There goes another: Miller signs with Houston over Hawks
Veteran center Brad Miller is taking his game to Houston, not Atlanta.
The Hawks continue to either: 1) Twiddle their thumbs, or 2) clutch their wallets, when it comes to signing another center. Either way, another big man just fell off the board.
Brad Miller, believed to be the more desirable choice for the Hawks’ offense over Shaquille O’ Neal by some in the organization, has agreed to a three-year contract worth nearly $15 million with the Houston Rockets, according to ESPN.com. The deal probably was out of the Hawks’ price range.
The 34-year-old Miller, who was a two-time All-Star for Sacramento when Rockets coach Rick Adelman was there, drew the interest of several teams, including the Hawks, Boston, Cleveland and Miami. The 7-footer averaged nine points and five rebounds in 24 minutes last season in Chicago.
Where does this leave the Hawks? Possibly nowhere.
They have made no movement on O’Neal. A potential trade that would have dealt Marvin Williams to Cleveland for salary relief appears dead, if it was ever even alive. And it doesn’t appear Hawks’ ownership is willing to spend the money on anybody else to improve the front line, which means they’ll again have an out-of-position Al Horford playing center.
For the record: Yes, I’m aware Horford made the All-Star team last year. But even he has said on several occasions he feels more comfortable at power forward. The Hawks don’t necessarily need to sign a starting center. They merely need somebody who can play significant minutes off the bench, take up space and be a presence. Either O’Neal or Miller would fit the bill.
If the Hawks stand pat, are you comfortable with things as is? I’m not.
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192 comments Add your comment
balismith
July 17th, 2010
6:32 pm
geez same ole same ole with the hawks….some things never change…maybe women s professional basketball will be better…always been the number 3 sports team in the atl..may soon be number 4
Number's game
July 17th, 2010
6:38 pm
I always thought the ASG resembled a number 2.
Well, that’s what grandma used to call it.
Delbert D.
July 17th, 2010
6:38 pm
Got to keep Zaza. I’m glad Miller signed. If Zaza had 24 minutes, he’d have easily beaten Millers numbers. Not sure he could get 24 minutes due to foul problems, though. Take any of Zasa’s last 3 years, double the minutes, and you’ve got a double-double.
Forget Kwame. The guy is a never-has-been, never-will-be. Complete waste of DNA, proteins and all that other stuff. Depletes the oxygen, increases the CO2 problem.
Ex-Season Ticket Holder
July 17th, 2010
6:54 pm
Don’t look at the Hawks being able to re-sign Al Horford when it’s time if ownership keeps screwing with him and playing him out of position – Al is a smart young man and will sign with a team that 1) wants to win, 2) has a center to allow him to play his position, 3) can and are willing to pay him. After paying Joe Johnson, this cheap team will not be able/willing to pay anyone else. The Hawks make it hard to cheer for them. Is it football season yet?
Josh
July 17th, 2010
7:09 pm
“The deal probably was out of the Hawks’ price range.”
Its because the Atlanta Spirit are cheap a**es. They do not care about winning. In my honest opinion, I think the Atlanta Spirit offered Joe the max contract thinking he was not going to take it so they would not look like the bad guys and make Joe look like the bad guy and it backfired on them and bit them in the a**. The Hawks are never going to win a championship til we get owners who actually will spend money to get the necessary players to make it happen. Trade Marvin the dud to get Shaq. We cannot do know worse than we did last season. Marvin was not the reason we won 53 games. Get rid of him now and get a center. We will finish at best 5th in the eastern conference this season. Its time for the front office and the Atlanta Spirit to get serious if they want the fans to get serious and spend their hard working money at the Hawks game. They are a complete joke right now and everyone in the NBA is laughing at the Hawks.
