Audience-participation time! Submit questions for Rick Sund!
Dear readers:
I plan to speak with Hawks general manager Rick Sund tomorrow morning. (He’s a fine fellow, by the way, and a great conversationalist. Not that you asked. But I thought I’d throw that in.) And I kind of know what I want to ask: What’s he going to do this offseason? Keep Bibby? Keep Marvin? Trade for Kobe?
But I’m only one person, and a flawed one at that, and I might miss something. So I’m asking for your help. If you have a question for Mr. Sund, please submit it below. I’m not promising I’ll get around to all of them, but I’ll try to work in a few. So have at it, and please keep them clean.
Thanks in advance.
M. Bradley, interactive hack
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245 comments Add your comment
John from Illinois
May 19th, 2009
2:32 pm
Mr. Sund, winning a championship should be priority one, and yet there has been a constant statement made by the players “we need to trust each other” what do you see is needed to instill or develop that “trust” to achieve the number one goal?
Grant
May 19th, 2009
2:32 pm
This would significantly improve Al Horford, the player the hawks need to build around.
Marcus
May 19th, 2009
2:34 pm
Ask Mr. Sund, what he has learned about this team and franchise that he DIDN’T know 1 year ago
niremetal
May 19th, 2009
2:34 pm
I just want to know this: If Sund had to pick just his top 3 priorities for this summer among all the decisions he has to make (extending Joe, re-signing/trading Marvin/Bibby/Flip/Zaza, etc) what would they be?
niremetal
May 19th, 2009
2:35 pm
Oh, Marcus’s last question too. That was a good one.
Mark Bradley
May 19th, 2009
2:38 pm
That was a good one. You’re right, Niremetal.
Astro Joe
May 19th, 2009
2:48 pm
In advance of the June draft, please explain your drafting of Swift, Petro and Sene in consecutive years in Seattle.
Mark Price was hired as a shooting consultant (with seemingly good results). Do you plan to make any other staff additions/changes that will specificaly help individual players improve their fundamental skills?
If a GM believes that there are chemistry issues between the players, how does the GM attempt to address that problem?
Volman
May 19th, 2009
2:49 pm
The Spirit have said they would spend money and go over the cap if they were going to “be at a championship level”. Is this that time where they will be spending to get to that level?
Astro Joe
May 19th, 2009
2:52 pm
What is the team’s offensive personality? What is the team’s defensive personality?
Hawksfan
May 19th, 2009
2:59 pm
My 11 year old daughter says that Zsa Zsa will be off to Houston as a free agent. This means you have openings at PG and Center. Which do you fill in the draft and which do you get as a free agent? (PS..my daughter says resign Bibby and draft BJ Mullins)
Keepin it 100
May 19th, 2009
3:00 pm
can you keep JJ, Bibby, and Marvin Harrison and Get a Big Man for a Center Like a Shaq, or Tim duncan or a Hakeem the Dream Olajiwon, David Robinson u know a big man so AL Harford can be a forward and have more protection in the hole?
Brad Echols
May 19th, 2009
3:01 pm
It seems that most top teams in the NBA have a guard with the speed and quickness to drive, dish, and/or pull up for a jumper that the defense have to respect. Bibby is a great leader and a good shooter, but he doesn’t really have these attributes. Will the hawks look at other point guards thru free agency or trades to acquire a guard with this type of quickness to take some of the pressure off of Joe Johnson and to break down the defense to dish to the open guy?
Brad E
May 19th, 2009
3:05 pm
Will pressure be applied to Woodson to develop Acie Law or will the organization be content in wasting his talents on the bench and not developing him?
Desmond
May 19th, 2009
3:05 pm
If the Hawks can’t sign Marvin Williams why not sign Ron Artest? It guarantees a Eastern Confrence Final apperance if not a NBA Finals apperance.
Brad E
May 19th, 2009
3:08 pm
It appears either Josh Smith or Woodson need to go. Josh doesn’t listen to Woodson and continues to take ill advised long range shots. If both stay, what can the organization do to get Josh Smith and Woodson on the same page?
Brad E
May 19th, 2009
3:09 pm
Let Marvin Williams go and use the money to sign a point guard who can break down the defense.
PD
May 19th, 2009
3:13 pm
Rick Sund you said you like Acie Law when you arrived in Atlanta. How come he does not get regular minutes in the 2nd unit. I would have to throw Solo in that question as well, why has he not been developed after all these years? I think Solo can be just as good as Varejo and Camby if given minutes.
Astro Joe
May 19th, 2009
3:24 pm
I’m guessing that Sund watches the team during practice. So if he thinks that Acie looks like Devin Harris or Solo looks like Camby, then he would have likely said something to Woody. Any chance that Acie looks like an oft-injured non-shooter at practice and Solo looks like a tall project in need of more fundamental development?
