10 not-quite-random thoughts on the Bibby-for-Hinrich deal
Will Mike Bibby's replacement fare better against the pictured Jameer Nelson? (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
1. Kirk Hinrich is much better defensively than Mike Bibby and will be more than a swinging gate versus Rajon Rondo or Jameer Nelson or Derrick Rose come the playoffs.
2. Hinrich might be better able to play alongside Jamal Crawford than Bibby was. But I’m not sure Hinrich will play as well in tandem with Joe Johnson, who’s not easy to complement.
3. When the Hawks traded for Bibby in February 2008, he was 29 and had started nearly every NBA game since leaving college. Hinrich is 30 and hasn’t been a full-time starter since 2008. (Granted, it was Hinrich’s misfortune to have been on teams that drafted two point guards — Rose and John Wall — No. 1 overall.)
4. Hinrich’s career three-point percentage is .379. So is Bibby’s. Hinrich has averaged 5.7 assists per game. So has Bibby.
5. Hinrich is under contract through 2012, which gives the Hawks a year’s cover if/when Crawford leaves as a free agent.
6. Hinrich makes more money — $9 million to Bibby’s $5.5 million this season, $8 million to Bibby’s $6.2 million next — so we can’t accuse the Hawks of taking the cheaper way this time. But it’s unclear whether this trade pushes the Hawks above the luxury-tax threshold, which is always a concern with the Atlanta Spirit. (And you’ll note that the Hawks currently have only 14 players on their roster; the NBA allows 15.)
7. As much as fans had soured on Bibby, he remained hugely respected by teammates. Josh Smith told me earlier this season that Bibby set the best screens of any Hawk — try finding another point guard who fits that description — and he was utterly unafraid to take the big shot.
8. The Hawks had better win now because they punted away much of their future. They traded two No. 1 picks — Jordan Crawford and this year’s first choice — for Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong. That’s a lot to spend for a 30-year-old point guard who has never been an All-Star and who hasn’t been starting at the position he’ll be asked to play.
9. Given the draft record of Rick Sund and Dave Pendergraft, not having a No. 1 pick this year might not be so damaging. In two years they’ve landed Jeff Teague, who has disappointed two head coaches, and Jordan Crawford, who scored 67 points as a Hawk.
10. There’s little time for assimilation. Of the Hawks’ remaining 25 games, 15 will come against teams that currently hold winning records. (Heck, 12 of the next 15 will be against opponents above .500.) The Hawks are fifth in the East, a game and a half behind Orlando and four games ahead of the Knicks. It would be surprising if that position changes before the playoffs commence. Which would mean: Kirk Hinrich would indeed get his chance to chase Jameer Nelson in Round 1.
Oh, and one thing more: According to esteemed former colleague Michael Lee, now of the Washington Post, Bibby was so upset by the trade that he is considering buying out his own contract. (In the NBA, this is known as going the Zydrunas Ilgauskas route.) Lee reports, however, that such a tack might not be feasible for Bibby.
By Mark Bradley
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155 comments Add your comment
juvenal
February 25th, 2011
10:44 am
1
juvenal
February 25th, 2011
10:45 am
stopped caring after Paul & “the landlord”
Mark Bradley
February 25th, 2011
10:51 am
Juvenal earns the coveted kudos.
ICECOLD
February 25th, 2011
10:52 am
DANG … ALMOST FIRST !!!!!
J.J.M.
February 25th, 2011
10:54 am
good job mark…true stuff
Billy Knight
February 25th, 2011
10:56 am
Let’s give the long athletic players a chance again.
Hankie Aron
February 25th, 2011
10:57 am
Good points to mull over MB
Dawg A
February 25th, 2011
10:58 am
Right on target Mark!!! It’s sad that we are alright with losing a first round pick because the powers to be don’t have a good history drafting a good pick!!
Mark if the sell happens and we rid ourselves of the ASG and their idiotic ways…. would they be better off to clean house of both the Thrashers and Hawks? I sure hope your answer is YES!!!
Hankie Aron
February 25th, 2011
10:59 am
I guess my question to you is does this make the Hawks better? I say it does but only marginally. Certainly on those dreaded ball screens it does defensively. Maybe someone else now will step up, take, and make those shots Smoove was talking about now that Bibby is Bye Bye
JM
February 25th, 2011
11:00 am
We may have new owners. See the Thrashers page. Please ASG, sell this team to someone who will not nickle and dime every decision. Go Hawks!
Hankie Aron
February 25th, 2011
11:01 am
LIke Mark noted yesteday, at least the Hawks did something instead of waiting on the ” core” to finally figure it out which they never going to as assembled.
Hankie Aron
February 25th, 2011
11:01 am
were going to
JM
February 25th, 2011
11:01 am
And if Bibby buys himself out. I would bring him back for a spot up shooter role and cut Thomas.
DGutt
February 25th, 2011
11:02 am
A late 1st rounder and Jordan Crawford can hardly be considered “much of their future” Mark. But it looks like the beginning of the end for this crew. Next year the Hawks blow up and rebuild around Joe and Al?
Larry
February 25th, 2011
11:03 am
When it comes to player personnel decisions, the Hawks NBA’s version of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders. They are no longer just sad to watch, they are quickly becoming weekly fodder for comedians.
Then there’s the ownership. Which is worse, a senile, perverted looking old fart or a merry band of idiots?
steeldawg
February 25th, 2011
11:05 am
Mark,
The real question is why did the Hawks overspend for Bibby, Marvin and Zaza. All of them seem average and expendable. Not to mention average Joe’s not so average contract. They want to save money but arent very smart with the money the spend. At least Hinrich will help Horford in the toughness dept.
Mark Bradley
February 25th, 2011
11:06 am
I’d venture that my answer would depend on who buys the teams, Dawg A.
J.J.M.
February 25th, 2011
11:08 am
If the hawks want to get serious…go hard after dwight howard 2012….I mean why wouldnt he play for us? isnt he from here? he and josh are like best friends right?
Johnny MoneyBags
February 25th, 2011
11:09 am
A businessman or group buying the Hawks? Are you serious? I’ll take my money and spend it with Gordon LIbby
Lew Burdette
February 25th, 2011
11:09 am
Yawn. Please, please, please pray for opening day for MLB.
Dave
February 25th, 2011
11:12 am
Don’t forget the potential intangibles here. The Hawks need a leader on the court and Bibby wasn’t that guy. Maybe, just maybe, Hinrich can help this team develop a little discipline and play harder as a unit.
schmeckdawg
February 25th, 2011
11:14 am
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWKKKKKKKKKSSSSSSSSSSS!!! And take The Thrashers with you!
@DanWeiner
February 25th, 2011
11:15 am
In the past 25 years the Hawks have drafted 3 players worth a damn: Jason Terry, Josh Smith and Al Horford. Don’t give me this punted on their future nonsense.
