Keeping Mike Bibby: The biggest mission accomplished
Mike Bibby was the key to this offseason. If he re-signed, the Hawks would be OK. He’s going to re-sign, and that means they’ll be more than OK. They’ll be really good.
Bibby was always going to be the toughest case. He made $15 million last season, and he has been a big name since he was a freshman at Arizona. He’s not the player he was in college or at Sacramento, but he’s ideal for what the Hawks do, which is play off Joe Johnson.
Bibby also represents the line of demarcation for the Hawks. Without him they were rudderless. With him they became a real team. To have gone so long without a point guard and to lose him now would have been a blow. But they kept him. They kept him and they added Jamal Crawford and Jeff Teague, and no matter what else happens this summer must already be deemed a success.
The key was that Bibby didn’t overrate his current value. He’s 31. He’s not a point guard who penetrates and dishes (or, as we know, defends). He administrates and he hits open shots, and for a team that has Johnson that’s plenty. He’s taking roughly a $9 million pay cut per season to remain a Hawk for three years more, and that says something about Bibby the pragmatist and more about the Hawks as a growing concern.
It says Mike Bibby really likes where this team is headed. You should, too.
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74 comments Add your comment
tim
July 7th, 2009
7:40 pm
If we make all the moves we should (re-sign Marvin and Zaza, pick up Anderson) then we’re a 50 win team that has a chance to make it past the second round. I am more than happy with that.
I think a lot of you people are getting greedy. If someone asked you where you wanted the Hawks to end up last year, EVERYONE would have been ecstatic to get a 4th seed and past the first round.
I like where this team is going. I think you’re forgetting that only a season ago we were below .500 and barely made the playoffs.
D.Carter
July 7th, 2009
7:58 pm
please allow mike woodson to talk to detroit!!!!!
blonju
July 7th, 2009
8:03 pm
everybody here ragging on bibby thinks the bibby supporters don’t understand the facts – I LOVE THE DEAL, 6 mil a year for 3 years – it’s a bargain – however, i know bibby can’t play defense at all and is more of a shooter than anything… STILL, he takes care of the ball and keeps this team under control on offense – ALSO, all of you who think we should be forgetting about this season to focus on free agents in 2010 are retarded – no one’s coming here until we show some stability and continue as a playoff bound team… the pieces we have are good enough to pull an upset over the “big 3″ in the east.. we have to support the franchise no matter what.. i like the moves we are making, and all you haters will be presently suprised when we pull off a 2nd round upset next year – NOW SIGN ZAZA & MARVIN – 4 years / 18 mil for Z and 4 years / 30 mil for marvin .. the money works and we got a squad!
dtruth
July 7th, 2009
8:18 pm
Teague is going to be a very good player for the Hawks this year. He is going to be better than most people think. Mark my word!
mike
July 7th, 2009
8:27 pm
everyone freaks out in the offseason.. good start for the hawks so far no matter what you detractors say.. got rid of speedy.. re-signed bibby.. got teague (he is gonna shine, lets talk in 6 months!) got crawford.. wait till you see our offense!!
mharris35
July 7th, 2009
9:01 pm
This is a great move. Bibby is the vocal/veteran leader of this team. This deal is the sign of good things to come…I mean, lets be honest, Bibby is a fun player to watch, he seems to enjoy himself EVERY game he is in. His energy cleary spreads to the whole team. The fact that Woodson and Bibby enjoy eachother is crucial to a elite team, as a point guard is the “commander” of the offense.
I expect the hawks to really show the signs of their transformation into a elite team. The ONE step remaining is woody giving JJ enough rest throughout the season so that he doesn’t burn out.
PS. Whats up with RIO????He has to be my fav bench player (being a Atlanta sports fan)?
Doyle, Winder
July 7th, 2009
9:23 pm
How about Bostons Baby? Please correct me, but is there ANY reason to think the Celtics would try to match and keep him? We need a big body down low who can hit the 10′ jumper. What say you?
