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
Shaq
August 4th, 2010
2:18 pm
I don’t want to play for Atlanta cause I want to play for a professional basketball team.
Elvisinthehouse
August 4th, 2010
2:20 pm
More like 6 or 7th seed.The bulls are better and the bucks have 2 key players back in m.redd and there center.So i think even the 1st round will be a tough task and thats IF they(hawks)make the playoffs.
Dennis Clinton
August 4th, 2010
2:30 pm
The man can’t even stand on his own big toe, what is the loss? He is not an addition, he would have been a subtraction. The big goog up is in signing Joe to the highest possible contract in the NBA.
jfreak13713
August 4th, 2010
2:47 pm
Shaq is wise beyond his years! The Hawks as an organization are far behind the Celtics and Sha
G-Money
August 4th, 2010
2:56 pm
I don’t believe that the Hawks dropped the ball. Boston is quite simply a better opportunity for someone like Shaq who is looking to win now. He would have eaten through this team so bad, it would not have been funny. This team is breaking in ROOKIE coach, has a pathetic playoff history as of late, and a few guys who need to mature emotionally. There is no way he would have come here for the veteran’s minimum and not inevitably cause problems from within. In Boston you have an experienced coach and team that has been successful without him, and veteran players that will hold him accountable for his actions.
ReddJonn68
August 4th, 2010
3:10 pm
Dropped the ball ??? We can’t get the guy to sign for a mid level exception, this tells you everything you need to know about this organization. We are about become a 3rd tier team in the Eastern conference, though some teams got better the West is still # 1. Why is this franchise penny pinching when they are about to be in the red for the next 3 to 4 yrs. I predict attendance will be down this season.
The JJ contract will come back to haunt this team for yrs to come. Why is it no player out there ever considered us during the off season. This speaks volumes about what direction players around the league, actually think this team is headed in. Nobody outside of us Hawk’s fan feel we can make a run, this is a reflection of this franchise from top to bottom.
None of management can say they feel that with the moves we made we will be in the finals. I guess we are stuck with what we have as owners, I don’t see anybody buying ASG out anytime soon. We are doomed, & some fans even thought CP3 was an option he’d rather stay in NO, nuff said. This summer has been painful to watch, remember there is always someone to get picked last in a pickup game, we did not get picked we are watching from the bleachers !!!
boots
August 4th, 2010
3:10 pm
Steve, you are a tool for saying first. Grow up. The Hawks play in a city that would readily embrace a championship calliber team, and they have 80% of what they need to get there. Either finish what you start and go 100% after the elite talent or sell the team and let them move to another city. But why have a team if you are just going to lose money, not win anything and not try to win?
Vick Supporter
August 4th, 2010
3:12 pm
We’re going to be an average team forever
NBA 2010 Updates : Shaquille O’Neal and Celtics is a Done Deal – The Daily Tech News | Free NBA Videos
August 4th, 2010
3:24 pm
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Tim
August 4th, 2010
3:28 pm
Schultz – for a guy that writes about sports as a living, you don’t seem to know much about sports.
NBA 2010 Updates : Shaquille O’Neal and Celtics is a Done Deal – The Daily Tech News « My NBA Video
August 4th, 2010
3:35 pm
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Joe Johnson
August 4th, 2010
3:46 pm
Who cares if fans show up to games? My $124 million is guaranteed. By the way, how do you like my recruiting so far? I got us Josh Powell and convinced Jason Collins not to elope to Europe.
PaulieOldschool
August 4th, 2010
3:56 pm
One of the definitions of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results each time. That’’s the Hawks in a nutshell. If they’re lucky, they’ll make it to the 2nd round this year. I don’t see them getting into the playoffs, frankly. They are one injury (esp. if it’s Horford) from a losing season.
Harry The Hawk
August 4th, 2010
4:04 pm
Sund dropped the ball again. He just can’t seem to get it done in the clutch
Hawks appear destined to remain a second-tier team under his watch. Guaranteed, based on his moves since the end of last season..
Only LeBron has had a worse summer…..ASG, cut your losses
A true hawks fan
August 4th, 2010
4:21 pm
I post few comments on these Hawks blog but read them every day. When the season start a lot of you all opinion will change. Remember we got to 53 wins off of pure talent and iso plays.Think about what ball movement will do. Shaq would have hurt both of those areas.