Jay W
February 25th, 2011
11:21 am
Amen, @DanWeiner. Amen. Dallas Comegys, anyone?
jfreak13713
February 25th, 2011
11:22 am
I like having Hinrich on the team but just think they gave up too much for him? In my opinion this doesn’t make the Hawks that much better? Are they now going to be beat Orlando, Miami, Boston, or Chicago? No! Not in a seven game series anyway. Had they not given so much to get Hinrich I would be happy with the deal because everyone knew something had to be done but we’ll just have to wait and see? I still see a second round knock punch coming for the Hawks?
Horford is our Savior
February 25th, 2011
11:24 am
Atlanta…Imagine is we could buy alcohol on Sunday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TOM_UuQzc0
@DanWeiner
February 25th, 2011
11:25 am
Also, this is looking like a historically bad draft potentially so getting out of it is smart.
elevator
February 25th, 2011
11:26 am
The Hawks ended their near future by extending Bibby and giving Joe his contract.
gcs
February 25th, 2011
11:27 am
This was an awful trade. Why won’t Atlanta Spirit just go away?
.
Sick and Tired
February 25th, 2011
11:28 am
The only person that lost here is Mike Bibby. Did he really have to be traded? Was there not any other way to do this deal and keep him? After all…he is still a great shooter. One that many of you fail to appreciate for what he has provided for this team since his arrival. If I remember correctly the Hawks were close to worthless before he arrived. I hope he ends up on a team that has to play the Hawks in the playoffs and hopefully his three point dagger will close the curtains on the season. Seriously….what I hate is the total lack of appreciation shown by the fans and ownership, therefore the Atlanta Spirit just lost a season ticket holder!!!
jond
February 25th, 2011
11:32 am
So two teams that Hinrich played for felt the need to draft a point guard and they were both able to grab one with number one picks. Hmmmmmm? At least he’s marginally better than Bibby! LOL Do you think there is a chance the Hawks make a play for Ryan Gomes now that he has been released by Cleveland? It’s crazy how it wasn’t that long ago that we had nothing but 6-8/6-9 tweener forwards and now we have 6 centers, most of which don’t or can’t contribute and very little depth at the 3/4 spot. We need Zaza to contribute ASAP!
Greg
February 25th, 2011
11:34 am
Mark, you said it all: “The Hawks had better win now because they punted away much of their future. They traded two No. 1 picks — Jordan Crawford and this year’s first choice — for Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong. That’s a lot to spend for a 30-year-old point guard who has never been an All-Star and who hasn’t been starting at the position he’ll be asked to play.” I just don’t see the value. And the Wizards fans, from the look of the Washington blogs, LOVE this trade. They think they were big winners. They especially love getting the #1 pick.
Chris
February 25th, 2011
11:35 am
Point #1 is the whole reason this trade was necessary. Bibby was a sieve on pick and roll defense in a conference where Rondo, Rose, James, Wade, and Howard/Nelson run pick and rolls all game and Teague has developed and has no confidence. Bradley you complain about giving up Crawford and #1 draft pick, but Crawford wont be ready for 2+ years if at all and the #1 draft pick would be like the 22nd pick. Name the last starter to be taken at that pick. It just doesnt happen after around pick 15 unless you get lucky or they develop overseas. So to me they gave up a decent backup in Mo Evans and that is all we are gonna miss.
Mark Bradley
February 25th, 2011
11:37 am
I submit that Rajon Rondo was the 21st pick of the 2006 NBA draft.
Chris
February 25th, 2011
11:38 am
Sorry, Teague hasnt developed, the pick is way overrated, and Joe Johnson wouldn’t be hard to play with if he actually moved the ball around. Its just to bad we cant trade for some heart, that way the team would play with passion and not wilt every time they’re hit in the mouth.
jond
February 25th, 2011
11:52 am
I mentioned Ryan Gomes in my earlier post but I meant to say Leon Powe.
Dawg A
February 25th, 2011
11:52 am
You can draft a player lower in the first round if you know what you are doing!!!! So I submit…. that we get people in place that know how to do that! Don’t appear as though we have that now!
P. Bull Terrier
February 25th, 2011
12:02 pm
2. Joe doesn’t care about anyone’s complements.
dap01
February 25th, 2011
12:06 pm
Thanks MB. This team has deep problems from Management to coaching to a severly imbalanced team.
J-bone
February 25th, 2011
12:09 pm
Anyone ever see Bibby and Amy Winehouse together? Didn’t think so.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 25th, 2011
12:12 pm
The Hawks “punted away much of their future” and entered win-now mode when they gave Joe the max contract. Sund’s history in the draft, even prior to coming here, is just plain awful. I’m not sweating the picks much at all. Hinrich is an upgrade over Bibby, too. The only major disappointment is that three point guards who would have been long term solutions at the point guard position got traded this month and the Hawks couldn’t get any of them, instead settling for a short term band aid (which is basically what Bibby was himself). Deron Williams’ price may have been too high, but Felton and Harris could have been had if Sund knew how to be creative.
twitter.com/fakericksund
kaminari
February 25th, 2011
12:12 pm
I’m thinking now that this was a good trade for the Hawks where before I was thinking the ASG were idiots, but maybe that’s still true. But just being a casual NBA fan (though Hawks fanatic) and not really caring much of the other teams except when they play us, I never knew KH and he didn’t see worth 2 #1s. But watching his highlights from past games this year on rewind, I see this guy is pretty good and could jump start these guys. I can’t find much of the center playing and still wonder why we got him. Is he gonna make any difference? We need big men and he won’t hurt what’s not there already, right? He won’t need to score cause I’m sure KH will pass it to the scorers and if not Smoove will shoot threes. I digress. I really don’t mind Smoove shooting threes if they go in, but I just hope this guy gets our guys in the paint more where we can do damage. But from the looks of it, KH can get there on his own.
KevinM
February 25th, 2011
12:12 pm
Please Bradley followers……….we talk like Bibby was NOT part of the problem, when in fact, he and JC1 play the bulk of every 4th quarter…that is a 5 on 3 defensive scheme…that isn’t going to work against teams ABOVE .500. Seriously, ‘Bibby is a great shooter, Bibby sets the best screens on the entire team’….nonsense.
What I’d like to see going forward:
1) No more open looks on the perimeter for Josh Smith to be enticed to take a 25 footer. Get back inside where you are belong! Tell Larry to grow a couple and yank him if he keeps jacking those things up. If we’re down, he only compacts the problem.
2) Put JC1 on the bench in the 4th when we need defense. Throw nephew Wilkins out there with Hindrich and see if we can consider stopping someone in the 4th quarter. Phoenix just lit us up time and time again…can’t blame Bibster for that showing. And yes, Marvin is part of the problem still.
3) Mark, we gave up 2 #1s for Hindrich and Armstrong, so true, but the reason is you had to get Bibster off this roster, because Larry was playing him 30 min no matter the situation! Larry is in over his head because unlike his words, he doesn’t stand by what he says and doesn’t hold the players accountable. I will say Marvin is the only one who has caught any brunt of Larry’s dissatisfaction.
