Danny Ferry: He’ll do well for the Hawks – if he’s allowed
Danny Ferry: He's a good man for a big job. (AP photo)
The Hawks have hired a good basketball man. They might even have hired the absolute right man. But the issue here won’t be whether Danny Ferry knows his business — obviously he does — but whether his new bosses will allow him to conduct that business as he sees fit.
As we know, this ownership hasn’t always acceded to the recommendations of its general manager. Billy Knight wanted to fire Mike Woodson as coach at the 2008 All-Star break, and the owners said no. (Given the unerring view of hindsight, they were probably right.) Knight quit as GM three months later. It is widely believed that Rick Sund, Knight’s successor, recommended that the Hawks hire Dwane Casey to replace the fired-for-real Woodson in June 2010, only to see the owners promote assistant coach Larry Drew instead.
With Ferry, control isn’t just a talking point. It’s a deal-breaker. He left the Cavaliers in 2010 because owner Dan Gilbert fired coach Mike Brown, a move Ferry didn’t endorse. (The big noise in Cleveland that summer was whether LeBron James would stay. Can’t remember if he did or not.) Ferry spoke with the 76ers about their GM opening this month, but his interest apparently cooled when it became clear coach Doug Collins — who’s a bit of a controller himself — would retain some say over basketball matters.
So now Ferry is coming to work for the Hawks instead, and good for them. He’s a basketball lifer — his dad Bob was a player (originally drafted by the St. Louis Hawks, you should know) and later a GM — who played under Mike Krzyzewski at Duke and Gregg Popovich with San Antonio. Ferry has done two tours in the Spurs’ organization, which is the best there is, and according to Hawks insiders both Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford rave about him.
There’s nothing not to like about Ferry. Heck, let’s call this what it is: The best hire these owners have ever made. But it will only succeed if these owners restrain themselves, and restraint hasn’t been their long suit. They’ve talked too much, said the wrong things and — speaking particularly of the Michael Gearons Sr. and Jr. — have shown over time the penchant for overrating their players badly.
In Ferry they might just have found the antidote for all that. He’s going to command respect in a way the caretaker Rick Sund never quite did, and it’s much easier to step into the background if you’re sure the man in titular charge is in actual charge.
There’ll be more a bit later — sorry to threaten you — after Ferry’s introductory briefing (1 p.m. at Philips Arena), but I have to say I’m more encouraged I’ve been about the Hawks than at any time since they hired Lenny Wilkens. And that, if you’ve forgotten, was on Memorial Day 1993.
By Mark Bradley
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85 comments Add your comment
Sam
June 25th, 2012
2:11 pm
…especially if we can get the Lakers to throw in a draft pick as well
falCANS
June 25th, 2012
2:14 pm
THANK U LAWD!!! First resign Josh Smith & Aggressively chase Dwight Howard!! Trade anybody except Smoove. Now we got two homers playing for the Hawks & The best frontcourt n basketball
Gordon
June 25th, 2012
2:28 pm
I wouldn’t think Ferry would have taken the job unless there was a conversation about control and resources.
Bill
June 25th, 2012
2:29 pm
Great job Mark..Great hire..now let the man do his job!
tjhook
June 25th, 2012
2:31 pm
Larry Drew needs to request a veteran playmaker at point guard. I recommend Andre Miller. The team cannot afford Jeff Teague’s upward curve. By the time he is good enough, Josh Smith will want to leave and will leave us without a superior athletic playmaker. With the Heat’s ascension, we will need all the top athletes we can get.
Doc
June 25th, 2012
2:50 pm
Nothing can stop us
We’re Atlanta’s Air Force
Heisenberg
June 25th, 2012
2:50 pm
Making the Hawks a legit team in 5 easy steps…..
1. Trade Josh Smith to Memphis for Rudy Gay
2. Draft Fab Melo to shore up your D and give us a “real” inside presence…..
3. Amnesty or Trade Joe Johnson and move to draft Draymond Green.
4. Resign Ivan Johnson
5. Hire Brian Shaw….
***************************************************************
1. Why would Memphis does this? They have Gasol/Randolph and 4/5 and that trade would put Josh at the 3. Makes no sense unless Memphis has another deal to move Randolph already in place.
2. No question there is a need for a true 5, but Melo looks like to high risk.
3. You could only trade the bad contract of Joe for an equally bad contract the likes of Turkoglu or Lewis. Given that choice, Hawks are better off with Joe. Nobody in their right mind would pay Joe 80-90 million or whatever is left to go away and play for another team.
4. Absolutely.
5. Interesting thought. New GM should be able to pick his coach even if old coach has already had his option picked up.
Moorman
June 25th, 2012
2:52 pm
You know what? Its a START, hopefully, to show dwight howard that the hawks care enuf to get a general manager who can retool this roster. Move joe, horford and williams for howard……….
