Drew doesn’t waste time sending message to Hawks’ players

"Hi Josh. I'm your new head coach. Lose 10 pounds and if you ever want to see the court again, don't ever shoot another jumper."

Larry Drew to Josh Smith: "Lose 10 pounds and if you ever want to see the court again, don't ever shoot another jumper." Kidding. Sort of.

Can you tell how a coach is going to do by what he says in a press conference? No — no more than what you can tell by how a politician will do, based on his campaign promises.

Jerry Glanville: Entertaining in press conferences but a clown as a head coach.

Mike Smith: Dry in press conferences but solid as a head coach

Larry Drew? He said all the right things at his introductory news conference. Actually, he said more than you would have expected, and without much prompting. Here are eight quotes that stood out Monday and why:

♦ 1. Drew on impending free agent Joe Johnson: “I know there’s been some criticism at times that he may go a little too much one on one. Certainly, I do believe that he’s a focal point of this team. I’ll implement some things that probably will take the ball out of his hands a little bit more but it will make him even more effective.”

Comment: Well, that didn’t take long. Drew basically tells Joe out of the box, “I want you back but under these circumstances.” You have to like that.

♦ 2. Drew on Josh Smith: “I just saw Josh Smith come in here, too. The thing is to get him off the perimeter. Put him in position to be a little more successful. I believe with his athleticism, he has a lot of capablity in low post.”

Comment: Well, that didn’t take long (part II). Drew basically tells Smith, with Smith standing in the doorway, not far from the stage, “Don’t shoot from out there.” Drew is just like the fan screaming at his TV set.

♦ 3. Drew on his coaching staff: “I’m compiling names.”

Comment:  The assistant coaches in the room at the time must realize: Change is forthcoming.

♦ 4. Drew on point guard Jeff Teague, who was seldom used as a rookie by Mike Woodson: “I really believe this kid has the package. Rick [Sund] and I spoke about it. I think he has the ability to make this team better, to have an impact on this team. The offense will really benefit from his speed and his quickness — to break the defense down.”

Comment: I think Mike Bibby just became a bench player.

5. Al Horford, the most universally respected player in the locker room, comparing Drew to Woodson: “He’s totally different. Coach Woodson was more laid back. Larry’s different. He’s already reached out to us and let us know he’s going to change the offense a little bit and how he’s emphasizing the defensive part of things. … Even though Larry was a part of our team before, it’s a big change for us. Because when you have a head coach,  you [the assistant] can’t get the last say. With him being in charge now, things are going to be different.”

Comment:  Horford recognized during his two seasons that Drew had ideas that he couldn’t push through. That’s a bit of an indictment on Woodson.

♦ 6. Drew on the same subject: “When you’re an assistant coach, your job is to give the head coach as much information as you possibly can. He decides what he wants to use, and what he doesn’t want to use he gets rid of. Mike made the decision to use what he used. I don’t fault him for that.”

Comment: Everybody else will.

♦ 7. Drew, on the need to change his relationship with players, now that he’s no longer the assistant coach: “Everybody tells me when you move over six inches, it’s all the difference in the world. But when you’re talking about dealing with players you have to know what buttons to push. I know now. I’ve had conversations with a lot these guys this morning. I’m still going to be Larry. But I’m to be a little more firm in what I want. Things are going to be done a little bit different.”

Comment: The level of accountability just went up.

♦ 8. Sund, on perceptions by fans that Drew was an afterthought as a candidate, not to be taken seriously: “I don’t care what the perception is. He was the very first candidate we interviewed. We know how the process went. I wanted to hear what other candidates thought about our club. I wanted to hear what Larry thought of our club. That was the process. What he’s done in the last six years made him a candidate. The process is what made him a head coach.”

Comment: It’s widely believed there was disagreement among Sund and owners on who to hire.  There was clear interest in Avery Johnson. But thumb-twiddling by all involved, primarily over his salary demands, led him to take the New Jersey job. Bottom line, we’ll probably never know the whole story. But Drew is saying all the right things, and now we’ll see what actions follow his words.

Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC

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80 comments Add your comment

steve brown

June 14th, 2010
10:10 pm

Okay, I’m in!

Toots

June 14th, 2010
10:11 pm

What did the headline, “Drew Doesn’t Mix Words” mean? Did the writer intend to say “mince” words? If so, kinda embarrassing.

Dub C

June 14th, 2010
10:12 pm

I’m curious to see how all of this translates onto the court. The comments about Josh and Teague are very positive. Moving away from the iso-Joe’s are a major plus too!!! I’m ready for the season to start!!!

jObJO

June 14th, 2010
10:15 pm

best hire from what is out there. he could be a great one. time will tell. good luck Drewby.

david

June 14th, 2010
10:20 pm

4th– wheres ‘Nique?

Big Ray

June 14th, 2010
10:32 pm

I’m looking forward to Drew helping this team to be more disciplined and more effective. It doesn’t have to mean less fun.

And freedom will be earned the acknowledgement and acceptance of responsibility. This is what Drew will do differently than Woodson. That, and actually know both sides of the game.

i_am_soulstar

June 14th, 2010
10:41 pm

Now that that’s done, it’ll be slow around here until draft night. And then slow again after that until free agency. I hate the off-season. I guess Larry Drew didn’t address Josh Childress’ situation, but then again, he’s probably not in the position to, considering Sund will have a lot to more to do with that.

marvin

June 14th, 2010
10:42 pm

His son is a Tar Heel like me, feel me? I’m too good for this press conference!! Jason I saw you in a pic my boy!! Holla!!

MW24 > CP3

CHEA!!

VinnyDeuce

June 14th, 2010
10:47 pm

Larry Drew, Mark Jackson, Dwayne Casey, Red Auerbach or Phil Jackson can’t coach this BROKEN ROSTER to the championship!!! Between Marvin, Josh, and Horford, at least one HAS TO BE TRADED. Until then we will continue to suffer for the sins of Drafts gone by. And I still won’t be upset if Joe does leave, ONLY LeBron, Dwight Howard, Rondo or Chris Paul can make him more effective…NOT the coach!!!

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by . said: [...]

Keno

June 14th, 2010
10:54 pm

As long as he get Josh to quit shooting jumpers I’m all in!

Astro Joe

June 14th, 2010
10:55 pm

Breaking news… in the battle between drew and Woody… drew won. But honestly, Woody isn’t the competition.

Dan-O

June 14th, 2010
10:59 pm

I’m not blaming you for this, Jeff. I don’t think you write the headlines on the home page. Isn’t the phrase “to mince words” rather than “to mix words?”

I really enjoy what you write, Jeff. You often force a smile from these curmudgeonly lips and your insight is spot on lots of times.

I like what Larry Drew said, but in this game, it seems the guys on the team can make these things work or not much more than in football or baseball. If Joe Johnson signs for his big bucks and doesn’t buy into what Drew is preaching, will the Hawks be any better off? What if Josh Smith chooses to tune him out? Will they move Josh? No, I am afraid they will fire Larry Drew. I wish these guys could take a page out of the Celtics’ book this year when Doc Rivers called his “Big Three” in and said that if they want to win a championship, they needed to be rested. Not something they wanted to hear. But they did it. And it is on the verge of working for them. Joe, Josh, take a look! All you Hawks, take a look! It’s a team game! Win as a team, no matter who the coach is.

Jesse

June 14th, 2010
11:01 pm

I wish he said that the offense would be more than “little different.” Hopefully it’s totally different. I like that he said he can take the ball out of JJ’s hand and make him more effective… think Rip Hamilton running off screens. And Josh should be in the post. These are tough things to figure out…. but I guess they were for Woody. The thing is, will these guys listen, and how will he react if they don’t?

chuck

June 14th, 2010
11:03 pm

I agree they need to tie a rope to the basket and not let Josh go further than 10 feet. The problem is the middle is going to get really crowed if Josh, Horford and a real center are all in there where they belong.
I like both Horford and Josh but Josh has to go. They need to trade him for a real center.