KC
July 7th, 2009
9:35 pm
I’d rather go after McDyees or Wilcox. People asking about Big Baby Davis know very little about basketball. Big Baby is smaller than Marvin and Josh and not physical or athletic. He works in Boston’s offense, but not here. McDyees or Wilcox provide the size and athleticism we need to bang with Zaza off the bench. I honestly wouldn’t mind if we brought in Theo Ratliff. I just want a veteran big man with some identifiable ability (shot blocking, toughness, Defense, a half a post move, etc). Our inside depth can’t just be Zaza.
BraveFan73
July 7th, 2009
9:47 pm
You guys are on something if you believe that a 19 year old who is the sixth player drafted in a position (in a sport that only has 5) is going to be the golden child. There is a reason that 5 other point guards were selected over Teague. That is because Teague is a combo guard. Someone please name one combo guard that has been an impact player in the NBA. They usually get treaded…see Jamal Crawford…see Ben Gordon…see Acie Law IV.
I believe that there are others that could have contributed more effectively. We improve if we sign Jason Kidd. We improve if we signed Andre Miller. There is no evidence that our team improves with talented young point guards like Jarrett Jack, who had some issues with teammates in both Portland and Indiana, or Ramon Session, who was great to conclude the season with Milwaukee (and is a restricted free agent).
The bottom line is Mike Bibby is the most consistent that we were going to get. Anyone suggesting otherwise is out of their mind. If you guys believe that Dwayne Wade and Company are lining up to sign with the Atlanta Hawks when teams like Phooenix and the NY Knicks are dropping payroll, you are on some silly juice. Atlanta is a great city, with a weak fanbase, poor history, and an, at best, average head coach.
Give me a break! Mike Bibby is a good sign, especially for $6M. By the way, you guys screaming about Josh Childress are beyond insane. That guy could not even star in Greece. He can not guard my sister. He went to Europe because no NBA team would pay him half of what he was offered in Athens, Greece. Simply put, he is not good enough.
Mike Bibby is a good sign. We definitely need to resign Flip Murray and Zaza Pachulia. I am a little surprised that I seem to be the only person who realizes that Marvin Williams and his back are a HUGE question mark. People keep placing Marvin and Childress in the depth chart. Childress will not be back. Marvin is a question mark.
Our starting lineup may include Bibby and Crawford along with Joe, Josh Smith, and Al. I would prefer a more traditional starting lineup that moves Al Horford to his natural position. I would roll with Josh Smith, for better or worse, at the small forward position, put Joe at the 2, start Bibby, and play with Al and Zaza in the 4 and 5 spot. I know that will not happen. It would be nice to see.
BraveFan73
July 7th, 2009
9:51 pm
Oh yes, when did this year’s draft become the draft of 1984 with significant depth. Think about it. Acie Law was an absolute bust and will be out of the NBA in a year or two. He was the 11th pick and one of the first guard selected in his draft class. Now, all of a sudden, we can get rid of Mike Bibby and give minutes to this 19 year old kid Jeff Teague, who has never led a team to success. EVER! I am floored. A point guard in the NBA is like a point guard. You guys should ask Cleveland Cavalier fans what happens to teams that play with substandard point guards (see Mo Williams).
Zach
July 7th, 2009
9:51 pm
Mark,
what do you think about the sign and trade for childress for picks instead of players. Maybe 2011 first round or maybe next year’s first round. Also I really like the sign of bibby i’ve always been a big fan and for $6 mil a year thats a pretty good deal for a starting point. If the haws are interested in resigning marvin why would you not lock him up now long term for less money than he will probably demand next summer if he has a good year?
Mark Bradley
July 7th, 2009
9:55 pm
Can you do a sign-and-trade just for picks? In the NBA, don’t you usually have to get a contract in return to balance the books?
BraveFan73
July 7th, 2009
9:58 pm
Zach, name one team that is going to give up a significant point guard for Josh Childress. Childress came off of the bench on a team that went 35-47 and lost in the 1st round of the playoffs. When he was on the floor, he was average (at best).
