Having hired Danny Ferry, the Hawks must be taken seriously
Four words not often heard: An impressive Hawks hire. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Three cheers for the Atlanta Hawks, and not just puny “hip, hips,” either. Make these full-throated “hoorays.” A franchise that has chosen wrong so often has finally done it right. It has hired a basketball man of impeccable pedigree and plans to get out of his way.
Danny Ferry has done two tours with the San Antonio Spurs, the gold standard of NBA organizations, and in between he was general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who played for the NBA title in 2007 and won 66 games in 2008-2009. That Ferry has chosen to become GM of the Hawks says he’s sold on an organization that has, to be frank, been the toughest of sells.
Bruce Levenson, one of the Hawks’ many owners, introduced Ferry on Monday by saying, “For every question we asked Danny, he asked 10 of us.” That was a polite way of noting the interviewee was actually the interviewer. At issue wasn’t why the Hawks should hire him — that much was apparent — but why he should deign to work for these owners.
Had Ferry remained unsold on these owners, he’d have taken the Philadelphia job (he’d also had an audience there) or stayed in San Antonio. Of Levenson, Ferry said: “I was struck by his humble approach to the past, especially for a team that has done well.”
Let the record reflect that, of the first thousand adjectives that might attach themselves to Levenson, “humble” isn’t among them. But this ownership just managed to convince a pragmatic man that it’s serious about changing, serious about winning in a way it hasn’t been to date. (Sure enough, Levenson went so far as to acknowledge “missteps” — also a departure.)
Know this about Ferry: He left Cleveland after five good-to-excellent years — yes, having the world’s best player under contract had something to do with it — because he and owner Dan Gilbert no longer shared a vision. In the willingness to do whatever it took to keep LeBron James, Gilbert fired coach Mike Brown. Ferry, whose contract was expiring, chose to walk away. “We were on different pages,” Ferry said, “and I think I’ve given you what I’ll give you [as rationale].”
Burned once, such a man would be doubly sure to ask tens if not hundreds of questions of any prospective employers. “I was in a good spot where I was,” Ferry said. “I would not have made this decision if I didn’t think this was a good opportunity and a good challenge.”
Danny Ferry is the son of Bob Ferry, who in 1959 was the first-round pick of the Hawks, then based in St. Louis, and who would become GM of the Baltimore/Washington Bullets. Danny Ferry had such a golden career as a player — national champ in high school, three Final Fours in college, an NBA crown with the Spurs in 2003 — that if you ask, “Who’s the best coach you ever had?,” he can tick off four Hall of Famers as candidates: Morgan Wootten of DeMatha Catholic, Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, Lenny Wilkens of Cleveland and Gregg Popovich of the Spurs.
And Danny Ferry, basketball lifer, didn’t come here to rubber-stamp the whims of Levenson and the Gearons. “I’m allowed to do everything,” he said, responding to a question about having the Hawks rely more on statistical analysis. “If we take a common-sense approach, I’m very confident the answer [from ownership] is going to be yes.”
There will be time to discuss deeper issues — the state of the Hawks’ Core Four, the status of lame-duck coach Larry Drew, the enduring question of what to do with Josh Smith — in the days ahead, but for now it’s enough to know that the new GM believes he’s inheriting some “really good players” and that he’s committed to “building something even stronger from what’s already there.”
If you’re looking for a Ferry credo, this will do: “We want to be a value-based franchise.”
If you’re seeking an assurance that these owners, who have spent nearly a decade alienating their constituency, are serious about changing, know that Ferry asked Levenson, “Are you willing to do this the right way?” — and was satisfied with the answer.
These owners have gone from wanting to dump the Hawks from wanting to keep them and run them the way the Spurs have been run. Said Ferry: “I would not have come here if I thought [the Hawks being sold] was an issue. Bruce and I were just saying we’d hoped we’d both still be here 12 years from now.”
There was a time — like, say, last week — when the thought of 12 more years of these Hawks under these owners would have induced howls of anguish. But now these owners have seen fit to hire Danny Ferry to run their team, and you have to admit: That’s one heck of a restart.
By Mark Bradley
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175 comments Add your comment
Spyro
June 25th, 2012
4:15 pm
I’m still not sold on Ferry. He couldn’t get the right pieces around LeBron in 6 years. Maybe he’ll be better with a different project, though. Who knows.
Spyro
June 25th, 2012
4:16 pm
Wait, first? Yay!
Tim Tebow's Tears
June 25th, 2012
4:23 pm
Interesting. I’m listening..
NCBravesFan
June 25th, 2012
4:28 pm
Spyro – perhaps the issue in Cleveland is that LBJ was not the player he is today rather than the supporting cast Ferry provided. Either way, it will be interesting to see how this offseason plays with Ferry at the helm.
Hankie Aron
June 25th, 2012
4:28 pm
Mark- Counting 2 from you and 1 so far from Schultzie. that’s 3 columns today about the Hawks. This must be a good thing right?
Nugget
June 25th, 2012
4:30 pm
I like the move. It shows me the Hawks are serious about winning
Blow It Up
June 25th, 2012
4:31 pm
Sorry, but we still suck and thanks to a couple of awesome contracts we’re looking at a first- or second-round playoff exit every year for the foreseeable future. I wish we could start fresh even if it meant having a couple 32-win seasons rather than being mired in mediocrity (and predictability) year in and year out.
Sage of Bluesland
June 25th, 2012
4:35 pm
It’s just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, folks. Our esteemed writer also used to laud the incompetent buffoon Pete Babcock, for YEARS, lest anyone forget.
Stop subsidizing this incompetence–as that is all it is with this ownership group.
Just The Facts
June 25th, 2012
4:43 pm
I did not think the ASG was capable of this type move. I’m surprised & excited. Be interesting to what DF’s plans are after he gets in there. Wish him well.
juvenal
June 25th, 2012
4:45 pm
is he bringing back the landlord?
BubbaDaBaller
June 25th, 2012
4:47 pm
As always, excellence is conferred on a “name” before results are tendered (ie Mark Texiera}. I would think optimism towards the next 2 seasons would be appropriate, he’ll need time to apply his measure. The part about the ASG giving him the correct answers to his questions is laughable…they’ve lied to everyone here in the ATL and the Commish of the NBA at one point…now they can be trusted?
Reggie
June 25th, 2012
4:48 pm
Good move….its a step in a different direction so its a good move.
Harry Hawk
June 25th, 2012
4:50 pm
This team can get better, but Ferry will have to move or Josh or Al in order to do it. I think we’re stuck with Joe for the foreseeable future. Can we amnesty Marvin? Probably not. I’ll give Ferry a chance, but I wish he had been able to pick his own coach.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 25th, 2012
4:52 pm
Ferry is the best GM this team has had in 17 years. With that said, this article makes the same mistake that Atlanta sports fans make when evaluating the Falcons. Just because the people in charge look the part doesn’t mean they deserve to be taken seriously.