GMoney

June 14th, 2010
11:07 pm

Best wishes Coach Drew, hopefully we can get fortunate in the draft and/or free agency to perhaps bring in a little more support in the front court.

J

June 14th, 2010
11:11 pm

This sounds about right now that Don Waddell is calling the shots. Down grade the coach the year after a playoff spot. It is only fair that the Hawks fans feel the pain the thrashers have lived with for ten plus years. Next the hawks will be leaving town too.
am sorry that this is the state of things in this town that should be one of the greatest basket ball towns in the NBA.

137th?

June 14th, 2010
11:18 pm

Jeff: Is it true that the Hawks are going to start issuing vuvuzelas to spectators as they enter Phillips arena?

Hawk fan

June 14th, 2010
11:26 pm

Time will tell..I’m not sold yet. Talk is cheap but I’ll be watching and praying.

JSS

June 14th, 2010
11:28 pm

@ Jeff Schultz…
I’ve been here before, oh it was last week when I laid out my expectations for the next coach… Now as the British say: “The proof is in the pudding!”

SecondSage

June 14th, 2010
11:32 pm

Sounds good, Still need a true big from the draft. Need someone to just be big. If they draft a 3, then Marvin has to be traded for a big. IF LeBron or Wade falls in our lap I’m all for it. Other then that, I could care less about bringing in someone new. Let Joe test the market and if someone wants to overpay him, bye bye. If he wants 9 mill a year, sign him back in a heartbeat!!!

JSS

June 14th, 2010
11:33 pm

@ Jeff Schultz (part 2)
What time does he fire Tyrone Hill?

Melvin

June 14th, 2010
11:39 pm

Good Stuff Jeff. At first I was concern about hiring Drew but now I look forward to seeing him coach this team. He sound like a guy who is prepared and ready to be a head coach….

NO MORE JOE

June 14th, 2010
11:54 pm

I’m not happy with Larry Drew saying we need Joe Johnson, we really don’t.

NO MORE JOE

June 14th, 2010
11:57 pm

Joe Johnson can take his overrated @ss to New York, or Chicago.

NO MORE JOE

June 14th, 2010
11:59 pm

Jeff Teague will be the next Rondo for sure!!!

Eric

June 15th, 2010
12:07 am

At first I was thinking the Hawks should go get a big name head coach, but then I thought about guys like Phil Jackson who was Doug Collins assistant before taking the Bulls to the next level. The players seem to like and respect Drew, this could really work.

NO MORE OF YO MOMMA

June 15th, 2010
12:36 am

@NO MORE JOE:
How about you take yo wanna be a** to your trap.

wxwax

June 15th, 2010
2:40 am

I’m not knocking Woodson. The team did great things on his watch. That they quit on him in this year’s playoffs (actually, last year’s too) means he had to go. But he did well.

The fact that Woodson didn’t implement all of Drew’s suggestions means nothing. Maybe they were bad suggestions. Ever think of that?

I don’t think x’s and o’s are important here. What’s important is the Phil Jackson Phactor: getting the players to buy in, being able to manage the personalities and the egos and get everyone pulling in the same direction. If they can do that, they’ll be successful regardless of the tactics.

That’s Drew’s biggest challenge.

Saab

June 15th, 2010
4:20 am

Teague as a starter. I like it. Who needs JJ?

MsDee

June 15th, 2010
5:04 am

Wow!! Im excited about Larry Drew already..I am also looking forward to his after-game/post-game comments..they will definely be better than Woodson ole sayings..”We didnt play good to-night, I guess we have to go back and breakdown the tape and see what went wrong’…’OH, I’m proud of our guys to-night, our defense WAS HUGE.” Mann, I was tired of hearing the same ole same ole comments..looking forward to seeing u in action Larry!!

