HawkItus

Nothing is official yet as far as I know. Could Davis look at the loss of Brand and take a one year deal with LA and go for a title?

Quote: Quote: You didn't answer my question, D. What's Horford doing this summer? To answer your question, there needs to be some reason for the relevance? Horford is probably finishing his degree because he's proven himself in his rookie year. Marvin is in his third year. Has yet to live up to the hype. Has yet to improve any part of his game. Is making plenty of money and is going into his first free agent year. To have Acie realize that he didn't live up to his name and to be on the court busting his a00 makes his coach smile. Marvin for 3 years now have been guilty of the same things. Last year, it came to light that he needed an assistant to tell him that maybe he ought to come in and work out. So to answer your question... It doesn't really matter what Horf is doing this summer. He could be laid up with a girl on one hand and a corona in the other. We have had much success with "the Godfather" contributing and being robbed of ROY. What about Marvin? (Who wasn't even asked to participate in the Rookie-Sophomore game either year) Whoa, now Marvin has improved, not nearly enough, but he has improved. Let's not let personal bias cloud reality. And Josh Smith nor Josh Childress were asked to be part of the rookie-sophomore games. Marvin unlike Smith plays with in himself, doesn't make a ton of turnovers and only does what he is asked to do without all pouting. Lay off the man.

when you shoot yourself in the foot. Match Smoove and trade Bibby? Not so fast my friends. Acie Law has yet to prove he can stay healthy or lead a team. Speedy Claxton has to suit up for practice multiple times and we have no idea how he fits with this team as constructed. But, you want to trade Bibby before we know exactly what we have? This would be a self inflicted wound that we can nary afford. Yes Mr. Bibby has his flaws, but so does every other guy on our roster. What we can attest to however, is that with Bibby our offense was notably better. Our star player found himself with fewer and fewer double teams. And even with an unhealthy hand and heel Bibby did lead us to the playoffs. Let's say we trade him, he comes back healthy next season and gives GS or whoever 15 and 7. What deal could we possibly make to balance what we've lost? And don't say he can't or won't do it. I'd put money on him accomplishing that before Speedy or Acie every day of the week. This isn't the time to make a possibly stupid mistake like trading our best bargaining chip and our most accomplished player. Give it a chance, because if it doesn't work out, he'll be worth far more this winter.

So let me get this right, you guys think this team as it stands can compete for a championship? Because that is what your saying if you want Smoove back at any cost. This 37 win squad will be what we have for the future to come. Yes Horford will get better, and yes Smith will get better. Bibby will definitely move on and Acie will become our starter, but JJ, Horford, and Acie will all be coming up when Bibby comes off the books. If thats what you guys feel, we agree to disagree. I don't think this team with or without Smith is capable of winning a title. I also think we could win just as many games with a lineup of that has Horford, Williams, Childress, JJ, and Bibby playing the bulk of the minutes. Maybe I'm wrong, and I hope we don't find out.

So if the Hawks decide they don't want to overpay for a player the ownership group is broke? wow. I mean the owners payed for JJ. They took on Bibby's salary. They spent on Speedy. Unfortunately BK put them in a bind with this JS issue. The speedy mistake, the drafting redundancy, it's all haunting us now. I heard a guy from the Sporting News put it best, if we had Paul he would be under a rookie contract still, we wouldn't have Speedy or Bibby on the books, and re-upping both Joshes would be a simple affair. Mistakes were made, and now we are facing the chance of losing Smoove to a ridiculous offer. But, giving Smith a contract that binds us from becoming anything more than a "good" to "average" team is not the answer.

Quote: I am a big Smith fan but he just isn't worth that. If it was my decision i just couldn't match that offer. see this is my point......if they sign him to this type of deal what can we do?.......let's say GS offers him that......what salaries that we want would match up for the trade?