Think about it. Childress’ best season was a 12 ppg year. Flip Murray came in and averaged 12 ppg for us and he was a journeyman. Childress is yet another 1st round Atlanta bust. He is not a franchise changer. He was a role player on a losing team. He does not sniff the floor with a veteran like Mo Evans on our roster. Childress does not play hard on the defensive side of the ball. You guys believing that someone is going to make some big trade for this guy, who has shown that he will leave for Europe for the money, you are kidding yourself.
I challenge one team that is going to look at Josh Childress and say that they are going to give up 1st round draft picks for this guy. I do not see it. Childress is just not that good. He does not play for teams like Los Angeles, San Antonio, Houston, Orlando, Boston, or even 1st round losers like Portland. He is not close.
Jed
July 7th, 2009
10:04 pm
Josh is not a big who plays small. He is a small big who plays big at times. He’s getting there. Don’t give up. I do agree on getting help for him & Horford, as they were both worn down at season’s end. If we’re talking about doubts, what I’m interested in is how much rest Woody gives Joe, now that he’s got a legitimate 2/3 scorer (JCraw) to play behind him.
Dub C
July 7th, 2009
10:37 pm
BraveFan73, I see where you’re coming from…to a point. Sure, Chills wasn’t a starter, and he didn’t score a ton of points, but we was a very good 6 man. That role is very important in basketball. You don’t always have to start or play 40 minutes a night or score 22pts a game to be effective. Chills is capable of playing multiple positions for any team, and I’d take him over Mo Evans any day. Chills was in no way a bust!
I’d love to see Chills back with the Hawks, but it’s probably not going to happen. I can see a team giving up a mid-late first rounder for Chills, depending on the team and the circumstances.
Regarding Teague, if he doesn’t get significant minutes, I don’t think it’ll be his fault. Anyone who watches the Hawks realize that Woodson does not play rookie/young PGs. I’m happy and sad that Bibby was re-signed, because we all know Bibby will get most of the PG minutes, followed by Jamal Crawford. I like Teague, but I think he may end up being Acie Law all over again, but it won’t be his fault. Under a different system, Acie will thrive!
Rick Sund…sign some bigs!!!
Whopper Dawg
July 7th, 2009
11:30 pm
Wrong focus, we just fixed the point with the trade and the draft, Bibby just pushes those guys into the background, if you didn’t think they could get the job done, then don’t make the moves. Should have let Bibby walk and also Marvin and get some quality inside.
HawkKingBibby
July 8th, 2009
12:29 am
Mark the Clippers have a 7.3 mil trade exception so we could deal Chills there for a first round pick. They have a couple next year I believe. As far as Chills for Bruce Bowen is concerned that would be like throwing away 4 mil. Bruce Bowen is washed up and dried, It would be like signing Speedy back for 4 mil. I like Amir Johnson on Mil and maybe a salary filler. Deal cant be made till August because Amir has been traded recently and cant be packaged with another player till August 23rd I think.
JD
July 8th, 2009
1:35 am
Here’s what people are not understanding about the Hawks. No BIG free agent is going to come here. They tried. Remember when Kenyon Martin was on the FA market? What happened? He went to Denver. Remember when Ray Allen was on the FA market? What happened? He decided to stay in Seattle. The only reason the Hawks have what they have is because the general manager (past and present) was able to swing a major trade (Bibby) and sign a couple of key FAs (Murray and Evans) in order to shore up some of the holes that this team had. I’m not saying that this was the end all be all, but it helped catapault them from Eastern Conference doormat to the playoffs two seasons in a row. Until the Hawks ownership stop being stingy with their resources and start acting like they want to contend for a championship (instead of just being ‘competitive’) they will never be looked at seriously as a title contender.
Have we all not been paying attention, though? What has this Hawks team been about over the past five or so seasons? PROGRESS. When a team is broken down to it’s bare bones and built back up to its current state, you have to mark its progress even if you don’t like the way Coach Woodson holds this team back (which should be running a lot more than they do) or how they develop their future players. It’s been said over and over again. They’ve made steady strides. Maybe not the strides that the fan base wants but strides nonetheless.