Oh and Larry, all I ask for is if you can keep your players always hungry and fired-up at all games. I just want all-out hustle from them. Of course, I want a win but if we lose, just know that that PLAYED HARD!!

Feudfinder

June 15th, 2010
6:48 am

I am Larry Drew fan. I said it before that the organization should look within instead of outside. The insider, most of the time knows better than somebody coming from outside. It takes time for the outsider to learn names, etc, before adjusting. But meanwhile, he is already on the clock like an NFL draft team. That being said, I am going to go against you a little bit brother Larry. I heard you talk, and it sounded so good on paper. That is the way it should be. As a matter of fact, Mike Woodson said the same thing and as most coaches looking for a job. But action speaks louder than words. I want you to understand that you are now on the clock just like the former coach, and whatever you just said would be used against you. You could be just what the Hawks needed; you could be the recipe for disaster. Also you could have just been hired to be fired. Whatever you choose yourself to be, I personally wish you the best.

Bill Campbell

June 15th, 2010
6:52 am

Hawks will continue losing tradition! You get what you pay for…

"Chef" Tim Dix

June 15th, 2010
7:55 am

Horford on Woody: “He was more laid-back.”

Comment: Woody was too lazy to develope HIS second PG draftee. Much easier to call him “Rook.”

TROTTINGHOME

June 15th, 2010
7:57 am

1st year…Josh S sits several games because of…locker room becomes a little distraction because of the new sheriff…45 wins and first round knockout.

2nd year…several players gone several added to quell previous years let down…losses begin to mount…Drew frustrated…Spirit group waites tilll end of year to fire Drew…low seeded playoffs…second round knockout….coaching search begins.

"Chef" Tim Dix

June 15th, 2010
7:58 am

The D. Wade summit will be catered by Joe Johnson.

LEA

June 15th, 2010
8:05 am

Face it you internet GM’s Smoove, isn’t going anywhere. so get over yourselves..

Gltichy

June 15th, 2010
8:42 am

Why does it matter?? Any game where the star players have different rules than the rest of the players is no longer a sport. Its basketball’s version of Monday Night Raw.

Unless Drew can secretly hand Horford a foreign object when the refs aren;t looking, its more of the same. C’mon guys, NASCAR is more of a sport than this crap.

JC

June 15th, 2010
8:56 am

I love it! He’s saying the exact things Hawks fans have been screaming at the television during the playoffs – Joe needs to pass, Smoove needs to get inside, Teague needs to start! It’s simple common sense stuff like that that was absent during the Woody regime.

I also think Joe is more likely to stay with this hire than any of the other options, save maybe Avery Johnson.

JC

June 15th, 2010
8:57 am

Also Jeff, I noticed Bradley doesn’t like the hire, and it sounds like you do. Would us humble AJC readers be lucky enough to get a point-counterpoint from you guys on Drew’s hiring? That would be phenomenal!

It matters

June 15th, 2010
8:58 am

Elsewhere on the AJC sports page, some editor is promoting your column with the headline, “Drew doesn’t MIX words.” It’s MINCE words. This stuff matters and it used to at the AJC.

Hampton

June 15th, 2010
9:05 am

Shake up the roster!
Now that’s my contribution LOL

Armond Hill

June 15th, 2010
9:09 am

In the NBA, it is the players, not the coach. Look at great coach, or those perceived to be great coaches. They have STARS, who are willing to be coached to a certain extent. Even then it may not work out, as you also need role players who are willing to contribute the dirty work. Terrible drafts have killed the Hawks.

No Spirit Group

June 15th, 2010
9:19 am

How can he not waste time sending a message when he stutters as bad as he does? I mean, really? this is the guy that the hawks want us to buy into and he talks like the defense attorney from My Cousin Vinny? I just heard an interview with him on the radio and the guy stutters something fierce. How’s he going to draw up a play late in the game when he can’t spit out the first word for 15 seconds?? Unbelievable.

