Rick Sund shouldn’t be making decisions for Hawks
Rick Sund will decide on his future soon, but Hawks should be hiring another decision-maker. (Jason Getz/AJC)
As early as next week, the Hawks will make an announcement on the status of Rick Sund. Maybe he comes back as general manager. Maybe he comes back as team president. Maybe he comes back as consultant, spiritual adviser, GM Emeritus and VP of Deflecting Blame for the Joe Johnson Contract.
Doesn’t really matter what he decides. It’s a problem.
Sund is considering retirement. Do you know what some say when an athlete is considering retirement? He already has checked out. The same belief should apply to coaches and team executives.
In all likelihood, no matter what Sund chooses to do, he will remain with the Hawks through the draft. He still has the downtown office on Marietta Street. He will attend an NBA draft combine this weekend. He will be the Hawks’ executive talking to other general managers about players who potentially might be available in trade.
Sund goes into this Hawks’ offseason as both a possible lame duck and their primary makeover artist — a bad combination.
This is not a bash Rick Sund column. To the contrary, given the budget constraints he works with — granted, constraints created by the Johnson contract that he endorsed — and the knucklehead ownership group that he works for, I actually think Sund did a pretty good job this season, particularly in the area of building the Hawks’ bench.
Is Sund a bold, think-outside-the-box kind of executive? No. But it’s not like every young, edgy, risk-taking GM hasn’t had things blow up in his face, too. Sund is solid, even if unspectacular.
But this is an important offseason for the Hawks. I know. They all are. But the thought of this team coming back with the same core again doesn’t excite the masses, and the most plausible high-level trade subject is Josh Smith. He has one year left on his contract, and he would prefer to be elsewhere.
Sund generally isn’t swayed by a player (or coach) having an expiring contract, but it doesn’t make sense to risk losing a player of Smith’s caliber for nothing on the free-agent market next summer.
The point is that Sund isn’t the one who should make the decision on trading Smith – or any decision. If he wants to return as a consultant/adviser, that’s fine. But the decisions over the next several weeks will shape the Hawks’ future, and it isn’t logical that the team would have Sund – who already has at least his toes into retirement – would be doing the shaping.
“I don’t even want to go there,” Sund said Wednesday when asked if he was coming back. “Going forward, I’ll take some time, talking to my wife, talking to the owners, and in time there will be resolution.”
Think about this: The Atlanta Spirit owners, visionaries that they are, have known about this since at least December. They approached Sund following the lockout about a contract extension. He put them on hold. A smart owner at that point might have started doing his homework on young executives around the league and made a move right after the season.
It has been three weeks since the Hawks played their final game. The draft lottery was Thursday night. Trade rumors have started. The draft is June 28. Trades involving veterans shift into high gear thereafter. Free agency begins July 11. How long before we know who’s pulling the strings? And shouldn’t that have been decided already?
For what it’s worth, Sund likes Smith. He likes this team. He believes that if Al Horford and Zaza Pachulia stayed healthy, “We would’ve gotten to that elite level,” which he defines as one of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
He wouldn’t directly answer questions about Smith or potential trades, but said, “To get to [number] one or two in the East, I think we have to explore possible ways to get there, and hopefully not take a step back.”
It all sounds fine. But I don’t want a realtor who is moving several states away trying to convince me what neighborhood to build a house in. The Hawks need someone new calling the shots.
By Jeff Schultz
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154 comments Add your comment
Andy
May 31st, 2012
2:48 pm
Bring back Billy Knight!
www
May 31st, 2012
2:50 pm
new leadership wouldn’t hurt, but it may be too late for this group of hawks.
DCBravosFan
May 31st, 2012
3:05 pm
Good post, Jeff. Still can’t believe that Sund thinks the Hawks were close to being a top-two team in the East. He and the rest of the front office are deluding themselves if they think that is the case.
DCBravosFan
May 31st, 2012
3:07 pm
Are there any “young whiz kid” assistant GMs that would be good replacement candidates in case Rick decides that he would rather be fishin’?
coloradofalconsfan
May 31st, 2012
3:08 pm
We need a time machine so we can go back and have Billy Knight draft Rondo over Sheldon Williams in 2006. (It looks more and more like this was a worse pick than Marvin or Deron Williams over Paul.) Fix that problem and we are a winner.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 31st, 2012
3:10 pm
I love Ricky Sund, and I believe the Hawks will win a championship next season with him in charge.
lanier
May 31st, 2012
3:19 pm
Jeff do you ever post anything positive?
falCans
May 31st, 2012
3:26 pm
Trade Josh and im boy- cotting!!!! no one in the draft is as talented or bring his type of production. honestly the only player who stuffs the stat sheet is lebron…. oops and rondo. Josh wants to stay but Josh wants to be a star and rightfully so. MAKE HIM THE FOCAL POINT AND VIOLA… HE STAYS. Al could bring a significant piece to the city without taking a step back. Ownership needs to be ttreating Josh like D.Howard and roll out the red carpet. but i agree Sund shouldnt be making these decisions
falCans
May 31st, 2012
3:27 pm
disregard the hyphen
JF McNamara
May 31st, 2012
3:29 pm
Trade Josh Smith for Amare Stoudemire. Amare can be the lead player here putting Joe in second where he should be. He’s the odd man in New York now. Josh Smith would fit with Carmelo since he doesn’t really dominate the ball.
I don’t know about the money or if Mike Woodson would ever want to Coach Josh Smith again, but it makes both teams better by slotting the roles on the teams correctly.
rollo lawson
May 31st, 2012
3:33 pm
They messed up when they offered Larry Drew an extension. Let Sund ride off into the sunset and hire the 2nd in command from either San Antonio or Oklahoma City and let him handle the draft and free agency. If the teams makes a real effort to win by drafting smart and spending money in free agency, maybe Josh will stay after next season.
The Real HAwk
May 31st, 2012
3:35 pm
The owners will keep him because it’s cheap. And who else would take the job? Ouch, they may make Drew the GM/Coach!
He-Dan
May 31st, 2012
3:44 pm
Andy, I hope your “bring back Billy Knight” comment was sarcastic, he’s the one who stunted this roster by drafting M. Williams instead of C. Paul or D. Williams, he also drafted S. Williams high ion the 1st round when I believe he could have had M. Conely JR, PG is and has been a major weakness of the Hawks along w/ Center for years now thanks to B. Knight.
PMC
May 31st, 2012
3:48 pm
Michael Gearon shouldn’t be making decisions for the Hawks either. Life is a cruel mistress.
Grandmaster JeJe
May 31st, 2012
3:50 pm
The Q&A is about as bad as the one with Gearon Jr. MC asked great questions.
My only takeaway is that the players think they should still be playing. So does every other team in the league. STFU and be real. You are the worst GM. You talk about being a final 2 team in the conference. Have you EVER accomplished this in your 32 years?
If Hinrich had played in that Chicago series, Teague wouldn’t have played at all. Last time I checked, Teague had a coming out party in that series – no homo. We would’ve gotten murdered with or without Hinrich. SMH
I’m surprised Sund didn’t just say:
“The goal is to win 50 games. Because if you win 50 games, you are most likely going to make the playoffs. If you make the playoffs, you have a chance of winning round 1. If you win round 1, you have a chance of going to round 2. If you win round 2, you have a chance of going to the ECF. If you win the ECF, you have a chance of going to the Finals.”
In my mock offseason, I had Gearon answering that question about Smoove and said Gearon would circumvent it. Just as Sund does here:
MC: Is it your perception Josh is still happy being here with the Hawks?
Sund: I’m going to have his exit interview sometime this week. But, yeah, when you read the things of him saying . . . He’s such a competitor. I was talking to his dad the other day, and he mentioned we all think we should be playing, and that’s great. And [Josh] is one of them.
Does Sund even answer the question MC asked? No.
falCans
May 31st, 2012
3:55 pm
lol Amare for Josh lol u have to be kiddin me. There the same offensively and defensively there is no comparison lol and Josh is Healthy (most of time) while Amare is never healthy and costs twice as much
Jay
May 31st, 2012
3:55 pm
When Horford and Zaza were healthy, we weren’t elite. The Hawks ownership and Sund need a reality check and should put down the koolaid.
