phoostal

Let's say that the Magic lose McGrady next year, I would be willing to be the Magic want to win as much as possible. Reason it is McGrady's opt out year. Why would he come back to a team that has had two consecutive losing seasons? This goes back to why winning is important. He would want to explore his options. On the other hand if they won without him, I believe he would be more incline to come back thinking he is the missing piece to put the team over the hump. Also, on another note when the Magic won the lottery with Webber they were the last team in the lottery. They had the worst chance of winning the lottery, but they won it. After theat lottery the NBA made it harder for teams like Orlando to win the lottery. But, it still isn't an exact science. As teams like Detroit from last year still ended up with the second pick. Like I have mentioned before there are no gurantees no matter how many lottery balls you have. The only thing that is for sure is your chances are higher, but that really hasn't helped in past years. P

Not arguing your point in losing, just thought the team deserved more support than geez that was a close one I'm glad we lost. They deserved to win and it would have been nice to see them pull it out from their effor they gave us. Also, get ready for the next phase in sports were there won't be franchise there will be corporations. Not to say they aren't now. But, meaning they are going to be the following teams: Nike Lakers, Reebok Knicks, McDonalds Bucks, etc. Teams won't be aasociated with a city soon. Just the way things are going. I guess you will be able to root for your favorite business. P

CBAReject, I have also tried to explain to you reasons before we traded off Wallace that it would be better to keep him, but only to fall on deaf ears. So why bother to explain that again as well. Let me ask you this what if the team with a higher win total gets a better draft pick? What will you say? What if this team is a failure next year and their pick doesn't pan out? What happens? Then do you promote losing again next season. When do you stop promoting losing? I gave you an option of how this team could have been rebuilt without trading Wallace and still trying to win. Only to fall on deaf ears. It's funny you and Nicholas give me the same reasons in losing, I gave you for keeping Wallace and trying to make the last playoff spot. It's very ironic. I said everything Nicholas said in his last post(along with a couple of other options)that would help this team. What making the playoffs would look to the eyes of others in this league and so on. But you dismissed it with a laugh and that losing and improving our draft position is better. Now, according to you guys we should lose and demonstrate those traits I said we should do by winning. It doesn't work both ways. When you lose you lose. No matter how close or if you get blown out. Free agents don't want to come to a loser period, no matter how close the games. Do you think high profile free agents know that the Hawks just gave the Grizz a run for their money? Or that they have played well against teams over 500? I don't think so they are worried about their own team to care about what the Hawks are doing or how they are losing I should say. The time people take notice is in the playoffs. Rookies that we draft that may end up being good don't want to stay with a loser. Look at the Clippers with Brand, Magetter, Odom and Miller. None of them wanted to stay the only reason Brand and Magette are there is because the Clips matched their offers. CBAReject you can sit there and think you know all. That's fine. But your opinion is no better than mine. Just don't try to say you know how it is going to work you don't. Or that you are so intellegent compared to others, that I just don't have time to write or waste my breath. Please get off your high horse. Your S(&* stinks like everyone else. You don't know what players think, neither do I. But, I can guess that players want to play for a team that is winning. You bring up this argument of winning 29 to compare to 26. I don't give a rat's a@# about that. The point that I was making in this post to begin with, is that the team played hard last night. They deserve support for what they did on that court. Not guys like you coming on saying geez I'm glad they lost. I agree. With the shape this team is in, they need to lose to get the most balls in the lottery. Because right now there is no better option for this team. We have to rely on trying to get a superstar in the lottery. Even though that isn't an exact science. According to some though it is a sure thing. But, when they play like they did lastnight, I hope they win. I think that effort should be rewarded. The fact is the Hawks are not going to be worse than the Bulls or Magic. The Wizards are the only team that matters right now and they are a game ahead of them. We will see how it unfolds. Bottom line is the team deserved more support for their effort last night than saying I'm glad they lost. That is all I'm trying to say. I'm not arguing the fact that it is better for the team to lose to improve draft position. But, last night's effort didn't deserve us getting a loss or fans saying I'm glad we lost. Thus that is why I said if we lose I would rather get blown out. It doesn't matter. Nicholas please don't hand me that crap that you gave me either. It doesn't matter how they lose at this point. Give me a break. The arguments you guys give me for why this team needs to lose in order for it to be successful in the long run. Has no justification on how they lose to end this year. So please save the drama. You claim I want them to try hard and still lose for these reasons. It doesn't matter a loss is a loss. To improve Terry's trade value it isn't going to get any higher unless he starts averaging over 50pts a game in the last eight. So really I can't agree with those reasons. You lose, you lose, no matter how it is done. I forgot Cleveland was losing some heart breakers last year. Didn't they? No, they were getting their butt's handed to them. They were tanking to make sure they finished in last. To be honest do you think people other than Cleveland fans remember how they were losing last year. So who cares how you lose, just so they lose. Right? That's what you guys want. CBAReject maybe you aren't seeing my philosophy and maybe I'm not seeing yours. But, the fact is that no one's opinion is better than the others. The only difference is that we are going to see if yours works first hand. Mine we will never know because we didn't keep Wallace. Just don't try to come across as the almighty in your posts. I will always support this team and I am all for getting the best draft position. This team just deserved better support from last night's effort. But, you best beleive I will be picking this rebuilding process apart if things don't start going the Hawks way. Starting with the draft. If we don't end up with a top 3 pick, then it was really stupid to give up Wallace. Like I have said maybe Knight can trade into the top 3. As a matter a fact it would be a must for Knight to trade up into the top 3. For this rebuilding process to get off on the right foot. P