John Stossil

June 15th, 2010
9:20 am

See- stutterers can be successful just like me!

Really?

June 15th, 2010
9:22 am

This is the guy that management wants us to buy into? Really? I just heard an interview with the guy and he sounds like the defense attorney from My Cousin Vinny. The guy can’t draw up a play when it takes him 15 seconds to get the first word out. We picked a stuttering players’ coach to run things- really?

PMC

June 15th, 2010
9:26 am

Mike Bibby will be worth a lot more over the course of the year coming off the bench as an offensive assassin. The guy cannot play defense at all… but he’s a very nice PG to have off the bench.

For Drew to have a really good shot though, I think they still need Joe.

Ken Strickland

June 15th, 2010
9:32 am

Sounds to me like the ASG wanted to make minimal roster changes, and wanted a HC who was willing to work with and develop the players on their existing roster. It’s also quite possible that the other candidates had issues with, or suggested getting rid of, a certain player(s)that the ASG valued.

It makes sense perfect sense not to make a whole sale departure from a system and a group of players that finished 3rd in the East with 53wins, 3 consecutive playoff appearances and 2 consecutive 2nd rd appearances. If you discover your car has 2 flat tires and/or the roof of your house has a leak, you don’t abandon the car or your house, you fix them.

LDrew’s job is to use his knowledge and familiarity with the team and it’s players to repair the damage Woodson caused by what he did and/or didn’t do, not rebuild everything.

Yep

June 15th, 2010
9:48 am

He does not mix words- he stutters them.

True 5

June 15th, 2010
10:00 am

THANK YOU JEFF SCHULTZ! finally an article that says all the right things about LD and not picking out his flaws and talking about other people we should have chosen. great article and great writer.

JustAThought

June 15th, 2010
10:06 am

All the talk about JJ is moot at this point…………….Until the ASG resign him the coach and the fans should be perparing themselves for JJ playing for some other team(which I predict will be the case).

ASHCAN.

June 15th, 2010
11:00 am

Great info jeff,wish you had a link of the introduction.

Mystikal

June 15th, 2010
11:15 am

Get on em’ Drew!! I think his hiring will be beneficial. This was already a successful team and with a new coach who is a more savy offensively that could make a great difference. Also using Teague more will limit the liability defensively at point guard while also hopefully giving us another weapon and/or giving us the opportunity to change up the tempo.

phoenixfalcon

June 15th, 2010
11:22 am

it’s going to be the same old same old, it’s like going from the big slim jim to the little .25 cent slim jim, it’s still a slim jim. they had a chance to really change this team, change the culture, but they failed ( yet again ) to do that.

Rufus1

June 15th, 2010
11:24 am

What is CHEAP?

Not spending 4mil a year on a coach in a players league…Is that Cheap?

Not wanting to losing 20mil a year on a mediocre basketball team(i,e. Mark Cuban)…is that cheap?

Not overpaying for player(i,e. Joe Johnson)…is that cheap?

Is OKC or Portland cheap? There payroll is less than the hawks.

Not wanting to pay a luxury tax on a basketball team in a football city…is that cheap?

I DON’T THINK ASG ARE CHEAP….I THINK THEY ARE GOOD BUSINESS MEN…I THINK THE OWNERS OF THE KNICKS, MAVS, MAGIC, HORNETS AND JAZZ ARE STUPID!

The NBA has a bad business structure…Stop blaming ASG for being good business men and blame the NBA for there SALARY CAP STRUCTURE. If the NBA had a HARD CAP, we might be the best team in the league.