Quote: The Nets haven't returned to the finals since the summer they let Kenyon go. Kenyon maybe a nut case in Denver, but he and Kidd had chemestry. Its not that Smith is a complete player today, but what he will be at 25-30. On top of that, by not resigning Smith the ASG is putting its collective foot in its collective mouth again. All the proclomations from Gearon et al are borderline worthless right now. Think about what the Hawks fan will think after the ASG let Smith walk for NOTHING. An SnT is only slightly better, but if we get back Dally and a couple of picks, we have gained nothing and lost a lot. Then there is the reaction on the team. No one on the team will believe anything coming out of the FO. That is a bad place to be in any company. Management and employees have to be on the same table to be successful. The further away each side gets, the less productive the entire organization. Signing Smith to an extension is a critical borameter of the health of the franchise. Letting him go is a significant sign that the ASG is without a clue or broke or both. Here's the thing, Billy played a bad hand. I'm assuming he told ASG to stand pat with the 45 million offer and that no one would go above 50 million in the summer. He was wrong. I still say if you can get Josh at 10 or 10.5 a year do it. But, I wouldn't pay him 12 mill a year. Fans be damned. Fans will root for a good product. I remember when the Patriots(I know different sport) started letting free agent players walk. The fans thought it was crazy. They aren't complaining now. Sometimes you have to admit you played a bad hand. Except your loss and move on. Throwing money in to salvage a loss is never good business. I'd take the PR hit if it meant that we could field a better team in the very near future.

Let's say the Sixers go loopy and offer something the Hawks are unwilling to match. We lose Smoove. Boo hoo.....I'm still a Hawks fan, dyed and dried......100%. I suggest we take the lesson to heart and sign Chills. Move Horford to PF and lock him up after next year. Take the savings and sign a Kwame or Randolph with an eye on holding the money for resigning JJ and making our own power play next off season. But, this Smoove issue will not make or break this team. I think we have allowed circumstances to cloud our view and Sund being an outsider is more likely to see the reality. Smooth is not a championship player in his current state. For all his ability and skill, if you put him on a bad team they will continue to be bad. He isn't Kevin Garnett or Dwight Howard, Chris Paurl, or Lebron. He can't lead a team by himself. At some point by giving him an outrageous contract you would be saying that he is that type of player. I like'n him to Kenyon Martin. The Nets lost Kenyon do to a stupid choice to let him reach free agency. But, it didn't destroy the franchise, and Denver never got their money's worth.

what's the big deal about balancing the roster......I think the idea is to find mismatches and exploit them. Horford- matches up with everybody in our conference except dwight howard. Smith- Besides Garnett and Bosh, he eats almost every other PF's lunch in the east Marv- Okay I admit, we get nothing here ha ha. JJ- Can hang with pretty much any SG in the east, can physically abuse 75% of them in the post Bibby- again no real gain here. to me the issue is that we don't have players who can exploit in the 3 and 1 spot. To me if we let anyone go its Bibby and Marvin when their contracts are up. Sign and trade whatever. Don't take your pluses and turn them into possible negatives Biedrins- Average center at best. Still gets eat'n by Dwight. Doesn't have a significant edge over anybody else. Horford- Good power forward, but Garnett, Bosh, Beasley, Smith if he goes to Philly, give him trouble Marvin- moving on JJ- Still a beast, but he has to carry more of an offensive load again Bibby- _________

so I mean this really would give the ASG a good launch point....... -credit smith for being younger -discredit him for not being an all-star yet -home grown talent so you know he fits your system to me the logical would be 10-10.5 million a year.

Quote: Can you remember a situation in the NBA when a coach came into the last month of his contract without being fired or having an extension?Sam Mitchell most recently. But I don't see your point. Who's fault is it Woodson made it to his last year without being fired or extended? Not Woodson's he didn't say let's see what happens my final year. It was ASG who wouldn't let BK fire him and who didn't extend him until recently.

What I'm hoping is that Sund and Woodson communicate better. Woodson doesn't play young guys. So hopefully Sund can parlay some assets into a veteran bench that Woody will have confidence in. What good is a young project if the coach won't let him play. Go get the team he needs to be successful. That's really where I fault BK in all of this. You hired the guy and drafted/signed players that didn't fit his system or coaching style. That's like hiring a French chef and giving him Tex Mex ingredients for dinner every night.

Quote: Quote: This crowd doesn't care that Woody is STILL under contract. Sund should have been out there conducting interviews as soon as he got the job. Who cares about decorum. Fire that bastard!Avery Johnson is still under contract. Should Dallas not have interviewed other coaches for the next 2 years? I think most people are advocating the ASG should have fired Woodson and opened a search for the next coach.I haven't heard the groundswell of support from players or league insiders but you can fill me in. All I remember is JJ supporting Woodson and Detroit seeking a nominal interview with him while he was still under contract with Atlanta and as Curry seemed to already have the Pistons' job lined up.see that's fine. If you wanted Woody fired understandable. But, I've seen post saying Sund didn't even interview other candidates to see if Woody was the best. My point is of course he didn't. He had two choices 1)Retain Woody or 2)Fire Woody and then find the best candidate. These people want option 3) Let's hold interviews and if Woody is the best then he can come back. Ha ha.