Not really. How is it good to see a team give it's heart and soul to a game to ultimately lose everytime in the end? That makes you happy. You really must enjoy torturing and suffering. It's just demoralizing to lose that way. I'd rather them just not show up and lose. That is a win/win situation. Not having a chance to win is better than possiblly winning, right? Nothing is accomplished this year by this team competing I agree with everyone on this matter. But, if this team does show up and compete, especially against teams they aren't suppose to win against. They should have support from their so called fans to win. Otherwise they should just lay down. That's what everyone wants from them anyways. You guys want them to lose. They should just lay down. Why do you guys care if they compete? Answer me that. Why would you want them to play hard, if you want them to lose? P

My main point is I understand losing and I accept it. I agree it will help us with the lottery. Even though the funny thing is that we could lose the rest and still not finish any lower than 4th worst (5th in the draft thanks to Charlotte). Anyways when a team plays as hard as it did last night, regradless of what type of players the roster has on it. They should have some support from their fans. If you weren't disappointed last night that they lost that game. Then I have to question if you really are a fan of this team. I understand that losing will help their draft position, but the way they played last night deserves some support. Other than geez I hope they lose they are ruining it for the draft. I enjoy seeing a team compete. But, let's hope we get a top 3 pick and it doesn't turn out to be a E. Curry or T. Chandler and these guys give this kind of effort next year. If not do we root for them to keep losing every year until they strike gold with their draft pick? P

The Yankees lose. I wonder what trade the Yankees will make to off set their loss today. LOL. It's funny how a team plays when they have no pressure on them to win. Devil Rays came out lose and relaxed and it showed on the field. Similar to the Marlins in the World Series. On the other hand the Yankees came out and played a bad game. With the loss the NY spotlight gets a little hotter. There is so much pressure for this team to win. I don't think it is going to be enjoyable for them. I feel teams play better when they are relaxed and having fun. Don't get me wrong the Yankees will still probably be the best team in baseball. I just feel there is something to say about a team that has so much pressure to win that it isn't even enjoyable. Like I have said in the past, if the Yankees win it's not that big of a deal they are suppose to win. It's like a sigh of relief then a feeling of accomplishment. If they lose then they are considered a failure. Because they have built the best team in baseball through George's greed and obsession for winning. Yankee fans enjoy a stress filled season. Maybe not so much the fans, but almost for certain the players and coaches will be going through plenty of medication to get them through the season. P