Fact is, we have still a young group….why have we given up a big part of our future, when Joe is our future plain and simple? JC2 wasn’t helping anytime soon…and you win now, not tomorrow. You have no clue what is coming tomorrow in the NBA. Larry will tell you he may not be around to see tomorrow as he has the shortest contract short of 70+ years old Paul Silas.
As Rick Sund said on that glorious day we resigned our leader: “We go as far as Joe takes us; he’s our leader.” There you go with what’s in store for the future of the Atlanta Hawks.
Joe has a sweeter deal than Michael Vick got…..do you see the potential with Joe as you saw in Vick at the time? Next question…..
KevinM
February 25th, 2011
12:14 pm
Speaking on Leon Powe, would anyone be surprised to see the Celtics pick up Leon again for the playoff stretch? Insurance against the ailing O’Neals?
Najeh Davenpoop
February 25th, 2011
12:17 pm
I also think this idea that Bibby complemented Joe well is a little overrated. With Bibby and Joe in the backcourt, the Hawks had two players who couldn’t penetrate off the dribble and settled for jumpers. Yeah, Bibby is a good screener, but Joe isn’t quick enough to turn the corner and get inside off a screen anyway. I don’t know enough about Hinrich’s game recently to know how good he is at penetrating off the dribble, but the ability to do that will open up easy shots for Joe a lot more than Bibby’s screens ever did (which is partially why I’d like to see Teague play more).
nate
February 25th, 2011
12:17 pm
The Hawks just made a great trade for Kirk. The guy is a feisty defender who can create in the lane, has a great shot, and brings a lot of toughness and leadership. He has unfortunately been one of those players who were overshadowed by a first overall pick(D Rose & J Wall) on each of the teams he has played for. How excited and how hard would you play if you had waited this long for the opportunity to shine, and then you find out you get to play with one of the most athletic squads in the league. Kirk Hinrich is salivating and ready to do some damage for the hawks
NCBravesFan
February 25th, 2011
12:17 pm
Mark: do you agree with the idea that major changes are in the offing for the Hawks if they do not progress in the playoffs this year, and if so, does that mean blowing it up and starting over or trading core pieces for new core pieces?
If the plan is to potentially blow it up in five months and start over, I’m having a hard time seeing how this trade makes a lot of sense (because of the picks surrendered).
JeJe
February 25th, 2011
12:17 pm
MB, great article.
Would the new group consist of a PRIMARY owner or 34982 owners like we currently have?
JeJe
February 25th, 2011
12:18 pm
If we do not get past the 2nd round this year, I’m pretty sure Smoove will be traded
KevinM
February 25th, 2011
12:18 pm
The #1s we give to a team are of very little value to us year in and year out. Now, the current basketball expert can save face and not have to worry about making a bad pick at #20.
We should sell our picks every year and keep reinvesting into the core……..crickets!
Anyone convinced that the basketball expert thinks we need a real PG? So far, he hasn’t shown that to be the priority.
Mark, get Sund to fill that slot at #15 so Bibster has no room to come back here!
KevinM
February 25th, 2011
12:20 pm
Najeh, cosign and if Kirk can ignore Josh as the shot clock winds down and not pass it to him on the perimeter, I think it is the 1st step in a wise investment. Now, convincing the rest to not do it…..
Najeh Davenpoop
February 25th, 2011
12:20 pm
“Anyone ever see Bibby and Amy Winehouse together? Didn’t think so.”
Or Verne Troyer for that matter.
KevinM
February 25th, 2011
12:25 pm
Celtics, Knicks or Orlando at the moment……
Powe believes he can be a contributor on any team looking to win it all. “I love to play defense,” he said. “I can get some scoring, rebounding, and some extra toughness. That’s my type of game. I think every team could use that, but we’ll see what happens from here on out.”
Hmmm, nope, we don’t need that here……..
Paul in RDU
February 25th, 2011
12:26 pm
The Hawks may not have the best front office and draft record but at least your not like my “local” NBA team and have a deity for an owner who makes bizarre trades and drafts.
rob
February 25th, 2011
12:27 pm
Odd for Josh Smith to talk about people setting screens. He hasn’t set a decent 1 since he’s been here. He short-cuts every time to try & get himself open.
nate
February 25th, 2011
12:29 pm
Kevin, you said it dude. We will miss Bibby, and wish him the best, but it was time. On the topic of J-smoove, he is a terrific player and I don’t think he should stop shooting, but its more about when he is shooting. I’d like to see him 1)not shoot early in the shot clock 2) only take threes when he has time to set up for that slow release of his 3) get his game going on the block first and the defensive end. He is the type of player that thrives off of momentum, and the hawks thrive off of him when he is playing his game.
S(n)oaring Hawk
February 25th, 2011
12:36 pm
MB, Whos name is it that made the the descision for the trade? He is the hack. He needs to be let go…
gt
February 25th, 2011
12:37 pm
Bibby had the best personality for this team, his father ex player now assistant coach in the league, his brother in law in the league, He was part of the blue blood NBA.. The oldest guy but kept things light for the younger players, I am not sure he was that heavy to carry on defense either. Never played on a team or watched one that the guys in the middle were not wanting more help from the guards Who plays defense anymore anyway.
Kirk Hinrich is white. There are some guys on this team that have never been around many white players, more less white people period. If Bibby was light, Hinrich is the exact opposite. I am not sure this works. Seen it blow up in a lot of situation especially in college. The Ga.Tech defense froze out Cooper Taylor. Hopefully college kids are immature and these pros will act like pros. I am not sure you can even write about it, you sound like a bigot, but on this team, in this town, with this coach this will be a factor.
Dr. Warren
February 25th, 2011
12:41 pm
New owners. That is the only answer. And I wish it were a new owner, singular. And a good one.
nate
February 25th, 2011
12:46 pm
gt, thats dumb. Those guys are professional athletes. Race ??? Really??? hahaha. Kirk will be just fine
RC
February 25th, 2011
12:48 pm
Take a looke at Hinrich’s playoff stats. He avearged 21 and 20 ppg in his 1st two years in the playoffs. He has a career 15.8 ppg average in the playoffs. I say he is by far a better playoff performer that Joe Johnson which isn’t saying much. I think he brings toughness to this hawks team that besides AL Horford, show no tougness and heart whatsoever.
Marcus
February 25th, 2011
12:49 pm
Our NBA fortunes the last couple of years are akin to being put in the “friend zone” by the the resident bombshell of the opposite sex:
.Not good enough to get serious (relationship/progress towards NBA title) but good enough to keep around (make playoffs, contend in East, 2nd round exit); not quite bad enough to get in the lottery to snag top 10 talent (sympathy lovin’ LOL), but just good enough that we don’t have salary cap room due to paying for our young talent and best players Horfy/JJ/J-Smoove (hang around beautiful women, but no one considers as serious mate), nor desire to spend above the luxury tax to attract top free agents (’mack game lacking’) or management, coaching and collected talent isn’t enough to get the top FAs to want to establish their own Big # in ATL (’nice guy syndrome’)
KevinM
February 25th, 2011
12:49 pm
rob, Josh doesn’t get big bux to do the little things like setting screens….His eyes are on the prize and flinging up the rock!