Nahila
July 17th, 2010
7:12 pm
The Hawk’s ownership needs to sell out to someone else but they are now selling out their fans.. This will go down as the worst GM/ownership bungling of a good team. All they had to do is offer Joe a little less, save room for signing a good center backup and a couple more veterans or to trade some of their bad contracts to improve the team and one by one those players that could have helped in the playoffs are being signed by the other teams. Meanwhile,Sund is sitting on his you know what and it seems he is not being allowed to spend the money to improve the team in addition to being inept in trading for or adding players to the team while other GM’s are wheeling and dealing, he has made nary a trade to improve the team. Go figure, where is Joe, I thought he said he was going to help recruit some good players to the team? Joe was way over paid and the Hawks will be sorry they signed him in a couple of years. He will stink the place up now that he has a fat contract. How much was guaranteed, I assume all of it was or he would have gone to Chicago or New York/New Jersey.
ryan
July 17th, 2010
7:18 pm
Well there is Kurt Thomas out there he probably sign with the Knicks the thing i can say to make anyone fell better if Shaq finally realize that he going to have to swallow his pride and the Hawks offer of $5.5 million .
brad miller | Trendy News
July 17th, 2010
7:35 pm
[...] miller Author: admin July 17, 2010 Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)Miller, Rockets agree on $15M dealESPNLAS VEGAS — Veteran center Brad Miller has agreed to a [...]
Real Talk
July 17th, 2010
7:40 pm
I hope Al dosen’t come back here next year because he is to good of an player with passion and heart to suffer with this joke of a franchise. AL if you somehow read this just play this year out to the best of your ability and take your talents somewhere that is serious about winning. ASG SELL THE HAWKS FRANCHISE.
Derek
July 17th, 2010
7:40 pm
With the exception of firing Mike Woodson, the Hawks have done evrything wrong this offseason. I was really hoping they would ASG would loosen the purse strings and really make the Hawks into a contender. This just shows that they are content with mediocrity and that they don’t really care about giving the fans something to really come out and root for. I am a loyal fan but I am really disappointed with the moves or lack thereof this offseason. Maybe Coach Larry Drew is going to work some kind of miracle but good luck with that.
Jeff D.
July 17th, 2010
7:41 pm
It’s sad that we generally expect the worst from the Spirit(less) group. Miller would have filled the bill. He didn’t go out and hit the jackpot w/ Houston either. Looked like a reasonable contract. There was talk that young C JaVale McGee might be available. The Wiz had been trimming some salary. Looks like there’s not much left to be had for free agent centers. Another year soft in the paint. How can we expect different results with Al out of position?
Real Talk
July 17th, 2010
7:43 pm
I don’t blame Josh Childress for leaving this joke franchise and playing oversees. Welcome back to the NBA Chillz PHX will appreciate you more.
Derek
July 17th, 2010
7:44 pm
Woe is us if Al decide to move on next year. But I can not fault him if he does. It seems that ASG has not committed to winning so I too would move on to a winner.
Rufus1
July 17th, 2010
7:50 pm
ASG not Cheap, Savvy
Orlanda has a 93mil payroll..that is 23mil above the salary cap. JJ Reddick will cost as much a JJ next year and we the right big man away from being top 2 in the East. We need start giving them credit for the team they have built, without spending foolishly.
Brad Miller is not worth 5mil a year , plus we already have Bibby’s contract that can’t move. Miller is worth about 2mil a year and not penny more.
Question..Does Shaq make the Hawks a title contender? IMO, No.
If we sign Shaq for the MLE and 2 free agents, it may cost the 5mil in lux tax….that is like signing shaq for 10mil. Shaq has very few options and the Hawks are waiting himteam out…..be patient. Shaq isn’t worth going into the lux.
I have faith in Sund….I have Jamal Crawford and Jordan Crawford as examples.
Real Talk
July 17th, 2010
7:56 pm
@ Rufus
You have faith in someone that just OVERPAID a second or third option player on a REALLY GOOD team 120+ million dollars without trying to get him to take a cut so they could sign some descent help.
