Hawks plagued with too many issues, from owners to Joe
Whether it's Larry Drew or another coach, Hawks have problems that can't easily be fixed.
In many ways, the Hawks are no different than other organizations. They end the season with a loss and for several weeks plot their makeover.
Maybe they need a new coach. Maybe they need a new general manager. Maybe a star player who can be the rose one minute and the thorns the next needs to be traded. Or maybe a dysfunctional ownership group comes to the realization, “This isn’t working. Let’s go back to selling cellphone towers and newsletters. We’re outta here.”
But in at least one way, the Hawks so often are different from other organizations: No matter what decisions we logically think they can make this summer, it’s difficult not to come away with the belief that they’re still going to be in trouble when next season opens.
Most franchises give you hope. The Hawks give you hangovers.
The Braves missed the playoffs and did little this past winter to improve themselves, but one could reasonably believe they wouldn’t be subjected to a similar string of injuries and improbable slumps again. The Falcons were one-and-drummed in the playoffs again, but they have since filled two needs with a Pro Bowl cornerback and two offensive linemen in the draft. They are sufficient teases.
The Hawks just finished a season that was part impressive: 40-26, mostly without Al Horford. Also part depressingly reaffirming: They won their playoff opener against Boston, only to inexcusably lay an egg at home in Game 2 when Rajon Rondo was suspended, look catatonic in Game 4 and ultimately had too many brain lapses against a veteran team, losing the series.
The spin from franchise officials will be: “Next year, we’ll be healthy. Next year will be different.” Really?
The Atlanta Spirit tried to sell the team, had a deal fall through, then tried to convince everybody they were suddenly reborn and committed. Even if we bought that as truth (work with me here), the owners couldn’t make it through the playoffs without another goof. Michael Gearon Jr. called out Kevin Garnett and referees before a potential elimination game in Boston, and then blamed the Journal-Constitution for reporting the comments. Garnett’s response included 28 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks and this verbal knockout: “I want to say thank you to the [Hawks] owner for giving me some extra gas. My only advice to him is next time he opens his mouth, actually know what he’s talking about — X’s and O’s versus checkbooks and bottom lines.”
Success and failure in every business always starts at the top, so an ownership change could only help. But the Hawks aren’t an enticing product. Think of them as a house with several cracks in the foundation. Most potential buyers say, “No thanks. I’ll bid on the place down the street.”
General manager Rick Sund doesn’t love it here. If we needed reminding of that, his contract is up but he doesn’t know if he wants to come back. If Sund (also among the lowest paid) leaves, it’s difficult imagining that an established GM would want this job because of the ownership’s reputation and the inherited roster issues.
Coach Larry Drew, one of the lowest-paid coaches in the NBA, is waiting to see if the team brings him back. The guess here is that the option in his contract will be picked up, but he won’t get an extension. It’s the cheapest, safest route for ownership.
The core of this roster never has won more than one round of playoffs and, regardless of who the owner, general manager and coach are next season, there are two major issues: Joe Johnson and Josh Smith.
Johnson reaffirmed in the playoffs that $20 million a year doesn’t buy heart or courage. His playoff shooting percentage: 37 percent, a career-low as a starter. He had games of 11, 9 and 15. He complained about not getting enough touches and double-teams. Rondo, Garnett and Paul Pierce stepped up at key moments for Boston. Stars do that. Johnson disappears.
Smith was the team’s best player this season. He helped bring the Hawks back late in Game 6. But when the Hawks trailed by a point with 10 seconds left and a play set up for Johnson broke down, Smith forced a 20-foot jumper and we slapped our foreheads again.
Where is the hope?
Drew was asked about his future Friday. But he looked like a man who cared more about his next two aspirin.
“It’s not something right now I’m going to worry about,” he said. “It’s been a long season. I just want to take a step back.”
If he returns, the view may not get better. This isn’t a simple makeover.