Right now, he gets up almost 14 shots/game, which is okay with me…like you said, its the ones he settles for that is the issue.
Joe – 17 shots / game Al – 12 so their is plenty of balance among the big 3.
Sharing the ball is not the problem on this team, and Larry has gotten them to buy into the system.
4 Jacks
February 25th, 2011
12:54 pm
Bottom line is the ASG all suk, and the teams will never win anything while these pathetic losers own the teams. New ownership could at least give us some hope, but I would not get my hopes to high. everything the ASG does makes it tougher and tougher to be an Atlanta sports fan, I mean what the use? God, please get rid of these LOSERS for us and bring us a real owner that will keep the teams here and run them like a championship organization would…PLEASE…oh, and Gearon and the reat of the ASG, go to hell, or at least get out of Atlanta…
BarneyStrickland
February 25th, 2011
12:55 pm
SEE? SEE? I STAND VINDICATED. I TOLD THE HAWKS WERE SOLD…DONE DEAL….WHEN? IN THE LAST COUPLE OF BLOGS YOU POSTED…. LOOK BACK!! AM I RIGHT OR AM I RIGHT OR WHAT? oh, so this is what the caps lock key is….lol !! But ya know… I wasn’t so sure they could dump the Thrashers on anyone…. Crazy world, eh?
mountain_jim
February 25th, 2011
1:01 pm
Sund overpayed for this trade, just like he’s overpaid all the untradably expensive average players on his team (Za Za, Williams)
Let’s all hope for new owners – current ones never had a clue and let BK and now Sund blow draft after draft, trade after trade. Well getting Jamal was a good deal but should have traded him before season and got some long-term value. Could have traded Marvin if not for his being so overpaid by Sund.
Once this team crashes and burns early in playoffs, I would hope whoever owns it would replace Sund and the current cheap, getting-walked-over-by- his-players coach.
mountain_jim
February 25th, 2011
1:03 pm
Oh and can someone wake up the beat writer? 2 days and 17 pages and no new blogs, or other worthwhile information post-trade made and trades attempted.
Dave
February 25th, 2011
1:06 pm
SOMEbody (read Larry Drew) needs to stand up to Josh Smith and call him out for his attitude and team play. The guy could be great if he didn’t think he was so great and got his head screwed on right.
KevinM
February 25th, 2011
1:07 pm
jim, 2 things:
1) Marvin/Zaza are overpaid
2) The bigger issue is that both are overvalued by our bball expert currently known as GM Rick.
Simple math, we overvalue our assets and you see what Bibster cost us to move him…….prime doesn’t come close to describing the Wizard’s new PG acquisition.
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The Sham
February 25th, 2011
1:11 pm
@ Mike Bibby – We’ll miss you man! You were a rare realist in this game of egos of primadonnas. It’s hard to find a guy who understands his value (see contract negotiations) and his role (less minutes over time to help groom the your successor), but can nail the 3ptr late to keep the game alive.
I only wish you had a little more step to block of the perimeter.
You and your class will be missed! Good luck!
The Sham
February 25th, 2011
1:16 pm
block off that is…
Ted M
February 25th, 2011
1:26 pm
The Hawks will likely lose in the first round.
Tremaine
February 25th, 2011
1:35 pm
About time we get to blog. Bibby was washed up and all the hawks that are sorry that they lost their joker can join him in Washington.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
February 25th, 2011
1:38 pm
does anyone else think that the hawks are in a tail spin and will be lucky to hang on to a playoff spot and then get bounced ugly in the 1st round. I hate to be negative but I have watched the games and there is no fight in them right now.
but it won’t do them any good to crash and get in the lottery with no pick.
dang what a trade!
N.D.T.K.A.
February 25th, 2011
1:39 pm
Bottom line is Bibby could not guard or stay in front of my grandmother and was killing any chance of the Hawks playing any semblance of defense.
All the 3 pt.-shooting in the world won’t help if you can’t stop anyone.
Hawks haven’t developed any 1st round picks in a long time especially any player picked up late in the 1st round that had to be actually coached.
Hawks are not the Spurs or Celtics. Hawks coaching staff is light years behind Doc Rivers and his staff or Popovich and his staff. Rondo is a bad example to compare to the Hawks, we have Ty Hill and Bob Bender for God Sake!!
Hawks just need to do like Denver did last night attack the basket, focus on defense, and try to out run teams with athleticism like they did last year when they swept the Celtics.
ME
February 25th, 2011
1:39 pm
ITS SAD THAT OWNER OF THIS TEAM TRY 2 DO EVERY THING ON THE THE LO AND END UP OVER PAYING..IT GOT 2 BE DRUGS…AS FOR THE PLAYERS THEY NEED TO GROW UP THEY DONT PLAY FOR EACH OTHER OR THE FANS ITS ABOUT THEM WHAT THEY WANT OR WHAT POS THEY NEED 2 PLAY..HOW DO YOU GO FROM GOOD TO BAD..U GIVE UP OR GIVE IN TOO NAME A FEW ZAZA WHEN HE WAS STARING HE PLAY GOOD NOW LOOK AT HIM BUT THERE BENCH SUCK AND THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM..MOVE MARVIN TO CENTER AND BRING THE BOSS OFF THE BENCH
Tremaine
February 25th, 2011
1:41 pm
Thank you Rick Sund for making us about as good as we were the last 2 years we got swept. “GIVE TEAGUE A CHANCE!”
Ol #6
February 25th, 2011
1:53 pm
I hear Kawakami can play the point.
Robert Barron
February 25th, 2011
1:58 pm
Great minds (well sports minds) think alike.
I made point 9 on the Sports Vent this morning.
Getting voted down though.
Has a minus one score so far at 1:55 PM.
Good article.
But aren’t we getting to know the real Mike Bibby too late?
Tremaine
February 25th, 2011
1:59 pm
I heard Jeff Teague was pretty good. Just need a coach that will give him a chance.
Robert Barron
February 25th, 2011
2:02 pm
Hawks have been epic fail with trades.
Traded Silas after rookie of the year for worthless player just to have a token white on the team about 1968 or 69.
Traded Nique while leading the East and wrecked that team’s chances for mediocre Danny Manning.
Tremaine
February 25th, 2011
2:04 pm
Robert Barron, please don’t remind me of the Nique trade. That was our best chance at getting a title since I been alive and they traded it away. SAD!!!
Mr. Phil
February 25th, 2011
2:10 pm
I am not concerned about the draft pick(s). From all accounts, this years draft will be the worst in the history of organized sport.
GT Alum
February 25th, 2011
2:20 pm
Mark, to expand your thought on the Hawks’ draft history, starting with the 2005 draft, the Hawks have selected 1 player that has really been an impact player for them. Considering they’ve had 3 of the picks in that period were top 5 picks, that’s not a good track record.
niremetal
February 25th, 2011
2:28 pm
But I’m not sure Hinrich will play as well in tandem with Joe Johnson, who’s not easy to complement.