The Hawks should be taken seriously only when Ferry reconstructs this team into a championship contender, just like the Falcons should be taken seriously only when they start winning playoff games. Until then, they are both pretenders. Ferry’s pedigree doesn’t mean anything until it translates into results.
Ron
June 25th, 2012
4:56 pm
The people who aren’t sold on Ferry apparently wanted Sund to remain GM.
They are scared of change.
He comes from a winning prganization, has experience, built a team that got to the Finals.
What’s not to like?
GT
June 25th, 2012
4:57 pm
An adult running the show like the Braves and the Falcons.
Runner-
June 25th, 2012
4:58 pm
Still not gonna believe a word these owners say, especially that last bit. By helping convince the fans they’re here to stay is just a way of improving their reputation so the fans don’t bomb on them in the next few years while they put this franchise up for sale
TomB
June 25th, 2012
5:00 pm
Yea, I’m still in shock. It like having new ownership in a way; kinda like when Ted Turner got out of the dugout and let someone else run the show. Hopefully this works out this time.
DF
June 25th, 2012
5:02 pm
The Decision II: I’m taking my limited talents to the Southeast. I will never promise you one, two, three, four, five or six championships.
Go Dookies!
DogTheMan
June 25th, 2012
5:06 pm
I am not totally sold. He lost valuable role players in Cleveland and did not get equal replacements. We do not have the talent to compete in crunch time and we do not have a coach that free agents want to come and play for. So we may need to blow the hwole thing up and start over again. let’s see what happens!!
rickjames
June 25th, 2012
5:07 pm
dr mr ferry…joe johnson to toronto…atlanta gets jose caldaron #6 pick, major cap relief… toronto gets wing vet that they covet..everyone’s happy:) well,,,..toronto;s happy until the playoffs come around….iso/dribble-out-the-clock-joe….al horford to charlotte for #2 pick, cash, second rd pick and throw-in bench player….
beone
June 25th, 2012
5:08 pm
Ok, now there is a chance – a chance – that things will improve. Not a certainty but a reasonably good bet. So I’m with the program for now. I agree with Najeh, let’s give our support and wait for the results to provide evidence of improvement. Anytime, there is a change like this, those in charge will try to get a quick win. That buys confidence and support. Let’s hope it starts this week with the draft.
rickjames
June 25th, 2012
5:08 pm
should be “dear” mr ferry
Joey
June 25th, 2012
5:14 pm
Great hire, Hawks! Good start. Good to see Najeh on board.
Bob in SF
June 25th, 2012
5:17 pm
Mark, any chance at all they use their amnesty on Joe Johnson?
Mash
June 25th, 2012
5:20 pm
I’m not as smitten with Ferry as you appear to be, Mark. At the very least, we can all agree he’s a step up from Rick Sund. But, it’s worth noting that Ferry’s failure to surround LeBron with the right teammates largely led to James’ decision to head to south beach in the first place.
With all due respect to Danny’s judgment on the ASG, I think Hawks fans are going to have to see years of sustained competence before we trust this ownership group. We’re talking about a group of owners that thought it a good idea to re-sign a coach one month BEFORE signing a much heralded new general manager. If a new GM search was underway, what possible reason was there to rush to sign a coach before the GM was in place? It doesn’t make any sense.
Yet again the whole situation reeks of a lack of foresight from this ownership group.
donte080
June 25th, 2012
5:22 pm
spyro, it took James two seasons at his best ever to win in Miami with two NBA all-stars (one of which is a future HOF) playing beside him, to beat the young raw upstart OKC team….they’re lucky they faced them when they did.. And even then, this Miami team would not have beaten the 2007 Spurs team Cleveland faced (Miami wouldn’t have beaten the Kobe-led Lakers championship teams either)
Athenzdawg
June 25th, 2012
5:22 pm
now please pick Melo. We need a center!!!!!!!!!! Trade everyone cept Al, and Teague if you have to. Just get a freaking presence that can score inside and get the ball away from Iso Joe.
Ignition
June 25th, 2012
5:23 pm
If he can find a way to get rid of Joe, he should be crowned King of Atlanta …..
donte080
June 25th, 2012
5:25 pm
Najeh, you don’t think the falcons deserve to be taken seriously?
How long you been a Falcons fan?
Mark Bradley
June 25th, 2012
5:26 pm
To use the amnesty option on Joe Johnson, the Hawks would have to pay him $80 million not to play. Can’t see that happening.
SSIgator
June 25th, 2012
5:27 pm
“Having hired Danny Ferry, the Hawks must be taken seriously”
Why? That is like saying “Having hired Mark Richt, the Dwags must be taken seriously”
The AJC writers – providing comic relief for their readers, whether or not they mean to.
Skeezix
June 25th, 2012
5:33 pm
I am a NCAA BB fan, not a huge NBA fan, but I like the decision to bring in Ferry to get the ship headed in the right direction.
Rob
June 25th, 2012
5:39 pm
If theres one thing im happy about, its that Rick Sund is no longer the GM. I have to think that us Hawks fans would punch a hole in a wall if they just let him continue to babysit this roster…
Ted Striker
June 25th, 2012
5:45 pm
I might be the only person on this forum who hasn’t knocked the Hawks ownership.
Simple reason….It’s hard to be a franchise owner and it’s especially difficult to do that when you’re part of a group of individuals who may or may not share your vision.
It’s easy to second guess someone when you have no personal stake in a team. No human capital, no financial investment. I call anyone who lambasts the spirit group out as a wimp until they step up to the plate and make ASG an offer.
Pool your pennies and make them an offer for this team. Otherwise show up for the games, don’t show up for the games. Nobody cares if you like ASG or not. Least of all ASG. Nor me.
p.s. Good hire.
Mike
June 25th, 2012
5:47 pm
Yeah, Amnesty on JJ is a bad idea for right now, but here is the deal, I believe since DF has fully control (confirmed if he has that) and that report from Sam Arick(sp?) is true. I think that this team is going to be shaken up and everybody will be playing and coaching for their jobs next year.
Rickster
June 25th, 2012
5:52 pm
The Hawks may need to be taken seriously… but their owners sure shouldn’t.
day old fries
June 25th, 2012
5:56 pm
A great day.
Mike
June 25th, 2012
6:03 pm
You know, I have a better question. Who is Ferry is going to bring with him to Atlanta for scouting and front-office matters? I am thinking he might be taken some of the SA stuff, maybe.
News: 5-time champion Venus Williams loses at Wimbledon – Atlanta Journal Constitution | News Aggregator for you
June 25th, 2012
6:10 pm
[...] Having hired Danny Ferry, the Hawks must be taken seriously [...]
kevkat
June 25th, 2012
6:10 pm
Nothing against the hire but let’s face it…the guy has nothing to work with and if he can somehow construct a championship quality team immediately with what he has will be nothing short of a miracle.
This ship was torpedoed with the JJ contract. Maybe he can start the repairs but I don’t see it being sea worthy for awhile.
donte080
June 25th, 2012
6:13 pm
Nothing to work with? …..Charlotte has nothing to work with, nor does Washington, but the Hawks are a perennial playoff team…that’s crazy talk!
