Hawks dropped the ball on not signing Shaq
Shaquille O'Neal squares off with Justin Bieber, who I think is playing center for the Hawks next season. (Orlando Sentinel)
The Hawks want to believe they’re knocking on the door of the NBA’s elite. This is confirmation that they’re not.
Shaquille O’Neal is expected to sign with the Boston Celtics for the NBA veterans’ minimum salary of $1.4 million per season. For O’Neal, who was determined to try to play for up to two more seasons with the hopes of winning another league title, this means one of two things:
♦ Either Shaq doesn’t view the Hawks as being that close to a title (certainly behind Boston, Orlando and Miami in the Eastern Conference), or . ..
♦ The Hawks don’t believe that O’Neal does anything for them. Because for all of the smoke coming out of the organization that O’Neal wanted way too much money or was demanding way too many minutes or even a starting role, the fact is that he’s going to Boston for a bench spot and NBA pocket change.
ESPN reported Boston coach Doc Rivers, “began pursuing O’Neal last month when the two met in Orlando … and sources say O’Neal chose the Celtics [over the Hawks] because he believes they have a better chance of winning what would be his fifth NBA championship.”
There you go.
The Hawks can be an entertaining team. But they’re also a flawed one. Signing Josh Powell and Jason Collins doesn’t cure their size problem in the post. Al Horford is playing out of position. This decision more likely ensures that they again will be the No. 4 playoff seed in the East and exit in the second round.
How much of this is the result of money? A lot. Ownership and general manager Rick Sund did not want to go into a tax situation with the salary cap. That meant not doing anything of significance to improve the team in free agency this offseason (other than overpaying to keep Joe Johnson).
There are obvious issues with O’Neal, not the least of which are age and weight. But he can still play and provide valuable minutes off the bench, at both ends of the floor. He also would have taken some of the media attention off of Johnson (in a good way) in the locker room. Marketing-wise, of course, he would’ve been a bonanza.
But now it appears he will be a Celtic. The Hawks will point out that they defeated Boston four times in the regular season. Shaq would point out that the Celtics reached the NBA finals (losing in seven games to the Lakers) while the Hawks were swept in the second round (after being taken seven games by Milwaukee in round one). Checkmate.
♦
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160 comments Add your comment
Jack
August 4th, 2010
11:35 am
If memory serves correctly when it was first mentioned that the Hawks were interested in Shaq, there was a AJC blog saying he would be a big mistake, and he would just put people in seats. Now we are saying not signing him is a mistake. Very Interesting.
Shaq will be injured half the season. So not having him is one of the few good thinks going for the Hawks
JV
August 4th, 2010
11:37 am
The only argument for washed up Shaq here is the fannies-in-seats argument, and teams that make decisions based on that interest tend to lose on the court. He was not the answer. Better to stand pat and see what the new coach can do rather than go down nostalgia road.
SEC4Life
August 4th, 2010
11:37 am
@ ChippersLoveChild – That list is on the money.
Had Andrew Bogut been healthy last spring there’s no way that series goes seven games.
Can’t really blame Shaq for going to the C’s either. If all he’s concerned about is a ring, they’re definitely much more of a lock than the Hawks. The ASG could’ve at least given the appearance that they were making an aggressive play for him though. Clearly, it’s not about the money for Shaq.
Basically, the Hawks went from a team full of 2-guards and swingmen to a team full of swingmen and not-tall-enough centers.
Sheesh.
Manny
August 4th, 2010
11:47 am
This horrible off-season started by the firing of Mike Woodson. Remember? We were SOOO excited because we thought that by getting rid of Mike Woodson, the Hawks were looking to upgrade at that position.
And remember the banter on the blogs? ‘Oh, we shouldn’t pick up Avery Johnson because Avery Johnson didn’t win anything!’ Or, ‘Perhaps we should wait for Doc Rivers and go get him.’ Remember that???
And then, when the ASG laughed at the blogs while offering the job to Mike Woodson’s assistant; we stuttered a little bit but kept it up. We looked at the Joe Johnson situation.
