cowa

Don't see anything like this happening for the Hawks, strictly from a financial standpoint. You're replacing $8.5M in 08 salary (with an open slot from Wright expiring) to taking on $7.0M in 08 salary from Noah and Damon, as well as Gordon wanting another $10M minimum. With the probable team salary between $60M next year (includes resigning both Joshes, with roster fill at minimums), you can't realistically propose taking on an additional $8M in salary. Reading the latest on Damon, sounds like he's about to be bought out of his contract anyway, so this would fall apart the minute it happens. I feel their are deals to be made out there, but we shouldn't be going after restricted FAs that are looking at big increases for next year unless we are dumping the same (Smith, which I am not advocating).

I agree these are the teams looking to dump, but they aren't looking for expirings, they are looking for young guys, which we probably aren't willing to move. Of this list of players, the only ones that interest me (and are financially feasible) are Gasol & Cassell. Although (and I may get beaten up on this) I would love to go after Artest.

For PG, you have to include Jack. He has a VERY reasonable contract, and he's expendable. Blake isn't going to be traded, as far as I'm aware (he LOVES Portland, and took a lesser deal to go back there in the off-season). Williams makes too much for too many years (blocking Law), and Udrih isn't who Sacremento is trying to move, it's Bibby who is probably available. Farmar isn't available either, unless you're willing to take Kwame and others. He doesn't cost anything, so why would they want to trade him for our crap? For 3 point shooters, I think we should be looking at Rasual Butler, who NO wants to move for a PG. GS also makes sense for Pietrus. I would love McCants, but just not seeing a fit with Minnesota unless we take back salary, which ASG won't do. For bigs, most of the guys you mention aren't available. Haywood has no real replacement, as Blatche isn't going to start at C right now. And Blatche isn't available under any circumstances. Miller is too expensive. So is Dalembert. Okafur would cost too much, and won't be moved unless he asks for a trade to a team willing to pay a max salary for his next contract (which I don't think Charlotte will do). Gasol is still a possibility. Foster has no offensive game, and makes too much money not to be multi-faceted. Przybilla is still starting for Portland, and they won't want to move him until Oden comes back, as he LOVES Portland as well. ASG isn't going to be making many moves before the deadline, so what you see is basically what you get, unless something gets done for Gasol, which I still think is doubtful (he's been playing much better over the past month).

Gadzuric has one of the worst contracts in the league. His contract goes out 3 more years after this one, averaging about $6.7M per year. There's no way we pony up that kind of money for a back-up, not with the extensions needed for the Joshes. Mo Williams is to much money for too many years. Not happening either. One trade I would love BK to explore with Milwaukee is Villanueva and Voshkul for Zaza & Jones. Voshkul has an expiring contract, and Villanueva is a luxury with Yi. We'd probably have to add a 2nd Round pick, but it's something to explore.

Unfortunately, we have a full roster of 15 players. To pick up Mbenga or anyone else, we have to cut someone (or make an unbalanced trade). D-League guys count on your roster totals. And I don't see us cutting any of West, Salim or Solomon, so we probably won't be active on picking up other teams cuts.

They'd only shop him if they got another starting PG (Miller) in another deal. Arroyo is starting for them now, not Nelson. I don't think they will know what they want untilafter they pick up a new starting PG.

Here are some reasons: 1) DS is 34 and JJ is 24 2) DS will cost $4.35 this year and $4.65 next, while JJ is at $1.2 this year and $2.0 next, with an RF the following year. 3) DS is 5'10", JJ is 6'3" Also, assuming this isn't a package deal including Gasol, what would you give up for DS, who is not expiring, knowing the ASG and how cheap they are? ASG is not going to give up an expiring to get him. Memphis has said at this point they are not going to negotiate a buy-out. Even if they did, why would he elect to come to ATL when he would probably rather go to a contender (Boston?)? Don't see this one happening. And that's a good thing from a financial standpoint IMO.

Easy there. Jack would make a lot of sense for the Hawks short term, and even more sense long term. More and more teams are going to a two PGs sharing time, similar to what we're doing now with AJ and Law. AJ and Lue will be gone after this year, and to secure a player like Jack who will be cheap, likes the ATL, and would complement Law well would be a great move. Now, Jack for Chills straight up doesn't work cap wise anyway, so you'd have to assume there would be more parts involved (like getting Jones, or maybe adding other pieces as well). Just don't kill the idea because it would leave us without a backup to Marvin and JJ, as the trade would have to include other pieces. Watching Outlaw play last night was impressive, and his salary matches Zaza's (they need rebounding, whether it's offensive or defensive). Maybe there is a match out there with Portland after all.