OK
June 25th, 2012
6:14 pm
This actually shows that they are committed to the team and not themselves. You purchase a team to own the team. Not run it. It took them 4 years to do what Blank as done after he sent them the blue print. Purchase a team, hire great people, and move out of the way. It wasn’t Danny’s fault Lebron had performance anxiety in the fourth quarter. Good hire ASG. Let’s go get ‘em…. It would be great if the Hawks won a championship next year.
kevkat
June 25th, 2012
6:20 pm
donte080
June 25th, 2012
6:13 pm
Nothing to work with? …..Charlotte has nothing to work with, nor does Washington, but the Hawks are a perennial playoff team…that’s crazy talk
You my friend have the same mindset of the owners..you are satisfied with being a perennial playoff team? Read the whole comment..he does not have anything of championship quality..but it figures some will always be satisfied with just getting there…wow
Glsjunior
June 25th, 2012
6:22 pm
Smoove for Ibaka and filler
donte080
June 25th, 2012
6:27 pm
You couldn’t be more wrong. Never said I was satisfied, I’m not and expect to see some changes, where I disagreed strongly was your comment that Ferry has nothing to work with….
you can’t grasp the difference?
beone
June 25th, 2012
6:42 pm
Mike, what report from Sam Arick (sp?) are you referring to? Thx.
Joseph Allen McWhorter
June 25th, 2012
6:48 pm
A great hire!! I mean, hey, this man might not build a team that will win the NBA title in the summer of 2013, but all I am asking for is just to put together a team that could very well still be playing in late May and early June. The Hawks are always on vacation right about then. Lol!! I mean, just make things interesting and exciting Danny.
tjhook
June 25th, 2012
6:50 pm
Danny Ferry should bring in a veteran point guard (Andre Miller) and allow Larry Drew a full assembly of veteran starters. Teague is not a strong enough playmaker to curb our veteran bad habits. Only a veteran player can do this. Drew played veterans because their learning curve was small. Don’t trust him to manage newer players. Get him a veteran point guard who can start. If they win, HOORAY!! If not, gut the team after the season. But the Hawks need an on-court leader.
dc74
June 25th, 2012
6:51 pm
Another Atlanta team that must be taken seriously..that’s so funny
Devil's Advocate
June 25th, 2012
6:52 pm
I love the hire but that has got to be the funniest headline in AJC history. These same Hawks:
1. Let key pieces of the 87-88 team walk instead of bringing them back for another run.
2. Traded Nique while only a few games out of 1st place in the East
3. Hired Lenny Wilkens
4. Signed Moses Malone and Steve Smith
Big names do not make a serious team.
clark kent
June 25th, 2012
6:59 pm
Welcome Danny to the worst ownership group in professional sports.
Watch your back.
Anyone still naive enough to be giving money to the A$G should have their head examined.
Nikki
June 25th, 2012
7:02 pm
I like the Ferry move. However, I think the move is the equivalent of using a cup to keep a boat from sinking. There is no way Ferry can rescue this Hawks team and still be anchored to that absolutely RIDICULOUS Joe Johnson contract.
kevkat
June 25th, 2012
7:04 pm
donte080
June 25th, 2012
6:27 pm
You couldn’t be more wrong. Never said I was satisfied, I’m not and expect to see some changes, where I disagreed strongly was your comment that Ferry has nothing to work with….
you can’t grasp the difference?
Ohhhhh…I get it. You consider Ferry has something to work with because the Hawks have more talent than the Wizards or Bobcats and are a perennial playoff team huh? I can only go on what you said..perennial playoff team which is correct i guess.you are right, he does have engough to work with for a perennial playoff team..course any other team with a .500 record or above has a shot at the playoffs..maybe not perennial. Look what he inherits.. a player currently not worth $120 million, a forward who wants out and one who’s a starter that really needs to come off the bench because he’s not consistent. I apologize..he can work with them.
wayne
June 25th, 2012
7:08 pm
Just saw an article from CNN news. says Hawks are after Steve Nash. Who knows I guess?
cccwwww
June 25th, 2012
7:11 pm
move number one bring back John Koncak to play center!!!!!!!!!!!!
CJ
June 25th, 2012
7:13 pm
I, for one, do not expect much out of DF in his first year or two. I agree with some of the other posts I have read. He had LJ in Cleveland and could not find a winning formula there for a championship. Of course we now realize that LJ could not carry the team by himself but needed other “superstars” to carry some of the load. He tried in Cleveland but just could not do it. DF in SA had a lot of good people in place when he was hired. He did not have to do a lot of work there more or less maintain. He has a lot of work to do in the ATL before they become a true contender. Amnesty JJ, regardless of cost, trade J Smoove, release MW because you can’t get anything for him, get rid of most of the bench with a couple of exceptions such as Zaza who is a decent backup. Other than that he does not have much to do.
RA
June 25th, 2012
7:16 pm
OMG! That almost passes for optimism, but it still smells like Bradley…
donte080
June 25th, 2012
7:19 pm
I’d much rather be in Hawks position than 2/3 of the teams in NBA…that’s why IMO Ferry choose us over Philly, they are like we were 3 years ago in thinking they have something they don’t…….I would rather work with a team that has some pieces….if Ferry plays it right (and he may not have enough time to get it done the way I want) but Josh should be able to get us at least a lottery pick from….Marvin is still young enough someone would dump a late 1st rounder in a risk for him….not much we can do about Joe’s contract unless someone is desperate for the last missing piece (Bulls or Clippers or maybe even Dallas) otherwise we utilize his declining skills at the most optimal (IMO move him to SF and get a SG in draft or a center in trade of Josh),,,rebuild this team around Horford and Teague, that’s a good nucleus if we trade and draft smart…..
Some knick clown keeps posting here that he thinks they are a rising team….hard for me to see that, they seem to screw it up every year in draft and FA signings…they make us look like the model franchise…Portland is always pushed as a model franchise, but look at where they are….same for Phoenix, who do they have you can build on? Toronto when they got Colangelo hasn’t done squat….everyone here (including you, kevkat) in atlanta are way too negative, there’s alot worse run franchises then we are…..hiring Ferry is a good thing for this franchise….
Greg
June 25th, 2012
7:23 pm
We don’t need role players here. We need starters. Joe Johnson need to allow his contract to be restructured so we can attract some good talent here. As long as the Hawks have his contract over their head we won’t be able to afford a cold.
steven a smith
June 25th, 2012
7:32 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
June 25th, 2012
4:52 pm
Ferry is the best GM this team has had in 17 years. With that said, this article makes the same mistake that Atlanta sports fans make when evaluating the Falcons. Just because the people in charge look the part doesn’t mean they deserve to be taken seriously.
The Hawks should be taken seriously only when Ferry reconstructs this team into a championship contender, just like the Falcons should be taken seriously only when they start winning playoff games. Until then, they are both pretenders. Ferry’s pedigree doesn’t mean anything until it translates into results.