Uh….methinks Steve Nash and Mike Bibby would disagree.
Robert Barron
February 25th, 2011
2:32 pm
Sorry Tre.
It is an bad memory.
Our best shot and a GM too stupid to realize it.
Tremaine
February 25th, 2011
2:43 pm
Hopefully ASG sell the hawks to somebody who actually cares about building a championship team and not just trying to make a dollar.
YardDawg
February 25th, 2011
2:58 pm
Shoulda sent Teague instead of J Crawford.
Puzzled
February 25th, 2011
3:08 pm
MB,
You didn’t consider all the facts related to this trade in reference to point #6. The Hawks strongly considered the financials of this deal, and will come out in the black as a result of this deal. When you include Jordan Crawford’s salary for next year, and the money that would have gone to the 1st round pick for next year, the Hawks will come out in the black.
The difference between the salary figures for the two guys that the Hawks received vs. the three that they sent away for this year is minimal (for Sports Business), and will be pro-rated over the last 25 games. The Hawks should be safe from the luxury tax.
Disappointed that you didn’t take a little more time to appropriately address this. We look to you and your colleagues for information, so please give it to us in it’s entirety.
Puzzled
February 25th, 2011
3:18 pm
On JJ’s max contract…If the Hawks were going to get someone in here to play with him, he may have been willing to take less cash, i.e. Wade, Bosh & James in order to help that happen. But it looks as though he knnew that the Hawks would burry it, i.e. cash received on draft day & mid level trade exception.
The talen on this team is better than the record that they have, and the way that they have played.
cantondawg
February 25th, 2011
3:29 pm
I can understand how you can trade Hinrich for Bibby straight up. But to throw in two #1 draft choices is ridiculous. Of course with the way the Hawks draft it probrably won’t matter
Tremaine
February 25th, 2011
3:30 pm
MB you just got served!
JeJe
February 25th, 2011
3:30 pm
LOL @ this garbage about our team freezing out Hinrich for being white.
If I recall correctly, Jason Collier was a team favorite on a team full of black players years back. He and Al Harrington were best friends
idiots
KevinM
February 25th, 2011
3:31 pm
Rick Sund on 680 right now…he is saying everyone on this team is in their prime again.
He calls Hilton Armstrong another big and we need those.
He says he will miss Jordan Crawford, but that other draft pick wasn’t a big deal to move….
He says the club is now accountable and the team now has scar tissue withe the losses to Orlando and Cleveland the past 2 years.
I agree with him on this: this is the year to move forward.
He REALLY likes Kirk Hindrich to start out the interview. He couldn’t say enough about how many ways he will help us.
Talking the playoffs now….he is pleasing the hosts about the team’s last 2 years of 2 years playoff success in the 1st round.
The Rock
February 25th, 2011
3:40 pm
Of course Sund is going to accentuate the positives about the trade…he made it! Does’t mean that it was good, just that he likes it.
The Hawks need another big? For what, to sit on the bench and watch the game? You mean that Collins, Zaza, Powell, & Thomas are not doing that well enough. They actually need help to do that?
I’m sure he meant for practice!!
Mark Bradley`s Booster
February 25th, 2011
3:45 pm
Sad to see someone bring race into this. Sure there are only a few white players in the NBA. However, those who are there must have their jobs because the teams they play for feel that they are good fits. Otherwise they would not be there. This is not fair to the black players to say that they do not get along with whites. Race is a non issue here…its all about building a winning team
with the best players available no matter what color their skin is.
flea
February 25th, 2011
3:55 pm
Anybody remember the Steve Smith trade after we got swept by New york back in the day for Isiah Rider and Jim Jackson? If we dont get out the first round. Or we fail miserably in the second round(getting swept, blowed out, etc.) Then everyone that is tradeable will be gone, except Johnson and Horford. Let’s hope that doesnt happen
bigdawg
February 25th, 2011
3:58 pm
Every team above us – and now the Knicks – has a SUPERSTAR. The Hawks do not and have not had one since ‘Nique! The Hawks will never win as long as the (Lack of) Spirit owns them b/c they won’t spend the $$$ to get us a top-shelf player!
Sure is sad to be a Hawks fan and know you ain’t got a shot from day one!
heartofdarkness
February 25th, 2011
4:00 pm
1. He will still need help on guard penetration, which may or may not be there, depending on how his teammates feel on any particular evening.
2. Bibby could watch iso-Jamal as easily as Hinrich although he could defend against the hot guard, while iso-JJ is more likely to make the pass to a perimeter shooter with less than 2 seconds on the shot clock.
3. Both are old in NBA years and will come back slowly from 36 plus minutes the night before.
4. Both rely on strong performances elsewhere to win against the top tier teams.
5. Hinrich will cover a roster spot, not Crawford’s offense.
6. The Hawks could probably jettison a couple more bodies from the roster without appreciable effect.
7. Bibby’s arrival improved the team’s offensive cohesiveness, and one hopes you asked Josh why he didn’t set the best screens on the team. The Hawks would be better if everyone on the team was as professional as Bibby.
8. I can only conjure the image of the Captain on the Titanic ordering all engines full ahead after hitting the iceberg.
9. Yes, the picture becomes much clearer when a franchise knows it doesn’t draft or scout young talent well, has a hard time selling free agents on the chance to win a championship, and has over paid much of its roster. The NBA seems a nice place to make a small fortune. But only if you start with a large fortune.
10. I would be concerned that D’Antoni’s system rejuvenates Chauncey and Carmelo over the next couple months, while the Hawks continue to sulk on the court. There has been a big drop off in the Hawk’s interior passing and getting players open looks at the rim since the season started.
Tremaine
February 25th, 2011
4:12 pm
bigdawg- they did spend it, just not on a superstar.
K-Dogg
February 25th, 2011
4:13 pm
Why cant this team just get out and run on teams??? If not this summer can we go after Oden and Yao!! I know you guys may blow a top seeing that but we dont have to rush them back and only need them in the playoffs. this team if we are going to play half court ball and run motion offense needs to get a true big man!!!!!!
K.K.
February 25th, 2011
4:17 pm
Hawks: I can pitch basketball good.
Had Enough
February 25th, 2011
4:18 pm
Doesn’t matter! There’s no way the Hawks are going anywhere, before or after the trade. It’s a shame, but the NBA has become a league with just a few really good teams. By allowing a handful of the best players to dictate who they play for, there really no fun in watching the games anymore.
James B.
February 25th, 2011
4:20 pm
MB,
I believe this move was all about leadership not statistics. Teams follow their leader and, as a general rule, their PG is their leader; whether he’s the team’s best player or not. In Thursday’s article by Michael Cunningham’s article in Thursday’s AJC, goofiness, keeping guys loose, the biggest kid on the team were terms used to describe Mike Bibby; while smart, tough, tenacious defender and a serious-minded pro described Kirk Hinrich. Which way would you want your PG described?