Quote: the positition was not filled.His contract was over.No his contract is not over yet......and regardless....name me one instance where a company interviews for a contracted position before releasing the current employee?.....it doesn't happen....you can't interview people and then come back to Woody while he is under contract....and if you wait until after he is under contract do you think he's going to take a 2 year deal when you possibly get turned down by everyone else? wow. You guys are living in la la land.

How do you interview someone when you have the position filled? I keep seeing this and I'm floored as to where you guys work where they interview for occupied positions? I've worked for Manufacturers, Government Agencies, and Law Firms. I have never seen a position interviewed for when the incumbents contract is up for renewal. And if a company did this the person in that job would have surely walked. Are you guys crazy? That would be the ultimate slap in the face.

Honestly, as a Hawks fan I'm realistic. If I was a good coach would I come here? No. If I'm Flip or Avery coming from the rosters they just oversaw, I'm looking at the Hawks with no pick this year and thinking, I can't do better than what I just did with this roster. And what I just did got me fired. I'd wait until maybe Portland is looking for a coach or Orlando etc. I'm not risking my career on this team with this ownership. If I'm an up and coming assistant I pass on this job. That leaves us with a mediocre retread or an unknown 1st timer. In that scenario I'm okay with giving the Devil I know a little more time.

actually, considering what Pheonix and Chicago.....two better situations came up with......I'm almost of the opinion this was the right move. We know this team can overcome Woodson's flaws and be successful. So 2 years to see if he and Sund are a better mix makes sense. Also, don't rule out a strong experienced asst. coach being brought in to "help" Woodson.

per AJC.com

how about..... Acie Bibby JJ JS AH Let Bibby play the 2 spot on offense...on D let Acie defend the 2 guard.....real simple.

Did he even show up at the office today? haha. I imagine him calling in..... receptionist: Good morning Atlanta Spirit Group BK: Hi Michelle? This is Billy I won't be in today. receptionist: Hi Billy are you ill? BK: I might be. I might not be. I wouldn't tell you if I were sick. Not saying that I am. receptionist: Okay Billy. Have a good day. haha. no, but seriously is he pretty much done or is he going to have a few more meetings with Sund etc. between now and tomorrow.

Quote: Quote: so because a fan can be logical.....not make irrational assumptions due to yellow journalism....and actually roots for the organization....he's a company man?......good for KB I see you only have 2 post here. Let me explain. KB has a history of Going with everything that those in charge wants to do. He's an appeaser if you will. He was for trading of Dominique. He was for trading of Motumbo. He was for trading for JR Rider and JJ. He was for drafting Bogut in a major way. Then when it was found out that we were going with Marvin, he was for drafting Marvin and all the sudden no longer like Bogut. He was for drafting Foye (I believe) and when it became common knowledge that we were drafting Shelden, he was for Shelden. Moreover, he's not honest. If he tells me it's Thursday, I'm reaching for my calendar. He was supposedly at the Perkins vs. Jefferson showdown in MS... however, it was later revealed that he wasn't. So now that he's on board with Sund... It's just more of the same. I'm sure if I had the time, I could go back in history and see where he has slammed some of the Sonic's moves and may have even called the GM stupid. That's what makes him the company man. Anything that comes from ASG, he's for it. That's not being logical. That's not thinking for yourself. It makes it easy on the leader when the followers refuse to think for themselves. ah......that explains things more......I assumed he was the company man for not pounding the Sund hire..... he didn't really champion the 'Nique trade did he? that's just evil......I don't even think Steve Belkin would back Kasten on that one.

so because a fan can be logical.....not make irrational assumptions due to yellow journalism....and actually roots for the organization....he's a company man?......good for KB

I don't see the issue people have with the hire.....he isn't going to be making lottery picks if things go as planned......the team is built for the most part......we just need him to make 3 decisions that he seems to be qualified to make according to his record. 1. Woodson(30 years in the NBA he should be able to make a decision quickly) 2. Keeping or trading the Joshes(he seems to have a good handle on dealing players, and if we are keeping them its a money issue that other teams will decide anyway) 3. Filling the bench(He found Damien Wilkins, brought in Wilcox) so my opinion is fans should wait and see. let the guy make a few moves before we decide on this hire.