By Jeff Schultz
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224 comments Add your comment
bgtodd01
May 11th, 2012
6:41 pm
Use amnesty clause on Joe’s contract to get out from under it with no salary cap implications and no luxury tax implications. He’ll still get paid, but if he signs elsewhere, the amount he gets from another team will subtract from what the Hawks owe him. That would free up $20+ million under the cap. Trade Josh for high draft picks if you can (i.e. 10 ten pick and early 2nd round pick). Trade Marvin if you can, with his ability he should be driving the lane constantly to either score or get fouled. With draft picks or in the trades, pick up a true big 7+ foot center and move Al to the PF spot.
bgtodd01
May 11th, 2012
6:43 pm
meant trade Josh for top ten pick and early 2nd round
D-Man
May 11th, 2012
6:44 pm
“The spin from franchise officials will be: “Next year, we’ll be healthy. Next year will be different.” Really?”
and this is what the national media (and some local) seem to leave out when discussing the fans here in Atlanta. If you were going to have a bad and disjointed group of fans, it makes sense that you’d find them near teams like the ones that play here. Disappointment teasers every single year. Why should we be stupid and give our all support for a team that has ALWAYS been like this. It’s been 30 years for me, nearly my whole life and this is all I’ve seen? No history, no heart, embarrassing exit after exit. Bad ownership here, bad GM there, paid wrong guy, traded wrong guy here, drafted ANOTHER forward really here, drafted the wrong forward there, from the signing Isaiah Rider, to overpaying Jon Koncak, to trading Dominique Wilkins for (and I still can’t believe this one) for freaking Danny @#%$&*$%& Manning are our history. That’s it, that’s all so excuse me Stephen A. or Rob Parkwood or what ever your names are if I don’t feel like jumping up and down yelling we’re #1 right now…
Waffle House or Bust
May 11th, 2012
6:52 pm
I’m so sick of excuses. We will be healthy next year has nothing to do with Drew having no control over Josh Smith or Joe Johnson is not a team leader like he is paid to be. Change sometimes is good for everyone involved. Trade Smith because dude is going to walk after 2013 anyway. Get a coach in here that has no connection to Hawks system (should have done that when Woody was let go). Maybe we can win with 3 out of 5 of these starters and a coach that makes them buy into his style. Say goodbye to Josh and Marvin. Hate that we are stuck paying all that money to Johnson when he would be a number two guy at best on any other team.
The joys of being a Hawks fan.
C
May 11th, 2012
6:54 pm
Until the Atlanta “Spirit” sells. I won’t even watch a game on TV. Crooks.
Sam
May 11th, 2012
6:56 pm
You guys can’t fool me! C’mon Joe, Josh, and Drew – stop trying to post on here under made-up user names. This team sucks and needs to be blown up. Horford is our only player who plays with ANY heart. Marvin showed up for ONE game all season. Josh doesn’t seem INTERESTED IN getting any better at anything other than jump shots. Joe, no one is BUYING that you are a star player. Drew, you may one day be a good coach, but not for THIS TEAM.
It all boils down to – ANYONE INTERESTED IN BUYING THIS TEAM??
Sam
May 11th, 2012
6:57 pm
anyone? anyone?
Erik
May 11th, 2012
7:03 pm
Manny,
You said it! J-Smoove and Al and Teague are what they should build the team around. Josh is going to take his WTF shots every now and then and sometimes they do go in. He needs a coach that can mold him into an even better player. He’s best in the open floor, driving, or on the block depending on who’s behind him. That’s his game…if a GREAT coach would teach him that, then he wouldn’t settle for those jumpers. I think Joe and Marvin need to dealt for sure while Marvin had his best year since being in the league…question is, will anybody take Joe’s contract? Probably not. Get Joe a personal coach that will turn him into a Ray Allen shooter that comes off of screens and back cuts and not play Iso-Joe (Mike Woodson is with the Knicks now, Joe).
So I say….clear the bench…Dampier, Vlad, Marvin, Green, Pargo…I’d keep T-Mac and Ivan. I’d go after a proven center like Hibbert, a 3-point specialist ala Mike Miller or Kyle Korver, and another defender with some nastiness and HEART…Tony Allen, Shawn Marion type.
