AtlHomer

Also posted on ESPN http://espn.go.com/olympics/basketball/story/_/id/11396519/gordon-hayward-damon-lillard-kyle-korver-chandler-parsons-final-us-world-cup-cuts

if John Salmons is a part of a trade to acquire either Greg Monroe or Thad Young, I think a LOT of Hawks fans will be happy.

Deng made over $14M last year. He is probably thinking this is is last chance for a big contract, given his age. Why would he consider a contact offer paying almost half of what he made? We love our Hawks however the feeling may not be mutual with the available free agents, especially if almost insulting contract offers are made.

To get a good young center for under $6M/year is a bargain. I wonder if we considered him. Being patient is tough but that is the only option we have at this time.

This is a good starting point, with the flexibility to go 3/36 if needed.

This is how business is done. Not much negotiation is done through the media but directly with those involved. Agents are probably the source of most leaks as a negotiation tactic, getting more money for their client.

A big part of Bud's offense is defense, which Deng will definitely bring. This is definitely a current area of weakness for Parson's and would put more pressure on the other players.

Good post!

Given LouWill has one year left on his contract, that could appeal to Philly. This could be a case of trading a two year, $20M commitment for a one year (depending on what Scott's negotiated salary would be).

I like the idea of acquiring Young for two players. i don"t know if the salaries will match up for the once you mentioned, especially since Scott is a restricted free agent. Young has two years left on his contract, paying salaries of 9,410,869 then 9,971,739. This fits well in DF's strategy of short contracts however I agree having someone like Young would make us more competitive. I wonder if LouWill would want to go back given he started his career there and Philly will not be playing for a championship next season. Also on your roster, I'd keep Mack as a 3rd PG over Jenkins as a 3rd SG. The SG position is more interchangeable than the PG.

I doubt you would find many to disagree with this sentiment however ZaZa has moved on. Now is the time to focus on who can fill that role for the 13-14 edition of the Hawks.

Good list and I agree with this comment. I would speculate that Dalembert may be looking for a larger payday or a situation with a team that will be competing for the championship.

OH well, looks like we can strike Kaman off the list. According to ESPN, he has reached an agreement with the Lakers for an undisclosed price. Read about it at: http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/9460382/chris-kaman-los-angeles-lakers-agree-one-year-deal-sources-say The options for centers is getting smaller. Did someone suggest Sam Dalembert?

This article from the Laker Nation site suggests there may be interest by the Lakers in Kaman though they would be financially restricted. Hawks are mentioned as a possible landing place however I interpreted it as speculation rather than knowledgeable insight. Read for yourself at: http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-mutual-interest-between-lakers-chris-kaman/2013/07/07/comment-page-1/

This is no different than any other story throwing names around to different teams with cap space. It's all speculation, which is fine when its just for exploring scenarios. It's an interesting story but not exactly new information. I would like a 1 or 2 year deal for Bynum. If he is injured then that helps our draft stock. No problem. If healthy he's a beast. Works for me. Why do you think Bynum would accept a 1 or 2 year deal?

For those that want Bynum on a short term contract, you also must ask if he would accept it. I don't believe he will. I am sure there is some team willing to gamble and offer him a 4 year, high dollar contract. I would probably include escape clauses in case of injury.

Hopefully DFerry is keeping quiet about possible negotiations with Kaman. I believe he can still provide a consistent low post scoring presence. I also believe he has something to prove.

Very interesting assessment. It has a LOT of truth in it. I do wonder if fans in other cities react the same way to the hometown players as they do in ATL, especially those that do not have a superstar.

If you look at his career stats, you will see he has done pretty well, especially when he was with the Clippers. He had some injury issues which has resulted in him playing less than 50 games for two seasons a while back though he did play 66 games for Dallas this past year. Some of you might remember talk of trading JSmith for him several years ago. He has consistently averaged in double figures in scoring while doing a decent job on the boards. He's a UFA also. Given the model of signing players to short term contracts DFerry seems to want, Kaman may take a 2 year/$18 million (he made $8 Million last year) contract. If healthy, I think he is good for 28-34 minutes a game consistently. He's only 31 years old also. Any thoughts or better suggestions? I'd only consider Bynum for a contract that protects the Hawks in case of injuries.

I agree that Kaman is worth considering, especially if the price is right. There was talk the Hawks had some interest in him a few years ago. He has averaged over double digits in points since 2005 and with the exception of this past season has averaged 7+ rebounds per game. He is a UFA now with Dallas and probably will not be signed by them. He is 31 years old and has had injuries in the past. I think he can make contributions and possible play 70+ games per year. If the Hawks fail with either Howard or Bynum, Kaman could be a good center if he is willing to accept a 3 year contract. I also like the idea of Corey Brewer as a swing man.

My kids screamed every time Josh got the ball in the 4th quarter. One commented that Josh wants to 'be the man' yet doesn't have the outside shot to do so. it seems the team forgot what got them the big lead in the first place. My wife even wondered why the team settled for jump shots instead of driving to the basket, as the Pistons were doing.

Jamal who??? Great game by T-Mac tonight. He brings much more than just scoring when he is on the floor.

Isn't the question also why is Josh positioned on the far side perimeter when the shot clock is winding down? Marvin would be a much better option for the kick out pass with Josh closer to the basket.

I know this is early but I believe we have a 2nd unit that can be counted on. The first team will probably be able to play less minutes and remain fresh throughout the season. Having a strong 2nd team is important with the compressed schedule this year. Like most, I liked the offense that Jamal Crawford brought but can't ignore the 'matador' defense he played. We can count on McGrady and Radmanovic to easily replace Jamal's offense while playing better team defense. Go Hawks!!!

If memory serves me right, the Hawks also gave up a first round pick in the deal. Late in the round but a first round pick nonetheless...