Y’all remember Joe Johnson, right? That was that guy that played very well during the regular season, then melts down like a Snickers bar on the window sill in the summertime during the postseason. Well, the fans rewarded another annual complete blowout exit by the Hawks by booing the team. And the booing was well warranted- like what’s going to happen… the fans were going to applaud the team after losing by 40 points on a nice regular season???
But JJ responded by telling the media that he really doesn’t care if the fans ever show up. The fans were livid. The fans were kinda glad to see him go. I mean, if he didn’t like booing, go and take that sort of game to New York! I mean, I really wanted him to go to the Knicks!
But instead of that, the ASG group rewarded Joe Johnson by giving him the kind of money reserved for folks like Kobe, LeBron, etc. This, to a guy that can’t win in the postseason. Ever.
And now this. We didn’t make any more moves. We didn’t upgrade, even when the Heat brought the Dream Team back together. Even when the Magic is upgrading, the Celtics are upgrading, the Bulls are upgrading. We STILL didn’t go out and get a center. We STILL have Marvin Williams as a starter. We STILL have nothing to get excited about!
No upgrades ANYWHERE! And you expect for people to go out and spend good money on tickets? Wow.
This is what I’ve said before: If you cannot afford to bring a competitive NBA team to the court, you cannot afford an NBA team! And Joe Johnson got his wish. He got paid like he’s in the Top 5 in the NBA. He can be the face of a franchise. And since he doesn’t care too much about what fans do, he’s going to be on a team that will play in front of very few fans every home game.
crackbaby
August 4th, 2010
11:50 am
Schultzie!
Stick to comedy, please. Shaq would not help the Hawks advance in the playoffs. In fact, he would also hinder regular season play. Might sell a few more tickets, but that’s it.
Don’t know what the answer is after they overpaid to keep Joe (you are correct on that point). Maybe the Hawks will continue to improve and win 60 games next season. I hope so but we’ll have to wait and see.
And another thing, let’s not just grant Miami the championship. If the Celtics or Lakers or (insert your favorite) can play as a team, the collection of self adoring superstars in South Beach will fall and fall hard. Only David Stern and the NBA refs can guarantee a Heat victory at this point.
Hawks dropped the ball on not signing Shaq – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Basketball Video Zone
August 4th, 2010
11:51 am
[...] Hawks dropped the ball on not signing ShaqAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)(Orlando Sentinel photo) The Hawks want to believe they're knocking on the door of the NBA's elite. This is confirmation that they're not. …Hot stuff for NBA's opener: Celtics vs. MiamiBoston GlobeNBA Rumors: Shaq Close To Signing With CelticsBleacher ReportShaquille O'Neal coming off Boston bench?Yahoo! SportsThe Associated Press -ESPN -Los Angeles Times (blog)all 713 news articles » [...]
Don't Drink the Coolade
August 4th, 2010
11:52 am
The inactivity of the Hawks management and the overpaying of Joe Johnson (I know I know – signing was necessary to insure a playoff spot each year) has caused the Franchise to take at least two steps backwards. Atlanta will struggle mightily to be a 5th seed or lower and get axed in round one most years. Miami, Boston, Orlando, Milwaukee, and Chicago are better than the Hawks – that equals one and done!!
Ted M
August 4th, 2010
11:52 am
Josh Powell and Jason Collins won’t even play (anything over token minutes).
jon
August 4th, 2010
11:53 am
your not the biggest fan in new jersey mr. mojjo
gdg73
August 4th, 2010
11:54 am
If Shaq would have signed with Atlanta, we would have seen what Al Horford could do playing against other power forwards in league. Probably would average 20 and 10. We could have traded Marvin for Shaq as well. We could have played Joe, Mo, or Josh at SF or signed Josh Howard. This ownership group is just cheap. There could have been a five team race for the Eastern Conference Championship, with Atlanta squarely in the thick of things (Heat, Celtics, Magic, Hawks, and Bulls). Instead, we are left wondering what if. I wish I had the resources to buy a sports franchise. I know exactly which one I would purchase.
