HalfHawk

JT, plain and simple...

Here's an article from hoopsworld about where the Atlanta Hawks stand as of now. The Atlanta Hawks are under the radar. Because Orlando, Boston, and Cleveland commanded so much attention as the top three seeds in the East last season, Atlanta, the fourth-best team in that conference, didn't get a sliver of the attention they probably deserved having come so far in just a two-season span. Even more worthy of media notice should have been the high number of key free agents Atlanta had to work with. After coming so far as a team and an organization, to just let guys like Mike Bibby, Zaza Pachulia, Marvin Williams, and Flip Murray walk away would have been a dire mistake. So far, three of those four guys are slated to be back in a Hawks uniform next season and beyond, with other improvements having been made via the draft and a pretty significant trade. That trade of course was the draft-day deal that brought in Jamal Crawford, a Golden State doghouse-dweller they received for their two backup point guards, Acie Law and Speedy Claxton. Crawford brings big-time scoring to the Atlanta bench (he averaged 19.7ppg between the Knicks and Warriors last season), effectively replacing the one important free agent they have yet to re-sign in Murray, who most likely will not be back after finding a healthy role with Atlanta last season. Atlanta replaced their shipped-off backup point guard corps by drafting a promising young one by the name of Jeff Teague, who many feel was a relative steal at pick #19. The Wake Forest product will take a couple of years to develop, but with Bibby signed on through 2012 they've got time to let him marinate. By returning Bibby, Pachulia, and Williams Hawks ownership is showing significant confidence in their talented (and increasingly expensive) core. The team gave Pachulia and Bibby a combined $37 million for four and three years, respectively, and Williams—who has yet to officially ink his deal—has agreed to terms on a five-year, $40 million deal of his own. Add Josh Smith's eight-figure salaries through 2013 and whatever the team decides to throw at Joe Johnson in next year's big free agency spending spree, and the numbers here are really starting to add up. But with a legitimate All-Star in Johnson, flanked by time-tested NBA veterans like Bibby and Crawford and burgeoning, athletic up-and-comers like Williams, Smith, and Al Horford, this is very much a team that could repeat as the fourth-best in the East next season. In another year or two it wouldn't be out of the question to see them finish even better than that. If Atlanta can become a perennial top-three team in the Eastern Conference, all that money will have been worth it. A lot hinges on how well this season goes for Joe Johnson, and whether or not he agrees to return next summer. If Atlanta is winning and the dollars are there, it would be most logical for him to stay put. However if the big names like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh all sign extensions within the next 11 months, Johnson becomes arguably the most coveted player for a free agency class in which half the league has stockpiled cash to spend. It's not impossible to think he could find a better situation. It's a big season for the Hawks in a lot of ways. Fans expect the young guys to show their extra year of experience on the court, and the vets who worked so hard for a contract last year to continue their solid play. If it all comes together, this could be a very exciting year for Atlanta fans. After quite a few years of watching a dismal product, there's finally something good here—meaning the Hawks might not stay under the radar much longer. http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=13498

If any of you remember, David Ortiz has been open to the media about his hate of steroids and how hard he's had to work in past years to be where he is today. Here are a couple of quotes coming straight from the mouth of the infamous Big Papi. …’I just worked hard, tried to eat the best I could, work at the gym, follow the program everybody wanted to teach me. That’s it. Why can’t they do it the same way?” “I feel bad for people getting into that stuff, because it’s bad stuff. You may want to do well, but you need a little help, but you know what? The consequences are going to be tough.” And I don't remember the exact quote, but around February, when A-Rod was caught with his previous HGH use, he stated anyone who uses steroids should be punished with a 100 game ban. But now the big secret is out, Mr. October himself was at one point a steroid abuser. Thus making him arguable the biggest hypocrite in the MLB today. Here's the report : http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4366335

Not a baseball fan at all, but I can never get enough of the celebrity game.

Another under looked show, Pitchmen. Great show, but ended early due to the passing of Billy Mays.

Damn... I really had my hopes up to get this guy! He's a grade A prospect and could've been a great back up for Al or Smoove.

You guys are seriously overvaluing Marvin. There is no way in hell, Utah would agree to send Boozer to Atlanta for just him. You'd have to include a couple of draft picks.

Whoa... wait... Mo and defensive specialist? Can those two go together in the same sentence? Did you watch him get abused... no... straight up molested by other SFs last season. I mean he can shut down a SG if and that's "if" he can match up with the other 2 guard. But other than that, I totally agree with your post... great post :smile:

At least you got fireworks, moneyless Gwinnett couldn't even fund a fireworks display this year. The economy is really going down the toilet.