Bibby was the right PG/leader for a young team that was just learning how to win. Now a veteran team coming off three straight playoff appearances, these Hawks need a different type of leadership. The question is not whether exchanging the leadership of Bibby for the leadership of Hinrich was a good move—because it was.
Here are the real questions for which answers will come in time: First, will the Hawks follow Hinrich’s lead by playing smart, tough, serious minded and defensively tenacious basketball? Second, what moves will management make during the off-season if players don’t follow Hinrich’s lead?
Skeezix
February 25th, 2011
4:20 pm
Hey Mark: Re: MLB predictions. Who are you picking to win the NL East? I’m sticking my neck out and picking the Braves.
joey
February 25th, 2011
4:20 pm
1234rf
KevinM
February 25th, 2011
4:21 pm
bigdawg, that’s what makes this so tough to deal with….we know they have talent…they have had so many lottery picks, that they can’t seem to figure out how to mold 5 position specific talents on this team and do what OKC has done. OKC was a mess 3 short years ago. The difference of course was their ‘07 #2 pick, Durant, panned out beyond, and out #2 pick, Marvin, is getting 2 pts in 27 min as a 4th option on offense.
Another factor: Durant comparisons: Best Case: More Fluid/Athletic Dirk Nowitzki
Worst Case: Rashard Lewis
Marvin comparisons: Best Case: No Valid Comparison Was Found
Worst Case: Tim Thomas
That says it all! And that doesn’t even include Russell Westbrook.
Courtesy of draftexpress.com
From DraftExpress.com http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Marvin-Williams-59/#ixzz1F0Xpwnlr
http://www.draftexpress.com
Sell this team and go get Sam Presti and his scouts because they know what they’re doing!
The Game Has Changed
February 25th, 2011
4:22 pm
Big Dog and Trmaine. Joe is our superstar. He might not be a top ten player but he is a top 8 shooting guard and he has avg 25,5,5 the last 5 years. Only other player to do that is Kobe. Give the man some credit. He messed up in the playoffs last year and so did Lebron James. We are back to winning 50 games a year. It might not be a Championship game but its better than the 1999-2009. No playoffs
K-Dogg
February 25th, 2011
4:44 pm
Have yall seen Teague in warm ups before a game!!! He the only cat i know in the L beloew 6′4 that cant knock down half his jumpers!!!
yodaddy
February 25th, 2011
4:45 pm
When Bibby let Derek Fisher of all point guards get 6 points, 1 steal and 1 assist in a little under 3 minutes to begin the Laker game that was the last straw.
The boy is straight garbo on defense…he might as well not even be out there. And literally useless if his shot isn’t falling. He was never one of the quickest but hell he can’t even move laterally nowadays and definitely can’t run the court. They try to switch but he’s so short and small that it’s always a mismatch. At least Hinrich is 6′4 and has successfully guarded SGs in his career. Bibby’s not even a good dribbler anymore and have very rarely seen him get into the paint this year.
As a Hawks fan, I actually like Mike Bibby but he is clearly a backup player nowadays that should get 10-15 mpg maximum. He should not be a starter on a championship “contender” (term used loosely). I think he would absolutely excel in a backup role bc he is still a threat on the court on offense and in backup stretches against other backups teams won’t just exploit him every chance they get. But starters need to be two way players.
Especially on a Hawks team that is still the most athletic team in the NBA and is just dying to run up and down the court instead of running that silly offense that results in mid range jumpers at the end of the shot clock bc it takes Bibby 7 seconds to get the ball up the court and into the offense. And on defense when it’s constantly a help situation at the point of attack and his man was never forced to the help but instead had free run at the basket. Situations where bibby was unable to get through the pick in an efficient manner.
It’s true Bibby set good screens but that’s something Josh Smith should be doing. Or Al Horford. Jason Collins will set a hard screen for sure. Zaza can set a good screen but he is always so excited that he’s often called for moving screens.
K-Dogg
February 25th, 2011
4:46 pm
Man the Hawks can still move Joe to the Nets if they want too. They are dying for anotehr star to make sure D. Will stay but what sucks is we cant get Favors and 4 1st round picks and Harris!!!! Thats the deal the Hawks should have made!! Now i dont know what they can give us unless they get a 3 or 4 team trade going!!!
KevinM
February 25th, 2011
4:53 pm
Trivia time…..Can you guess this baller? This is his draft profile:
Strengths: Elite level athlete, very quick and agile for a player of his size… Can play any position on the floor effectively.. Never out-worked or out-hustled… Doesn’t take plays off… Gives you everything he has whether it’s a high school playoff game or an AAU event… Excellent form on jumper… NBA range… Very effective when facing the hoop as he has a quick first step and utilizes his jabs and fakes to perfection… Court awareness is that of a vet… Finds teammates from anywhere on the court…An excellent passer from any spot on the floor who possesses great knowledge of the game…. At 6-9 he handles like a guard and has excellent touch out to 17 feet…. Great rebounder because of his size and ability to get off the ground quickly… Big game player… Plays his best in the clutch… A quick leaper who plays well above the rim. Has tremendous potential.
Weaknesses: More of a wing/forward at this point… Doesn’t play well with his back to the basket as he hasn’t developed a go-to post move… Must improve strength as he won’t always be able to rely on his athletic ability at the next level… Is a shot blocker but has trouble defending smaller quicker players…As with all young guys not named LeBron or Carmelo, he struggles with consistency….
Notes: Would greatly benefit from a year or two in college. A relatively unknown on the hoop scene until the 2002 ABCD camp where he earned all-star honors. He followed that up with a terrific performance at the Adidas Big Time Tournament, being named to the all-tournament team. As a sophomore, averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds for Bremerton High School in Bremerton, Washington. Plays summer ball for Rotary Select, an Adidas sponsored AAU team. Having establishing himself as one of the elite players in the country. Had a huge 34 point performance against Josh Smith and the Champion Atlanta Celtics in the Big Time Tourney last Summer.
MitchC
February 25th, 2011
4:54 pm
Mark, I don’t quite understand why you’re so down on this trade. Your last two articles in regard to this matter sound like you are saying the Hawks basically blew their chance to win the East or something. This team is.. at best.. third.. or fourth in the East, even before this trade.. and before all the injuries.
Granted, I think the Bulls have been a bit of a surprise this year.. but.. except for maybe Orlando underachieving, the expected top teams in the East of Miami and Boston have materialized. One of those teams should end up facing LA or maybe San Antonio for the championship. The Hawks likely would have,, and still may.. win the first round., draw a Boston or Orlando as an opponent in the second round, and say goodbye.
Personally, I think everyone is overreacting just a little bit too much to this trade. It isn’t as if we were a team expected to win the East. and traded away Lebron James.. or Dewayne Wade.
I’m telling you, my friend. The Hawks have peaked. With the Celtics and Miami ahead of them, they seem to have nowhere to go but down. They will probably end up being similar to what they were in the 1990s, a 40 odd to 50 win team, who gets to the second round.. ,maybe.. annually, and gets taken out by the top teams in the East.