P.S. The Hawks are a successful franchise(53 wins, 3 straight playoff appearances) …just in case you didn’t know

mario

June 15th, 2010
11:29 am

everything sounds good..we will see what happens

mario

June 15th, 2010
11:56 am

HELL NO RUFUS SOME OF WHAT YOUA RE SAYING IS TRUE BUT NOT ALL OF IT…OKC AND PORTLAND ARE YOUNGER THAN WE ARE..LETS SEE WHAT THEIR SALARY CAP IS IN A COUPLE OF YEARS WHEN THE ROOKI CONTRACT IS UP.

Big D

June 15th, 2010
11:59 am

DON’T THINK ASG ARE CHEAP….I THINK THEY ARE GOOD BUSINESS MEN…I THINK THE OWNERS OF THE KNICKS, MAVS, MAGIC, HORNETS AND JAZZ ARE STUPID!
—–
Oh really, how come the Knicks, Magic, Mavs and Jazz all have made Finals appearances and the Hawks have yet to get back to the ECF since 1988. Since 88 the Knicks 2 FInals, Jazz 2 finals, Mavs 1 final, Magic 2 finals oh and the Magic came into the league in 89, same year as the Hornets. So I think those owners arent as stupid as you say…incase you didnt know
Now the ASG is a dysfunctional group who are as egotistical as they are apathetic about putting a winning product capable of competing for a title

[...] ♦ Drew doesn’t waste time sending message to Hawks’ players [...]

Rufus1

June 15th, 2010
12:50 pm

ASG NOT CHEAP SMART…ALL THAT MATTERS IS A TITLE!!!

Why go over the luxury tax for players who don’t win you a title…
All the teams that payed the LUXTAX and lost more than the Hawks are BAD BUSINESS MEN!!!!!

Trading for bad contracts(i,e. Vince Carter, Antwoine Jamison and Shaq) hoping they will make you a little better is CRAZY.

ASG is doing the RIGHT WAY, the rest of them are doing it WRONG WAY.

JC

June 15th, 2010
1:24 pm

@Rufus and Mario, I think your capslock buttons are on (How embarrassing).

@Phoenix, I can’t decide if the Slim Jim analogy is the best or the worst I’ve ever heard.

@Everyone else, give Drew a chance. It might turn out that he has been more responsible for the good things that have happened to the Hawks recently than you think.

D.W.

June 15th, 2010
1:59 pm

I’m in agreement with Chuck, send Josh Smith packing. If he’s going to be a superstar, I’m fine with him being that somewhere else!!!

Terrell

June 15th, 2010
2:10 pm

if there is one thing I’ve learned from this playoffs it’s this, “DO just enough to get you in!” Yes we want Atl to win every game and play at the highest level of intensity possible. We did that the past 2 years and what has happened? Look at the Celtics, they aren’t the same team that we swept in the regular season.

Terrell

June 15th, 2010
2:12 pm

Yes trade Josh Smith! I’m tired of winning, so while we are at it lets get rid of Horford because he plays too hard! (sarcasm off)

You guys are too funny!

Big D

June 15th, 2010
2:13 pm

We have no choice but to give Drew a chance b/c he is our coach.
I hope unlike Woody he will pull guys for lack of effort, intensity and taking bad shots (JOSH SMITH). I do believe Drew will not put up with Josh Smiths attitude and behavorial problems.

3Klub

June 15th, 2010
3:01 pm

I’m on board with Drew. I admit there were other people I wanted to see get the job, BUT moving Larry to HC means that this team is going forward and not starting over. When you have a young team that wins 53 games, a 4 seed and gets to the second round of the play-offs, you dont want to start over so I’m glad about that. Now the question is what will Sund or more importantly ASG do personnel wise. I’d like to see us keep Joe and add to the mix. We don’t have the cash to sign one of these big time free agents, but there are plenty of complimentary pieces to be had out here. I just hope we can make some sort of splash personel wise. GO HAWKS!

Jim Jones

June 15th, 2010
4:31 pm

That’s right, people. Drink that Kool-Aid. Drink it all up. That’s right.

Whopper Dawg

June 15th, 2010
5:34 pm

That actually sounded pretty good.