Moongoose
May 31st, 2012
3:56 pm
I agree, trade Josh Smith straight up for Amare Stoudamire, then I would find a way to bring Dwight Howard here to Atlanta, Heck give Orlando, Joe Johnson,Marvin Williams,T-Mac and 2 first round picks to get him. Keep Teague and Hinrich for the backcourt, cause our front line with Stoudamire at the 3, Horford moves to the 4, and Howard at the 5, it would be one of the most dominant frontlines in the NBA. Keep the bench about the same, cause it was pretty deep. Will this happen? of course not cause of our cheap ownership group. ASG blows!
falCans
May 31st, 2012
3:56 pm
their #
TomB
May 31st, 2012
4:00 pm
Solid as in super hard, or dumb as a rock? I would not call anyone who signed off on the Johnson contract as solid. Jeff, your low expectations of this organization are making even folks like Sund sound…. well, solid.
UknowWhat?
May 31st, 2012
4:04 pm
Knuckleheaded owners? Very funny indeed, but true. Sad, sad, sad. Warren Buffet would be a better owner than what we have now.
JF McNamara
May 31st, 2012
4:09 pm
@falCans,
Amare averages 6 more PPG over his career, 1 more rebound. Amare is also two inches taller and has a legitimate post up game that allows you to run plays through him. Josh is a great athlete, but his game is nowhere near as refined. You definitely can’t run an offense through him, can you?
Bottom line. Amare is a lead dog. Josh is a secondary piece part. A very, very good piece part, but a piece part none the less…
…and before I get jumped on, Josh is a piece part because he chose not to improve his game the way he should have early in his career. He should be scoring 25 a game with his ability, but he’s not…and its his fault.
Terrell
May 31st, 2012
4:11 pm
Everybody who keeps pointing back to the the M. Williams pick over Paul and Williams I have one question. Do you think they would still be with the Hawks now? Paul left the Hornets and Williams left the Jazz, you know the teams that drafted them. The Hawks at that time were worse than those two teams to tell you the truth. Also if we get Paul or Williams chances are we don’t get Joe Johnson and that means that we don’t get Al Horford because the pick we traded to the Suns was conditional on us not getting in the lottery. Paul had West and Williams had Boozer. Who would they had the Hawks drafted them? Childress? Al Harrington? Tom Gugliotta? A young and immature Josh Smith?
Najeh Davenpoop
May 31st, 2012
4:16 pm
“Jeff do you ever post anything positive?”
Do Atlanta sports teams give him anything positive to post about?
DCBravosFan
May 31st, 2012
4:21 pm
A’mare has uninsurable knees. He is hurt every year. He wants “bright lights, and big city” and would be a disastor here. Also, Woody would never take Smith back. The Hawks are gonna have to trade with a team also on the periphery of success, like the Grizzlies, Jazz, Bucks, etc. I personally think that our best case is Josh for Marc Gasol or Zach Richardson if Memphis would fall for that.
Najeh Davenpoop
May 31st, 2012
4:23 pm
“Everybody who keeps pointing back to the the M. Williams pick over Paul and Williams I have one question. Do you think they would still be with the Hawks now?”
Not really relevant to draft strategy. Gotta pick the best player available. This isn’t MLB where you make your draft decisions based on signability.
I think there’s a good chance CP3 or Deron Williams would still be here, because they would have had Joe and Josh as teammates their entire careers.
“Also if we get Paul or Williams chances are we don’t get Joe Johnson and that means that we don’t get Al Horford because the pick we traded to the Suns was conditional on us not getting in the lottery.”
The Joe trade had nothing to do with the 2005 draft pick. If the Hawks had played their cards right, they would have had Josh and Iguodala from the 2004 draft, CP3 from the 2005 draft, and Joe via the sign-and-trade. You’re right that they wouldn’t have had Horford, but so what? As good as Horford is, I’d gladly trade him for CP3.
CP3-Joe-Iguodala-Josh-Zaza might have been the greatest team in Hawks history, and it was eminently doable. For that matter, they could have conceivably fielded a team of Rondo-Joe-Danny Granger-Josh-Al Jefferson or Rondo-Joe-Iguodala-Josh-Andrew Bynum, too, if they had played their cards right. Pick Jefferson #6 in ‘04 instead of Childress, Granger in ‘05 (would have been a reach at #2 but not nearly as bad a pick as Marvin), and Rondo in ‘06, or Iguodala at #6 in ‘04, Bynum at #2 in ‘05, and Rondo in ‘06.
Ryder
May 31st, 2012
4:26 pm
Let’s be realistic here, Sund is a moron if he thinks the Hawks will ever be a threat in the East with this roster. Honestly, I think they are just holding out until these contracts expire so they can get salary cap relief and go the route of the Bobcats.
Who on this blog actually thinks that the Hawks have the “it” ability to win a title with this crew? Trade Smith/Williams to LA for Gasol and at worst you go into next year with two guys who can play in the paint, a decent PG in Teague and an average SG in Johnson. That is a four man group that could actually challenge Miami, Chicago and Indiana.
drmaryb.(*_*).
May 31st, 2012
4:29 pm
Don’t you dare, Poop!
Listening to you the last few months, you act like the Hawks are the best team here or anywhere! What a laugh!
Durrtydogg
May 31st, 2012
4:29 pm
There is some serious delusional people on this blog. I just can’t understand the loyalty to this group of players or anyone in charge of it. Sure, I can understand backing Horford. He is the only player that cares about winning. But everyone else is completely dispensable. You can forget about Joe going anywhere. If we luck up and Chicago loses their mind and takes him off our hand, I would be the happiest man this side of Peachtree. Teague is lost and waiting on him to “turn the page” is three years too late. Its not going to happen. Marvin who?? When you are a top five pick in the draft and no other team would trade their developmental players for your services should be reason enough to realize his talents are less than sub par. He should be ashamed to call himself a NBA player. Now to Josh. Sure, I recognize the skills Josh possess. I was like many of you, I wanted the hometown boy to stay. But unfortunately Josh has mentally checked out. When a player asks to be traded and wishes he was somewhere else, what can you do? He will not sign an extension so the obvious choice is to trade him. Some say he wants to be the focal point on the team. That maybe so, but Horford is the star. Not Joe, not Josh. Horford completely plays out of position and yet holds his own. Put him in the correct spot and move Josh to another team so we dont have to worry about rain maker jumpers from a 6′10 guy that barely hits rim. This team was built to fail and the “owners” dont have any respect around the league and continuously make horrible basketball decisions. In this town we celebrate mediocrity. To win it takes guts and people with a low tolerance for straddling the line of “were almost there”. The wait and see approach has not and will not work. Yet, many of you are comfortable with losing and not being competitive. I had season tickets until two years ago because I realized that paying to watch this team is like putting that money in a barrel and setting it on fire.
Highlight GM
May 31st, 2012
4:29 pm
I can do this job. Where do I apply? This job is not as hard as it’s made out to be. According to this information regarding salaries from draftexpress.com:
http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-player-salaries/team/Hawks/
I would GET RID OF EVERYONE EXCEPT TEAGUE, JOE AND AL. Make a run at D. Howard and Bynum. Try to trade Josh Smith and Marvin Williams or buy some 2nd rd. picks for the next 2 years and sign vets for 1 year at the minimum, a la McGrady and Stackhouse. Put Larry Drew on death watch and get Ewing or some former player as coach that will get respect in the locker room. Plus, with the new makeup of this team, no young players will challenge him. My starters would be:
PG Teague
SG Joe Johnson
SF Rookie FA or defensive stopper (don’t need scoring, just a tough player to bang w/ Lebron)
PF Horford
C Howard/Bynum or another banger for Bosh
bench can be made up of 1 year vets at PG and SG and undrafted SF and PF but all high energy guys that board and defend.
heartofdarkness
May 31st, 2012
4:30 pm
The Hawks will make their decisions in the traditional manner. A young administrative assistant will be blindfolded and given a pole. She will swing until she hits the pinata filled with solutions not used last year. Upon the striking of the coup de grace, the staff will scramble to open a solution. First solution open wins. Opa!
JF McNamara
May 31st, 2012
4:31 pm
Amare is here all the time, and he wants his own team more than he wants bright lights, big city.
Marc Gasol makes them worse because he has the same vanilla personality. He’s not leading a team anywhere. Zach Randolph is not realistic.
Unless they get another player who commands a double team, they are going to be out of the first round every year. The blueprint to beat the Hawks is easy. Double Joe and he will get passive, and let everyone else try to beat you. If you have to double Amare, it frees up Joe. Worse case scenario is you get a player who won’t become completely passive and useless when they get double teamed which gives you a fighting chance.