Atlanta Hawks 2012 Draft Preview – Fox News | Danta Report
June 25th, 2012
2:53 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Sage of Bluesland
June 25th, 2012
2:55 pm
With this ownership group in place, it’s nothing but rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Deep down, you and I both know it.
Stop deluding yourselves with any tiny glimmers of false hope….
(and stop subsidizing the utter incompetence)
Perspective
June 25th, 2012
2:57 pm
Welcome Danny. Not many people got on the Titanic after it hit the iceberg. I like other bloggers question why anyone would voluntarily work for ASG as long as an option with any other club was available. If the team sells Danny is a nice piece looking forward. If the team does not sell it will be a two year tour and he will move on.
Don Waddell
June 25th, 2012
3:01 pm
The key to a successful sports franchise is a competent General Manager.
tc
June 25th, 2012
3:07 pm
@BravesFan79 and @Honky Talkin
Lenny Wilkens came from Cleveland, Lenny was all defense. his Cleveland teams had no superstar and he liked it that way. Lenny did not know what to do with Dominique. Dominique was playing his best most unselfish basketball of his career during the first half of the season that he was traded. I believe we were even leading the division. I think if Lenny were against it he could have done something about it. You can’t tell me that Lenny did not agree with it. I am convenienced Lenny had a lot to do with it. Horrible!!
teedub
June 25th, 2012
3:16 pm
I love it
GwinnettDad
June 25th, 2012
3:20 pm
As a Clevelander, Danny Ferry was one of the good guys that drafted Lebron and built the Cavaliers into a winning club. Looking forward to his contributions to making the Hawks into the type of club they’ve never been in the 20 years I’ve lived in Atlanta.
City of Losers
June 25th, 2012
3:26 pm
I have to admit I am stunned Ferry would come here. With the Joe Johnson contract and this ownership group it is very surprising Ferry thinks he has a chance to do anything here. Ferry might be committing career suicide.
phil
June 25th, 2012
3:49 pm
Danny Ferry?
Seriously? What a joke…
Easy Breezey
June 25th, 2012
4:00 pm
BEST Move in franchise history since the signing of one D. Wilkins!
Easy Breezey
June 25th, 2012
4:01 pm
@phil…..u aint from here, are ya son?
Nativebird
June 25th, 2012
4:13 pm
A great GM cannot overcome a horrible owner…..we have a horrible owner. Sorry to rain on your parade.
Danny Ferry
June 25th, 2012
4:18 pm
The Atlanta Hawks have so much UPSIDE!!
isiah rider
June 25th, 2012
4:20 pm
i can coach…………….really…….
The Bravenator
June 25th, 2012
4:22 pm
Better check with the sports book people in Vegas for the over/under on the number of months Ferry lasts as GM and the number of times he denies being at odds with the dorks at the ASG.
bill parcells
June 25th, 2012
4:23 pm
why wasnt i up for the job?????
bill parcells
June 25th, 2012
4:24 pm
i can get the groceries that i cook…………….
The Corps
June 25th, 2012
4:38 pm
it just keeps gettin better every day here in the ATL!!
go Hawks.
ECF 2013!!!
WTF
June 25th, 2012
4:43 pm
@isiah rider but would you show up?
KakNiqueTree
June 25th, 2012
4:47 pm
Obviously ownership is gonna hold onto this franchise for a long while. Wonder how much longer Larry Drew will stay on as HC. Guessing next season will be his last regardless of what happens.
isiah rider
June 25th, 2012
5:05 pm
sure i would show up…………as player coach…………..
isiah rider
June 25th, 2012
5:05 pm
even i can do better than joe johnson……….player coach…..give me a holla………
JTH
June 25th, 2012
6:04 pm
A ray of hope?
Ward
June 25th, 2012
6:45 pm
This is a great birthday present getting Ferry to run the team… I’m excited! If I could play GM then I would trade Smith & Marvin to the Rockets & Lakers in a 3 way trade where we get Gasol and the 14th & 16th picks… I would amnesty Joe Johnson even though the ASG still would have to pay the money…at least it would be off the books. With 14 I would select Zeller or Jones the 3rd & with 16 I would select Melo… It would just be great to come away with two seven footers to pair with Hortford back at the 4 and Pau at the 5. Our front court would be awesome… with 23 I guess I do what Chad Ford predicts and take Wroten for a PG to have with Teague… We would still be light at the 2/3, but at least we would have cap flexibility and some young players to start building around… I just have faith that Ferry can get it done and the Hawks to the ECF.
LeonAtl
June 25th, 2012
10:20 pm
Dr Warren, if the Hawks ever made it to the East finals that would be a hell of a step forward
thepro
June 25th, 2012
10:22 pm
IMO Rick Sund was not a bad GM at all…he just relented waaay to quick when it came to trying to appease an incompetent ownership group. Thats not something Ferry will have to worry about or he would not have taken the job
Atlanta Hawks hire Danny Ferry as GM – Yahoo! Sports (blog) | Basketball Video Zone
June 25th, 2012
10:30 pm
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