SMDH at your faith
Hawkstruefan
July 17th, 2010
8:07 pm
Reading some of the comments you would think your team was the Timberwolves. You have a 53 win team of exciting athletic highlight inducing players. You have a 4 time all star, an all star center, the reigning 6th man of the year, a power forward with athleticism second only to Lebron. You have ownership smart enough to turn speedy claxton and Acie into the friggin 6th Man of the Year and offer their all star a max contract because everyone and his sister knew there were multiple teams waiting to give max – one year to this talented guard. Joe’s numbers are on par with D Wade and Kobe. Understanding that to allow him to leave would destroy the chemistry and make them a lottery team. Now they are one of the few teams athletic enough to challenge Miami’s big 3 and cast of old role players. A team that last year owned the aging Boston Celtics who are now another year older. They have a new coach who believes in capitalizing on this team’s talents. When this team runs, they are scary good. Add a 2nd year guard who is super fast and if he learns to deliver will make them even more dangerous. We have an embarrasment of riches in Atlanta. I for one look forward to see what the ever improving TOP 8 NBA team does next.
Real Talk
July 17th, 2010
8:16 pm
@ Hawkstruefan
Are you High or something? What good is winning 53 games in a weak eastern conference and getting destroyed in the playoffs two years straight. People forget this team was HORRIABLE on the road last year and this is the same team that they are trying to sell to fans for next year against a improved eastern conference. However you are right there was much more work that was done last year with aquiring Crawford but what has been done to counter the power on the eastern confernce besides overpaying a mediorce player this offseason? I would have had more respect for them if they would have taken a step back instead of being locked up for 6 seasons with a 120m contract.
mike
July 17th, 2010
8:22 pm
I think what u are miussing Hawkstruefan is that everyone else in our division is getting better and we are standing pat. The ownership is a joke thinking we can be better than the teams in our division based on last year. Don’t ever compare Kobe and DWade to Joe Johnson..they don’t dissapear during playoff time..they get better! Joe averaged what….8 points during the playoffs?? Yeah let’s give him a max deal that no one will trade for…at age 35 he will be making 16 million a year. Another Ken Norman/Jon Koncak deal it seems…I think Eienstien or someone once said..”doing the same things and expecting different results is insanity! The ASG is insane…and sucks
Hawkstruefan
July 17th, 2010
8:25 pm
If you think they are locked up, you don’t understand expiring contracts. You can’t be horrible if you beat the NBA finalists at home twice.
Real Talk
July 17th, 2010
8:30 pm
@ Hawkstruefan
It took a miracle to beat Orlando at home during the season. It was clear to see Boston and the Lakers didn’t take the Hawks seriously when they lost at Philips. How may points did they lose by to all three teams on the Road? Like i said HORRIBLE
Real Talk
July 17th, 2010
8:32 pm
i mean two teams Boston was just going thru the motion of the season.
Hawkstruefan
July 17th, 2010
8:33 pm
At the end of the day you have a team that finished 3rd in the Eastern Conference. Where the other teams are older and lack the chemistry, this is a very exciting team to watch. If you can’t see that you are high. You are correct the team didn’t show up against Orlando, but basketball is about matchups. Which is why Orlando was dismantled in the next round by the same team who couldn’t beat us. Doing the same thing has resulted in improvement every year for 5 or 6 years so you I don’t get you same thing point.
Luke Cage
July 17th, 2010
8:38 pm
Again i say it over and over “In order to Win a NBA Championship you have to spend money every year”, ASG are just doing nothing, ok we resigned Joe but we haven’t improved the team, winning teams don’t care about the Luxury Tax, they sign the players to keep them in contention, look at Heat, Magic & Lakers, those teams by the start of the season will be way over the Luxury tax, think they care, nope cause they will make it up by winning and putting butts in seats
Real Talk
July 17th, 2010
8:41 pm
3rd sead 2nd round exit seen it they past two years. They will be lucky if they finish 7 or 8th this year
Heat will destroy them
Magic has already destroyed them and will continue to do so
Bulls has a Solid starting 5 to destroy them
Bucks has Bogut back to get revenge on them
Bobcats will be competitive
New York lost to the twice,couldn’t even beat them at home last year the will be more improved this year
Wizards could possible past them for that 7 spot
Hawks same ole same ole just
“Doing the same thing has resulted in improvement every year for 5 or 6 years so you I don’t get you same thing point.” this sound comical LMAO
It takes 5 or 6 years to get second round exits OMG
Luke Cage
July 17th, 2010
8:41 pm
Hawkstruefan, not disagreeing with you, but even the back to back champion lakers continue to add, after 1st championship they bring in Artest, 2nd championship they bring in Steve Blake and looking at Matt Barnes as well as others because in this league you have to keep up. Love my Hawks but management just ticks you off at the lies they keep throwin out there.