Maybe I’m negative. or being too simplistic, but this is just how I see it.
James
February 25th, 2011
5:01 pm
People complain about him a lot, but I liked Bibby. Good luck to him in the future.
James
February 25th, 2011
5:01 pm
He helped turn this team around big time.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 25th, 2011
5:14 pm
No question Bibby deserves credit for helping lift the Hawks from lottery team to year-in year-out playoff team. I think all real Hawks fans will appreciate him for that, and the next time he comes to Philips, he should get a nice ovation. But there’s no question he’s washed up and Hinrich is a clear upgrade. This move had to be made. That doesn’t mean Bibby’s contributions will go unappreciated.
And to the poor, misguided soul who thinks Hinrich won’t fit in because he’s white, Zaza Pachulia came here from the other side of the planet and he seems to be doing just fine. Just because you may have a problem getting along with people of other races doesn’t mean others do, particularly professional athletes who have been in such situations their entire lives.
The Game Has Changed
February 25th, 2011
5:14 pm
Yes he did turn this team around James. Also, what has Za Za done for us besides jump up in KGs face a couple of years ago. At least Bibby contributed. Wish I could say the same for Marvin.
Robert Barron
February 25th, 2011
5:18 pm
Hawks paid too much 4 too little improvement.
tyger
February 25th, 2011
5:19 pm
10 lucid thoughts:
1. Heinrich is an upgrade over Bibby, but no All-star.
2. No Kudos to Sund for Bibby trade.
3. Bibby 3yrs/$18M was just dumb.
4. Kudos to Sund for Armstrong pickup – everything ZaZa isn’t.
5. Armstrong #12 pick, former Big East POY.
6. Both Heinrich-Armstrong immediate improvement from effort alone.
7. Hawks’ inability to move ZaZa-Teague is huge pain in the a$$.
8. Hawks should’ve demanded Yi Jianlian in trade, got taken.
9. Hawks NEED to score on post-buyout spree.
10. Hawks closer, but still need intangibles: shooter, slasher, low-post scorer.
The Game Has Changed
February 25th, 2011
5:34 pm
Robert, you are so right
Ken Strickland
February 25th, 2011
6:03 pm
Now that the trade deadline has passed, and Jamal now knows he’ll finish the season as a Hawk, I wonder if we’ll see the old Jamal again?
joBjo
February 25th, 2011
6:08 pm
wouldn’t it be funny if Bibby caught on with on of our rivals and we met him in the playoffs? bwahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he wouldn’t be such a liability playing with a real good defensive team with a big man to protect the rim.
Ken Strickland
February 25th, 2011
6:09 pm
ROBERT BARRON-the Hawks did overpay, but they paid what they had to pay to get someone to take Bibby and his contract and still give us the PG we needed.
The Game Has Changed
February 25th, 2011
6:21 pm
What does C.Paul, D.Williams, D.Rose, J.Wall, S.Nash, and J. Nelson have in common? They will never when a “RING” with their current team. So no matter who we would have picked up this year, it still would not have been enough. No team has won a ring since the Bulls that couldnt dominate on the inside.
SWAT Native
February 25th, 2011
6:23 pm
KevinM,
Was that Marvin?
#1 Hawks Fan
February 25th, 2011
6:42 pm
I think the memory of our fanbase is too short much like Bulldog fans. Before Bibby arrived we weren’t all that great, he definetely turned the page for this team. Sure his defense is lackin but the guy at least plays hard, I think we gave up way too much for Kirk. Great stuff MB.
Bibby you will be missed, at least by this hawks fan.
bigcalidawg
February 25th, 2011
7:17 pm
JeJe
February 25th, 2011
12:18 pm
If we do not get past the 2nd round this year, I’m pretty sure Smoove will be traded
^^^^^^^^^^^^
This will happen. Horford ain’t goin nowhere, neither is JJ. Horford moves to power forward and we get a big.
ag
February 25th, 2011
7:32 pm
RIP Jason Collier. Oddly enough, he was the last American born white player on the team 04′-05′.. Correct me if I am mistaken. ZaZa has been holding down as the only white player for a while. Chuck & Chernoff were making fun of Kirk, and had the all white player Hawk team of all time. I want to have a little fun with it, but starting from 00″ C- Collier F- Bowdler Gugliotta G- Sura PG Dickau bench Crawford, Maloney… that is all I can come up with.
ag
February 25th, 2011
7:35 pm
I HOPE WE GET POWE
ag
February 25th, 2011
8:06 pm
At NC Marvin averaged 11 ppg and 6.6 rbs. I think he has gained a lot of weight. He is listed at 240. I wonder how much he weighed in college.
TGT
February 25th, 2011
8:27 pm
I’ve heard a lot the last couple of days (esp. on ESPN radio) about how Dwight Howard is done in Orlando. The ESPN thought is, like Shack, Howard is LA bound. Their wisdom was that it would happen this summer, while Orlando is still more in control of the situation. Thus it doesn’t become a Carmelo/Denver scene in Orlando. Orlando would receive Bynum from the Lakers, and thus greatly soften the blow of the loss of Howard.
My question is: why not Horford for Howard this summer. Howard is a GA guy. Horford is an all-star. Howard with Smith-Johnson-Crawford-et al would create quite a buzz and make the Hawks instant contenders.
glad to see the Hawks get a white guy
February 25th, 2011
9:42 pm
Finally a non-tattooed, gold toothed arrogant jerk weed. kudos
Jere
February 25th, 2011
9:54 pm
This trade sucks. Someone needs to trade the GM as well.
Pistol Pete was a decent shooter
February 25th, 2011
10:14 pm
I’ll see your Dallas Comegys and raise you a John Vallely and an Adam Keefe
Pistol Pete was a decent shooter
February 25th, 2011
10:17 pm
AND Priest Lauderdale and Cal Bowdler. And in a stunning bit of good fortune turned sour, do you realize that the Hawks actually draft Pau Gasol?
Blast
February 25th, 2011
10:39 pm
Hey!
JSS
February 25th, 2011
11:32 pm
Larry
February 25th, 2011
11:03 am
“When it comes to player personnel decisions, the Hawks NBA’s version of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders.”
For someone who comes on NBA related blogs and decries the product and the character of the players; “Larry Bedford Forrest” (Centennial Park Bomber of AJC blogs) sure run his mouth a lot!
Then Raiders by the way are hampered by poor coaching choices more than there personnel ones (excluding JeMarcus Russell)… Anybody who would let Greg Knapp near a developing QB with a questionable work ethic deserves what they got! You fools would have a fit of happiness if you’d have the personnel they drafted at WR, RB, O-line and D-line They somehow found players in the first 5 rounds in every draft since 2002…
Try looking at an actual draft board before running your survivalist mouth! Go back yo “Disinformation Central!”
JSS
February 25th, 2011
11:46 pm
SWAT Native
February 25th, 2011
6:23 pm
“KevinM, Was that Marvin?”
It sure was Marvin!