I’d gamble on the bad knees, because this group is what it is. A fringe contender.
Herschel Talker
May 31st, 2012
4:33 pm
JF McNamara:
You are a clown.
HT
Big Crimson 75
May 31st, 2012
4:33 pm
Why not give it 1 more shot??
Blowing the Team up is not the answer.
If Al hits 2 FT’s – We are in the Conference Finals.
Joe – Josh – Marvin – Al & Teague are guaranteed to get us 40+ wins & a position in the Playoffs.
Relax everyone — tearing up the Team is not the answer & neither is trading Smooth for the WRONG Gasol brother.
Bravesfan79
May 31st, 2012
4:40 pm
I actually think Sund has good a good job (except picking up Dampier). Mcgrady, Vlad Rad (his confidence was hurt because he was underused if u ask me), Pargo, Green, Ivan… all were great assets not only to the bench but the team.
The real problem is the lack of $$ for a top coach. Drew isnt bad, but someone like Jeff Van Gundy would of brought fire to the sideline, and make Josh smith a smarter player.
Highlight GM
May 31st, 2012
4:45 pm
Big Crimson,
The objective for this team is competing with the Heat, Bulls, etc. A complete blow up is not necessary, but a serious makeover is needed. Marvin and Josh don’t have the ballz to win titles, plain and simple. They hamper the starters with inefficiencies that make Joe, Jeff, and Al look worse than they are. Josh needs to go to a team where he can come off the bench and contribute, or let loose. Denver, Houston or Minnesota seems like a good fit for him. Marvin can go to Phoenix, Portland, or any team with high picks annually, so that we can get some value for him.
mountain_jim
May 31st, 2012
4:59 pm
Hawks ownership is of the Rankin Smith family / Jed and Jethro Clampette variety
And where is Billy Knight today? Did his contract run out yet? Marvin and Shellhead and Chills, On my!
On another note, nice to see the Celtics get jobbed by the officiating last night like the Hawks were against them. Was there ever any doubt the League wants Miami in the finals, just as they wanted a Miami Boston eastern conference final.
Another GM
May 31st, 2012
5:09 pm
Jeff you are aware that Gearon is the GM correct?
Lance-diehardfan
May 31st, 2012
5:12 pm
I think we should keep Rick,Drew,Josh,Al, I do believe we could have advance to the 2nd tier and bear my home team Boston.however it is what it is..,The draft ,free agents this is going to be a game of scrabble..I would hold my hand and ride the wave under the SUND.
Mike
May 31st, 2012
5:19 pm
So in other words, you want the Hawks to keep Smith, even know that he is not going to resigned here. We will be in the same situation as Orlando is with Dwight and yall know that headache they went through.
Jeff, I have to agreed, if he isnt coming back or even staying one more year, then bring somebody new (no holdover from here) to learn from him or just over his duties until Sund leaves.
Mike S.
May 31st, 2012
5:32 pm
Hawks biggest issue is they cant improve the team. Whether Sund is GM or not, they still have to pay JJ a max contract which has crippled what they can do as far as roster adjustments.
Jay Dubu
May 31st, 2012
5:34 pm
The Hawks need a coach that will get the best of of the players. Right now, I don’t think that Josh Smith has fulfilled his potential. If he played in a structured offense, and was not allowed to camp out around the 3-point arc, he would be so much more effective.
Woody tried to push him to greatness, and he rebuffed, and stayed at odds with Woody. That’s the thing that a coach brings…he can see not only the player you are, but the player that you can become, and should put a plan in action to get you there.
That is not happening with Josh. He’s probably the nbest athelete, and most talented player on the Hawks team, but he needs structure to get to the next level.
Hugo
May 31st, 2012
5:40 pm
Durrtydogg, Couldn’t have said it better myself. Wish that I could find Knight and sat his ass on fire in Downtown ATL. Fans need to show that until it place a championship caliber team on the floor they will play before half empty crowds.
Ted Striker
May 31st, 2012
5:49 pm
Page hit!
Disaffected Hawks Fan
May 31st, 2012
5:52 pm
Schultz (or one of the AJC writers) mentioned that Sund was considering retirement at least two years ago, and I’ve wanted him out ever since then. I’m sure he does more work behind the scenes then we see, but he sure gives the impression that he’s not real invested in this job. Since the Jamal Crawford acquistiion in the summer of ‘09, he has not made a single signifcant move in free agency or on the trade market. He seems hellbent on maintaining the status quo. There might have been some merit to that at one time when this was a young roster on the rise, but that time has long since passed.
This may all just be my perception, but I want a GM who is actively working to try to improve the team, not one who is seemingly going through the motions while eyeing retirement.
cory dillinger
May 31st, 2012
6:01 pm
Ok let’s look to next year obviously the Celtics big three will be gone with only Rondo and Pierce remaining Rose will not be back for the Bulls until after the All star break and who is to say he will have the same explosion as before the injury that leaves the Heat, Pacers, and the 76ers(who will probably lose Iguodala) to contend with. If they move Al to the 4 and let zaza start at the 5 they are in the ECF where anything can happen
BC
May 31st, 2012
6:12 pm
The two most, problematic issue’s facing the Hawks is, JJ’s contact and of course the ownership. I would love to see a Derrick Lowe type trade of JJ, and even the Cali-pizza guy looks better than these clowns. I know this is the NBA, and a dump JJ and assume part of the contract, dose not fly, { except, when your team is owned by King David Stern and you also own all the ping pong balls }.
We true Atl, fans, that date back to the days of sweet Lou and Richie G., know that we are DOOMED for several years, and our only chance to watch great basketball, is to enjoy the Spurs right now, or the up coming OK’s.
Atlanta Thrashers Season Ticket Holder
May 31st, 2012
6:21 pm
Hell is Not Hot Enough for Gearon, Levenson and the rest of YOUR Atlanta Spirit Group.
Durrtydogg
May 31st, 2012
6:24 pm
The NBA is a total joke. Its one of the few “pro” sports leagues that you can virtually pick who will be in the finals every single year during training camp. The commissioner is an arrogant prick who thinks we should bow down because he uses a few big words and flashes a car dealers smile. Majority of the teams are lackluster at best with overblown, crybaby prima donas who care more about the placement of their tattoos than actually making a lay up. Majority of the league is focused on where to get high than working on their game. I mean lets be honest here. The NBA is the worst and the Hawks are irrelevant. I was born and raised here. I was at the Omni when it was jumping. I know what this sports town can bring when the players provide something to root for. Being happy to make it to the second round may be ok for many of you, but to towns like Boston, Miami, LA and such, its not going to fly. You are suppose to want to win Championships not watch bottom lines. Our “owners” have shown that they didnt want this team anymore when they tried to sell it to the first guy with cash money in the back of an alley. Its ok to support the home team. Its not ok to let someone pee in your face and tell you its raining.
NekiEcko
May 31st, 2012
6:26 pm
@cory dilinger
Nice try but remember the Bulls had the best record in the East and was 1 or 2 overall in NBA without Rose there. C’s will retool, no matter what, if the Magic doesnt trade D12 this year then you have deal with them and if they trade him to Nets, you have to deal with Nets. 76ers has Doug Collins and he is doing wonder with that young team, Pacers too. Plus you got borderline teams like Knicks, Bucks and even younger teams like Cavs and Pistons is on the rise.
I dont this team can get to the ECF at all, I think they need to start looking into the future not the past experiences.
falCans
May 31st, 2012
6:35 pm
soooo take on the 2nd worst contract in the NBA (Amare) who may scor3e more than Josh but is not nearly as productive. Amare contract IS NOT INSURED. So pay a injury prone big double the pay of Josh for 6 more points a game?? Amare doesnt rebound or defend or distribute the ball. Josh does all so ill take the 6 points less. And since when was Amare a #1 guy??? He is a complimentary piece paid like “the man” lol he Joe 2.0 And older than Josh. Seriously my guy you gotta think this over!!
falCans
May 31st, 2012
6:43 pm
YES YOU KEEP JOSH!!! W ho said he is leaving for sure??? Besides the main reason he is leaving is because of you fair weather fans…. to our home town kid of all ppl. Why would u trade a 27 yr old Smith for Gasol (33) and cost us twice as much as Josh does and plays no defense??? If yuou know BB then you must understand the role/effect Josh defense has on a game. & he shoots because he has no plays set for him. not to mention LD KEEPS HIM AT THE 3 POINT LINE!!