Chillz's rights and a 2010 second rounder, of course I have no idea how cap works, so I may just be shooting blanks here.

Looking around the web I found an article on David Andersen, stating, he wants to leave Barcelona and pursue his dream of playing in the NBA. After translating it with google, I found that he stated he would play for the Hawks if offered what he's getting payed now. Which is around 2 million euros, which then translates to a little less than 3 mil per season. The only thing is, the Hawks have to react before July 15th if they wish to have a chance to terminate his 2 years left on his contract. I say the ASG needs to act now and lock this guy up. What do you guys think? Sign or not? http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/gen/2009070...-en-la-nba.html My bad, didn't know this was already posted...

In my opinion Marvin is 4th, Flip 5th, Bibby 6th, switch Felton with Wallace's place, and Kidd infront of AI. Other than that I agree.

Took a while, but finally! Shaq is going to Cleveland for Wallace, Pavlovic, 46th pick, and half a mil. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4285489

So ESPN is doing a little poll on which NBA franchise is the richest in history, so I want to know where you guys rank the current NBA teams. http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/rank?versi...d=292#topOfList I know Hawks aren't #1, but I might as well just help out the Hawks rankings :hush:

Well, Mike Brown didn't really deserve the COY. He's a Woody hiding behind an offensive assistant and a certain player named Lebron James.

It's a little segment they do at a point in the game where they take a fan and ask them what song is being sung. Then, they go to the jumbo tron and they have a Hawks player doing karaoke and they guess.

So what if this trade goes through? Sign and trade Marvin for a good, quick PG or a lottery pick in this years draft? Move Smoove at the 3 and sign Chillz to play back up. Al off the bench? Leaves a lot of questions and moves to be made.

Nah, nah, nah, nahhhhhhh, hey, hey, heeeeeeeey, gooooooooood byeeeeeeeeeeee! See ya next year Lebron. Mission failed. ha ha

When he told Varejao, " We're in overtime because of you!" Was he complementing him or dissing him? He stopped Howard from getting the ally to win the game, but he also made some stupid decisions towards the end of the game as he usually does. So was he getting complemented or dissed. I cannot figure this out.

Ewwwwwwww! Bynum? That over hyped scrub that they call a prospect center? Screw him, he's got paper weight bones. Someone lands on his toe, he's out for 3 months. I'd rather keep Smoove any day.

It would be hilarious if Griffin's the bust and Rubio ends up with a hall of fame career. LOL

1. Lebron = Sore looser 2. Dwight broke the shot clock, and Lebron can't impersonate that. 3. Lebron is protected by the league like Wade.

I'd rather give up Horford or give them Marvin in a sign and trade deal than give up Smoove. Josh is more valuable to the team.

So I was thinking and this is what I can up with. Tell me what you guys think. We send Marvin, Al, and a second round Bobcats send Omeka, 12th overall pick, and future 1st round. Cut Speedy and if Mike wants more than 7 mil let him walk. Resign all other remaining FA's. New Lineups : Hawks - PG- Bibby / Lawson ( Bench until he develops ) / Acie / Flip SG- Sign Turkoglu or Rip / Flip / Gardner SF- Joe Johnson / Mo / Rio PF- Josh / Solo / Othello C- Okafor / Zaza / Morris - Getting Lawson finally gives us a quick PG who can drive and score or kick out to the open man AND play defense, Turkoglu and Rip each have options to opt out of their last years ( Magic might not be able to offer Turkoglu the money he wants and Rip might not want to stay in Detroit since its getting nowhere. That's where cutting Mike's contract in half or letting him walk, Speedy's contract terminated, and Marv's pay roll freed up come in so we can sign them. Either would give us offensive and defensive boosts. Joe moved to the 3 wont be much of a problem, he can match up with most SFs. Okafor is a true center who can give us a post presense. Josh... well, he's Josh. Let's give him another year to progress under this new team. Bobcats - PG- Raymond Felton / I don't care or know much about the Bobcats SG - Gerald Wallace / I don't care or know much about the Bobcats SF - Marvin Williams / I don't care or know much about the Bobcats PF - Boris Diaw / I don't care or know much about the Bobcats C - Al Horford / I don't care or know much about the Bobcats Felton is their project PG who can produce with his speed. Gerald Wallace moved at the 2 can be like what Joe is to us, a 2 with a size advantage with the ability to take over given the opportunity. I'm tired of waiting on Marv, he can do what he does in Charlotte. Boris Diaw is an excellent PF with a big upside you can build around. I'll be sad to see Al go, but we don't need 2 starting level PFs, so let's see what the Bobcats can do with two PFs.

No one, but Chuck Norris... Sorry I had to, you set me up. Ha ha!