But guess what ASG…you’ve gotta spend a little money to actually get players…crazy thought!
makai
May 11th, 2012
7:10 pm
Larry did a hell of a job this season and needs to be brought with a RAISE. Injuries are a part of the game–but to do as well as the Harks did with no center??? Joe Jackson was a dumb signing and needs to go.
jonkdawg
May 11th, 2012
7:44 pm
Joe Johnson is not the answer, he is supposed to a leader not follower but Josh is taking all the credit..he deserves it, we gotta trade Joe to somebody he does not fit in Altlanta any longer.
dirtyo11
May 11th, 2012
7:50 pm
Send Joe & Marvin to Orlando will make this trade because they need to get something for Howard before he leave FA. If Howard don’t workout after 1 yr & leave through FA, Hawks will have money to sign another top FA.
C- Howard
PF-Hordford
SF-Smith
SG-Trade Hinrich & 1st Rnd pick for Eric Gordon, Kevin Martin, Tyreke Evans, DeMar DeRozen, Evan Turner or Rodney Stuckey (yeah there are a lot of options out there)
PG- Teague
Bench: T-Mac, Ivan Johnson, ZaZa, Pargo & Willie Green
MJinATL
May 11th, 2012
7:51 pm
LD isn’t the problem, he was actually one of the best coaches we’ve ever had in Atlanta. Everyone said we were doomed once Horford went down, but he held this team together, so what if he’s cheap every great coach had to start somewhere. He uses the bench something Woodson didn’t do. Drew had the guts to bench Marvin Williams. The problem with the Hawks are the ownership, the GM (for handicapping the roster with JJ’s contract), and the players. I hope LD stays and gets a raise. We’ve needed a good coach like Mike Fratello for a while now.
kevkat
May 11th, 2012
8:01 pm
Let’s face it. Joe Johnson got what he wanted..millions of dollars. He doesn’t appear to even want to be in Atlanta. He wanted to be “the man” but is just not on the level of a Wade, Kobe, Lebron etc. And despite all his issues, we need Josh Smith.
DC
May 11th, 2012
8:07 pm
Manny and others who thinks Josh Smith works with this team is crazy! Josh sits at the other end of the floor and cries every time he thinks he gets fouled and he thinks he gets fould every play. He shoots more 16+ foot jump shots then any big man I know and he is the only person in the NBA who can get a technical foul while running his mouth out of bounds!!! Get rid of him and Johnson. The hawks are a joke. A team of misery.
No-Show Johnson
May 11th, 2012
8:31 pm
“It’s been a long season”
and this a quote when the season was shorter …..
and we really need to get one thing straight here, just because Joe gets paid “a lot” doesn’t mean he’s a star (so stop trying to force the ball to him like he is one and don’t think you have to just because HE thinks he is one!!!), it’s not the money that makes you a star … it’s ability. Frankly I don’t think the Hawks have a star. Joe has potential but it’ll never surface, Josh .. mmm no. Horford? Maybe at some point but not now. It’s jJust another thing they’ll have to live with. They can’t trade for a star player and considering how ownership drafts they’ll never be able to draft a future star player either.
Z-Ro
May 11th, 2012
8:31 pm
Joe wants all the money and 20% of the responsibility i watch him constantly post up smaller guys and abort prematurely… if he gets the ball up high he dribbles the ball down to 5 0r 6 seconds on the clock all the damn time and passes off so someone else has to take a rushed shot!! As much as we dog Marvin he does what is asked…they dont really run any offense for him at all! Josh is so hell bent on winning that he screws up sometimes BUT I ADMIRE THAT….HE’S A WARRIOR!!! Al is a worker but the 5 spot is not his to play HE’S A 4!!! Joe is 60% percent of the problem Drew is 10% Ownership is10% and our fans are 20% because we have no earthly idea how to support a team!!!
jlewis
May 11th, 2012
8:32 pm
Once again, Schultz and Bradley feed the meter with junk. JJ is not the reason the hawks are losing, anyone that watched the team this year knows it was filled with injuries the whole season, Josh and Joe held the team together. Why dont you guys do some real reporting, for instance:
1.) People say get a real superstar, no one wants to come to ATL, bad fans and ownership.
2.) Name a player comparable to Josh and Joe that you can sign or trade for less money.