Said differently, ask Sund, “If during team practices, you saw an infrequently used player looking like he could contribute in game-time situations, but was not being given playing time, how would you handle that situation”?
wxwax
May 19th, 2009
3:27 pm
As you look to make changes to the roster, which is more important in your mind?
(a) Position
or
(b) Leadership
Melvin
May 19th, 2009
3:32 pm
Which areas does Sund thinks need improvement and how will he address those areas accordingly?
Ted Striker
May 19th, 2009
3:34 pm
Topic: Questions for Sund.
Ginger or Mary Anne? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW3WWCXDT_0&feature=related
Zach
May 19th, 2009
3:38 pm
Would he be interested in speaking to Ron Artest?
Would he consider talking to restricted FA Jarret Jack?
Would he be interested in Syracuse PG Johnie Flynn?
PG: Jarret Jack
SG: Joe Johnson
SF: Ron Artest
PF: Josh Smith’
C: Al Horford
PG: Johnnie Flynn
SG: Flip Muray
SF: Mo Evans
PF: Othello Hunter
C: Zaza Pachulia
ant banks
May 19th, 2009
3:39 pm
MARK, where are Sund’s responses to these questions?
niremetal
May 19th, 2009
3:48 pm
Mark,
Will you be posting a full transcript and/or a video of the interview somewhere?
MBZ
May 19th, 2009
3:50 pm
I dont want to ask a question. TELL him to hire a offensive minded assistant coach, and get a good pg.
shresee2
May 19th, 2009
4:02 pm
Sund: My questions are similar to most Hawk Fans. Rumors are already flying about a sign and trade for Marvin and shopping Acie. I thought Marvin did very well before his injury he really improved his jump shot and drove to the basket. He really came through when Joe was down. If we trade him what scorer is out there that can open up the offense and limit JJ double teams. JJ has to play less minutes during regular season. I would like a center, Al does a great job and his youth helps him with some of the slower big guys, but he is getting beat up down there in the post and I think may contribute to more injury and anyone saying what Al did’nt do in the playoffs needs to play the Cav’s on a bad ankle. That kid has heart and a high basketball IQ. I would like an offensive coordinator, that may can get Woody to draw more plays for other players and have a true point guard, Mike can run the floor but he is more of a shooting guard now.
Questions:
Can we realistically improve our offensive through trade and at what cost?
Are we resigning Flip? He was great all season and deserves another chance.
Do you think wihtout injury if Acie is given a fair chance he can be productive or do you think there are some interestings prospects in the draft that may fall to the Hawks?
Josh Smith is a game changer and I think he is maturing do you think someone can work with him to get make him a more productive shooter from inside the 3 point line. If he can be consistant that will cause teams to have to watch him in the post and the outside opening up the offensive. What about SOLO? I think he is better then we think. Can we go to a rotation of more then 7 or 8 to get more production out of our bench in the regular season.
What about ZaZa?
Priest Lauderdale
May 19th, 2009
4:07 pm
does he have use of a broke knee 7 2 center with no real skill?
a1andonly
May 19th, 2009
4:08 pm
What is Danny Grangers status? Would he be a possible trade option?
AtlFlavor
May 19th, 2009
4:15 pm
Hawks need to get Miller in a Sign/trade with Philly for Law and Claxton. Bibby and Miller split 16 mil year for 2yrs. Sign/trade with Cavs for ILL for Marvin ZaZa Morris. A 1 year deal for about 9 mil. Give Flip a 3.5 mil raise for 3 yrs. Three slots open goto Draftpick guard and 2 vets Bigs on the Low. Fill in the gaps. Could be right at 67 to 69 mil.
BT
May 19th, 2009
4:15 pm
Does Rick Sund have any thoughts on the fact that Jeff Franceour can’t hit anymore?
ant banks
May 19th, 2009
4:19 pm
oh, sorry. it’s tomorrow.
hawksfan
May 19th, 2009
4:20 pm
Do you plan on bringing in an offensive coordinator since Woodson will be staying? And can we please get a big man coach that actually improves are big guys?
hawksfan
May 19th, 2009
4:21 pm
Enter your comments here
uga_b
May 19th, 2009
4:22 pm
Doesn’t there have to be another 7-foot tall asian guy to play center? There are–like–a billion of them. We should be looking. Check behind that wall.
