT more than you need him to be traditional or non-traditional. My argument is that before Bibby, the guys the previous leadership brought in were neither talented nor traditional. Not many Nash’s or Kidd’s have walked into anyone’s building lately.
jay
June 25th, 2009
10:37 pm
Does anybody have any idea what our rotation is going to be now? Is crawford going to start at the 1, and does that mean that we’re not resigning bibby?
legendary1
June 25th, 2009
10:37 pm
Mitchell, I wasn’t saying either was kidd or nash. I was just saying…
Teague will probably be fine. I don’t trust Woody with either. Its time to put him out of my misery.
I am on Goran Suton watch.
j
June 25th, 2009
10:38 pm
What are the chances of us grabbing Garett Siler with the 49th pick? Any chance he doesn’t get drafted and we sign him later?
David Stern
June 25th, 2009
10:40 pm
Yeah, that one-to-one assist to turnover ratio for Teague is scary. How can you be a PG with with that kind of ratio? Even Shaq is better than that. Without a PG that can get the ball to players in a position to get good shots we’re going to see a lot more one-on-one and low percentage shots from Joe Johnson, etc. Welcome to a lot more games with scores in the 80s. B-OR-I-N-G!!!!
jibby
June 25th, 2009
10:40 pm
who does Teague compare to in the NBA right now?
Jeff Schultz
June 25th, 2009
10:41 pm
Hey everybody. Sorry but had technical difficulties. Column on draft finally is posted. Here’s the link: http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2009/06/25/hawks-finally-get-the-point-but-theyre-taking-a-risk/
What do you think of the pick. I like Teague but gotta be honest — I thought they’d go for Mullens (and not just because I pumped him up in a blog the other day). It’s hard to pass on a 7-footer. But they think Teague is the real deal. … Click the updated column and tell me what you think there. We’ll move the forum to new post.
Good Feeling Gone
June 25th, 2009
10:42 pm
Re-signing Bibby is a must now. Too bad we’ll probably lose Murray. What’s the story with Childress? Is he staying in Greece? I was sure he’d be unloaded for a future pick or something.
jibby
June 25th, 2009
10:42 pm
Jay: I think we aren’t going to resign Bibby, which is a scary thought since everyone could see the difference before and after his arrival. I think Crawford will start at the 1, and since he’s a score first type of guard (more like a SG), we once again will have trouble distributing the ball. Hope something gives or that Teague has some passing abilities.
Good Feeling Gone
June 25th, 2009
10:44 pm
I’m surprised, but not disappointed, they passed on BJ. We already have Solo, who’s no worse
Good Feeling Gone
June 25th, 2009
10:50 pm
Jibby:
Teague is comparable to the sixers’ Louis Williams — quick, young, wild, whispy
What next?
June 25th, 2009
11:03 pm
With the Clippers surplus at center, any chance we could get Camby ?
What next?
June 25th, 2009
11:28 pm
The second round pick has to be Siler
Mitchell
June 26th, 2009
8:45 am
Louis Williams is a terrible comparison. He’s more of a Russell westbrook or steve Francis type
Double A
June 26th, 2009
10:08 am
Should’ve taken Mullens. The Eastern conference is loaded with big centers, especially with Shaq joining Lebron. The Hawks had a 7 footer fall in their lap and took another guard. Oh well.