3.) Address the fact that there is no other shooter on this team that can defend and shoot to take pressure off Joe. You never mention double and triple teams.
4.) Address the fact that LD was playing his bench against Boston’s starters.
Also, DWade hasnt won anything since shaq left, lebron left cleveland to get some help, kobe is playing with two great big men and got sweep out of the playoffs and denver is about to beat them. Melo and Amare, you know that story. This is still a young team thats pretty good, they need some toughness, because i remember just a few years ago, 10 wins was a stretch before JJ and Josh blossomed. Lets me realistic, you guys hate on Joe for his paycheck, thats not his fault, I’m sure in my mind, the AJC pay you guys to much.
FunkyBobbyJ
May 11th, 2012
8:35 pm
Ownership has to swallow their pride and take amnesty on JJ. He is a solid player, but not a top-tier player. Horford, Josh, and Teague are a good start and Marvin is overpaid, but okay off the bench. The freed-up salary from JJ ought to allow us to sign some solid players.
Z-Ro
May 11th, 2012
8:39 pm
Has anyone ever seen ANYONE wearing a Joe Johnson jersey???
Say It Aint So
May 11th, 2012
8:43 pm
Enter your comments here
jlewis
May 11th, 2012
8:43 pm
I’m just curious, why all the acrimony for a guy that doesnt cause any trouble, made one miss statement during his tenure here and no player that has played with him currently or that has left said anything bad about. Yes, I actually go to the games and have seen many Joe Johnson jerseys.
Jeff
May 11th, 2012
8:47 pm
I suggest to bring Joe in from the bench. Advise him that if he wants to start again,
to begin playing like he is getting paid.
JJ!
May 11th, 2012
8:47 pm
Joe J is tired of having to carry this team in the playoffs–the ATl owners better get another star next year and bump up JJ’s salary or he’s going to walk. He can make a lot more money somewhere else with a better team.
Z-Ro
May 11th, 2012
8:55 pm
im not talking about those shirt jersey thingys with home Depot on them im talking AUTHENTIC JERSEY….and im talking about out in society not at Phillips those are Joe’s relatives you idiot!! I see old Nique jerseys even laettner jerseys on the streets of Atlanta but NO #2 jerseys unless it has AUGMON on the back
KevinM
May 11th, 2012
9:00 pm
I’ve got a JJ tee, but haven’t worn it since the ‘09 season. I’m still a JJ fan, but as Sund said, we’ll go as far as Joe takes us…whoops! That wasn’t the best thing you could’ve said.
I wish Josh for Enes Kanter was a viable trade last year. We would have had a totally different look this past year. But for some reason, there is no desire to have a youth movement on this team. Except for Teague and a 28 YO rookie in Ivan, we’re older than Boston, and there’s no excuse for that.
If we’re going to bring in guys who are 1-D, why didn’t we bring in AI? At least he would have brought some punch to the bench and I know he would be more consistent than any other guy we had there.
I wish the ASG would give the majority of what the fans want: a fresh approach to trying to compete for a championship. With Sund here, there’s no interest in bringing in big name FAs. Sund hasn’t outbid anyone.
So taking FA of any value out of the picture, that leaves the draft and trades.
Sund has done an average job as a GM; he gave us Teague, and he gave us Ivan. The rest of the lineup can be purged while he lives off someone else’s decisions. I’ll be glad should he decide to leave for that great tradition of Portland.
Chippy
May 11th, 2012
9:00 pm
The hawks are not a bad team. Josh is a warrior and great defensive player. Hortford is a problem for a lot of teams combining good size and quickness. Johnson can light it up some nights. Teague has some real quicks. Drew is a much better coach than Woodson. They are just missing by a little. If could get Johnson to do less iso and Josh to quit shooting 16 footers and longer, I think they could really be dangerous.
I think they need a new coach.