James
August 4th, 2010
4:35 pm
The Hawks gave $124M to Joe Johnson who got a stripper pregnant who he met at Magic City lol.
Navigator
August 4th, 2010
4:39 pm
Jeff, I’m with your opinion most of the time, but the fact is he’s not wanted for a starters salary and a part time player. He’ll sign with some franchise for another pay check, and that’s the extent of his present and future.
NBA 2010 Updates : Shaquille O’Neal and Celtics is a Done Deal – The Daily Tech News | Basketball Video Zone
August 4th, 2010
4:49 pm
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JASon
August 4th, 2010
5:01 pm
You’re right, Jeff. Shaq is “the missing piece” to the hawks success. All we need is this old, washed-up player and we are guaranteed to make the finals. The answer was right there in front of us this whole time!
Pete
August 4th, 2010
5:13 pm
The Hawks dropped the ball ??
Get serious.
Shaq is nothing but a shadow of his former self…………a pathetic side show. Any team willing to pay that “beached whale” to go through the motions is beyond desperate.
The Hawks showed some professional pride and sense passing on a tired, worn out vaudville act. Hats off to them.
Dinosaur
August 4th, 2010
5:51 pm
I guess we won’t get to see Shaq die a grisly death on the Phillips Arena court, unless he comes to play with the Celts.
Dinosaur
August 4th, 2010
5:52 pm
Who cares? It’s basketball!
Hawks' Nest Monsta
August 4th, 2010
6:19 pm
Why aren’t we considered among the elite? This Jeff Schultz guy really has no idea what he’s talking about, and he has no right to be writing about the Atlanta Hawks. We had a better record than the Celtics. We SWEPT the Celtics during the season. We beat every single team in the league (except OKC). The last time we played the Lakers, we embarrassed them, dominating them in every way imaginable. The Cavaliers are done. How can anyone rationally say that the Hawks are not an elite team?
JerryT
August 4th, 2010
7:17 pm
I’ll jump on the Kwame Brown bandwagon.
He”ll be cheap, low expectations, doesn’t need star minutes, big body, still some potential in there somewhere.
The one caveat is if that guy has bigger problems than we know about and nobody wants to play with him. A coach has to consider that.
8.9 Brain Fart AKA Jeff Schultzy
August 4th, 2010
7:18 pm
“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.”
The hawks will be lucky to make 7th seed. Very few (1 or 2) are projecting the hawks at 4 most have them 6/7
Nice try Schultz
Luke Cage
August 4th, 2010
7:21 pm
FIRE SUND!!!!!!
tyger
August 4th, 2010
7:35 pm
On-line Petition for ASG to sell Hawks with Godspeed!
The undersigned, life-long fans of the Atlanta Hawks petition the ASG, NBA, NBA Governors, City of Atlanta and other significant corporate sponsors/partners to sell the franchise as quickly as possible.
In light of recent events, especially this free-agency period, it is clear that current ownership/ management do not have sufficient resources to maintain a competitive, championship caliber franchise in the city of Atlanta. That being the case, the only honorable thing to do, is divest ownership to a more able body.
Recent history shows this ownership group was flawed from the start – with owners suing owners – openly and publicly bickering over player transactions. They have not conducted themselves like owners, instead they continue to shed an unfavorable light upon the NBA. In fact, according to the Courts, they never should have come into ownership of the franchise. see victorious lawsuit by Mr. McDavid, which TBS is currently appealing.
Moreover, their very limited resources have been a source of constant and persistent embarrassment throughout the league, city and it’s fan base. They are incrementally and systematically eroding the fan base and depreciating the value of the franchise with cheap player transactions, cheap coaching hires and openly touting a pathological cheapness if left unchecked, will condemn this franchise for the near future and beyond. For example, the Hawks have not signed one free agent beyond, Joe Johnson, to a salary higher than the NBA minimum wage.
Certainly, winning 53 games and making the playoffs 3 yrs. consecutive is admirable. However, that is a by-product of the former GM Billy Knight. This current group appears to be in a “wind down” of operations prior to “foreclosure or bankruptcy.”
SAVE OUR HAWKS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
August 4th, 2010
7:37 pm
I’d take The Bieb at center over Jason Collins or Josh Powell.