I know people have debated this to death. So I'm not going to argue the fact of some us rooting us to lose. But, what I do have a beef with is that you root for us to lose a game like we lost last night. That in my opinion is ridiculus. If we are going to lose I would much rather get our A@#'s handed to us. Then go into double OT and lose to a team with 48 wins. It reminds of the triple OT game we lost to Houston. These games the Hawks don't deserve to lose. They played their butt's off tonight. And what do they get for it? Is their so called fans saying I'm glad they lost. When you play with that much effort and heart, you don't deserve to have fans rooting you on to lose. Last night we lost and I was just sick to my stomach on the way we lost. I understand the fact that losing helps the draft position. But, last night this team did not deserve to lose and it should have the support of their fans. To leave it out there on the court like they did and to have people say I'm glad they lost is mind boggling. The kicker is people on here want them to play these kind of games every game. Well, I'm not in that boat I would rather not be in the game at all and lose, then actually come up short in the final minutes. When a team plays like they did last night, I want them to win. They don't deserve to lose with the passion they displayed last night. P

We see how much they are smiling when it is time for the NBA Draft lottery. It would be funny if that 29 win team picks higher than the 26 win team. Then we maybe looking back and saying geez what if we won that one game. Let's see what happens, but I wouldn't say the BBall gods are smiling on us until we land one of the top 3 picks in the draft. Right now we have the 4th worst record. We aren't even in the top 3. P

Finally it is done. News Conference on Wednesday. NHL owners approve Thrashers sale By TIM TUCKER The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 3/28/04 NHL owners unanimously approved the sale of the Thrashers this afternoon, clearing the way for Time Warner to finally complete its 6 1/2-month-old deal to sell Atlanta's pro basketball and hockey franchises. The buyers -- a group of nine investors from Atlanta, Boston and Washington -- expect to close the purchase and formally take over the teams on Wednesday. NHL approval came shortly after 3 p.m. today by a fax vote of the league's 30 owners. NBA owners approved the Hawks sale 2 1/2 weeks ago. The group, called Atlanta Spirit, struck a deal on Sept. 12 to buy the Hawks, Thrashers and Philips Arena operating rights, subject to resolving ancillary issues with Time Warner and getting approval from the NBA and NHL. A news conference is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday afternoon to mark the official change of ownership. The Atlanta Spirit investors are Steve Belkin, a Boston entrepreneur; Bruce Levenson, Ed Peskowitz and Todd Foreman, partners in a Washington business information company; and five men with Atlanta ties, Michael Gearon Jr., Michael Gearon Sr., Rutherford Seydel, Bud Seretean and Beau Turner. P

To be honest with you I hope the Fins past and take a WR instead. I don't think they will pass on Andrews from the reports I read on the Fins. Gibson maybe a fair comparison, but people do have different motivation and personailities. From what I have heard this guy destroys people when he is run blocking. Which would be great for Rickey. Also, Andrews fits into Speilman's philosophy of young athelitic OL. He maybe big, but the one thing he is good at is getting out and run blocking. So we will see. P

Andrews is rated as the 2nd best OL behind Gallery. It's a miracle that he will last to the 20th pick. I highly doubt the Dolphins would let Andrews pass by without picking him. The Fins are need of OL help and if he is there for some strange reason at 20, the Fins will probably grab him. P