Nah, he's not hatin' on Marvin on this one. Rudy does play the exact same position, so it really wouldn't make sense. They also have Warrick as a back-up, so Marvin woudl just be overkill when they have so many other glaring holes. Also, Sekou was very clear that Speedy isn't considering retiring, that in all likelihood would have the microfracture surgery and see where it got him, including sitting out all of next year if that's what it takes. Not what I wanted to read, but very clearly written.

The best deal I could come up with that might suit both teams is Jack, Frye and either Outlaw or Webster for Chills and Sheldon. Both Outlaw and Webster are playing great these days, so I'm not sure they would move either of them, plus they are in the luxury tax for both this year and next, so adding Chills to get his bird rights would just add further into the luxury tax equation. Of course, their owner is Paul Allen, who practically prints money, so maybe that's nto as big an issue to Portland. Basically, Frye for Sheldon makes sense straight up. Frye is 3rd string right now for them behind Aldridge and LaFrenz, so he is expendable. Jack is in no mans land right now, as everybody (including Outlaw and Webster) at his playable positions (PG & SG) are playing well (Roy, Balke and Sergio). James Jones is playing great too, but I'm not sure he has close to the same value as Webster or Outlaw. The other option is to take on additional salary (which the whole ownership court ruling thing blocks) in the form of Darius Miles or Raef LaFrenz, neither of which are appealing. Would anyone give up Speedy for Miles to make the trade work, knowing that Miles could be a cancer to the team if he was able to play again (which he is saying will happen in early 2008)? Speedy & Sheldon (and possibly Salim) for Miles, Frye and Jack? The SG I would really target would be Giracek in Utah. He is unhappy, and he can shoot. Alot. He is very much like Salim, except taller, and Management wouldn't ever try to make him a PG like they've tried with Salim. This is where you could move a PG for a SG (Lue for Giracek). would seem to make sense for both teams.

I don't think it is a career ending injury eithther. Why would he even be showing up at games (in a suit) if his career is over? There just isn't a time table set for his injury. He probably is out for this year, but that's just a guess.

Calderon is playing great in Ford's absense, which is exactly why Toronto won't let him go until posibly the trade deadline, and even that is unlikely. We need to go after Calderon in Free Agency this summer. If we can get Miller now, we should do it. The salary cap stuff next year is only an issue at the END of the year, not when we are trying to sing the Josh's. Miller would be an expiring contract who provides veteran leadership, and player's like that can be easily moved to contenders. Miller should have no impact on signing our players in the offseason. We should make the move if available. Sheldon isn't getting any burn due to Horford, and his value will in all likelihood just go down over time due to lack of minutes.

Regarding the PG options (in no particular order): 1) Starbury - I still think he could come here and really help guide Law. He'd be able to live at home and commute to games, and he wouldn't have the NY media all over him. He will want something like $3-5M per season, even after the buy-out. Another trade would likely need to happen (or a buy-out of our own, which I don't think would happen). 2) Andre Miller - I really like Miller, but he is having an AWFUL year so far. He's not playing near the level to justify the $9.3M he's getting paid, and the $10.0M he gets next year. But I still don't feel they will take only expiring contracts in return. We'd need to add a PF for them to move on a deal. 3) Watson/Ridnour/West - I would LOVE to get hold of West, but I dobt it would happen. Watson has been moved to #3 on the depth chart for them. He is a good solid defender, but can't generate offense the way we would need. I would want more than just Watson in a deal with Seattle (Petro/Sene/Swift). I don't think they will move Ridnour, or would ask too much. Lastly, I'm thinking more and more about the possibility of Dalembert instead of Miller. Not a great contract, but he has really been playing well as of late, and would give us SO MANY more options when it comes to Smoove next summer. Sheldon, Lue and Wright would do it.

Excluding Horford (who should be the last player traded), teh answer at this point should be Jsmoove, since his contract is so cheap and we can't get even value back at this point for him. The last person we should trade has little to do with their current performance compared to others on the team; it should be whether we could get equal or greater value based on their contract. No trading Jsmoove until next summer (if at all). After him, Marvin is next.

Not sure about back-dating the proposed date to the last game he played. The only reason I say this is because it's his other knee now that hurts. I realize it was the last game he played (I don't think pre-season games would count), but if the doctor had cleared him to play as of a certain date, I would think that would wipe out that scenario, and would start tracking from when he got hurt this latest time. But I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express, so I really am just guessing.

It's only blacked out on League Pass when a local station (like SportSouth) is broadcasting the game. In this instance, I would think League Pass would be showing the game.