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SEEN A PLAY CALLED FOR JOSH IN THE POST, HIGH OR LOW???
tjhook
May 31st, 2012
7:07 pm
Keep Smith and trade Horford and Marvin Williams for a wing player (can play one or two) Maybe Trevor Ariza from New Orleans in a trade along with some others who can help match it financially.
Bill
May 31st, 2012
7:16 pm
Hawks will do nothing..a group of Loser Owners!
Admirable Snackbar
May 31st, 2012
7:19 pm
STAY THE COURSE. good things happen to those that wait.
next year is it! GO HAWKS!!
FALCONSJRT
May 31st, 2012
7:23 pm
The hawks need to go get Free agents guards Stevie Nash or Former hawk Jason Terry or both together. Then trade Joe Johnson a first and 2nd round picks to the magic for Dwight Howard or Trade JJ to the lakers for Andrew Bynum and a draft pick. The front court of Big Al, D-Howard or Bynum and j-smoove with Ivan johnson off the bench from the front court! Now that’s a championship team in the making! I wish i was the GM!!!!!
tyger
May 31st, 2012
7:28 pm
Billy Knight not a bad idea!
Except for Teague this is still BK’s team…
And not a bad team at all…
Woody, his nemesis, is gone…
Belkin, his nemesis, is gone…
JJ, his Trojan horse, is still here…
Let him finish what he started…Phase II
For all the hoopla over drafting too many forwards…
Seems to have worked just fine…
In fact, its the forward we didnt get, that hurts most…
Shouldve taken Rudy Gay over Shelden Williams…
But Woody have to have a BIG…
This is a good deep draft…
Let the 2nd best talent man…pull the trigger…
Many will pine, but Marvin…
Marvin aint Adam Morrison or Kwame Brown…
Marvin aint Kevin Durant or Westbrook either…
Marvin is Marvin…I can live with or without Marvin…
We’re at an cross road, cant drop the ball…
Just like 8 years ago…we need an executive pro…
Sund held serve, but we need calculated risk now…
Who scored ZaZa??? Who scored Smoove w 17th pick?
Al was a no brainer…Marvin was a decent bet…
Chills would look a lot better w/ us than Suns…
Get the guy on the phone…
Enough
May 31st, 2012
7:33 pm
I have never responded to a column previously, but I feel compelled to in response to this lazy, cynical, crowd appeasing article. Rick Sund has done an amazing job. Jeff, you act like our franchise is the New York Yankees and that we are entitled to win a championship with anything less a failure. Elite stars don’t want to play for the Hawks. Of course Joe Johnson is not as elite of a player as other max salary athletes. But that’s not the point. Name a player that without the benefit of hindsight you would have preferred to have signed over J.J., who was available and would have been willing to sign. Do you not think Sund would have preferred to sign Lebron James over J.J.? The simple truth is the top stars would rather play in Miami, NY, LA, Boston, etc. And don’t say Atlanta is a big city so that makes us attractive. Which crowd would you rather play in front of, OKC or Atlanta? The problem is us, the cynical, notoriously fair weather, negative fans. Maybe your attitude sells newspapers, but it only perpetuates our root problem — ourselves. We should instead appreciate Sund’s saviness in ignoring columnists/ fans’ pleas to trade Josh Smith, his confidence in sticking with Jeff Teague, and his commitment to Al Horford. Any fan or writer who thinks he knows better than Sund and feels we deserved better than our past few year’s performance given the constraints is delusional.
Delbert D.
May 31st, 2012
8:07 pm
Not to worry, Jeff; it’s only pro basketball.
Jeff Schultz
May 31st, 2012
8:11 pm
DCBravosFan: Thanks. Actually, while not saying Hawks would’ve been top-2, I would’ve liked to see what the team could do at full strength. Would’ve been interesting.
Jeff Schultz
May 31st, 2012
8:14 pm
Another GM –
“Jeff you are aware that Gearon is the GM correct?”
Point taken.
Jeff Schultz
May 31st, 2012
8:18 pm
Enough — Not sure if you actually read the column or not (I’m guessing not), so let me quote from it: “This is not a bash Rick Sund column. To the contrary, given the budget constraints he works with — granted, constraints created by the Johnson contract that he endorsed — and the knucklehead ownership group that he works for, I actually think Sund did a pretty good job this season, particularly in the area of building the Hawks’ bench.”
Rather, this is about moving forward. If you want to know more, you may want to actually read the column.
GT Alum
May 31st, 2012
8:31 pm
Does Sund actually make any of the decisions or does he just do what the owners tell him to? Seems like the owners make all of the big decisions.
Enough
May 31st, 2012
8:50 pm
To quote the headline of your article: “Rick Sund shouldn’t be making decisions for Hawks.” You refer to Sund as “VP of Deflecting Blame for the Joe Johnson Contract.” You go on to implicitly infer the Joe Johnson contract was a massive mistake (in case you did not read your article) — “constraints created by the Johnson contract that he endorsed.” You say that he is not a “bold, think-outside-the-box kind of executive,” which seems to imply he is not sophisticated or imaginative enough to warrant that praise and that we want someone to come in and do something “bold” that shows how brilliant he is as a “think-outside-the-box” executive. Bold and outside the box is what won the Hawks Priest Lauderdale and J.R. Rider. You go on to state “the thought of this team coming back with the same core again doesn’t excite the masses. The most plausible high-level trade subject is Josh Smith” Really? Trading Josh Smith is the solution? Are you kidding me? The objective of a G.M. is to win games, not to create big, splashy trades to impress the Jeff Schultz’s of the world. What other than brilliant do you call signing Tracy McGrady, Willie Green, Jannero Pargo, Vladimir Radmanović, and Ivan Johnson, at least 4 out of 5 of which he signed for the league minimums? All were significant contributors to the team at various points throughout the season. After all that you’re trying to tell me you’re a Rick Sund fan, but you are just too concerned that he is going to continue as GM, but not really put effort into it because he would actually rather be retired? I don’t think you could insult someone’s integrity any more than that. I respect Sund for not committing until he is sure that he can be fully into it. He does not need Jeff Schultz to make that decision for him. Phil Jackson contemplated retirement several times and went on to win more championships. Pat Reilly has previously retired. Michael Jordan retired from basketball. Your rationale that anyone who debates whether they can fully commit to their job before signing an extention should be fired is irresponsible and offensive.
Zing
May 31st, 2012
8:50 pm
Spot on, Jeff. This ownership group seems to be doing the absolute minimum to regards to managing it–they’re like caretakers at this point. And I don’t mean in regards to the payroll; they want the team to remain good and retain value. But I would not be surprised whatsoever if news broke tomorrow (or anytime in the near future) that an agreement to sell the Hawks was in the works.
Speaking of– any rumors on anything of that nature, Jeff?
Zing
May 31st, 2012
8:51 pm
*in regards
Disgusted
May 31st, 2012
8:53 pm
Sund has not done that badly under the circumstances, I do not know who could take this team to the next step to at least the ECF.
Sund might want to get out before this thing begins to slide and who could blame him?
Josh Smith is going to look to go elsewhere after next yr and cannot blame him for that.
Would not be a bad thing to get Pau Gasol, I’d hate to give Josh for him straight up. Would try offering Marvin Williams and something else.
Neki
May 31st, 2012
8:55 pm
falCans,
So how do we keep Smith if we dont have any money there, genius? He wants a Max deal or close to it and we are in Lux. Tax, heck we have to sell one of our second picks that we got along time ago to the Warriors to offset that cost. So in other words, you want use to keep sell picks so we can keep Josh and trading Al is out of the question right now.
@Enough
You got to remember this team havent been in ECF finals since it was moved here and we and the Clippers is only team on that list. People wants to see a good product that actually wants to win a championship for the city, not collectin paychecks. We the fans have a right to say whats is on our minds. Rick Sund has done a wonderful job but he is just in a bad situation and I think that nobody in their right mind will take this job as long that ASG is in charge.
Jimmy Crack
May 31st, 2012
8:55 pm
GM, coach, whatever. We’re a good team, but not great. This team needs a quality big man but the good free agents seem to go elsewhere, and out of college the good ones tend to get picked early in the draft and we’re just good enough every year to pick late.
hawks21
May 31st, 2012
9:03 pm
To the Josh haters, I have a trade that may work for everyone. Trade Josh to Orlando, then trade Howard to (Brooklyn)/NJ Nets, the n trade Brooks to Atlanta! New lineup Teague, Johnson, Williams, Horford, Brooks! Bench – Jeff, Tracy, Zaza, Green, Ivan…..