FrustratedBird
August 4th, 2010
7:47 pm
Let’s just be honest. The Hawks are terribly mismanaged and they make horrible business decisions when it comes to personnel. They greatly overpaid for Joe when no other team was gonna offer anything close to the max for him. He’s a good sh…ooting guard not a franchise player. And let’s remember his agent was the one braggin about how Joe was gonna recruit other stars here. i doubt joe actually said that. He had dollar signs in his eyes. You moderators can delete my comments all you want to but until we get some competent folks runnin the show we’ll be stuck with a 2nd class team in atlanta. I’m not spending a dime of my hard earned money on those overpriced tickets til i see some changes. Now run tell THAT! HomeboySee More
FrustratedBird
August 4th, 2010
7:49 pm
Hey fans. I have started a facebook movement to rid of the ASG. I’m trying to rally as many frustrated fans as i can. I’m tired of our ownership’s broken promises and utter passiveness when it comes to improving this franchise. Please check it out. We need to send a strong message. I want these guys out of here and i know most if not all of you do too. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hawks-Fans-Unite-to-Buy-Out-The-Atlanta-Spirit-LLC/123761924335428?ref=ts
DHD
August 4th, 2010
8:21 pm
You’re wrong. We don’t need a overweight, over paid, out of shape, hurt half the time distraction. Thankfully, we didn’t sign this guy to keep us frustrated all season.
yep
August 4th, 2010
9:52 pm
and we wonder why the nation thinks Atlanta is one of the worst sports towns.
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August 4th, 2010
10:15 pm
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niremetal
August 4th, 2010
10:31 pm
What MannyT said.
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August 4th, 2010
10:32 pm
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M. mitchelll
August 4th, 2010
10:45 pm
I don’t agree with any of you. The problem with Hawks was the fact they switched players every year not giving them time to gel or have a chemisrty. Now with everyone stayin we should see that chemistry even more this upcoming 2010 season!! I didn’t see anyone talkin _hit when they mad to the playoffs and when everyone thought they were gonna sweep the Bucks. Get over and let My ATL Hawks do thre job!!!
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August 4th, 2010
11:04 pm
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northcyde
August 4th, 2010
11:16 pm
If the ASG were REAL about building a winner, this would be our lineup:
COACH: Avery Johnson
PG: Bibby – Teague
G: Johnson – Jamal C – Jordan C or Evans in street clothes
F: Marvin – Childress
PF: Smith – Varnado ( #31 pick )
C: Horford – Shaq – Zaza
That squad at least generates the necessary buzz around Atlanta, and on a national scale, to really get people excited about the Hawks.
Oh well . . . I’m just glad my Cincinnati Bengals aren’t afraid to take chances, unlike the ASG.
Hawks dropped the ball on not signing Shaq | NBA & Basketball
August 4th, 2010
11:54 pm
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MsDee
August 5th, 2010
12:29 am
northcyde,
That is only your opinion, not factual! Just b/c the ASG didnt choose the coach YOU WANTED or choose the players YOU WANTED which doesnt give us the ‘buzz around Atlanta’ u were hoping for, doesnt mean they arent trying to build a WINNER IN THE HAWKS!!
Like I wrote earlier on MC’s blog, people lack to realize that we have improved 6 consective years while being under the radar. Tell me something, would you rather be mension every single year as being the team to beat for the finals(CAVS) but NEVER make it there, or would u like to have nevered been a thought in the finals, but actually make it there,(Boston)?? I COULD CARE LESS IF WE ARE EVER MENSIONED BY THESE SO-CALL ESPN ANNOUNCERS, CHRIS BROUSARD, CHARLES BARKLEY AND WHOEVER ELSE FIT THE BILL. ALL I AM CONCERN WITH IS HOW WELL THE HAWKS HAVE IMPROVED, ARE WE MAKING THE RIGHT ADJUSTMENTS DURING THE SEASON TO HELP US IN THE PLAYOFFS(WHICH IS ONE AREA WOODSON FAILED AT DOING)..The regular season should only be to help us find what works and what doesnt work when playing different teams who we might face in the playoffs. The regular season should not matter how many wins we have cause how did that help the CAVS 2 seasons in a row????? EXACTLY!!