Hawkstruefan
July 17th, 2010
8:43 pm
Going over the luxury tax is not a prerequisite to a championship. Ask the Knicks. If it was about spending money Dallas and NJ should be perennial nba champions. BTW the Heat were so awful last year they were exploded, Orlando failed last year to get to the finals and are pretty much the same team.
Hawkstruefan
July 17th, 2010
8:44 pm
I do understand your frustrations with the Hawks. I was disappointed with the team in the Playoffs, especially Joe. But Joe can’t do it alone. He was getting max regardless. We need a winning product on the floor.
Hawkstruefan
July 17th, 2010
8:47 pm
The Hawks played no defense in the Playoffs and their offense was stagnant. Their play was heartless. And there was no excuse for it. I hope that being older and more mature and with a new coach who stresses ball movement and a running game will improve the team.
Luke Cage
July 17th, 2010
8:48 pm
Not saying go way over the Luxury Tax, but my God cmon man we haven’t added anyone at all after we were told we are going to upgrade this team, trading Marvin for Shaq is stupid to me, just sign the guy outright at about 6 mil a yr for 2, how hard is that? You won’t be that far above the the tax
Real Talk
July 17th, 2010
8:51 pm
At least NJ has a proven coach in Avery Johnson someone else the Hawks passed over & If the Hawks wouldn’t listen to Woody what makes you think they would listen to LD?
Hawks Insider
July 17th, 2010
8:54 pm
You fans don’t have a clue. The Hawks do. They’ve already got an special exemption from Stearn to use indoor/outdoor balls at their games, then rent the Official Hawks Ball to outdoor rec leagues when they are on the road.
This will allow them to afford to pay the luxury tax by 2045 and bring in a big who can provide quality minutes off the bench.
Buy your tickets, support the team, but don’t think you know how to tell the pros how to do their job.
Hawkstruefan
July 17th, 2010
8:57 pm
Luke, I think Shaq would be a disruption. He has burned bridges with almost every team he’s played for. I don’t see his personality changing. It’s a shame because he has the skills to help us.
Real you are assuming they didn’t listen, maybe Woody’s system took them as far as they could go.
Dr. Dre
July 17th, 2010
9:08 pm
@ASG Keep their heads ringing.
Real Talk
July 17th, 2010
9:10 pm
@ Hawkstruefan
I would rather have Shaq being disruption maby he would reveil the truth behind the ASG than actually someone who don’t care if the fans who pays his salary show up or not.
Luke Cage
July 17th, 2010
9:11 pm
Ok lets stand pat and hope our 2nd yr pg & new coach get past the 2nd rd, well at least not as embarassing this time if we get there
Hawkstruefan
July 17th, 2010
9:20 pm
Real, what a strange statement. Well the real fans don’t want a disruption. You don’t really care about the game of basketball, if that is what you prefer. You just want to complain. Fans want a winning team and ASG provided that. The fact is that the Hawks have been a consistently improving top team with the same core. If you don’t think so follow Minnesota. You might not like the fact that Joe is getting paid, but at the end of the day it was the best move if you want a winning product on the floor in this now tough division.
tony
July 17th, 2010
9:21 pm
The authorities need to admit the ASG into rehab. They had to be on CRACK for signing the DRIBBLER(JJ) to 120 million doller contract. Can anyone think of another reason why the ASG would be that naive?
doc
July 17th, 2010
9:22 pm
ray we are not near a 50 win team with all the action that has taken place around us. say 43 as it stands right now.
Hawkstruefan
July 17th, 2010
9:28 pm
Luke, we’ve changed every year with pieces and draft picks, hmmm and keeping the same core has gotten us:
13 to 53 games with multiple all star apperances’
A guard multiple teams were will to give max money
Lottery to 2nd round of the playoffs
One of the most athletic teams in the NBA
mediocrity to being in the conversation
Butt of jokes to take of elite team status
Do you guys even know anything about the Hawks? You make statements that have no basis in fact.