Roro
August 4th, 2010
11:56 am
Shaq is the hawks lease problems! how about developing the young pg Jeff Teague and getting a small foward(mw) that can do more than just shoot jump shots.A center is needed but the answer is not Shaq..
All I'm Saying...
August 4th, 2010
11:57 am
Typical smart move by the Celtics (”Doc Rivers met with Shaq a month ago in Orlando”) and, unfortunately, more of the same old, same old lack of vision, budget, or smarts by Hawks. Sund says he knows team needs a Center and then proceeds to do virtually nothing about it during off-season. Apparently convinced that Collins losing weight will be the difference. Excuse me if I’m unimpressed.
Still, time remains to surprise and despite what many may think Marvin is a trade bargaining chip for a team that needs some size upfront. Trade options (i.e. can we get a serviceable Center in exchange) are limited although I’d take the aged Erick Dampier in return for Marvin at this stage.
LET’S GO HAWKS!
Tman
August 4th, 2010
12:01 pm
The Hawks have no need for Shaq, as he brings no athleticism to the team that is built with athletes. Sure Shaq would be a presence in the lane but that’s all. He is a liability in every sense of the word. No foul shooting ability and his best days are way past. The Hawks were smart to pass on Shaq’s buffoonery.
DP
August 4th, 2010
12:04 pm
I don’t buy the “Shaq would sell more tickets” argument. He might generate a bump for the first month or two, but his presence would make the Hawks even more stagnant offensively. With Shaq clogging the middle, fans would be treated to more walking the ball up the floor, more Josh Smith jumpers, iso-Joe and iso-Jamal. It’s not like Shaq is pounding down a lot of thunder dunks like in the old days. After his initial small jump he’s virtually chained to the floor.
Shaq is about as entertaining to watch these days as Eric Dampier.
Gator Man
August 4th, 2010
12:11 pm
Move over heat, boston will win the eastern conference championship, they are stacking, Jermain Oneal, Garnett, Shack.
Once again the Hawks slip””’
Shaquille O’Neal Signs Two-Year Deal With NBA’s Boston Celtics, ESPN Says – Bloomberg « My NBA Video
August 4th, 2010
12:15 pm
[...] With Boston CelticsBleacher ReportSources: Shaquille O'Neal to BostonESPNYahoo! Sports -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -The Associated Pressall 747 news [...]
The Real JC
August 4th, 2010
12:15 pm
@Jeff (the commenter, not the columnist) – No matter how many times the ownership shoots themselves in the foot, devoted Hawks fans still want to watch games.
You can’t blame the players for the bad decisions, and it’s them on the floor still trying to win every night. If you don’t watch the games, you don’t get to see the maturation of Teague or how good JC2 is. You don’t get to watch Josh or Marvin hammer it down, or Jamal shoot a buzzer-beater to win the game. You don’t get to see if LD’s motion offense actually has legs and can improve not only offensive presence, but bench utilization as well.
Yes, I’m upset we have 4 centers, none of which can guard Dwight Howard or anyone over 7 feet. I’m upset they’ve cheaped out on nearly every free agent, including the vet they were supposed to get with that $3 mil. But it’s not Larry Drew’s fault, it’s not any of the player’s faults, it’s not even Rick Sund’s fault.
It’s ASG, who has made it clear that the team is not for sale. Not buying tickets or watching games on TV isn’t going to help – they’ve literally already lost hundreds of millions of dollars and have one of the lowest attendance records in the NBA, despite making it to the playoffs three years in a row.
What fans need to do is go to games, make signs and boo the ownership. It’s easy to ignore fans that aren’t there, but when they all come to your game and chant “ASG Sucks” it’s a little harder.
Mitun
August 4th, 2010
12:16 pm
all I have to say I wish Arthur Blanks owned all of the Atlanta team cause none of this would have happen.
benchwarmer
August 4th, 2010
12:16 pm
Resigning Joe Johnson for the max was the last great example of a clueless ownership. To my mind also the NBA seems to be losing its relevance anyway. Seems more like a superstar boys club than a competative sports league.