Obviously Poop is the type of guy who sees the glass half empty… Dude needs Tony Robbins motivational tapes,,,GET THEM NOW DAVENPOOP!!!
kevkat
June 25th, 2012
7:38 pm
donte080…I never said anything against the hiring of Ferry, on the contrary, I think it’s very good.. All I’m saying is he’s got his work cut out for him. It’s human nature to become “negative” as you say but that’s mainly a result of being frustrated as any true fan will get when he or she goes through years of what looks to be promising only to be dissappointed. But he is a good hire and if he’s given the reins to do what he needs the outlook could be promising.
Mark Bradley's Fan Club
June 25th, 2012
7:44 pm
I don’t know that we can say that it’s time to take the Hawks seriously, but it shows the Hawks are serious. That’s good enough for me. When they are able to field a team that has a legit shot at a title, then we can take them seriously. With Ferry in control, I’d say we’ve got a decent shot of that happening.
Danny Ferry
June 25th, 2012
7:46 pm
I’m impressed by the Hawks’ UPSIDE!! Buy those tickets, fools, er I mean fans!
Suckers.
Moobs Johnson
June 25th, 2012
7:53 pm
Maybe Ferry can pull off the same type of moves that Waddell did with the Thrashers under the same ownership group. That lead to great success.
NekiEcko
June 25th, 2012
8:03 pm
@Sam Amick
Well, that didn’t take long: with Atlanta GM Danny Ferry in his first day on the job, the message is spreading that he’ll be looking to shake up the Hawks’ roster and rebuild in some capacity. No specifics yet, but forward Josh Smith has tremendous value and an expiring contract (next season at $13.2 million), center Al Horford will be healthy again and is an attractive piece as well (four years, $48 million remaining) and shooting guard Joe Johnson has the sort of deal that any sane GM would try – and likely try in vain – to get rid of (four years and $89.3 million left).
chris
June 25th, 2012
8:05 pm
Great great day for Atlanta Hawks fans…sitll a bit of patience needed for Ferry to put his stamp on this team but I feel that the ownership has finally done something right! I like Larry Drew as a person and as a coach, it remains to be seen if he has what it takes to get us to the championship level. The Hawks have become somewhat like the Braves and Falcons content on getting into the playoffs then finding excuses why we dont go far into them. I think Atlanta is ready for a championship basketball team and I believe Danny Ferry while he cannot wave a magic wand over night will, over time be the person to do just that.
will
June 25th, 2012
8:05 pm
This is a good move in the right direction, for the hawks. Good Job!
donte080
June 25th, 2012
8:09 pm
kevkat, I hear ya. Of course, if things here were all rosy, we wouldn’t have needed to hire him in the first place. It will be interesting to see how he shakes things up..
I dropped my fried twinkie
June 25th, 2012
8:15 pm
Damn I am Old. I remember Danny with pretty Black hair. I still have ALL my hair with a few grey.
kevkat
June 25th, 2012
8:19 pm
donte080
June 25th, 2012
8:09 pm
kevkat, I hear ya. Of course, if things here were all rosy, we wouldn’t have needed to hire him in the first place. It will be interesting to see how he shakes things up..
Agreed!
doyle
June 25th, 2012
8:25 pm
this is a new beginning ..for those that want to blow this team up what the hell is u smokeing..at lease we make the play off..some thing that half the team in the nba can’t say.it funny how some off u forget the bad yrs before we star to win.i don’t and want..whats a good fan?one that hope and pray your team win a champinship that what we all want..all you can hope for is that your team play hard if you have the money go see the game live if not watch it on tv pull for the home teams..just saying
Najeh Davenpoop
June 25th, 2012
8:27 pm
“Najeh, you don’t think the falcons deserve to be taken seriously?
How long you been a Falcons fan?”
Since Deion was returning kicks. In other words, long enough to know that the last time they won a playoff game, Michael Vick was the quarterback and Rich McKay was the GM.
Again, just because they look the part doesn’t mean they deserve to be taken seriously. The current iteration of the Falcons has accomplished less than the current iteration of the Hawks.
bowman
June 25th, 2012
8:43 pm
The arrival of Danny Ferry is an opportunity for a change of culture for the Atlanta Hawks. It worked for the Atlanta Braves when the organization brought in John Schuerholz. Like Schuerholz, Ferry has a past with some success. The palate may be more crowded that it was for Schuerholz but Ferry has a chance to paint his own masterpiece. Player issues come an go. The key here is for the Atlanta Spirit group to stay out of the way and give Ferry time to do his work.
Swingman912
June 25th, 2012
8:43 pm
Everyone saying he couldn’t get the right pieces around Levron forget that Cleveland isn’t the most popular destination, and look what it took for Lebron to win a ring. 2 perennial All Stars and some consumate role players. Bottom line, you can’t blame Ferry for LeBron not winning. And I’ll take Ferry over Subpar Sund anyday….CHUUUCH
Jfreak13713
June 25th, 2012
8:51 pm
I like the Ferry move as it shows the owners are at least somewhat serious about this team. I wish they would have made a play for Stan Van Gundy instead of keeping Larry Drew but one step at a time I suppose. I remember the Falcons began to turn things around when they hired a good GM and then a good coach. Hopefully, Ferry will land or keep the RIGHT coach and then put a good team together.
Jimmy
June 25th, 2012
8:57 pm
Doesn’t matter who the Hawks hire. They will still suck.
Benny
June 25th, 2012
9:02 pm
Maybe both offers (Philly and ATL) were fairly equal, and it could be that he and his family preferred living in ATL over Philly. Whatever. I’ll take it. This is better than when Stan Kasten was GM, in which the Hawks had success in spite of his efforts, not because of. Better than Pete Babcock, who signed Blair Rasmussen, brought in JR Rider, etc. Better than Billy Knight, who passed on CP for Marvin Williams. Also passed over Deron Williams. Wonder how things worked out for those 2 guys.
Dawg
June 25th, 2012
9:12 pm
Ferry gives the Hawks credibility that they haven’t had in decades. The 6 year contract shows that the owners may be finally getting it.
Good move owners.
crackbaby
June 25th, 2012
9:16 pm
MB – Can you back up your glowing praise of Ferry with some examples of great draft picks and scouting prowess?
I don’t see any evidence offered from his past three jobs. Did Ferry pick Delonte West for the Cavs?
You call him a basketball lifer – so was Lenny Wilkens.
all for one.....
June 25th, 2012
9:18 pm
My GM Danny, it only takes five on the court baby. Show these morons how fast someone can put a competitive champion on the court. Please for all the rest of us intelligent life forms. Please show us HOPE.
all for one.....
June 25th, 2012
9:21 pm
PS. Danny absolutely do not draft whoever the Hawks were going to draft. Whoever he is, he will be out of league in no time. Draft me, Our kind of ball players. l know you can pick 2 ballers out of the top 50 in any draft. Thank you and Welcome, My friend. Big Fan
Pete Babcock
June 25th, 2012
9:42 pm
Great hire!!! First order of business, get Josh Smith the hell out of town.
