koncak

What about taking a flyer on Livingston. If he can come back from the knee he's a real PG and would allow Law to move to the SG position. He's probably not going to draw a lot of fire on the FA market.

Thanks for the relevant section of the CBA it is very helpful.

Realistically, when is the earliest point that the Hawks seriously enterian writing off Speedys contract? Does the player have the ability to block a designation that might allow the Hawks to find some cap relief. Any information people might have on the process would be of interest (rather than rants about how he was a poor signing). Thanks!

I'd be interested in people's thoughts on Jose Calderon as a PG addition to the squad. He has done a fine job in Toronto recently. It seems unlikely they'll resign in after 08 (TJ Ford's presence).

Is there any time frame on a decision from the Maryland Appeals Court? If the Spirit group wins do they have a new partner lined up to take Belkin's place? If Belkin win's will he replace the management team with the old guard from Boston (Volk, etc . . .)?

INSIDE THE NBA Looking at a new-look East By SEKOU SMITH The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 08/05/07 The folks at Extreme Team Makeover NBA Edition have been extremely busy this summer, particularly in the Eastern Conference. More than half of the East's 15 teams have either added or lost key players. One team (Boston) has undergone the most extreme of makeovers, adding Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett since draft night, in an attempt to wake up the echoes in Beantown. So where does that leave the hometown Hawks, who have added only draft picks Al Horford and Acie Law IV, in their pursuit for what will be one of those highly contested eight playoff spots in the suddenly wide-open "junior varsity" East? "I don't think you can call us the JV, not at all," Hawks coach Mike Woodson said when asked what he thought of the seismic roster changes of this summer. "Anytime guys like Shaq, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Gilbert Arenas, Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups and Ray Allen call a conference home, all that weak sister stuff needs to stop. "The Eastern Conference is going to be a bear this year. It's going to be tough on every team, on every coach and on every roster to compete at a high level and be ready to get dirty every night if they want one of those playoff spots. So sure, we'll have our work cut out for us. But we're not backing down from any challenges. We're going to be ready." A quick look at the 10 teams that shook things up the most and the least this offseason: • Boston: The Celtics had to give up a load of talented youngsters (Al Jefferson, Gerald Green and Jeff Green) in addition to two draft picks to assemble an instant contender with Garnett, Allen and Paul Pierce. But anyone complaining about a team that junks its rebuilding project for an All-Star trio like this needs to remember that there is no tomorrow when you're chasing a title. Sure, this is a huge, huge gamble by Danny Ainge and Co. But if it works the reward could be a trip to the conference finals. • New York: An argument can be made that the Knicks, and not the Celtics, brought in the best power forward from the Western Conference this summer. Zach Randolph is that good, his off-court baggage notwithstanding. Randolph and Eddy Curry form potentially the league's best low-post tandem. There's still a question as to whether Randolph or any other All-Star caliber player can co-exist alongside Stephon Marbury — that's a resounding NO thus far. • Orlando: So you think the Magic overpaid for Rashard Lewis? Of course they did, at $110 million. But at least the Magic got a guy that can actually play. Coupled with All-Star star center Dwight Howard (a Southwest Atlanta Christian graduate), who last month signed a monster contract extension himself, and a new coach (Stan Van Gundy), another first-round playoff exit simply won't be acceptable. Grant Hill did bolt for Phoenix, though, leaving a leadership void in the locker room. • Charlotte: Trading for Jason Richardson isn't necessarily adding the championship piece for a team like the Bobcats. For a team in desperate need of an elite wing scorer (sorry, Adam Morrison), adding an explosive talent like Richardson was a no-brainer on draft night, when the Bobcats drafted Brandan Wright and then sent him to Golden State. And keeping Gerald Wallace in the fold is better than fishing for a risky, high-dollar free agent on the open market. • Indiana: Roster moves didn't land the Pacers on this list. It was the firing of coach Rick Carlisle (probably a year too late) and the hiring of Jim O'Brien (who'll face the same obstacles — mismatched pieces, unhappy star, etc. — as his predecessor) that could change the fate of this 2006 playoff spectator. This team still goes only as far as Jermaine O'Neal can carry it, which isn't very far without a bona fide No. 2 option. • Cleveland: Salary cap concerns didn't allow the Cavaliers to play around this summer. But when you're coming off a trip to the NBA Finals, why tinker just for the sake of tinkering? If they can't reproduce their playoff run this year, now that the conference appears crowded at the top, King James might wish they'd made that oft-rumored move for Mike Bibby. • Detroit: Keeping Chauncey Billups in a Pistons uniform was the team's main offseason priority. Mission accomplished. Joe Dumars also mined two sure contributors (Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo) out of the June draft. Amir Johnson's supposedly ready for prime time, and Jason Maxiell has already shown as much. They're getting older but still the class of the East. • Miami: If Shaq and Alonzo Mourning have another run left (and that's a major if), you can bet a healthy Dwyane Wade would love the help as he tries to make up for his injury-plagued season from a year ago. Still, the Heat needs an infusion of energy from somewhere, and Smush Parker just doesn't seem like the answer. • Atlanta: After hitting a home run on draft night with Horford and Law, the Hawks stayed out of the free agent fray. They have valuable assets (youngsters with low salaries and veterans with expiring contracts) but remained silent observers. They might not be done tweaking the roster just yet. But if they are, is this really a playoff team? • New Jersey: The Nets paid Vince Carter a king's ransom to stick around and resisted the urge to move either Kidd or Richard Jefferson. Now if Nenad Krstic returns from knee surgery, the Nets expect to be in the thick of the playoff chase. As was obvious during the 2007 playoffs, though, the Nets are still missing something (perhaps Kenyon Martin, circa 2004?).

No Problem. Hopefully, your optmism will be rewarded in 07-08.

I guess we have a difference on whether one should look at the opinions of people without a vested interest. Personally, I agree with the comment that the difference between 8-13 is marginal at best. His comments on Law and Horford are more troubling than the ranking. If I were to slot the Hawks today I'd suggest #11 (ahead of Bucks and Bobcast). One can be a "fan" and circulate ideas that are controversial. For me, that's the difference between a fan and an apologist.

13. HAWKS: So much for their fans' hopes of making a big splash this summer. Al Horford and Acie Law are decent prospects, but neither is likely to come in and make a big impact right away. It means another season of slow growth for Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Marvin Williams.

Speedy Joe Marvin Josh Smith Zaza Other thoughts?

At the end of todays Marty Burns article on SI he has the Vegas odds for winning the 07-08 NBA title. Atlanta and Memphis are the longest shots at 1-150. A sobering thought.

Should the Hawks think about acquiring Maggette? He can score and would give the Hawks a 3rd option. Advantages: Veteran Scorer 1 Yr @ $7M Disadvantages: Injury prone Weak defensive player Potential one year rental The Hawks would have to give up Childress and an expiring contract to make it work. The Clippers might be interested because it allows them to shed a high contract player (which increases their chances of resigning Brand)and they acquire a fine role player in Childress.

After listening to BK yesterday, my reading of the tea leaves is that he still has Speedy projected in the point guard slot (he talked about Speedy doing everything asked of him to get healthy). If so, he'll draft a PG at #11 and allow that player to mature over the course of 2-3 years. He does need the player(s) we acquire by using the #3 pick to play serious minutes in 07-08.

Blair Rasmussen's contract

The video looks good. My concerns are: Does he pass? Can he get out on the break?