Jt
May 11th, 2012
9:03 pm
It’s unfixable- there are some good parts- but it is apparent that they do not fit together. I love Joe- I wanted them to sign him knowing they had to overpay to get him. But he is not capable of being the guy who carries a team. It’s not in his DNA. Also, their overall best player is Josh and he drives EVERYBODY crazy. But, he is the only one that can dominate on both ends of the court. But he has to learn to post up and lay off the j’s. But you cannot get rid of him. Horford is the heart and soul of the team who has to play out of position and still makes a damn difference. But there is no room for change- marvin is unmovable, no one is going to take Joe’s contract and really what they need most is the type of player they “want and hope” Joe to be- and it ain;t happening
Wink
May 11th, 2012
9:19 pm
Welcome Philly to the Eastern Conference Finals!
Check the record the Hawks got their clock cleaned by Philly all season!
NBA did not want to see the Hawks advance…they made a bad call…a day later they could admit it….sounds like George Bush…no weapons of mass destruction…awe shucks my bad!
Can we just get another team to relocate here and play at Gwinette Center!
ASG your Luxury Tax dividend check is in the mail…no more expenses this year…your players have gone fishing!
Putting On The Foil
May 11th, 2012
9:21 pm
Ship ‘em to Winnepeg.
Wally
May 11th, 2012
9:26 pm
Offer a trade with the team with the number one draft pick. Offer any three players (Al Horford only protected player), one to go must be Joe. Take the young center from Kentucky and start over. I do like Josh Smith but he gives me ulcers.
Also, why Marvin in the game at the end when Heinrich would have been a better option. At least he offers a better chance of making a shot in the clutch than everyone but Horford.
Justin
May 11th, 2012
9:38 pm
Gloom, doom, despair. The Celtics were one of the best teams in the NBA after the All-star break. They had their entire roster almost the entire series. The Hawks were playing a decimated front line, and yes they missed some chances, but they played a solid series. They do need to replace the coach I think, and probably trade Josh Smith. We’ve known about JJ for a long time. But let’s not get too worked up. Whatch think?
Wink
May 11th, 2012
9:42 pm
Question: Why is Joe Johnson not on the Olympic Team?…oh he has not been invited YET!!!! hmmmmmmmmmm?
Question: Why can’t Josh make an ALL STAR TEAM?…oh he has not been voted in or invited…not a league favorite!!!! hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
Question: Why will we see this same SCRIPT play out next season …. same cast of characters return…same result….ASG Insanity!!!!! yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Question: Why will the Highlight Factory marketing slogan…be replaced with…Walking Wounded Returns-Pursuit of ECF, part VI… produced by Grady ER…message approved by ASG???????????????
Question: Why do I have this belly bulge?…because the beer goes down better at a sports bar than the Highlight Factory@Phillips Arena…first time in 20 years not one penney spent there!
Not proud of that, but it is what it is Man!
tjhook
May 11th, 2012
9:43 pm
I agree with Chippy: The Hawks need a new coach. LD sold us on the idea that he could tighten this group up and the truth is he doesn’t run a program that is strong enough to do it. Joe and Josh run this team and just get input from Larry Drew. Can him and get Eric Mussleman!
Walt Frazier
May 11th, 2012
9:54 pm
Who cares ??? It’s the f-ing Hawks.
Z-Ro
May 11th, 2012
10:14 pm
Hawks cant get any coach or player with any concerns about winning we have to play the hand we’re dealt! maybe sincne Woodson is such a Joe Johnson fan send him to Ny for Melo along with Marvin
cdog
May 11th, 2012
10:17 pm
they need a coach and general anager or combination who has won and want to win a championship. mike woodson won 55 games and was stupidly let go. im going to see will larry drew be let go. the team wasnt this pathetic and inconsstent like it is now under drew
Matt the Brave
May 11th, 2012
10:18 pm
To me, they should have let Joe Johnson walk and built around Horford and Smith. Also for me, everyone except those two are expendable. But who would want to come to Atlanta knowing that you’d likely only be here for two years?
dawgforlife
May 11th, 2012
10:20 pm
whoever is traded and whoever stays, the solution is running everything through Teague. As soon as we get the rebound, it should be outletted to Teague, up the floor Tiny Archibald fast. We need to run the other team into the ground. Instead, we walk it up the floor with Joe or Josh and isolate half court. If they could not get on board with running everything through Teague, they should be gone. Jeff Teague and his speed..that is the ticket…but, it will never happen as long as prima donnas will not even let our point guard bring the ball up the court.