Marco Pillow
May 31st, 2012
9:08 pm
Excellent blog Jeff. I wouldnt want Sund building a deck of cards house… He hamstrung the Hawks with Joe Johnsons contract. He gave JJ Kobe money and got Mike Bibby production…
falCans
May 31st, 2012
9:11 pm
Josh does not and will not get a max deal ANYWHERE in the NBA. Theat said there are loopholes and incentives for teams to re sign there stars and for the player to re up there contract @NEKI…. Im the biggest smooth fan ever but c’mon… u think he is getting a max deal lmao wow. He is going to get an extension not a raise of significant proportion. (12-15 mil)
Marco Pillow
May 31st, 2012
9:12 pm
Shoulda kept Jason Terry. Wasted draft picks on Marvin &Shelden Williams. Hawks suck.
Neki
May 31st, 2012
9:12 pm
@Enough
i want to look at your post and I am going to try to figure out
” You go on to implicitly infer the Joe Johnson contract was a massive mistake (in case you did not read your article) — “constraints created by the Johnson contract that he endorsed.”
So you that contract that Joe got was a right choice? I know what we have to resign him but for that amount, it was going to hamspring any upgrades for this team. He knew but still did it, should he some of the blame for that.
“You go on to state “the thought of this team coming back with the same core again doesn’t excite the masses. The most plausible high-level trade subject is Josh Smith” Really? Trading Josh Smith is the solution? Are you kidding me?”
Then we do the altenative and sign Josh to a Max deal and then we have to give up Zaza or Teague, keep selling draft picks, still having 1st round celing, getting no respect from nobody and keep losing fans.
The objective of a G.M. is to win games, not to create big, splashy trades to impress the Jeff Schultz’s of the world.
That is one part of the GM to make decision that includes big, splashy trades, sign FA, evaluate talents as well. So in other words that Hawks should stay still and keep trying the same core that has been together after this year is going to be the longest because Mavs, Lakers, and C’s will make changes because they dont stay still, they move forward.
At the end, Rick Sund is more like a fall guy on this but it is on his watch so he does deserve some of the blame.
falCans
May 31st, 2012
9:14 pm
And Al can and i hope will be traded now while he is still valuable on the market. Every year it goes down so we need to trade him now. Smith production cant be matched unless we get a max player in return…. or the #! pick in this year draft but id still rather keep the hometown kid. See Jeff all ATL fans aren’t “fair weather”
Neki
May 31st, 2012
9:14 pm
@falCans
This is the NBA when you can give out Max contacts like candy and there is teams that wants JSmooth and he will get top dollar (contact year) and Max. So it is get something for him or leave with nothing at all and since NBA doesnt do Comp pick, Then you are screwed. Ask Orlando about that.
Marco Pillow
May 31st, 2012
9:17 pm
Should have let Dominique Wilkins be coach.
Enough
May 31st, 2012
9:20 pm
@Neki
Please tell me, without the benefit of hindsight, which free agent that was willing to come to the Hawks at the time you would have preferred we sign over Joe Johnson for the max contract?
Second, I don’t recall Rick Sund stating that his plan for this offseason is to do nothing. Please correct me if you read that somewhere.
In terms of who deserves the blame, why is everyone so eager to assign blame? The fact this team finished as the fourth seed in the East despite the most player games lost to injury of any team in the NBA I see as more of a reason to look for people to praise than people to blame.
As for holding Sund responsible for the failure of the Hawks to win a championship in the decades preceding him, I don’t get that at all.
Marco Pillow
May 31st, 2012
9:23 pm
Im sure Hawks will draft another Shelden Williams. If Kobe,Lebron,D.Wade,Durant,Rondo,and Shelden Williams were available Hawks would pick Shelden Williams every time.
Neki
May 31st, 2012
9:25 pm
Nobody is holding Sund completely responsible but it fell on his watch, so he get some blame to this. We all know that it was ASG that deserve most of the blame.
For that FA, nobody because at that time, because nobody wants to come to a place that ownership was fighting each other(I think they were still in court I think) and there was uncertain around that time. That is one of the reasons why ASG/Sund freaked out about JJ leaving.
falCans
May 31st, 2012
9:25 pm
Your logic is way off NO NBA TEAM WILL GIVE HIM A MAX CONTRACT. Where have u even heard a hint that he is seeking 6 years 120 mil?? or 5 years 100 mil. And why are you so sure he is leaving? Its clear he wants to stay just wants support from management and fans (guess thats not you). All things that can be corrected…EASILY. lET ME TELL YOU SOME PEOPLE WITHOUT A MAX CONTRACT
Steve Nash Pau Gasol Chris Paul Lebron James and the big 3 kobe (over 20 mil a year but not enough years) Even KEVIN DURANT
But someone will give Josh 20 mil a year for 5 years???? cant be seriuos
Marco Pillow
May 31st, 2012
9:26 pm
Ok. Sund could have let JJ walk then sign a REAL star player this year worth $20 million a year…
falCans
May 31st, 2012
9:28 pm
@ enough I get your point. Even though Jeff says he is not bashing he most certainly is, though I agree with his points. Sund did a great job this year but no smart business man would keep a GM to make off season decisions when he mite not even come back… unless that person is Jerry West
Neki
May 31st, 2012
9:29 pm
@falCans
I know a few teams will do it and if he does what he did this year, he will probably get and if not, he wants to go to a team that has a real chance to make to ECF/Finals. Because if we resigned him then we have to give somebody up, and No, Al isnt one of them.
falCans
May 31st, 2012
9:31 pm
we have to get over th JJ contract. He is here for at least 2 more years its unfortunate but true. Maybe we can do the amnesty routine in his finl year but who wants to pay a guy 60 mil to leave now?? I wouldnt. No one will take him in a trade soooo were stuck. get over it guys
falCans
May 31st, 2012
9:37 pm
@ Nekei you dont have a clue lol and im not bein mean or anything but we can give him an extension and keep our core. Your “facts” just aren’t Fact. And maybe you didnt just see the list of people without Max Contracts you should look again. His numbers arent good enough for a max. Honestly besides the mavericks and New Jersey no other team can offer a max contract and its been well documented who those teams are persuing lmao this is to far fetched to even debate
falCans
May 31st, 2012
9:39 pm
I feel like im debating a tea party member about whether Obama was born in Hawaii or not. @ Jeff heeellllp!!!
falCans
May 31st, 2012
9:43 pm
wooow I agree with NEKI, 0_o, we should have let JJ walk… the funny thing is if we did he would have came back at a cheaper price. It was a desperation move and a bad one.
Neki
May 31st, 2012
9:43 pm
Okay, so how much you think he is worth? I will love to hear this.
Double Dribble
May 31st, 2012
9:58 pm
Michael Gearon shouldn’t be making decisions on what’s for dinner, let alone anything dealing with a major sports team in Atlanta. His crybaby act when the Thrashers left was a cover for really pathetic decision making on his and the other owners’ part.
And I don’t know how Rutherford B Hayes, er… I mean Ruthie Swinedel can decide how to put his pants on in the morning.
The ASG make the Keystone Cops look like Sherlock Holmes.
WalterEgo
May 31st, 2012
10:00 pm
Shultzie, I don’t get it. The Hawks have a host of problems: 1) perhaps the worst ownership situation in sports, 2) a cheap coach that can’t or won’t reign in his players and won’t fight for his team in crunch-time, 3) moderate talent absent skill-sets and some positions…Sund is frankly the LEAST of the Hawk’s problems. He filled out a roster admirably with minimum salaried talent. He’s drafted Teague with a late first. He’s done so with OWNERSHIP that makes him sell picks, won’t allow him to hold scouting tryouts when every other NBA team is, and gives out unwarranted maximum deals to fringe stars entering their twilight. He may want to “retire” but only because he’s worked for ASG buffoons, worked well despite their buffoonery, and still he gets reporter BS about it.
Ronald Millsaps
May 31st, 2012
10:23 pm
So, the Hornets just happened to land the top pick, just like Orlando just happened to do so in ‘93 in spite of a 1/66 chance. Hmmmmm.