It's unbelievable, I think we would be in the same boat now if we kept Wallace instead of trading him. The only exception is that we may have made a run for the playoffs. Which I feel would be a positive for reasons I have explained in the past. Instead now we aren't making the playoffs, but our draft pick may only be a few slots higher. Not much of a change. The way it is going we may finish with the 5th worst record. Which means we will be picking 6th. Geez, I'm glad we tanked the season. I will hold out to wait and see what happens in the next 9 games. But, back to my original point it would have been better to hold on to Wallace than to tank the season. What are we going to have to show for finishing with the 6th worst record? Dermarr Johnson. Let me calm myself down with that steal in the draft. Someone like that will be able to turn this franchise around. Maybe Billy Knight can package the 6th pick and Milwaukee's for one in the top 3. I will still give this strategy some time to unfold, specifically 9 games. But, if we aren't in the top 3 picks. Like I have been saying all along we should have kept Wallace. I will agree I don't think it is right to openly root for your team to lose. Doesn't seem like much of a fan. I root for this team to win every time it plays. If we lose I look at it as a positive. With us improving our draft selection. Right now we just have two types of fans. One that wishes us to lose to improve our draft selection to help this franchise in the long run and the other just wants to win now and see how it unfolds over the long run. I gave my philosophy on how we didn't have to tank the season by keeping Wallace. Others feel strongly about losing and getting a top 3 pick. So far that strategy is not off to a good start. Well, it isn't if we don't get a top 3 pick. But, maybe Knight can work some trade out to get in the top 3 selections. Then again, he may have been able to still do that with not trading Wallace. Oh well, nothing left to do but watch the final 9 games. For the negative fans cheer for us to lose and maybe we can sneak into the bottom three slots and hope for ping pong balls. For the other fans root for the team to finish it out strong. Either way it looks like we may not be in the top 3 picks. I guess you can say if you really were going to tank the season you should have made those trades after the first week. Right now it seems this team is screwed Just my opinion. P

I think I would like Chalmers out of Xavier. I'm sure KB has heard of them. No offense. But, this guy can flat out play inside or outside and has a knack of filling it up. Another guy that has caught my eye. Is Timmy Smith. The little guy from E. Tenn St. This guy would be great off the bench. Another E. Boykins. P

Yeah, I didn't mean to say Fletcher stunk. But, he didn't fit into Miami's scheme. He constantly got beat, like the little drummer boy. I agree about the OL in the draft. I was thinking of trading down. To get two second's and grabbing the best OL and best WR that is left. I just would hate to see us left out in the cold if Boston starts acting up or if Chambers bolts in FA. This is the year to draft a WR. Otherwise to get a quality WR in the draft you will have to be in the top 10. I agree this is still Ricky's team. But, having Boston and Chambers as the wideouts is going to be tremendous for Ricky. I can't wait till teams line 8 men in the box to stop Ricky. Let AJ Fiedler (who knows on the QB, leaning towards Feeley) pick them apart. Let's not forget about McMichael or a 3rd wideout in the draft. This team should finally have an explosive offense. Also, good additions this off season to their OL, CB's and with Wilkins for punts and kick off's. Now the last thing is to resign Wale. Then it will be a great off season. Go Fins! Let's see them in Jacksonville in January 05. P

Nice work by the Fins to get Boston for a 6th round pick and Flethcher (who stunk). Not to mention they were able to restructure Boston's contract in case he decide to be an idiot. Great job, Speilman! Now this will really put the heat on Dave W. to win this year. With the 20th pick believe it or not I still think the Fins should grab a WR. Since Chambers will be a FA next year. This maybe the best year to grab a WR. This way we won't be screwed if Chambers leaves or if Boston ends up being an F' up. Just my opinion. P

I just want to give a shout out to Lascar and Chillz for agreeing that he is not worth 6 million. From the last post I read I thought I was the only one that thought he wasn't. I guess there are others that actually think like me. Go figure Dolfan. I never knew other people were as dumb as me. P