Winning will fix a lot of things during the regular season, and the Hawks have enough talent to remain about where they are. The million dollar questions is Mr. Drew take this collection of players (as it sounds like he and Sund are sold on them) and close the gap with the elite 4 teams. The playoffs were mostly a joke this year with the haves running rough shod over the have nots. The Hawks were exposed as a have not.

wesleywhatwhat

June 15th, 2010
5:48 pm

i like the hire, at first glance.

he at least seems to recognize what the rest of the world does about the hawks – too much iso joe offense and josh smith needs to stay near the basket to be the all star he can be.

now to make it happen on the court.

good luck fellas, u have lots of fans in atlanta hoping u can be a great team in 2010-2011.

Brendan

June 15th, 2010
6:11 pm

I just hope the Hawks can advance to the CF. The quote I heard on 680TheFan driving in was, “Everyone in that lockerroom wants to get past the 2nd round. But they just don’t know how.”

I was a little stunned to hear that quote. Hopefully, Coach Drew has the answers. He is, after all, the Coach.

JeJe

June 15th, 2010
6:32 pm

LARRY DREW SAID ON THE RADIO THIS MORNING HE HAS TO GET THE RIGHT COMPLIMENTARY PLAYERS AROUND JJ

TRADES PLEASE

GET RID OF DUCK AND BIB

DONATE THEM TO SALVATION ARMY

JeJe

June 15th, 2010
6:32 pm

WHAT’S ALL THIS TALK ABOUT WOODY BEING LAID BACK?

HE SEEMED LIKE A PERSISTENT A-HOLE TO ME

STEELY DAN MAN

June 15th, 2010
6:57 pm

GOOD READ GUYS/GALS !!!!!!
I’M LAST …….. YAY !!!

Luke Cage

June 15th, 2010
7:41 pm

All I hear is how is joe going to want to go away from the ISO’s, well no matter where he signs he will have to abandon it so its a silly thing to keep hearing

[...] ♦ Drew doesn’t waste time sending message to Hawks’ players [...]

Bruce Bruce

June 16th, 2010
11:15 am

Atlanta won’t win 35 games without Joe Johnson. Everybody keeps talking about J. Crawford. He is more of a ball hog than Johnson. He has never even been to the playoffs before this year. The only other dependable player is Horford. The rest of the guys are suspect. What you should be saying is can we trade Marvin and someone else to bring in a legitimate three or five man to compliment the current roster. The old saying is “you never miss a good thing until it is gone”. Hawks fans will miss Joe’s ability to play defense, pass and score when he is gone. Furthermore, if you think one bad comment by Joe is enough to let him go just think what will happen when the team goes from 53 wins to 30 wins.

cdog

June 16th, 2010
12:26 pm

hope coach drew will do good but i still say there wasn’t anything wrong with the hawks which couldn’t be fix by rick sund addind a couple of good big men and resigning joe johnson. people will see this season what i’m talking about.

David

June 16th, 2010
2:08 pm

I think that the Hawks are making the right choices. Woodson deserves to lose his job in my opinion. I don’t see how the heck you can afford to get swept when you’re only one playoff seed down from your opponent. It’s not how good your regular season is in the end, it’s your playoff performance. There needs to be a middle man inbetween Woodson and Stan Van Gundy.

tjhook

June 16th, 2010
9:15 pm

Al Harrington for newest Hawk. Can be had at mid-level salary. Talk about it. He could be the fit we need to bring more balance.

Mystikal

June 16th, 2010
9:34 pm

The hawks will get over the hump when ownership is prepared to really invest in the team. In business you have to spend money to make money, while in this arena sometimes you have to take calculated risks. In the draft we always wait to see who falls to us instead of making moves to get who we want. In free agency, we wait til last minute and let market decide what someone is worth and then often end up gettin left overs. And although I think Drew is a good choice, we just took the cheapest coaching option. If there was a way penny pinching could get you championships I’m sure someone would have written a book by now.