David Stern needs to go. Quickly, when’s the last time you heard anything bad said about Derrick Rose? Announcers go out of their way to promote him. Could it be because he’s one of Stern’s projects?
Allen Iverson is not one of them. A.I., who was next to unguardable between ‘95-’01, and who is a true ambassador of the game, is on Stern’s bad side. Referees admitted to deliberately not making calls for him when he got popped. Why is this? How can a major sport get by with having such a crook as commissioner who has done nothing but sabotage the game’s credibility? Oh, yeah; the video I endorsed last night might have something to do with it, but I’ll not pick up that conversation now.
Tim Donaghy made many allegations against Stern, all of which were denied. Indeed, Stern tried to make Donaghy a scapegoat, just like Bud Selig and co. did with the shipping employee concerning Ryan Braun’s drug-testing sample. Stern’s allegations were a thesis sentence with no supporting paragraphs; Donaghy’s had years and years of examples, witnessed by observant fans, to account for his supporting paragraphs.
Doc Rivers, who’s about as classy as they come, uncharacteristically had a vulgar tirade against the league’s officiating in 2000. As he said, the officials might as well have had Vince Carter jerseys on. Not justifying his comments by Stern’s lack of legitimacy, but it was certainly an influence. Speaking of Doc, didn’t Miami get by with offensive interference on their last trip down the court in regulation? No whistle.
Stern has no credibility. Rod Thorn has no credibility. Basketball is an amazing sport, and the fact that it’s still in business despite having basically a lying nazi at the top is just as amazing.
Look carefully; some players get pushed; others don’t. An extreme polarization exists. Dominique got shafted a few times in his career, particularly in the early nineties, and his not making the top 50 or the initial Dream Team are egregious, particularly the former, as at least Chuck Daly all but said Chris Mullin was a role player on it. Iverson is getting shafted. The Sacramento Kings got shafted in 2002. Karl Malone got shafted in the league’s not throwing the book at Kenyon Martin—-another favorite of Stern, after Martin’s amazingly-blatant cheapshot of him. Of course, Malone was outspoken and had the guts to speak against Magic’s playing with HIV, which likely infuriated our “reputable” commissioner. Rumor has it that the Houston Rockets got shortchanged on whistles for years because said commissioner was infuriated that they beat the Lakers in ‘86. I’m not at all surprised. Stephon Marbury had all but no help in 2000-2001; Keith Van Horn and Kerry Kittles debuted at game # 66, and they finished the season strongly. Jason Kidd had the whole roster the following year, and we then heard how much better he was than Marbury. He is better than Marbury, probably, but not for the alleged “reasons”. Then Shaquille goes down in 2002-2003, only to have suddenly the first round shift to best-of-seven. Jalen Rose in ‘98 gets suspended over a technicality after doing the best job of guarding Michael Jordan perhaps ever. Bob Costas campaigns for the move voice tone-wise on the air.
Don Nelson would be an excellent commissioner. Bill Walton, Larry Bird, etc. would be as well, and Bird’s comment about the good influence of white basketball talents was not racist, as Stern all but said, and the league’s success is NOT measured by its revenue, contrary to what Stern, again, said.
By the way, was Anthony Davis wearing lipstick on the night of the title game, or was the lighting just hitting him badly? I’d hope it’s the latter.
I say get new ownership and a new GM. Do a better hiring job than the Falcons did; I like who they hired fine but think they could’ve done better and wonder how keen they are. Heck, make Steve Holman the GM.
MSC
May 31st, 2012
10:24 pm
not related but pleaseeee draft Royce White!!! he is a beast!
MOVE NOW !!!!!
May 31st, 2012
10:37 pm
THIS TEAM NEEDS TO LEAVE ATLANTA ONCE AND FOR ALL, THERE IS NO NEED TO HAVE THIS NOTHING SPORT IN THIS TOWN WASTING TIME AND MONEY.
I REALLY FEEL FOR YOU IDIOTS WHO KEEP SUPPORTING THIS CRAP TEAM, THEY NEED TO GO TO SEATTLE AND NEVER HAVE THE nba RETURN TO THIS TOWN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cpsman_atlanta
May 31st, 2012
10:42 pm
I shall repeat a previous post from this thread: Hell is Not Hot Enough for Gearon, Levenson and the rest of YOUR Atlanta Spirit Group.
Signed, another Atlanta Thrashers fan, and someone who won’t step foot into Philips Arena or root for the Atlanta Hawks until Atlanta Spirit Group, every single one of them, is G-O-N-E!!!!
Ronald Millsaps
May 31st, 2012
10:44 pm
This team for years has made bad moves. Remember the time they traded Antoine Carr for Kenny Smith—only to make no effort to keep Kenny after the season? They also indicted Mike Fratello for a .500 season even though Doc, Battle, and Koncak were out for large periods of time. They knew what Smith’s salary was and what keeping him would cost. They traded a core player for half a season of return, which was insane. They traded Carr because they had a “logjam” of forwards and a lack of guards, ignoring, again, that two of their guards were injured. They a year later offered Blair Rasmussen, a forward, a lot more than Smith asked for, which, again, was insane.
Disgusted
May 31st, 2012
10:50 pm
What are you doing on a basletball blog Move Now????
If you hate this sport so much—Truth it that its a great game and more Atlantans care about it than do not care–ATL has proven that it will support good basketball.
ATL is one of the best NBA TV ratings cities around–All we need is good ownership and a couple stars with role players and the Hawks would shoot through the roof in popularity.
Unfortunately, our ownership does not have a motivation to sell—–Those #$@# got what they wanted once the Thrashers were sabotaged outta town. They got their NBA team and rights to the arena and they cannot manage either one of them with any semblance of competence. How these clowns made money in their other businesses mind boggles me.
One thing about Rick Sund——–He has not really gone out and screwed anything up. Has not make it much better but has not done anything stupid ullike Billy Knight, it was BIlly Knight who picked Mediocre Marvin over Chris Paul and drafted 12th man type Sheldon Williams.
Disgusted
May 31st, 2012
10:54 pm
“Signed, another Atlanta Thrashers fan, and someone who won’t step foot into Philips Arena or root for the Atlanta Hawks until Atlanta Spirit Group, every single one of them, is G-O-N-E!!!!”
I third that one, but I want to lose the owners, not the team. The Phillips Arena was going downhill the last time I was in it last March. Have they replaced that blank TV wall? And to pain over the All-Star game murel, that was cheap, plain cheap and tacky.
I despise that group too; Wish that Josh Smith would go where he could win–He deserves better than that junk.
Even if they would win I could not be all that happy with this bunch in charge.
youcrazydiamond
May 31st, 2012
11:04 pm
We’re so screwed.
Paul in NH
May 31st, 2012
11:05 pm
Sund should telephone the dumbest owner in the league (his team is in the 704 area code) and offer Marvin for their 1st round draft pick. Since the guy loves Carolina blue he might go for it.
Sports Antipasta « The Michael Bari Show
May 31st, 2012
11:30 pm
[...] Sund will decide on his future soon, but Hawks should be hiring another decision-maker. Sund’s contract expires at the end of June and he’s had discussions with the team’s owners [...]
Jason
May 31st, 2012
11:41 pm
This article is a waste of space. We all know Atlanta Spirit Group needs to go. They screwed over hockey fans and they continue to screw over Hawks fans, this city and state by remaining as owners. It’s time for them to LEAVE. The hell with the GM, it’s the owners who are fully responsible for the Hawks never moving to the next level. They are NOTHING more than a bunch of greedy executives who care nothing about the Hawks or Philips Arena, only about their bottom line. That’s why Philips Arena rots away and why they sold the Thrashers and why it’s WIDELY known to NBA players why Atlanta will NEVER, EVER get a Super Star player. Even Boulton and Kovy on the Devils threw them under the bus yet again in a recent interview. This is 1000% ASG doing and THEY NEED TO LEAVE, they are NO LONGER WELCOME HERE.
Sam Drucker
May 31st, 2012
11:49 pm
Sund isn’t too far off in his comments. If not for Josh Smith the Hawks clearly should have beaten Boston and the Philadelphia series was winable. They very well could be playing the Heat right now in the finals and we wouldn’t be subjected to the daily “drool” of Schultz and Bradley.
TnHawk
June 1st, 2012
12:06 am
With Horford, Hawks were third best – that is pretty close to being in the top two. Not ridiculous.