Hawkstruefan
July 17th, 2010
9:31 pm
I honestly think, some of you guys are paid by the AJC to fill this the comments with vitriole. LOL.
gotten older
July 17th, 2010
9:33 pm
could someone tell me who are the ASG? How did they get their money? I would think it would be extremely expensive to own the hawks. maybe they can’t really afford to own a team. Many people said Woody could not get it done as a head coach – what about the current G.M how is he doing, or is he doing anything?
ryan
July 17th, 2010
9:37 pm
You no who the ASG reminds me of Lindsey Lohan she started out good then her life came crashing down.
Hawkstruefan
July 17th, 2010
9:40 pm
Doc, what math are you using? How can you possible figure that? We have the same team that continues to improve. That fact hasn’t changed. Cleveland is lottery bound, Miami in its present form has won nothing, nothing. Boston is aged. Assuming that 3 guys and cast of has beens in Miam can win a championship and automatically better than a proven Hawks team is ludicrous.
harry the hawk
July 17th, 2010
9:51 pm
Ir should be obvious Sund has absolutely no plan—(should I lump in ASG)?
Will say it again…..Kevin Pritchard is available now for a GM’s spot (hint,hint)
He’ll get the team movin in the right direction
Richard Denson
July 17th, 2010
9:59 pm
I don’t care Brad Miller suck anyway
Real Talk
July 17th, 2010
10:00 pm
@Hawkstruefan
This team is already a disruption and is the laughing stock of the League I gotta hear that from everybody that I talk to from different cities about this overpaid contract. I am a REAL fan of REAL BASKETBALL I am not a fan of the ASG version of the Atlanta Hawks”
You said “Fans want a winning team and ASG provided that.”
ASG provided that with passing over Chris Paul, Deron Williams, & Brandon Roy in the Draft and it took four years to make the playoffs in a weak eastern conference. When they do make the playoffs every game has to go to seven and two second round sweeps.
I don’t blame Chillz for playing overseas I hope Al have enough sense to leave this franchise after this year. I won follow Minnesota but I will be following Miami Heat until ASG sell the Franchise. So GOOD LUCK supporting insanity.
Tony
July 17th, 2010
10:02 pm
Jeff, this is the most insulting group of owners the Hawks fans have ever had. I cant believe that these guys would sacrifice being able to compete for a luxury tax. But really, it doesnt surprise either. Anyone who is not a Hawks fan or has a passion for winning a championship shouldnt be allowed to own this team. All of the excuses have been made for not acquiring a center for years now, not just this year. It almost appears like a conspiracy of some sort. What the fans need to do is boycott this group until we get what we deserve in a championship team. The fans of Atlanta deserve that much. These group of guys are only concerned with money. Get Ted Turner back! Go away Spirit!
Urban Meyer
July 17th, 2010
10:05 pm
No one in their right mind would want to play for the Hawks.. The hawks are losers and will always be losers!
Luke Cage
July 17th, 2010
10:06 pm
Hey man its my opinion, yes we have made progress and happy that we have risen from the dephts we came from, again in my opinion i approve of resigning Joe, also believe that we still need to add pieces every year whether it be a big or small name free agent to continue to build, standing pat this year will do nothing to improve our chances, great draft move getting JC2, seen him in summer league games and dude can play. I want a banger in the middle, thats me, you may not agree but thats your opinion, would like to see Matt Barnes also, but we also need more moves because we have been very fortunate to stay healthy for basically the last 2 seasons, if anything those extra moves will payoff in case that happens… Bottom line is you can’t have enough players on the team and if ya gotta go over a lil of the Luxury Tax then so be it. Again these are all my opinions right or wrong, not comments with vitriole.
Rufus1
July 17th, 2010
10:08 pm
Hawkstruefan
I agree with everything you said. People want the Hawks to waste money like Dallas or Orlando on scrubs. Thay also forget it took Jordan 7 years to win a title. People think the Hawks are Cheap, but the other teams are stup with their money. It doesn,t make sense to pay the lux for marginal player, old busted players or just to make a trade…..stay the course Hawks.