I know you put that "just for grins", but that trade wouldn't ever happen, as they already have Crit as a PG project. They don't want Acie. Now, a JJ, Marvin, Sheldon, Lue and Wright for Kobe and Kwame might make more sense. The Hawks would have Al, JSmoove, Chills, Kobe and Acie, with Zaza, Salim and AJ to back them up. Not a lot of depth, but that's what you lose to get a superstar. Lakers would then have Bynum/Mihm, Odom/Turiaf/Sheldon, Marvin/Walton, JJ/Vujacic, and Fisher/Farmar/Crit. The Lakers would be a hell of a deep team, and still very young. But it won't happen.

IMO, I think he will look for something in the $10M starting range. But here's a thought. Just read Thorpe's chat, and says there is trouble in Phoenix with Amare's attitude. Now, the last thing we need is to bring a primadonna (with possibly bad knees) onto our roster, but let's just play along for a minute. Let's say Amare doesn't get along with the rest of the club and they make a 1st round exit in the playoffs. If they decided to make a roster change around Amare, we could offer them Smith and Zaza, and get back Amare and Banks (who they would want to move as well). With Phoenix giving us $18.9M in salaries, we would need to sign Josh to an $11.2M salary, which seems plausible. The odds of something like this happening are ridiculously small, but the point is that Smith will sign for whatever somebody is willing to offer. And when it comes to S&T deals, the max is the limit.

I TOTALLY agree with you on Calderon. But why would Toronto trade him? Toronto's mindset is pushing for a high seed in the playoffs, so why would they get rid of their backup PG who they highly value? Plus, Calderon is on a one year contract, so you might only be renting him for the rest of the year. If you make a play for Calderon this season, you better be looking for a long term player, not a rental. Miller, on the other hand, has a two year deal at a MUCH higher salary, which is why Philly would be amenable to moving him for a piece of the puzzle (Sheldon) and some cap space in the off season. And I think Miller would LOVE a chance to be on an up and coming team with a decent shot at the playoffs. He's still going to get his $9.3M this year and $10.0 next wherever he plays. He establishes his market value this year and next with a playoff contender, and then either re-ups with us or leaves as a UFA (if Law turns out to be capable of leading the Hawks). I'm hoping, just like everyone on this blog, that Law becomes our long term starter due to ability, not default. But I think he could still get his 15-20 minutes a night while a player like Miller shows him the ropes.

Philly won't take just expiring contracts back. What they want is a PF, which we just happen to be loaded at. Swap out AJ for Sheldon, and they might give a 2nd round pick back on top of Miller.

Guys, they both played great - for a half each. Neither palyed poorly in the other half. Diesel, the problem with pushing Chills to start at this point is that Marvin has played great all three games. Chills stucnk it up the first two games. Wait until he strings together a couple of good games before the "Chills for starting SF" campaign begins!

While I agree that Salim can't play worse than Lue, that is hardly a ringing endorsement. The problem with Salim is that he just doesn't have the handle to be a PG. That being said, you can't put him and Lue on the floor together at the same time due to height/defensive concerns. And you don't want to put Salim with Law either at this point. So how does Salim get in the game? Yeah, he could have played the last couple fo minutes in the third quarter with the rest of the second unit, but that's about it. Salim needs AJ back so he can see some court time, and that may be tonight. But let's face it, Salim isn't going to get any run while we have smurfs running the point (and that includes Speedy if he ever gets back).

It's sad, but I can't remember even one assist by Lue. he was absolutely brutal tonight. Every play down the court for NJ when he was in went something like this: Kidd brings the ball down, Lue gets caught in a pick, and then just stands there looking for someone to guard as the play passes him by. It's just so frustrating how Woody just leaves him in there! Especially during the end of the third quarter! They couldn't score with him on O, and Kidd just owned him on D. If AJ comes back and plays half as good as he can, he should relegate Lue back to the bench. Hopefully.

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To get Andre Miller, the deal would probably be Andre Miller, Shavlik Randolph and a 2nd Round 09 pick for Sheldon and two out of Lo Wright, Ty Lue and AJ. No one is going to take Speedy's contract right now unless the Hawks take back a worse one. Philly wants to dump salary for next summer, when Webber's contract comes off the books. They know they aren't going anywhere this year or next (Miller is signed through next season), so they want to deal him. They also want to deal Dalembert, which would be essentially the same deal. Dalembert is signed for 4 more years at $10+M per season. So my question is, if the hawks were going to trade with Philly, who would you rather have? Miller or Dalembert? A steady PG to tutor Law until Law is ready to fully take over the position, or a defensive center to allow Horford to play PF and give us options with Josh Smith next summer?