Rick Sund
June 1st, 2012
12:17 am
The Hawks had the best season ever. Now pay me!
ryan
June 1st, 2012
2:05 am
Atlanta does get great tv ratings for the nba but lets face it- its due to the large amount of Knicks, Celtics and Lakers fans here ( the Knicks due to transplants) and Boston/LA because of their history.
One immediate improvement would be to remove the silly banners at the top of Philips Arena and only allow banners for championships or Hall of Famers. Goodbye LEED building and Widespread Panic.
Do you think Boston or LA has such frivolity in their building.
Sell the team
June 1st, 2012
5:41 am
Sell the team so we can care again. ASG has destroyed half the major pro franchises in town. We went from a major city to only braves and falcons. By the way hope Kovy and Moose get to carry cup. Kudos to kovy for knowing when to leave these idiots. His loyalty to the franchise would have resulted in being stuck in Winnipeg
News: Sefolosha sparks Thunder to 102-82 win over Spurs – Atlanta Journal Constitution | News Aggregator for you
June 1st, 2012
6:47 am
[...] Rick Sund shouldn’t be making decisions for Hawks [...]
Sefolosha sparks Thunder to 102-82 win over Spurs – Atlanta Journal Constitution | The Time of Press
June 1st, 2012
6:51 am
[...] Rick Sund shouldn’t be making decisions for Hawks [...]
mark
June 1st, 2012
7:08 am
Just stop it! The Hawks need new ownership, until that happens we are just spinning our wheels. please Mr. Blanks buy the hawks.
IAToolHumani
June 1st, 2012
7:23 am
Seperated at birth : Rick Sind & Nolan Ryan.
Bring Back the Thrash
June 1st, 2012
7:43 am
The word “smart” and the Spirit Group do not go together, they are the death of the Thrashers and now the Hawks as predicted.
Trojan
June 1st, 2012
7:46 am
In this year’s deep draft, Sund has already sold one of our draft picks. He is horrible. The ASG is horrible.
Paul in NH
June 1st, 2012
8:29 am
“Do you think Boston or LA has such frivolity in their building.”
I can’t tell if there are frivolous banners in the Garden because all of the championship banners and retired jersey numbers (for both the Celtics and the Bruins) are in the way.
HAWKLESS
June 1st, 2012
8:48 am
Looking at the rosters of the best teams in the NBA the only hawk that would start for any of them would be Al Horford. All of the other starters are not team players especially iso Joe. It is time to unload players and start over starting with a new GM, Coach and coachable players.
justahawkfan
June 1st, 2012
9:08 am
The Hawks will become a serious contender if and when the NBA big wigs allows it. We will never be champs as long as Strerns is at the helm. Book it! We have good enough personnel to cotend right now. We need to be promoted by the NBA and HawKs leaders and have a few crutial calls go our way. Until then enjoy the NBA reality show.
Disgusted
June 1st, 2012
9:32 am
We pro sports fans in Atlanta have become a negative and cynical bunch—And it it with good reason given what we have had to go through in pur proffessional sports history (almost 50 yrs now).
This Hawks team has had pretty good stretches in the Hubie Brown/Mike Fratello & Dominique/Lenny Wilkens and in the most recent 5 yr run. But there is always something that blocks this team from getting as far as the ECF.
Only the Clippers are the only team that has been around since the league went to the Confrence format since 1970-71 season. Now, we have had much better teams than the Clippers but U tell me we could not have made one run to the ECF over these yrs.
We have had some bad luck, bad decisions, etc.,
The Levinson/Gearon group cannot possibly be percieved as good sports team owners in this city, they are the least trusted for sure. Well, the Braves ownership is not trusted either, that is a different story.
As a former Thrashers fan, I can root for the players and coaches but cannot support this product until the Octocluster is gone.
I see Bob Hartley got a HC job with the Flames—Good luck for him.
Ben
June 1st, 2012
9:33 am
Schultz,
Trying to get someone else fired? Why am I not surprised…
Disgusted
June 1st, 2012
9:33 am
The Hawks were a serous contender in this past playoff series but missed on a few breaks.
It really has not been a bad 5 yr run.
Smitty
June 1st, 2012
9:43 am
Am I the only one who watches the Hawks ownership, or listens to them in the case of idiot Gearon, who is instantly reminded of those days of suffering thru the Falcons as guided by the Smiths(read Clampets) ? Josh Smith is a very tough situation. Whether to keep him or trade him, closely reflective of the decision to bench him or play him in a game when he decides to lead the fastbreak and the team in turnovers
Smitty ex Thrasher STH
June 1st, 2012
9:51 am
Maybe Sund can trade the Hawks to Winnipeg for the Jets/Thrashers before he is shown the door.
Bill
June 1st, 2012
9:52 am
What happen to the poll?
wcj
June 1st, 2012
9:52 am
Enter your comments here
wcj
June 1st, 2012
10:04 am
a new GM may want to trade joe johnson and/or josh smith for better talented players and 1 round draft picks. These owners are so concerned that the hawks may slide back to years gone by and not make the playoffs, do not see the big picture: THIS TEAM CAN’T WIN IN THE PLAYOFFS. No GM is coming here with his hands tied behind his back because he can not trades due to owners unwillingness to trades.
R. Stroz
June 1st, 2012
10:15 am
Given the ineptitude of the ASG, they will promote Sund to Team President as they did with Don Waddell.
The ASG (Arena Slumlord Group) continues to damage Atlanta sports.
DawgNole
June 1st, 2012
10:20 am
Durrtydogg
May 31st, 2012
4:29 pm
There is some serious delusional people on this blog . . . In this town we celebrate mediocrity. To win it takes guts and people with a low tolerance for straddling the line of “were almost there”. The wait and see approach has not and will not work. Yet, many of you are comfortable with losing and not being competitive.
Durrtydogg
May 31st, 2012
6:24 pm
Being happy to make it to the second round may be ok for many of you, but to towns like Boston, Miami, LA and such, its not going to fly. You are suppose to want to win Championships not watch bottom lines.
_________________________
This says it all. Would you mind stepping on over to the Hawks’ bog and posting these opinions? I’ve been bringing this message for several months now over there, but I still have many doubters. Some seriously delusional people on that blog too.
gLenn
June 1st, 2012
11:18 am
Really weird that a GM contract would go till July 1 . It should end atleast a month earlier . A GM has no real role during the playoffs . Agreed on the silliness of resigning Larry Drew with people like Jerry Sloan looking to coach again . Hawks are to soft .
This was the Hawks chance to go to the ECF’s . Chicago will be healthy next season . They should be livid for there series loss to the Celts .
Bill Gullion
June 1st, 2012
11:28 am
Champions in professional sports are built on good organizations, top to bottom. When was the last time the Hawks had this. Was it the leadership of Ben Kerner and Marty Blake when the franchise was still in St. Louis? They won a championshlip in 1958!
McGillacutty
June 1st, 2012
11:34 am
Everybody hollering about how we could have had Rondo need to stop! If we would have drafted Rondo he would not have developed the same way as coming into the situation with Boston and the Big 3. He learned from those guys and refined his game to the level you see today. Who would Rondo have learned from in Atl? Joe? LMFAO GTFOH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DawgNole
June 1st, 2012
11:36 am
Admirable Snackbar
May 31st, 2012
7:19 pm
STAY THE COURSE. good things happen to those that wait.
next year is it! GO HAWKS!!
______________________
We’ve been waiting for 44 years–and your suggestion is that we wait?
Yeah, right.
Marco Pillow
June 1st, 2012
11:52 am
Sund’s contract is up. He can’t be fired just not resigned.
Marco Pillow
June 1st, 2012
11:55 am
Great players dont need to learn from anybody. Nobody taught Kobe,LeBron,or D.Howard.
tyger
June 1st, 2012
12:06 pm
Hawks in good, not great, shape…the facts…
- Hawks relatively still young team…
- Have made playoffs 5 years straight…
- Have 2/3 Allstar caliber players…
- Have good coach, good market…
- Have #23 pick in June NBA draft…
- Best player has expiring contract…
- Best player repeatedly requesting trade…
- Best player undervalued, underappreciated…
- Best player leaving, like it or not…
- Most expensive player signed 4 more years…
- Most expensive player overvalued, underappreciated…
- Most expensive player is a 3x Allstar and Olympian…
- Most expensive player can score down the stretch…
- The ownership is the ownership – not Mia nor NO…
- The mkt is good, fickle, but good…win some big games…
Question is what type of makeover do the Hawks need?