dawgforlife
May 11th, 2012
10:22 pm
uh whomever…
Larry Bird
May 11th, 2012
10:22 pm
Im a Celtic fan. And the hawks have some good players. They would be wise to move Joe Johnson., a nitwit. Their owner is in the same boat. Good no nonsense coach would help. Teams win ffrom the ownership down. All on the same page. Clearly the hawks dont have this, I think they are a younger, more altheletic team with good players, facing an older team whose best is behind them, The Hawks arent a good match up. Boy, would Horford look good in Green (sorry). A big key was the hawks losing game 2. Home court changed. Veteran teams dont get rattled by losing game 1. If the Celtics can get by the 76ers, they will beat the Heat. Then they will get smoked by the Lakers. Hang in there and pressure to get a new owner and a good GM. It all starts there.
RA
May 11th, 2012
10:28 pm
Schultz or should I say #%?!. Leave it to you to show us that light at the end of the tunnel that turns out to be a freight train. No where in your article did I see any mention of the OFFICIATING MISTAKE THAT COSTS THE HAWKS THE GAME!!! I’m sorry, even the NBA admitted that the refs missed that call, and instead of calling for a public effigy burning of the referees or, and here’s an idea, asking what the NBA should do to make travesties like this right, you line up with all the other pundits and rip the home team for all you’re worth, and that ain’t much. OUR TEAM GOT HOSED SCHULTZ! That means that the Hawks and the ten real fans that they have got cheated too. Is there one journalist on the ajc that dares speak to that? One thing’s for sure, it sure as hell isn’t you.
RA
May 11th, 2012
10:34 pm
Oh, and while your buddy Kevin Garnette is giving out thanks, he needs to be sure and include the basketball gods for making sure that we were without Al and Za Za for the first two games, and he should also thank the refs that managed to miss all those grabs and pulls and fouls that he made throughout the playoffs. Well, I guess when you’re that old you gotta do something to keep guys in front of you. He also needs to thank commissioner David Stern who, apparently, hasn’t put any rules on the books about how to make up for the fact that officials blew a call that ended a series.
Atl21
May 11th, 2012
10:55 pm
Right now everyone is upset with the HAWKS. But take a deep breath and THINK, people are saying trade Josh, Marvin, JJ. Release Stack, Kirk, Twin, Damp, Vald. Fire LD, and Sund. Those are all great fantasy ideas! First with trade we need a willing partner to give us better or equal. We have to reload with better or equal players. The same applies for HC and GM! Who ever has all the answers to the questions please inform us! Also I am tired of all of the ATL teams haters. If you are from another city, why are you here?
Larry Bird
May 11th, 2012
11:00 pm
Atl21, I thought I would give a fair analysis from Boston, rather than being a yahoo and talking trash. sorry to infringe on your newspaper. Now, whats your problem?
Harpie
May 11th, 2012
11:23 pm
Larry Drew is the biggest problem -he’s the problem that allows the other problems to happen, No real coach would let Josh get away with the stupid crap he does, or let Joe mope around the court like a spoiled child when things aren’t going his way.Drew SUCKS.l
DWatie
May 11th, 2012
11:26 pm
These guys (Hawks organization and especially the Atlanta Spirit Group) are so bad they almost make Barack Obama seem competent in comparison. Maybe, they should come out in favor of gay marriage to distract from their horrible playoff performance?
heartofdarkness
May 11th, 2012
11:40 pm
Let it go, Jake. It’s Chinatown.
Milkson Wafer
May 11th, 2012
11:50 pm
Here is what the hawks need to do…they need to amnesty Joe Johnson…big waste of money, trade Marvin Williams and Josh Smith , and get rid of the dead weight….the Hawks have never had a legitimate bench since I started watching them back in 1986.
Ted
May 11th, 2012
11:52 pm
The coach sets the tone, and it is a bad one. Fire Drew.
Hilltopper
May 11th, 2012
11:55 pm
Maybe someone can talk Ted Turner into buying this sorry excuse of a team. Maybe he could fund it properly and pay the bucks to thoses who produce. Does any sane person think another team would pay $20M for JJ?