ADR
August 4th, 2010
12:24 pm
the hawks need to go after kwame brown, hes the last viable option
James
August 4th, 2010
12:26 pm
Shaq it doing the right thing I would rather play for the Celtics they got a better chance of winning the championship than the Hawks. The Hawks will be lucky to get out of the first round but this year I don’t even see that happening.
Big Dog
August 4th, 2010
12:27 pm
I’m done with the Hawks until either the Joe Johnson days are over or we have new owners. This is pathetic.
akjd
August 4th, 2010
12:30 pm
shaq will be sitting on the celts bench wearing his suit by the all star break
MannyT
August 4th, 2010
12:30 pm
Thinking that Shaq would come here under the same conditions that he would go to Boston is like thinking people buy Playboy for the same reason they buy National Geographic…same on the surface, but so different in reality.
Atlanta has not attracted a desirable free agent on its merits since Joe Johnson came here from Phoenix. Until the perceptions change, management will either overpay (i.e. the Hawks tax) or not get noteworthy players.
Good thing Joe & his agent were hard on the recruiting job to get Jason Collins back
James
August 4th, 2010
12:36 pm
AL Horford is going to ask for a trade real soon or he’s not going to re-sign with the Hawks when his contract is up cause he’s already stated that he feels more comfortable at his right position which is PF.and the Hawks still haven’t gotten him any good help. Josh Powell and Jason Collins that is a joke the Hawks management should be ashame of themselves and embarrassed.
Tmac
August 4th, 2010
12:40 pm
kudos to them. They have been dropping the ball for about the last 15 years now.
Well done sir’s, well done.
ryan
August 4th, 2010
12:42 pm
Yea starting to think Joe should have went to Chicago or New York because he is obviously back in bad environment .
craig donahue
August 4th, 2010
12:46 pm
I’m a season ticket holder but I eas waiting hoping the hawks would sign shaq. I won’t be going to any hawks games until they get new owners who are willing to spend on proven BIG centers. Hell times are too hard to through my money away on a mediocre team at best.
Tao
August 4th, 2010
12:49 pm
Joe Johnson makes more than Labron. That by definition is an organization that does not know what the hell it is doing. Nothing else needs to be debated or said.
Another GM
August 4th, 2010
12:52 pm
I’ve been a Hawks fan and supporter since 1978. I guess the thing that bothers me the most is the issue with Shaq being washed up and a cancer. Well wake up folks he is a hall of famer and has multiple rings, how many rings does this franchise have. I guess that Doc Rivers is a idiot because he wants Shaq.
I will not buy season tickets this year and probably not watch many games becase the regular season is for seating in the conference and there is no hope with this roster to be at championship level. Shaq could have possibly put us over the top, maybe not but now we will never know.
This is just about the final straw for this fan of 32 years.
The Real JC
August 4th, 2010
12:53 pm
@Shultz – not sure we could get Beiber for the minimum. He’s so hot right now.
Manny
August 4th, 2010
12:54 pm
Me and a couple of my boys are trying to put our money together to buy the Hawks. Plus, we might even do some fundraising- like we may be out on the corner, selling donuts and cold water to passersby. Or we may even throw a couple of house parties.
By the time this season is over, we might be in contention because the Hawks aren’t going to be worth much by then.
GStateBen
August 4th, 2010
12:54 pm
Jeff,
I really wish you’d taken some time go cover Georgia State’s media day rather than writing this blog. Al Horford is a center in the Eastern Conference. Look at the starting centers in the Eastern Conference Finals – Kendrick Perkins – 6′11 vs. Dwight Howard – 6′11. Al is 6′10! He is an All-Star so enough with him playing out of position. Josh Smith is an athletic PF because he doesn’t need to play the wing and shoot from the outside.