Moobs Johnson
June 25th, 2012
9:44 pm
I dropped my fried twinkie – not a fan of either Richt or Bobo. The administration supports mediocrity and will keep the two idiots until the big money dries up from lack of interest.
Glenn in Snellville
June 25th, 2012
9:55 pm
When was the last time the Hawks made it to the NBA finals? Why would you question the credentials of a man who has? I worked one summer coaching the Bullets in summer league for Danny’s Dad, Bob, who also incidentally won an NBA Championship. Great bloodline, winners.
Atlanta THRASHERS Fan
June 25th, 2012
10:23 pm
Dear Atlanta Spirit Group,
After what you did with the THRASHERS, and the hearts of hockey fans in this region, each and every one of you can burn in the Eternal Flames of Hell.
You pieces of subhuman garbage will NEVER, and The Rock means N_E_V_E_R, directly or indirectly see another dime of my money.
I will never support the Hawks again as long you pieces of excrement own or run them in any capacity.
Sincerely,
A Loyal THRASHERS Season Ticket Holder You Sandusky’d
Tree Rollins
June 25th, 2012
10:31 pm
Seems like a good move to me. I have followed this team closely for 35 years. I feel like there is some hope, but I am not going to rush out and buy any tickets. The only real contender we had was during the Nique years (86′ to ‘88). We need a real post up player and I think we need to make a big move to have a legit chance at a title. We really are a long way off from the Heat, so the organization needs to be creative. Not going to be an easy thing to do I’m afraid. But, good luck to the team.
Tree Rollins
June 25th, 2012
10:34 pm
This does not allow me to forgive the ASG however for what they did to the Thrashers. Absolutely pathetic how they handled that in a city as large as Atlanta with such a potentially large fan base.
Wink
June 25th, 2012
10:37 pm
First, he’s a Dookie!
Second, he’s a Dookie…hate all Dookies! (NCAA hang over)
That said, he is better than Mr Half Way Retired Sund!
Levenson, he’s the lawyer right…it great when you have multiple owners skilled at lying…of course he would be great in cross examination and public spin.
Now if we are to believe this hire is for real…Marvin should be gone…a Dookie get to rubber stamp the exit of a TarHeel…surly he can’t pass that up….unless…………..?
I say they are still up for sale, and buying time…really what could he or Pat Riley do with two jacked up contracts for Joe & Marvin and no one wants the players…the best player (Josh) wants out & no cash to bring in any Free Agent, and we have the 23 pick. Come on let’s get real, Charlotte has the 2nd pick and they have no clue who they will pick…so really what is the value of the 23rd pick!
What can Ferry do to change this…he just a Big Fish in a little bowl…but he is still just a Fish….waiting to be fed by who….ASG….minimum two year hunger!
Welcome to ATL…Danny Boy!
IceColdATLien
June 25th, 2012
11:12 pm
If he brings even half of what the Spurs do and makes it part of the Hawks’ organization, then it’s obviously a big win for ATLiens everywhere.
He actually has some good assets to play with (Josh, Al, Jeff, even Marvin and Joe could be useful to the right teams), so let’s see what the wunderkind can do.
Rick James
June 25th, 2012
11:23 pm
I guess job one is to convince Josh Smith to resign or trade him for someone who can replace his production..
Eb
June 25th, 2012
11:25 pm
Ferry has no idea what he’s up against with these asinine owners. He will either exit upon realizing they lie or he will sit back collecting checks while towing their line as Sund did. Bottom line is these owners have proven consistently over the last 9 years that they are cheap, not very bright, and want to be in control. This is a recipe for disaster no matter who they lure into the front office.
keepinitreal
June 25th, 2012
11:32 pm
One thing that’s been obvious is that the ASG owners are a very insecure group. They don’t take criticism very well. But sometimes insecurity can be a motivator for getting things done. My guess is these guys got tired of hearing about their do-nothing ways and decided to make a splash just to prove everyone wrong. Hey, I’ll take it.
Ferry has a very difficult job ahead of him, but for the first time in a long time, it doesn’t feel like the Hawks are stuck anymore. We’ve got a new GM with new ideas who’s not going to be married to the status quo. That’s the best news we’ve gotten in a while.
mdr
June 25th, 2012
11:35 pm
Ferry drafted Lebron, something anyone in the world could have seen was the correct move. He also worked for the Spurs, but was not GM and did not have anything to do with building that team. This could be a good hire. Staying the same was certainly not the answer, but I don’t see the reason for the unbounded optimism hinted at in this column. I will take a “wait and see approach” to this, just like I do with every move made by this core of owners.
Mark Bradley
June 25th, 2012
11:53 pm
Ferry did not draft LeBron.
chuck
June 25th, 2012
11:53 pm
Ferry needs to pick either Horford or Smith and trade the other one. We can’t play both and Horford isn’t a good option at Center and Josh is awful as a small forward. If Ferry is really a great BB mind, Smith will be the one to go. We need a center, small forward, and a backup point guard out of the trade for Josh and the draft.
CP
June 26th, 2012
12:00 am
Does Danny have Jerry Sloan’s Number?
DP
June 26th, 2012
12:03 am
I don’t have to take the Hawks seriously, and I don’t. Nor do I have to take Mark Bradley’s opinions on the state of the Hawks seriously, and given his advocacy for the max deal for Joe Johnson that hangs like a millstone around the franchise’s neck, I don’t.
Hawks fan
June 26th, 2012
12:04 am
I know its easy to crap on the hawks ownership, but in all seriousness the hawks payroll is in the top bracket of the NBA. They just didn’t use the money wisely with Joe. Hopefully this GM has better common sense to know what a player is worth paying.
Hawks fan
June 26th, 2012
12:05 am
I agree Chuck
ehawk
June 26th, 2012
12:32 am
the hawks are stuck with max jj’s obscene contract for years and can’t make any big moves, thanks to the moron owners. Ferry will not make a difference—they will suck again for years.
Jay Dubu
June 26th, 2012
12:53 am
Next move is let Rick Sund move on to his next venture. No need to have him hanging around trying to impart his thoughts that got the Hawks locked up like they are with the core contracts.
Let Ferry bring in new ideas, and execute them with the old gard moving on.
trickyrickJ
June 26th, 2012
1:51 am
Rick: Did you write trade Horford? Stick to Australian football br0!
clay
June 26th, 2012
4:20 am
I love it, especially making this move before the draft because Ferry will get who he wants and not what Sund wanted. This is a great move, but it is going to take a couple of years for him to get the exact people he wants. I’m very interested to see the moves he makes over the next couple of months.
K Conway
June 26th, 2012
6:46 am
Just sell the Hawks!