Yeah, you are right. I'm the only one that thinks Blount is not worth 6 million. I said it just to disagree with you. Let's quit being childish. You don't like me or my opinions and let's leave it at that. At least I don't feel the same towards you. Maybe you should stop drinking the Hatorade and check your self into debate classes, anger management or something. Most people can have an educated conversation, except you. You respond once or twice and then stop responding (sad thing is I have tried throwing out an olive branch to you, but you just want to ignore it and be miserable towards people you don't agree with, nice attitude). I guess mainly because you can't make your point or disprove someone elses. But, who knows because you don't respond. Anyways back to the inflated Blount. Because the Celtics have a 6 game winning streak. Let's back up the Brinx truck to pay Blount. If you would have said 1 million I would have absolutely agreed with you. DID YOU HEAR ME, I WOULD 100% AGREE WITH YOU. That should give you a warm and fuzzy feeling. But, come on now. You guarantee that Blount will get over the 4.5 million salary for a multiyear contract. Great. He may, but if he does the team that signs him will be grossly over paying him for his services. You throw up all these nice stats, but until he proves it over the course of an entire year I wouldn't pay more than 2 to 3 million for him. F@#% we have a track record of giving out stupid contracts, why keep it up. Let's be smart with our money and not give it out to players that haven't proven themselves. Ever heard of this one, Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. I would much rather have a Ray Allen, TMac, or one of the other bigger names next summer than giving up some cap space now to get Mark Blount. Did everyone hear me Mark Blount. Sends shivers down our spines. I'm sure that signing is going to shake the NBA world. I can see it now, did you see who Atlanta got for 6 million a year for 6 years. Who? Mark Blount. Oh boy, we can not take them lightly. First words would be I think they just over paid for this guy. Bottom line, I would sign him but not for any more than 3 million. 6 games or a second half of an NBA season does nothing to merit a 6 million a year contract. Sorry but we disagree and it's not because you have beef with me. It's because this is not what's best for the Atlanta Hawks. That money could be best used somewhere else. If he goes on to be a superstar you can call me out. I have no problem admitting when I'm wrong. Like I always say this is just my opinion and I will be glad to be proven wrong if the Hawks pick him up and he is this great player. P

Are you guys kidding me? Paying a guy 6 million a year for 5 to 6 years for what he has done the last 10 games. Isn't this how we got into trouble with Crawford and Henderson? There is a reason this guy has bounced around the league. Let's hope B. Knight isn't thinking like you guys or we will be in the same boat that we are in now. Trying to dump this guy because he takes up a 6 million in cap space and is signed for another 4 to 5 years. Please come up with someone better than Blount for 6 million a year. I know there aren't many free agents this year, but that doesn't mean we over pay for the guys that are out there. I would MAYBE give him 3 million a year, I would lean at starting at 2 million a year. Geez, Jackson was starting last year for the World Champions and the best he could get was 1.5 from us. After turning down the 3 to 4 million the Spurs wanted to sign him for. But, now you guys are ready to give Blount 6 million. Give me a break. P

Sounds like the Bulls of the South. Didn't they get Curry and Chandler in the past with plenty of cap room. Things are going really well for them. Next, I don't think Orlando will do it. Who knows? Atlanta Bulls or Chicago Hawks? Are they one in the same? We will find out soon. P

Depends who we have to trade to get Griffey? I think he is worth getting if the price isn't that expensive. Just look at this way if we got him. Move Chipper back to 3B for this year. Next year when JD Drew signs with someone else, move Chipper back to the OF and let Derosa or Marte take 3B. But, I would take the chance on Griffey. P

How is it a strong guess. Please tell me how they are lottery bound with Sheed. They have made the playoffs every year with Sheed. Before they traded him they had won 8 out of 9 to pull within a couple of games of the 8th spot. Please tell me how this is lottery bound. Considering they have never been in the lottery with Sheed until possiblly this year. I don't understand this arguement as well. Sheed isn't much of a difference maker. Geez I recall the one game he played with the Hawks that the team came within 4 pts in beating a Nets team that had won 10 in a row. He seem to make a difference that night. Dumars thought he was enough of a difference maker to make a trade for him. Sheed does make a difference as much as you don't want to admit. The guy is a top player in this league. He is totally different than having Reef. This would have been a different team than what we saw with Reef and Theo. Who knows what would happen? I don't know if we would win or lose? But, it would have been fun to see what this team would have been like. So I think it is silly to say that this team would not make a difference with Sheed, because he leads the Trail Blazers to the lottery. That isn't even true, as I pointed out earlier. Where do you get this stuff? Once again just my opinion. P