I’m not saying settle for mediocrity. The fact of the matter is the Hawks are what they are…..when they play well they are a middle of the pack Eastern Conference team that people seem to want to dismiss because of their lack of this or that. But what they lack in this or that they make up for on most nights. They are also the victim of their ownership group’s viscious and petty behavior toward each other, which has hampered their ability to effectively manage and run this team to contend for a championship instead of trying to run it on pennies to the dollar.
Dr. Warren
July 8th, 2009
4:02 am
Now let’s trade Bibby, Teague, Crawford, and Marvin for Chris Paul.
Miles D
July 8th, 2009
4:25 am
I say resign Marv and Za and then lets do a sign and trade with Chill to Portland for Channing Frye! He fits the bill long term and short. He can play both the 4 and 5, has a nice mid-range game, and will get him at a healthy dolla too!
Mark
July 8th, 2009
7:23 am
Fixing the hawks, jmar, dw. You guys are ABSOLUTLELY RIGHT!
This team, town, and obviously MARK BRADLEY are content with mediocrity. Mark are you serious? Do you really feel that this team will be “REALLY GOOD”. Do you really deem this summer a SUCCESS?!! If so, you are crazy. This team will be what it has been the past two years, the late 90’s with Mookie, Steve Smith etc. and the 80’s with Dominique and that is a 40 to 50 win team that gets beat in the second round. Between your HOMER articles and SEKOU’S blogs, you would think the hawks are on their way to a CHAMPIONSHIP. Mike Bibby, the guy that makes Joe Johnson use all of his energy guarding quicker point guards. Mike Bibby, the one that can only hit set shots. We needed to do something major. Mark and Sekou make Sund to be JOHN SCHERHOLTZ. This guy has never won anything in 30, YES 30 YEARS!!!
We hear the same CRAP every year concerning team. Their favorite terms UPSIDE, PROGRESS, and POTENTIAL (especially concerning JOSH). This is why we will never win a championship, heck we won’t ever get to a CONFERENCE FINALS!! Why because these dumb GM’s and OWNERS never feel pressured. I mean MIKE BIBBY!! He took this deal because we are the only team DUMB enough to give him that many years.
What is sick is that most of you people are happy about this. PLEASE!! Do you people only want to get to the playoffs and lose every year!! While Boston is getting depth with Rasheed, and Detroit signing people like Villenueva and Ben Gordon, and Orlando getting Vince who by the way was on a sorry New Jersey team that kicked our butts 3 times last year and in fact he himself hit a gamewinner (IN JOSH’S FACE), we get MIKE BIBBY and JAMAL CRAWFORD. Well ALRIGHT. Hey, what do I know?, Rick has been in the NBA for more than 30 years!! He has how many championships? Nevermind. I will take a positive perspective. We are only 3 wins away from being an ELITE TEAM and according to Sund we are “CLOSING THE GAP ON THE TEAMS AHEAD US.” (yeah whatever, we shouldn’t try and SURPASS them) Like Woody said last year, “The fans expectations are to high.” He is right about SOME FANS.
GO HAWKS (back to the first or second round where you will get CRUSHED AGAIN!!)
JustaThought
July 8th, 2009
7:48 am
I like you guys passion………….but it’s for a LOST cause! Eventually somebody is going to have to play DEFENSE in the back court. WHO! I have no f$cking idea. Oh yeah……Bibby will, if he fails Crawdaddy will, if he fails Flip will, or Teague will or Joe will……
Well said Mark! I feel your pain brotha!
RedTailHawk
July 8th, 2009
9:12 am
I was about tu write that “I will consider next year a success if it gets Woody fired” but; seeing the difficulties that Detroit had in hiring a coach, I don’t know if we could get a “better” coach to come here, especially considering how tight the ASG’s purse strings are.
Hawk n the Ham
July 8th, 2009
10:13 am
Get Big Baby Davis
Get David Anderson
…..NOW!!