D man
June 26th, 2012
6:57 am
He won’t be able to do anything special because he won’t have the funds to do it with. The Atlanta Spirit will ask him to work miricals without any additional money for quality players. Then they will tell us that it is a “process” and we should be patient. I am skeptical, can you tell…
Jeva
June 26th, 2012
7:01 am
Great Move, it takes a winner to build a championship team. One thing Mr. Ferry, please trade Josh Smith for a smarter player who truly understands team ball, and seriously consider rebuilding this team around Al Horford. The Hawks are 3 players deep, and Smith wants to play guard, forward and any position that allows him to shoot. His ball handling skills cause a lot of their backcourt problems. Last move, please consider replacing Larry Drew just for allowing this circus of misfits.
Civil Unrest
June 26th, 2012
7:09 am
Just wait until he tries to get money from ASG. ASG = IDIOTS
BradleyisaUGAHomer
June 26th, 2012
7:45 am
the Hawks are toxic and will ruin Ferry before he can make any impact on them
Nahila
June 26th, 2012
7:53 am
The Hawks have hurt themselves thru several bad actions which include wasted 2nd round European draft choices that have never played for the Hawks, several bad # 1 draft choices, and now Joe Johnson’s outrageous salary package that hinders the retention and the recruitment of good players. In order to rebuild the team they must jettison Johnson’s contract in accordance to league rules, and that will ultimately free up money for younger players acquired thru well chosen draft choices. They must find a younger big center which would give them more options with their roster makeup.
Atticus
June 26th, 2012
7:56 am
Mark you are wrong. This is an IRRELEVANT move as long as those clowns are owners.
DePort
June 26th, 2012
8:07 am
HAHAHA Everyone on here has all these answer huh? Break the team up .. keep the team … put pieces in place.. blah blah blah
SickandTired
June 26th, 2012
8:08 am
Enter your comments hereBack and to the left, back and to the left, back and to the left. Ferry holds the key to this entire conspiracy.
Sanjeev
June 26th, 2012
8:23 am
Now if Ferry can get Mark Cuban drunk and pay JJ’s contract the Hawks will be set.
GTanner
June 26th, 2012
8:33 am
Thanks ASG. Now, get out of his way.
Veteran Fan
June 26th, 2012
8:37 am
Once again the ownership gets it backwards! You hire a gm and then you hire a coach. Did he ask if he could trade Josh? He is their favorite player for some reason! Great hire, but he was brought in to deal with Josh leaving to go to Orlando!
Andy
June 26th, 2012
9:05 am
My lingering memory of a pusillanimous Danny Ferry is of him cowering behind the Duke bench when a furious (and bad ass) Tom Hammonds came seeking his head.
BulldogBen
June 26th, 2012
9:06 am
A front office hire is supposed to make the Hawks be taken seriously? Really?
Just like the Falcons should’ve been taken seriously with Dimitroff?
How many playoff wins has THAT produced?
I’ll believe it when I see it but NEVER ask me to say anything nice about the ASG. Even if the Hawks someday win a title, they will still be the group that diminished life as an Atlanta sports fans by selling the Thrashers. BLECH.
I begrudgingly concede that this isn’t a BAD move. Remains to be seen if it’ll be good. It’s the Hawks after all.
Give Ferry What He Needs!!
June 26th, 2012
9:27 am
Hopefully Ferry can get Joe to restructure and sign Josh and keep him around the rim. And a legitamate CENTER. A true 7 footer with shot blocker abilities and rebounder. GO HAWKS! (like)
Whatever
June 26th, 2012
9:39 am
I still think it was a garbage move by the front office to renew Drew’s option before hiring a GM. How can you take THAT seriously?
md
June 26th, 2012
9:40 am
Doesn’t matter……..Ferry will be hamstrung with Joe’s contract and get next to nothing done…..look for mediocrity until Joe’s contract expires.
Moorman
June 26th, 2012
9:44 am
Lebron james left cleveland because the cavaliers slept with his moma, not because of danny ferry not surrounding him with talent…..
iBALL
June 26th, 2012
9:46 am
The damage has been done with Joe Johnson’s ill advised contract. Not much wiggle room to do anything else with this team. Danny’s hiring is a step in the right direction if he can work miracles.
Josey Wales
June 26th, 2012
9:47 am
I like this move! I will start taking the Hawks more seriously now. Until now, no way I could have any confidence that things would get better with some of the bozos running things. I hope he applies some of the same principles/team concept you see with the Spurs (very well may be the best managed team in the NBA). It won’t happen over night (a championship caliber team), but this is an important first step.
PMC
June 26th, 2012
9:47 am
Mark, the ASG has absolutely earned every bit of distrust placed upon them. They are not worthy of a shred of trust.
That they hired Danny Ferry may well mean that Levinson is a good salesman.
This city is not going to care about them until they are truely interesting. Unfortunately they have chosen to pay perhaps the least interesting player in the league over 20 million dollars a year and they have signed perhaps the least interesting forward and wasted #2 overall draft pick (Marvin Williams) to two contracts
When they make it to an Eastern Conference Finals let me know, then I’ll trust that they are actually trying to win. Until then, everything else is nonsense. Their season begins in May.
PMC
June 26th, 2012
9:48 am
This is a superstar loving city with no superstar to love.
Whatever
June 26th, 2012
9:48 am
There are ways to work around Joe’s contract. Obviously trading him would be the easiest way, but that seems like a long shot. But remember, if the Hawks save their amnesty clause they can use it on Joe in three years or so when he starts deteriorating. Trade Smoove if he wants to go, but make it a requirement for the team that acquires him to also take Marvin’s contract.
PMC
June 26th, 2012
9:50 am
The other thing, Billy Knight rebuilt the team into an incredibly average playoff team. Rick Sund maintained that standard.
What’s Danny Ferry going to do really? Again, The Eastern Conference Finals is the standard for pass or fail for this club right now, if they don’t make the ECF. They can go ahead and move to Canada.
PMC
June 26th, 2012
9:51 am
Fab Melo might be a good start.
Sid
June 26th, 2012
9:57 am
The best thing the Hawks have done in years……….no, decades!!!
Rick Z
June 26th, 2012
10:06 am
Memory fails me; who was the last executive or coaching hire by a local sports franchise or college that the AJC did not consider remarkably astute? Some have been pretty good. Some have not.
The Voice of Reason
June 26th, 2012
10:07 am
I LOVE the Ferry hire, but I STILL wish ASG would sell the team!!!
luv Josh Smith
June 26th, 2012
10:26 am
Looking from the outside in the Hawks are a remarkable collection of talent that may be only a piece or two from competing with the big boys. Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, Al Horford are All Star caliber players and capable of dominating any game with their all around talents. Teague is an up and coming star in this league who must be coached and harvested in the right way & who can become an indispensable piece to the puzzle (see Rondo). Zaza is a servicable piece, but possesses hands of stone.
It has been blogged, whispered, shouted and famously quoted in the press by the true leader of this team, Al Horford, that the Hawks need to get a first line center in here. Josh has been honing his skills to take over at the 3 (not going so good). Horford will be a beast at the 2, and Joe is a gem at either the 3 or 2 position. These guys also play a lot of point position basketball. Keep the core, pray that Josh can reach All Star status at the 3 and bring in the center we need to cement the middle. The core is an exciting group if coached to play in a way that maximize their talents.