Enough with the morons that say the Hawks screwed up by maxing Joe. The numbers don’t lie, you would have had less money under the salary cap to spend. You kept you top 9 players from a team that won 53 games! This team will win 50 games again this season as they are better today than they were against Orlando. Jeff Teague will be better, Jordan Crawford is better than Mario West. Logic people. We’ll be in the Playoffs again this season and fighting for an Eastern Conference Title birth as currently constructed.
Shaquille O’Neal Signs Two-Year Deal With NBA’s Boston Celtics, ESPN Says – Bloomberg | Basketball Video Zone
August 4th, 2010
12:55 pm
[...] Signing With CelticsBleacher ReportSources: Shaquille O'Neal to BostonESPNYahoo! Sports -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -The Associated Pressall 740 news [...]
Jerome
August 4th, 2010
12:55 pm
I will say it again: We can post all the vents in the world the only thing that will change things is to “not buy tickets”. Some will always go to the game but if enough fans stay away, that will be the only way to get ASG and JJ attention and a warning to any potential buyer of the team,that the Atlanta fans will no longer tolerate mediocre.
ChippersLoveChild
August 4th, 2010
12:59 pm
@Manny
Joe was traded here from Phoenix.
Manny
August 4th, 2010
1:10 pm
GStateBen-
That was LAST YEAR! Are you even aware of what happened this off-season? Do you honestly think that you can take the same group of guys and win the same amount of games as last year? Really?
Have you noticed that the East has gotten more competitive? Have you seen the Heat’s roster? Or the Celtics? Remember, the Celtics was in the NBA Finals, yet STILL found the need to upgrade their team. Where’s our upgrade? Name one position with the Hawks where we’ve gotten better? Name ONE position where we’re better than the other teams in the East that are contenders. Name ONE!
I’m a huge Hawks fan. My wife is a HUGE Hawks fan! My son plays basketball at the same gym where Josh Smith got his start. We go to games all the time, until now. And I’m not going to jump on you whatsoever.
But you just gotta wonder where we’re going to win over 30 games this year. Seriously. Perhaps we’ll get to play the Nets, Bobcats, and Grizzlies a lot this year, but we simply CANNOT beat the Heat, Celtics, Bulls or Magic in the postseason. And if we have to rely on beating these guys consistently over the course of the season, there will be no postseason to even think about.
But the upside will be this: you’ll have a LOT of trade bait for next year with Josh Smith and Al Horford requesting trades.
tom
August 4th, 2010
1:12 pm
cheap fans, cheap owners. cheap owners, cheap fans.
bill
August 4th, 2010
1:13 pm
To Another GM — Amen, brother! I’m with you…wake me up when playoffs start and we are a 6th Seed in the East (which means we’ll probably match-up w/Shaq & Celtics).
ryan
August 4th, 2010
1:18 pm
You figure that a guy like Tyler Perry who has Billions of dollars who is a big NBA fan would be interested in buying the Hawks .
GStateBen
August 4th, 2010
1:25 pm
@ Manny: Look at the starting lineup this season and their ages on opening night – Jeff Teague (22), Joe (29), Marvin (24), Josh Smith (25), Al (24). They’ll continue to get better because they are still young. 4 straight season in the Playoffs. All of the idiots that say they got worse. Come on man!
How did the Atlantic Division get better? Toronto took a huge step backwards, NJ still is terrible, Knicks got a little better but not as good as the Hawks. How in the world did the Celtics get appreciably better? By replacing Rasheed with an aging, broken down Jermain O’Neal. Come on man! They drafted Avery Bradley who will get less burn than Jordan Crawford.
The Hawks will win 30 in the East alone. Think I’m nuts, they won 32 conference last season. I think they can duplicate that. Add to the list that Joe’s been told by everyone that is listening that he’s not worth the money, Bibby’s been told that he’s done. I expect big things from this team. I’m sorry you do not.
Add that to the fact that they have more than $15 million in salary cap space again next season, the Hawks are in great shape to stay in and thrive in the Playoffs year after year.
The Real JC
August 4th, 2010
1:31 pm
@Ryan – Tyler Perry has billions? That’s probably news to him.