- With Horford, JJ as the core – you are a playoff team…
- With Smoove, Marvin – you should get to 2nd round…
- But thats not good enough, and Smoove is leaving…
- How to replace Smoove and move up, that is the question?
- There won’t be an All-star at #23 in the draft…
- Is there an All-star in the top 10??? Possibly…
- Are there salary-cap savings to be had for a FA? Possibly…
- Would there be a significant drop-off without Smoove?
- The Hawks will definitely miss Smoove’s intangibles…
- However, Horford proved the Hawks are no one man show…
- Thank BK for that – he stocked the team with athletes…
- Slide Horford to PF, ZaZa to Center, JJ to SF/SG etc…
- Trade with team with 2 #1 picks for Smoove/#23…
- Goto the BK playbook, reload with uber-athletes with upside…
- Plug in needs with veteran minimums on backend…
- Upgrade the backcourt…- BIG need overrated…
- Horford/ZaZa will be back
Can we give Marvin away?
- Certainly, he’s worth a late pick/ 2nd rd/ future considerations…
- But Why? 6′9, 230, young, decent 3pt shooter that can defend?…
- Review Game 6 with Boston, that’s why you keep him…
- Biggest game of the year, his championship pedigree shows…
- We took Marvin #2, we paid Marvin, we have to work w/ Marvin…
Anymore questions?
JSS
June 1st, 2012
12:32 pm
It is funny how people propose trades for multiple picks (like 1s) for people on the Hawks roster. Only SUPERSTARS in the NBA are moved in that manner. Chris Paul didn’t that kind of value, how in the heck are Smith, Johnson, or Horford going to get that kind of consideration? Geez!!!
You cannot even give Williams away (they’ve tried 2 straight years), he’s like Diaw was for Charlotte! Every player personnel decision maker in the world is waiting for Hawks to cut him or let his 2nd contract run its course… You have a better chance of getting Georgia Five quick pick winner!
PMC
June 1st, 2012
12:41 pm
I’ve read a few mock drafts that have the Hawks taking a Small Forward.
How many would that make in the last 10 years?
PMC
June 1st, 2012
12:42 pm
A real starting center would help the team but they are few and will all be gone before 23.
GT Alum
June 1st, 2012
12:53 pm
PMC -
Apparently not enough, if we’ve still got Marvin as our starting SF.
cdog
June 1st, 2012
1:09 pm
i totally agrtee with mr. shultz. how can people even twist their mouth to support rick sund job with the hawks? then agree with the firing of mike woodson when it was sund who failed to prepare the hawks for the playoffs and following years. sund sat on his tail and did nothing. he use the excuse of the others but he was the fault instead of woodson. he gave away draft picks for nothing, failed to relieve al hortford at the center position then virtually, gave away jordon crawford for nothin( kirk hinrich). sund is wasting fans and hawks time.sund sit back and verbally admired letting miami,indiana, chicago and boston leap frog the hawks, then still did nothing. it’s time for him to go. championships will never happen under him, never.
alex
June 1st, 2012
2:20 pm
this ownership group always get one solution to coach or gm hiring decisions, contrary to absolute majority that hire as best as possible asg hired cheapest available. (check hawks and thrashers coaches and gm history). my predictions, despite mediocre job. sund out priced himself. and we going to get new gm for lower available price in bill knight category. so attendance for hawks games in next 3-5 years will drop to new low level and relocation rumors will increase when lease for Phillips arena about to be paid. good job asg clowns you maybe be able to relocate from Atlanta not one but two franchize.
tyger
June 1st, 2012
3:58 pm
Smoove for one #1 pick…
The 2nd #1 pick is swap for Hawks #1…
Smoove is a defacto All-star…
Smoove is better than anyone in draft…
Only trading him b/c he requests it…
And will continue to request it…wants big mkt…
Marvin doesnt hurt us…
Doesnt help us as much as he should…
But he doesnt hurt us…
JJ, Horford, Marvin, ZaZa will make playoffs…
Upgrade the backcourt and we go deeper…
DawgNole
June 1st, 2012
4:09 pm
Enough
May 31st, 2012
7:33 pm
I have never responded to a column previously, but I feel compelled to in response to this lazy, cynical, crowd appeasing article. Rick Sund has done an amazing job.
____________________
Ah, another fan-blamer who’s “amazed” at mediocrity, who delights in 44 years of postseason failure. Thank you for not “responding to a column previously.” We can only hope that today will be the first and last time.
DawgNole
June 1st, 2012
4:16 pm
WalterEgo
May 31st, 2012
10:00 pm
Shultzie, I don’t get it . . . . Sund is frankly the LEAST of the Hawk’s problems . . . . He may want to “retire” but only because he’s worked for ASG buffoons, worked well despite their buffoonery, and still he gets reporter BS about it.
____________________
Schultz is not a “reporter,” dimwit. He’s a COLUMNIST, and he’s paid to publish his OPINIONS. He’s doing his JOB.
I happen to agree with him about Sund; you don’t. That’s what OPINION COLUMNS are for–to generate reader interest/reaction–pro and con. And this column has done exactly that.
DawgNole
June 1st, 2012
4:48 pm
tyger
June 1st, 2012
12:06 pm
Hawks in good, not great, shape…the facts…
[blah blah blah]
Anymore questions?
_____________________
Yeah. How much longer do we have to wait for postseason success?
MrHughes
June 1st, 2012
5:24 pm
If the hawks draft another SF on June 28th, I just might have to throw my TV off the balcony.
KevinM
June 1st, 2012
5:46 pm
If it weren’t for the injuries, this team would have beat Boston in the playoffs.
If I was younger, I could say that Kate Upton was on my bucket list.
But it isn’t happening!
If it weren’t for Rick Sund, we wouldn’t know what it was like to keep a job with average results!
If it weren’t for the Hawks, we wouldn’t know what the results were if we kept doing the same thing.
If it weren’t for Gearon, we all might have something stupid to say to Boston just before a big playoff game. Thanks Mike!
benchwarmer
June 1st, 2012
10:25 pm
does anyone in the hawks organization know whack about basketball? it has been a long time since quality, talent and effort were a mainstay of the team. Barkley says they are a “cool team” and he was not being nice. I think that is about right. A bunch of posers. One or two real players.
superiorblogman
June 2nd, 2012
2:46 pm
Good blog. I agree with Jeff on this.My dad is about to retire and every since the moment he made his mind up that this was it. He has been thinking about how great it will be to just do random stuff for the rest of his life.
Sund needs to go and this franchise ownership needs to do the same. We really would benefit from just doing with NO did and give the team to the league and get us some of that homecooking or better yet just hire someone with a big fat sack like myself.
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7mh23tu
Hawks get:
Kevin Martin
Samuel Dalembert
Steve Blaks
Josh McRoberts
Rockets get:
Pau Gasol
Lakers get:
Joe Johnson
Josh Smith
corporate tv ball sux
June 3rd, 2012
1:21 pm
i am still in wonder why ivan didnt play hardly at all in the boston series. those of us who watched all the games this season saw that when hinerich came back, the hawks became a tighter, less selfish team all around. and ld is a good coach but we need a coach that will lead this team and get them to play like they should play. my vote is van gundy. and yes we need a gm that will make better decisions for the team and work with the coach.
corporate tv ball sux
June 3rd, 2012
1:29 pm
i get the feeling that all the people wanting the hawks to trade josh just want him for their favorite team.
David
June 3rd, 2012
6:39 pm
Hawks should draft Fab Melo and trade Josh Smith for a athletic wing to play the three. Marvin Williams becomes a great 6th man.
David
June 3rd, 2012
6:42 pm
to: superiorblogman
No one outside of possibly Houston would want to do that trade.
Ken Strickland
June 4th, 2012
9:58 pm
I can’t believe anyone would be dumb enough to suggest we get involved in a 3 team trade where 1 team receives an Allstar SG/SF(JJ)and Allstar caliber PF(JSmith), the other team receives an Allstar C/PF(PGasol), and we end up with 4 under whelming and/or over the hill bench warmers.
BravesFanSince1966
June 5th, 2012
8:05 am
Hawks owners are complete morons. If Sund is going to make personnel decisions then go ahead and hire him as the GM and get on with it.
donte080
June 6th, 2012
6:39 pm
I see dawgnole is still spewing his nonsense….