MarloThomas
May 19th, 2009
4:24 pm
When will Flip Murray get promoted to the starting lineup? He has earned a starting position after saving the Hawks from an embarrasement in the Heat series. Had the Hawks not had the services of Flip Murray in the Heat series, the Hawks would have certainly lost that series. Flip Murray, in my opinion, was the MVP of the Heat series. Zsa Zsa Pachulia was key in the Heat series as well. Zsa Zsa gave the Hawks an incredible lift in that series completely neutralizing Dwayne Wade. Both Zsa Zsa and Flip have earned more minutes for next season.
uga_b
May 19th, 2009
4:25 pm
Mark, I think a lot of commentors have a good point just ask him to “Enter your comments here”
Not sure if this has been covered but does he think this is a superstar driven league or can another team like the pistons win. I know his pat answer but maybe you can slip him a mimosa.
ClemsonBrad
May 19th, 2009
4:25 pm
Thanks for the input Mark. I agree that Teague really fizzled out down the stretch, but I think his talent potential is very high.
uga_b
May 19th, 2009
4:28 pm
Are we going to keep running the half court offense through JJ? I liked when the started running it through Smoove some and letting him attack the rim. JJ just settles for jump shots which doesn’t force the defense to rotate or make decisions. Okay, that was a comment. Now I am off to spice up other blogs with insightful quips.
mike
May 19th, 2009
4:29 pm
Question for Rick,
Can you hook me up with sideline reporter Elle Duncan?
AC
May 19th, 2009
4:31 pm
Mark, I listened to Rick’s interview this morning on 790 and it seems like he is not going to divulge much so I will try not to be too specific.
In what direction would you like this team to go? What do you think were some of the holes this year and how can they be remedied?
nell
May 19th, 2009
4:32 pm
How will he address next year roster?
What is the biggest need to improve our team?
Was there any thoughts about bringing in another scorer at shooting guard and moving Joe Johnson to small forward or the other way around?
Will we be looking at trades and free agents to fill in major holes and needs on our team?
Walt Morrissette
May 19th, 2009
4:32 pm
Will he sign Yao Ming? Even with his bad feet he’d be a dramatic improvement for the Hawks in the middle.
Ted Striker
May 19th, 2009
4:32 pm
Yeah, what mike said.
Manny
May 19th, 2009
4:36 pm
My question is simple: What holes on the team that he is looking to fill in the draft, and what holes will he fill via free agency?
jawaan
May 19th, 2009
4:36 pm
do u think that the team needs to be more balanced by getting rid of one of the 3 forwards (marvin,josh,horford) and getting a true center?
do u think acie can take over the reigns at the starting point guard.
Pat
May 19th, 2009
4:38 pm
Why can’t the organization come out and say that we our restricted with the money the team can spend? Please don’t expect much.
Actions speak louder than words. This organization is constantly in spin mode and does a great injustice to the fans of this team.
Don’t tell me how you spent money on J. Smith when it took forever to sign him. It took an offer from another team before he was signed.
Let only the Hawks are never in the hunt for all star players either via trade or free agency. When Stoudamire was on the block by Phoenix this all star break where were the Hawks? No where to be found according to media reports. Except for the fact the Hawks didn’t want to take on his salary. Who needs a young stud center not the Hawks.
The fact you don’t or won’t get a better a coach, because we have one that will coach for peanuts. Not to mention if you got a new coach we would have to pay two salaries. Woodson has taken the team as far as it can go, everyone can see this. The natural progression of these players has led it to a better record each year. The sad fact is with coaching the team could be even better.
It’s frustrating being a Hawk fan knowing the team isn’t doing everything it can to be an elite team. I do appreciate the fact you are answering our questions, I just hope we don’t here team speak when you do answer.
I’d respect you more if you came clean and just said “My hands are tied, I can’t spend the money I want to improve the team. I will try to do the best I can with the limitations ownership puts on me.” This way I know not to expect much and not to get my hopes up. Thanks for the time.
Mark Bradley
May 19th, 2009
4:44 pm
Given that my BlackBerry Storm only shoots snippets of video — and I mean 30- to 40-second snippets — I’m sure we won’t be posting a full video transcript. And a full audio transcript might get tedious, too. But let me see how things go.
And thanks to one and all for participating. (And if you haven’t posted a question yet, feel free. I’ll keep checking back.) I didn’t know what sort of response my two-paragraph entreaty would get, and … well, you see it above. I’m indebted indeed.
chuckw/deadjournalist
May 19th, 2009
4:51 pm
After a decade of listlessness, how important is it for this franchise to capitalize on the past two playoff appearances to market the Hawks as a legitimate force for the region’s customer dollars?
Is this off season not the most critical in the past 15 years so to ensure that the Hawks remain a perennial playoff participant?
chuckw/deadjournalist
May 19th, 2009
4:52 pm
consumer, not customer
Ernest
May 19th, 2009
4:53 pm
Thanks Mark! I look forward to reading his responses to some of the questions. Any insight he can shed on the future direction for the Hawks will be appreciated….