You don't know what kind of team this would have been with Sheed. You could have taken a guess, but you don't know. Because it didn't happen, but for one game. So let's not even make that comparison with Sheed. No the Lakers weren't like the Hawks. When have the Hawks made the playoffs. Let me think. NEVER, with Theo or Reef. So they aren't the same. West was smart to cut salary. You want to know why, because Shaq made it no secret he wanted to play in LA. So, if I was the Lakers I would have cut salary too, if it was going to get me Shaq. He was very smart in getting Kobe as well. But, the bottom line is this they were still WINNING. Yes, they may have made it to first round and got knocked out right away. But, they were still there. That shows others in the league that the team isn't that bad. Not to mention they are only going to get better. Why wouldn't I want to sign with them. They got Shaq, they got this young stud in Kobe(#13 pick, telling you that you don't have to be in the top 3 picks to be a stud, also acquired through a trade), they make the playoffs, they play in LA, and they are only getting better. Hell, why wouldn't I want to go there. So why do you want to come to the Hawks now? Other than money why. We aren't going to get many guys here now. We just have to rely on this top 3 pick to lead this franchise like LeBron. If not this team is in for more long years. I maybe wrong, but this is the way I see it. I hope I am wrong. Just an opinion. But, the Lakers and Hawks is a bad example. Give me something better than that. This was just as bad as the Bulls example you gave me. Look at them now. And didn't they have two top 5 picks in the same year with Curry and Chandler. Look where that has gotten them. That's a better example to use is that the Hawks are like the Bulls. Cleared up cap space, wanted to go after high school stud from Chicago (Curry), trade Brand for another top 5 pick (Chandler) and sign these great free agents. Where has that gotten them? Please tell me. This what I can see happening to the Hawks. But then again this is just what I'm seeing. I maybe way off. P

Please don't lie Deisel. Find a post where I said I was against trading Reef and Theo. Please find any post. That is an out right lie. Don't put words in my mouth. The only trade I was against was trading Wallace to Detroit. If you would have read my plan in the legit injuries post you would have seen this. But, I can see you didn't. Yes, the Lakers trade did clear up space. But, the Lakers weren't as bad as the Hawks. As a matter of fact they gave the Phoenix Suns a run for their money in the first round of the playoffs that year. They were showing promise. They were showing that they were not a hopeless franchise. Winning does that for an organization. It's just going to be a lot tougher to rebuild by drafting players and continuing to lose to build through the draft. You have to win and you have to sign GOOD free agents, not average ones and make good trades. As well as mixing in the draft picks you get. Right now we are just relying on the draft. Because we have no trade value except draft picks and JT. And no free agent will want to come here that is good. P

I see your point of view, but mine is that it can be done by making trades and through free agency. Not just losing to get a top draft pick. You mention how you can plug in McGrady, Vince, Iverson, etc. All of the players you mentioned are all stars. Meaning of course you could plug in those guys and still win. Plug in a B. Sura and that will impress me. Also, the Lakers are 7-8 without Kobe this year and have a winning record without Shaq. But, that is just this year. Who knows what will happen the rest of the year? As for any big free agents coming here I agree with you when you say don't hold your breath. Why wouldn't any come to a losing franchise or team that is perceived in bad shape. That's why its important for the team to win to show promise. This looks more attractive to pending free agents. But, now that won't happen. Your right with your bottom line, because the Hawks have no option but to build through the draft. No free agents and no trade value on this team other than the two draft picks and possiblly JT. P

The Lakers got Shaq through free agency. Which is one of points in my rebuilding plan. Also, I maybe wrong on this I'm not sure but didn't the Celtics and the Lakers trade with teams to get the picks that got them Bird and Magic. I'm not sure, but I thought one of the two was the case. Also, Moses was acquired by Philly not drafted. Not to mention Kobe wasn't a top 3 pick. Neither is KG. Now KG hasn't won anything, but he may this year. Kobe has won a ton. P