GROW UP HAWKS FANS AND JUST BE PATIENT!!
Big D
August 5th, 2010
10:01 am
@MS DEE
The Hawks are regressings as evidenced by the last 2 years playoffs where they struggled with a Miami Heat and Bucks teams in Rd 1 and got easily handled..excuse me SWEPT each time in Rd 2 by double digits by Cavs and Magic.
Yeah real progress..Learn the Game !!!!
maurice
August 5th, 2010
10:31 am
ALRIGHT MS DEE!
niremetal
August 5th, 2010
10:44 am
MsDee 1, Northcyde 0
And Big D – that was with the worst coach in the history of professional sports at the helm. You know, the guy who took 5 games and a 3-2 deficit to a vastly inferior team (Milwaukee) to figure out that he might not want to keep implementing a defensive strategy that requires Al Horford to guard Brandon Jennings on the perimeter.
There is no plausible move the Hawks could have made this summer that improved the team’s prospects as much as firing Woodson the Eyebrowless Wonder does. The only question is whether Drew was the right man to replace him.
KevinM
August 5th, 2010
10:45 am
This offseason:
Boston – fills holes left by Tony Allen,Perkins and Wallace
Orlando – signs JJ Redick/Barnes to the Lakers
Cleveland – loses LeBron/Delonte West/Z/Shaq – add Byron Scott
Atlanta – Josh Powell / Jason Collins on the bench this year, Teague and LD in the spotlight.
Milwaukee – add Maggette/CDR/Drew Gooden/Dooling/draft Larry Sanders returns
-lose Kurt Thomas/Gadzooks
Chicago – loses Hindrich/Brad Miller adds Boozer/Ronnie Brewer/Korver/CJ Watson/Kurt Thomas
Knicks – lose David Lee/add Stoudamire/Felton/Turiaf/Azubuike/Randolph
Miami – A total makeover and the favorites to go to the Finals
Charlotte – loses Felton/Chandler/ Dampier in
Charlotte and Atlanta do the least, Miami/Chicago/Knicks/Bucks revamp their lineups.
Those optimist here have a reason to be if they are happy with a playoff slot. I would just think with all the uncertainties of each team’s moves, now would be the time to add a center and insurance like a Rafer Alston.
I
Big D
August 5th, 2010
10:54 am
Sorry niremetal not buying the arguement that the big deisel wouldnt have made a huge impact. We lost in the playofff because we got outhustled on the boards,. That happens when you have a 6′8 PF Al) playing C and 6′8 SF (Smith) playing PF who shoot more brick 3’s than drive to the hoop. Adding Shaq would move both players to their natural postions and allow the Hawks to have a true inside outside game vs the dull iso sets for JJ that proved to be our detriment in each rd 2 series.
A 38 year old Shaq is still better than ANY of the Hawks options at C. Its about overall impact than scoring. Also with Shaq I think our defense improves as teams will be less inclined to goto the hole with a 7′1 330lb boheamuth in the middle.
Bad move by mgmt. This team will lose in rd 1, if it even makes the playoffs.
The Hawks are not mentioned in the conversation with teams that have improved, but yet we have some idiotic fans who believe we can be a contender…That in itself is a laugher !
KevinM
August 5th, 2010
11:00 am
GStateBen: 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.
Its going to take more than that to get JC1 and Al resigned. Better try and dump Bibby and/or Zaza. Then the ramifications for E#2 and the cap limits really come to realization.
Anyone wanna predict who leaves first: Sund or LD?
Matthew
August 5th, 2010
11:24 am
A big F*** YOU ASG. This was a cheap signing that could have gone miles towards proving y’all weren’t in essence, retarded.
James
August 5th, 2010
11:46 am
The Hawks gave Joe Johnson $124M and he got a stripper pregnant that he met at Magic City lol.
ICEMANcometh10
August 5th, 2010
11:50 am
Shaq is SEVERAL years past being able to give the Hawks what they need. Everything starts with ownership it’s just too bad we have “boner”ship as our leaders…………………Jason and Josh can plug up the rest of the bench to even out the dead weight.
Hawker hal
August 5th, 2010
12:18 pm
The hawks owners went cheap—-they make millions no matter what the record–why spend $10 mil per year to sign shaq—who is over the hill?