Ryder
June 26th, 2012
10:32 am
Neva nailed it with that comment. There are three things, and only three things, that Ferry must do, Thursday’s draft notwithstanding:
1) Address the Josh Smith issue IMMEDIATELY! Championships are won in the NBA when there is a culture of winning, and Smith, while talented, does not do what it takes to win. One day that athleticism is going to go away, and then he will be a marginal player at best. His value is at its highest, so trade him to get a true power player in the post that will help this team become more fluid like Chicago or even Miami. Perhaps send him to Phoenix for Marcin Gortat and the number 13 pick in the draft to get another post player for depth.
2) Building this team around Horford is a smart move as well. With him and Joe Johnson you could develop an inside-outside combo that will take less pressure off of JJ, who is a second banana at best. If Larry Drew is unable to agree to that, send him on his way and bring in a coach who will.
3) Sign guys who can hit the 3. Pargo, Green and Vlad would also benefit from an inside-outside offense because it would put them in position to excel.
Slo Mo
June 26th, 2012
10:45 am
Why wait. blow the team up now. Tim Duncan, Genobli, or Parker is not walking thru the door. Its some B level players that dont want to play for the Hawks anyway. Blow them up now.
LetsGoThrashers
June 26th, 2012
10:52 am
An ASG-owned team hires a new GM about the time rumors of the team’s possible relocation surface. Where have we seen that before?
LOLOLOL
June 26th, 2012
10:58 am
” the Hawks must be taken seriously”
Yes, and UGA must win the National Title because Mark said so.
Mike
June 26th, 2012
11:06 am
I’m not sold on Ferry as being a great GM, but I think he’s better than what we are used to. I’m not sure if that means hes good or not. To be honest, I think his accomplishments in Cleveland are definitely skewed by Lebron James. They spent a lot of money on players around him who were known as good regular season but had limited playoff experience. They capped the team out with players like Jamison, Varejao, and Williams in addition to trying out Ben Wallace, Delonte West, Shaq in his last years…the whole time not adding one truly good playoff presence to help Lebron when he faced more loaded teams like the Celtics and Magic.
Cleveland was a poster for how a great regular season doesn’t mean your a team built for a deep playoff run. You dont get to play those down teams in between contenders in the playoffs. Its all contenders, every game, and the Cavs weren’t ever ready for it.
Mike
June 26th, 2012
11:10 am
On a side not, my point about Cleveland being a poster for how a great regular season doesnt mean a deep playoff run is ahead? That’s something CFB and the BCS powers need to realize. A regular season is never like a playoff because FCS teams and FBS bottom feeders that are always on your schedule, wont be there when the playoffs come. There are no breaks to help you through the tough games.
PromoGuy
June 26th, 2012
11:29 am
Amnesty Joe Johnson should be the FIRST think Ferry does, trade off Josh Smith, Horford, get rid of the coach, and REBUILD, just gut the team, load up on picks, and do what OKC, Chicago and other teams have done of recent. i’d rather watch a losing team for a few years and add quality young guys then watch a team that makes the playoffs and go no where, wow, win 1st round, cant get out of 2nd round. Story of the Hawks!
yeahsure
June 26th, 2012
11:35 am
Mark, what’s the hit for firing LD right after re-upping his contract?
I agree that this is a great move. Get the right people in the organization and good things will happen. The Falcons ARE a good example of getting the right people in the organization. This yeah will show what a top GM, good HC, OC and DC can do once they get together.
The hawks can follow suit by getting a real HC. But Ferry is already playing with a huge disadvantage. We may not see results until the 5th year.
Peter
June 26th, 2012
11:38 am
The players need to be serious for anything to happen.. that all starts with the way over paid hide at crunch time JJ.
hey Mark..do you think we will actually get a “Legit ” center now ? And stop using a Power Forward in the position ?
just SHOOT me
June 26th, 2012
11:43 am
I’ll take the Hawks seriously when they (ASG) want to be taken seriously. Perhaps this is the first move of many. Until they prove otherwise, I’ll support the team but don’t have real high expectations outside of maybe making it to the 2nd round of the playoffs. Other teams are only getting better (Miami, Philly, Chicago) and it’ll take a lot of work for the Hawks to not only be taken seriously by Atlanta and their fans, but the rest of the NBA.
yeahsure
June 26th, 2012
11:49 am
Ferry knows how much we are paying JJ. I can’t imagine that he would have taken this job without having some sort of idea/plan for dealing/ getting around this.
Liberalefty
June 26th, 2012
11:55 am
yeah a good GM is better than any superstar,lol.
Benjamin
June 26th, 2012
12:13 pm
Good hire. I do hope he’s ready to address the Smith situation, though – as mentioned earlier, Josh’s value is at its highest right now, and were we to move him for two quality players or a serviceable vet + a lower lotto pick, I think we’d be moving in the right direction.
I’d also make the definite decision on Drew – as mentioned in the article, he is a lame duck. I don’t think he’s a bad coach, necessarily, but to “transition” from Woodson to him was a bit silly. If we could somehow land Sloan plus bring in a high-profile assistant to work under him for a couple years for him to pass the torch along to, I’d be more than fine with that.
Sage of Bluesland
June 26th, 2012
12:14 pm
I’m not buying a bit of it from this wretched organization or ownership group (or opinion-writer who amazingly gets so much wrong).
Has anyone stopped to consider that maybe Danny Ferry isn’t all that hot of a GM prospect???
On the bright side, can he do much worse than his pitiful predecessors? (No, he cannot).
Can he do much better? Well, that will remain to be seen….but, I question his initial judgment in wanting anything to do with this group of owners.
It’s like playing with snakes….don’t be surprised when you get bitten. They are snakes–and that is what they do. Ferry has stepped into it and will need waders….and this may have been his last stop as a GM anyway.
The only–and I mean ONLY–thing he could do which I would respect is to blow this entire team up. I mean everyone, too….including the most overrated “superstar” in this town since Keith Brooking (that would be Al Horford). Become an expansion team and build it the right way, with some luck hopefully.
Everyone and everything related to this team is expendable. Build it again and you may have me. Continue tinkering with a flawed core and you’re just wasting everyone’s time….but you won’t be wasting my money, as I refuse to subsidize incompetence….
Benjamin
June 26th, 2012
12:15 pm
Liberallefty, I don’t think people are saying that, but rather praising the fact that it’s a move in the right direction, which is exactly what it is. I’d rather have a good GM than a lot of things in the NBA.
Benjamin
June 26th, 2012
12:16 pm
Sage, how exactly is Horford “overrated?”
Danny Ferry
June 26th, 2012
12:27 pm
Have a five-year plan to bring a championship to Atlanta. This team is moving in the right direction.
yeahsure
June 26th, 2012
12:32 pm
I dont agree with the fact that Horford is overrated but i also dont agree that they should build the team around him. He is good but not a solid foundation to build the team on (Dwight type player). He is another piece and I would not be against trading him if the price is right. In fact, there is not one person on this team that we NEED to keep.