Marvin and Kwame Brown never had the mental make-up to develop to any level beyond a rudimentary skill set… Imagine if Marvin had the work ethic and tenacity of Paul Millsap or a Matt Harpening? However, he looks more and more like a 21st century model of another Carolina alum: Al Wood… We need for him to be a taller version of Walter Daniels!
JSS
February 26th, 2011
12:38 am
ag
February 25th, 2011
7:32 pm
“RIP Jason Collier. Oddly enough, he was the last American born white player on the team 04′-05′.. Correct me if I am mistaken. ZaZa has been holding down as the only white player for a while. Chuck & Chernoff were making fun of Kirk, and had the all white player Hawk team of all time. I want to have a little fun with it, but starting from 00″ C- Collier F- Bowdler Gugliotta G- Sura PG Dickau bench Crawford, Maloney… that is all I can come up with.”
What, no Hanno Mottola, Toni Kukoc, Andy Panko, Paul Shirley, Zeljko Rebraca, Joel Przybilla, Travis Hansen, Josh Davis, Michael Bradley. Zeljko Rebraca, Jon Barry, Predrag Drobnjak, John Edwards, Matt Freije, or Stanislav Medvedenko? I know some are foreign born; but Frije was American born in North Dakota and was on the 06-07 roster….
It wasn’t till the 07-08 season that roster stabilized roster wise…
Buddy Grizzard
February 26th, 2011
3:00 am
“I submit that Rajon Rondo was the 21st pick of the 2006 NBA draft.”
Yep, that was the year the Hawks drafted Shelden Williams, a pick I supported at the time. So hey I’m not perfect either. Will point out that you wrote not one word in opposition to the Hawks’ anticipated drafting of Marvin Williams. I emailed Sekou Smith at the time and asked if he didn’t think the Hawks ought to draft a point guard in the strongest point guard draft of a generation, and he was 100% on board with drafting Marvin based on superstar potential.
But certain teams seem to get it right a disproportionate number of times. Tony Parker was the last pick of the first round of the 2001 draft, just after Jamaal Tinsley, who went to the Hawks when we traded Pau Gasol and Lorenzen Wright for *shudder* Shareef Abdur Raheem.
Manu Ginobli.
DeJaun Blair.
Why don’t the Hawks have a statistician on staff again?
Yellow Jacket
February 26th, 2011
6:10 am
Bring back that lil squirt Tyron Lue …..lol….I watched him take a swing at an opposing player as he blew by him down the lane several years ago. We dont suck atm, but we arnt good enuff for anyone to give a dammnn.
Navigator
February 26th, 2011
10:05 am
Shake it up and if a better team doesn’t show up, remember you gave Michael Jordan money to Joe Johnson. Bad trades, bad signings and general bad management has followed this team since before it left St. Louis to come to Atlanta. A change in ownership may be required to right the direction of the franchise.
marcus
February 26th, 2011
10:06 am
this is probably the best article you ever wrote. most of the time you are a cynical ass.
BirdDog
February 26th, 2011
10:43 am
After seeing some of last night’s game, Hinrich looks like a big upgrade over Bibby. He hustles and actually plays defense. He got in a little foul trouble but I liked his hustle and ball skills.
Paul in RDU
February 26th, 2011
11:35 am
Boston Garden 1988 – the high water mark of the Atlanta Falcons franchise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxqKLEMTBo4
JSS
February 26th, 2011
12:13 pm
@ Paul… That was great night, I was there with my late Brother who lived in Boston his entire adult life… The Garden was never that quiet except when the Pistons finally nailed their coffin shut!
(Got “Falcons” on your mind?)
Realest
February 26th, 2011
5:53 pm
Why so pessimistic Bradley? Check this teams home and road record next to the rest of the league. The vitriol you spew has a big impact on the fans. This could be a special basketball city if the media would stop trying to keep it’s agenda and just do some real reporting. Oh wait…that’s right.. You’re a columnist. Stay in your armchair know it all.
Petra
February 27th, 2011
9:53 am
Very nice information
http://mydietoptions.com/
MD
February 27th, 2011
12:32 pm
In sports, its about team culture. Defining what your team is going to be about and then getting players that fit that culture. The Braves get it. The Falcons get it. Any of us can describe the type of player that “fits” the Falcons or Braves. It is just not in evidence with the Hawks.
Me? I’d build around Horford, a talent and a hard working team player. What is JJ’s role? A gunner? Then, why is Josh Smith allowed outside the paint? This team needs a clear focus. Haven’t seen it from either GM. We change coaches, we change players and we burn draft choices. Why? There is no game plan.
The media should be challenging this and in a major way. Like him or not, everyone knows what the great orgs are going to do and who are their type of players. It starts at the top. Unfortunately, not much but scrambling happening there with the ASG.
Lew Burdette
February 28th, 2011
8:16 am
What, are you part time time?
Shimmy Shamwow
February 28th, 2011
11:24 am
The stupidest moves were drafting Marvin Williams over Chris Paul and resigning 16 point per game average Joe Johnson to 28 point per game money… These are the true setbacks. This franchise is done.
mad skills
February 28th, 2011
11:40 am
I am a Bulls fan, but more so a Hinrich fan. You guys got a steal! Think who wanted Kirk to be their point guard, think Lakers. Yeah they wanted him bad to take Fisher’s job. And the Bulls miss him dearly and would have tried to get him back if it wasn’t for the league rules. He is the solid guy I think your team has missed over the last few years. I think you’re scary good now. It has been the stupid attitude, knowing your team have great athletes and just better than other teams. But you made those dozen plays a game which cost you points or added them to your opponents. Boston is old, Miami is small, Orlando is really just one player and Chicago is really not that athletic. Think good thoughts….
peter
February 28th, 2011
1:49 pm
In my humble opinion as a 29 year season ticket holder the point is that you want to see your team play hard. Mike Bibby not only couldnt defend but he hardly even tried. When your team “leader” doesnt try hard do you think our young “fun bunch” can grasp that concept on its own. You all saw what happened in the playoffs last year and against good teams this year.
Secondly Hinrich has never played with teamates this talented nor has he ever played with a team that could benefit more from the things he brings. If the chemistry works we just might all be surprised. I for one am glad we did this deal
True Hawk Fan
March 1st, 2011
12:50 pm
Mark, Hinrich looked like a swinging gate to me over the weekend. Didn’t stop anyone and had two turnovers at the end of the Portland game that almost cost us the game. Being “feisty” on defense means nothing if you can’t stop anybody. Monta Ellis and Andre Miller had him for lunch. Where is the ball handling? Non-existent so far. What do you expect when you give up the farm for an old horse. Now he has a calf injury. From what? It certainly wasn’t from playing defense. The fact he couldn’t start because of 2 no. 1 draft picks just means he was not worth 2 vets and 2 first round draft picks. Should he be a starter? Two teams thought no and started rookies. He lost out to two kids, one of whom is not long removed from high school. Please don’t mention Armstrong as part of the trade. We all know that was filler at best. I don’t mind trades, just not stupid trades.