Wahoo
August 4th, 2010
1:39 pm
Good God Almighty! Will this idiocy ever end!!! Who gives a rat’s A$$ where Crack plays next year or any year for that matter? Aren’t there better ways to waste your time Schultz?
ryan
August 4th, 2010
1:43 pm
The Real JC i don’t know how much money Perry has i am just saying i would like him or someone to buy the Hawks .
cheshire
August 4th, 2010
1:47 pm
while i would liked to have seen Shaq as a Hawk, let’s be honest: it wouldn’t have made a difference. this team’s chances to matter ended as soon as they overpaid Joe and as soon as 3 superstars decided to make the NBA boring by joining forced in Miami. the Hawks are now just one of about 26 teams who have absolutely no chance at winning an NBA championship.
the Hawks have issues, no doubt about it, but the bigger issue is the viability of the product known as the NBA. the NBA exists for entertainment, and if the league isn’t competitive, it’s no longer entertaining. and if the vast majority of fanbases know their team has no chance to matter, the league loses $$$, which it’s already doing. that’s the true tragedy of the Lebron decision… yeah, he’s a douche, and yeah, he screwed Cleveland over, but he also assisted in screwing over the NBA by watering down the product and making it that much less interesting to fans.
so yeah, we didn’t get Shaq – so what?
Justin Bieber » Blog Archive » Shaquille O’Neal versus Justin Bieber ~video – Examiner.com
August 4th, 2010
2:00 pm
[...] Florida News 13Justin Bieber VS Shaq: Big man plays comic sidekickOrlando Sentinel (blog)Hawks dropped the ball on not signing ShaqAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)CANOE -Peace FM Online -ADAN News (blog)all 765 news [...]
STRETCH
August 4th, 2010
2:00 pm
Another GM,
Man i feel your pain! I remember when i was a kid watching Tom Millen, John Drew, Tree, Eddie Johnson and Dan Roundfield just to name a few. I hated when they lost, and then came the Air Force with Nique, Doc, Spud, Willis, Hastings and Carr n Llivingston (naming a few more). I still remember the Battle in the Garden between Nique n Bird, i was crushed.
Then came Mookie and Steve Smith n Motumbo and that picked me up only to send me crashing back down to earth! So its safe to safe that around every ten years or so they give us hope, but i must say that after last seasons 101 point series lost to Orlando and this off-season, IM DONE.
Just want say, you just spoke for many fans. ASG was blowing smoke from the very begining. They knew as soon as the final horn blew last season, they werent gonna do anything!
The Real JC
August 4th, 2010
2:02 pm
@Wahoo – Crack? You can do better.
@ryan – I’d be very wary of a non-business guy like Perry buying a franchise. Usually celebs like Jay-Z or John Melloncamp are only minority owners, with real business people running the show. Plus he makes a lot, lot less than you’d think. Single franchise owners like Arthur Blank are billionaires, not millionaires.
STRETCH
August 4th, 2010
2:04 pm
And i wonder what us fans are going to do about this? Really nothing but NOT go to the games, which will be pretty easy to do! Actually, im seriously thinking about getting on the Celtic bandwagon. That organization knows how to get things done!
hawksfan23
August 4th, 2010
2:04 pm
im with you mitun i would definatley take authur blank as the owner of the hawks too
because this group just never comes through on anything and empty promises but you never know, i personally think they have something big planned for next summer because we have the trade exeption from the childress trade, crawford and his 10 mil, bibby and his 6 mil, marvin and his 5 mil, thats 21 million off the books right there and maybe we will get dare i say carmelo anthony next year in free agency or cris paul through trade that would be an encridible trade and pick up i think it is possible but then i come to the realization that as long asg runs the show that will only be in my dreams but if the nets can have the worst record almost ever in the nba and get a billionaire owner maybe it happens to us? im not saying we will lose that many but we need a good owner that is not afraid to roll the dice wake up asg and make us a contender like authur blank made the falcons and all it took was a bad year keep that in mind