Snake Doc
June 26th, 2012
12:38 pm
Bradley thinks this is a good, smart move. Well, There’s the kiss of death for ya.
Harpie
June 26th, 2012
12:51 pm
Are you kidding? Nobody need take this team seriously until they get a decent coach!
Trade 4 Tim Teabow
June 26th, 2012
1:05 pm
Who care about baseketball. I just want 2 see Tim Teabow in a Flacons uni.
Skip
June 26th, 2012
1:07 pm
Trade Smoove for Kaman, trade Marvin for draft pick, sign Mo Williams, it’s that simple
Teague, Mo Williams, Joe, Horford, Kaman
Hinrich, Green, Draft, Ivan, Zaza
Pargo, T Mac, Draft, Draft, Twin
Indydawg
June 26th, 2012
1:26 pm
Devil’s Advocate nailed it earlier….
_______________________________________________________________________
I love the hire but that has got to be the funniest headline in AJC history. These same Hawks:
1. Let key pieces of the 87-88 team walk instead of bringing them back for another run.
2. Traded Nique while only a few games out of 1st place in the East
3. Hired Lenny Wilkens
4. Signed Moses Malone and Steve Smith
___________________________________
and don’t forget passing up on CP3…. Everytime I watch that guy, I’m left to think of what could have been….
HAWKLESS
June 26th, 2012
1:47 pm
The Hawks need to trade JJ even if they have to pick up a portion of his salary. The Hawks cannot win a championship with JJ and josh.
marcus
June 26th, 2012
1:54 pm
bradley is as fickle as ferry. ferry did not build on the cleveland team during his tenure. the only thing credible about his time there, was that he did not agree with the decision to terminate brown. as gm, ferry should have insisted that lebron be a team player as oppossed to trying to coach and play. ferry’s claim to fame was that he injured a good kansas player during their loss to them in the ncaa and the fact that he did not want to play for the clippers. with the succes he had in the nba, it was obvious that he was not an nba caliber player, he was a hyped high school player and had moderate success as a collegian. the duke program and exposure enabled it to catapult his weak ass game to the nba. he shot jumpers cause he could not handle the post players of the nba.
gnomeboy
June 26th, 2012
2:00 pm
As long as ASG is still in charge, who really cares whom the Hawks hire as GM. He won’t be able to do jack! ASG is and always will be a stain oin the history of sports franchises in Atlanta.
Michael Gearon, Jr.
June 26th, 2012
3:05 pm
Bruce said he didn’t want me talking publicly anymore. I’m currently taking some time off and hanging out in Montana with the guy responsible for getting us the team. You know him as Ted Turner. You know…the guy who still has close ties to Turner Broadcasting – the company who pulled the rug out from under David McDavid and sold to us instead. Turner Broadcasting – the same company that gets free advertising by having their name on the Braves stadium.
Ah, ya gotta love Atlanta. Where the sports media is very weak and incapable of putting 2 and 2 together.
John
June 26th, 2012
3:06 pm
Trade Josh Smith for Chris Kaman!!?!?!??!?!?! This has to be some sort of joke. I am so tired of everyone on here acting like any 7 footer out there will cure all of the Hawks problems. There is a handful of good 7 footers in the NBA that play center and I don’t think the offensively challenged Fab Melo will join this group.
Hugo
June 26th, 2012
3:21 pm
I applaud the hawks for doing something, but executives dont win championships, players do. So until he brings the Hawks a CHAMPIONSHIP I will reserve my gratitude for this announcement.
HoopCheese
June 26th, 2012
3:37 pm
“The Rockets now have the 14th, 16th and 18th selections in a draft that many scouts think is one of the deeper classes in years, a load of ammunition that could help them make a play for one of the stars who could be available, including Orlando center Dwight Howard or Atlanta forward Josh Smith.”
TRADE JOSH SMITH FOR TWO OF THESE THREE DRAFT PICKS!!! LET’S START THIS RIGHT UNDER DANNY FERRY
tom
June 26th, 2012
3:57 pm
Great move. He now needs to find a quality head coach.
C from Marietta
June 26th, 2012
4:32 pm
@ Moobs Johnson
1) UGA has NEVER been a top flight program. A good/solid program YES. They won the NC in 1980 b/c they had a freak for a running back.
2) The big money donors love Coach Richt, so don’t think that will dry up anytime soon.
I think you fall into the UGA fans with WAY TO HIGH EXPECTATIONS.
Dept. of Redundancy Dept.
June 26th, 2012
4:33 pm
Liberalefty
C from Marietta
June 26th, 2012
4:34 pm
Lenny Wilkens is in the Hall of Fame. Just sayin.
Josey Wales
June 26th, 2012
4:36 pm
Does anybody watch the WNBA? Or does anybody know someone who watches the WNBA?
Sautee
June 26th, 2012
4:39 pm
“You dont get to play those down teams in between contenders in the playoffs. Its all contenders, every game, and the Cavs weren’t ever ready for it.”
WTF????
If they weren’t ready for playoff quality teams, how the f could they have won the Eastern Conference Finals in 07?
News: Lochte vs. Phelps, Part 2 set for US swim trials – Atlanta Journal Constitution | News Aggregator for you
June 26th, 2012
4:58 pm
[...] Having hired Danny Ferry, the Hawks must be taken seriously [...]
Joe 12-Pack
June 26th, 2012
5:03 pm
I know Ferry has a lot to deal with right now so I thought I’d help out his TO DO list:
1. Trade Josh Smith to the highest bidder.
2. Fire Larry Drew at any cost
3. Go get a REAL coach
Joel
June 27th, 2012
4:31 pm
Im reading these comments on skepticism of the hire, how he has nothing to work with and premature assumptions. It’s kind of ridiculous. Danny ferry has nothing to prove, to be a gm of 3 teams that made it to the finals is crazy, he’s definitely worthy of the benefit of the doubt and I can assure you that if he thinks the hawks he has now arent hungry enough, he make some moves that’ll be beneficial no matter what. And hiring drew before this move was kind of dumb but it’s nt like they gave him four years, the hawks are giving him another chance bc he’s actually done well with this team an showed his smarts when he lost al horford. The only thin I’ll give you haters is that the hawks should e been playing the heat in ECF, this year was the year to do it. But otherwise I’m confident this move will pay dividends whether it’s turning this team into a real threat or rebuilding into becoming a real threat. Danny ferry has done both.
wasmith
June 27th, 2012
4:44 pm
Ferry? Jury is out. Bruce? Don’t trust him. I got a letter from him a couple years ago telling me how he and his group were committed to keeping the Thrashers in Atlanta. Nuff said.
SEJ
June 28th, 2012
12:15 am
I saw Patrick Ewing arriving from New Jersey today in the airport. Any association to this story?
Jimmy
June 30th, 2012
12:30 am
Not sure why the Thrashers entered this thread. But some of their fans have made the point very well that Atlanta is nothing more than a wannabe major city for allowing not one but two NHL teams to fold here.