jaywalker72

Hawkman, thank you. You're right---I think from the Hawks perspective, there was undervaulation across the board as to how efficient and productive Josh was. Now, it can be argued that the Hawks rightfully elected not to go higher in their offer, but they have to go about filling those minutes with players that will at least match that production. Childress was NOT replacement level, even if the offers for him were around the mid-level. He produced at a higher level than those who are more regarded and that is what should be measured. And---it's not like he was a cancer or a problem to the team in other areas. With Evans, I believe they took a step backwards with an older, smaller, less effective player whose value is based more on personality and perception rather than performance. I am sure he will be a good guy and a hard worker, but those qualities only go so far. I hope that should the Hawks trade Josh Smith, they don't undervalue him the same and deal for someone older, less productive, and contractually obligated.

Whether or not someone agrees about the virtues of replacing the actual role of Josh Childress of the 6th man, so to speak, we can all agree that the Hawks are faced with replacing an extremely efficient and productive 29.9 minutes per game. As I mention on the HHB, Mo Evans is a replacement level player who had a so-so year in Orlando, and that was a year that was on par with the best of his NBA career. The Hawks are counting on him sliding into Childress' role, at least part of it. They have also given a three year deal to a player who has likely already seen his peak, and it wasn't all that good. So whether you say that Evans isn't replacing Childress or whatever, the fact is that the Hawks have to replace Childress' minutes with either one player or a combination of players, and starting with Evans as a means of doing so leaves much, much more to do to get there. If this is the guy that was mentioned by Sund as being "equally productive", he is way off.

Thank you---and I have adjusted the blog so that it should present only a portion of the material instead of the entire blog.

Anakin, it's a good point. Chris Paul just did it. It's risky, but like I say in the latest blog installment over on THHB, it's the route JT took in 2003, but it took until September to get there. The money you mention doesn't need to be that high, however, even on a shorter term contract.

Guys, thanks for checking out the blog---there will be opinion, analysis, and commentary---we don't have the hooks into the team that we used to by being in the gym so regularly since we are now in Orlando rather than Atlanta, but like last season, we will get to check out the home team's vibes pretty regularly. As always, we're doing this because the Hawks community is still deprived of anybody other than the AJC, with the MAN--Sekou Smith, covering the team, even remotely. We'll do the best we can in providing angles and input based on our knowledge of the team and it's inner workings and whatever else we can get our hands on. Feedback and suggestions are more than welcome---we want THHB to be a great Hawks information and discussion source--and your input on content, appearance, etc would be well received.

Don't, don't believe, don't don't believe it, don't don't Believe the Gripe! Seriously, as I said on my blog today (ahem, see the sig for the link), you really can't believe anyone during this process. The RFA needs suitors to drive up the price, and the team wants the opposite. So, depending on the side you are sitting on, you are going to say/do whatever you need to meet your objectives.

DF, I'd be honored. Thank you very much!

I failed to mention that I will start a Hawks blog also---I am going to populate it with---ready for it---Hawks opinions. It will be at The Human Highlight Blog Feedback is welcome here as well.

I am making a go of a general sports blog at: My Penny On... There will be some Hawks opinions in there, but I am trying to be more general---still trying to see what it is and will be---would love to have some long time readers feed their opinions on it (keep it clean, please--snicker) I just want to have some fun writing again and provoke thought on sports items of the day----I have my opinion on Childress free agency, which was posted on the HomeCourt, and a breakdown of the free agency week in the NBA, including a section on Smoove's candidacy. I'd be interested in hearing good contructive opinion and feedback. Thanks, Squawk! jw

H, If Iggy leaves Philly, then there is no doubt the Sixers would see Chill as a prime candidate to fill that vacated "2" spot. Personally, without other offensive options in PHL, Chill would not be a good fit there, but the playing time would be there as would the money.

With the Warriors currently point guard-less (yes, I am looking at you, Monta Ellis), there has been discussion of having Stephen Jackson (one of my all time favorite Hawks, btw) running the point. Well, why wouldn't the Warriors look at Childress then? He fits their profile and certainly had some XP at the point last year with us. Personally, I believe they are nowhere without a legit PG, but if they are going to go in that direction, why not Chillz?

Kruger was a terrible fit, except for his enjoyment of the country club lifestyle the pro life offered, and his legitimate good guy attitude. His schemes and approach were collegiate, and it did not play with the players and the former pros who had been players in the league. Terry Stotts had a misguided approach to offense, and it derailed him over time, but he was a pro coach at least. And yet I would take the above easily over the guy I voted for: Bob Weiss Clueless and a hinderance, he took a talented team and did less with it. And he did it with such conviction, and had an arrogance about it that was appalling. Later, after getting a job with the Clips, Weiss was asked about the Hawks and he responded with vulgarity, blaming the franchise instead of himself for his departure. Hey Bob, how did that Clippers gig turn out?

Expectations were high for a young Hawks team until September 13, 2002. That's the morning that DerMarr Johnson drove his Mercedes into a tree in the early morning hours, and if not for the courage of witnesses who pulled Johnson out just seconds before his car exploded, he would have died that night. We can look back and say, at this point, that those players never would have amounted to anything, but at the time there were clearly defined roles and Slim was improving every season. I know I was very excited to see what that team could have done and, in a literal flash, that excitement was snuffed.

Josh Childress People that have read my stuff over the years know that I feel two things about Josh Childress: 1. That he is a Shane Battier type glue guy who does many things very efficiently and is present/needed on any kind of winning team. 2. That he probably does not warrant a starting SG spot on a team. I think that, over the last 3 seasons, Chilldress has proven that a starting spot on a team isn't above him, but it has to be a team that regards Childress as a supplementary player on that end, loose balls and spot up 3's type roles. It is in that role that Josh excels and that's why teams have been interested in him for the past couple of seasons (especially that he has established himself as a high percentage/efficiency player). I have felt that his pending free agency has always been the more interesting one of the two Joshes this postseason for another couple of reasons. 1. Because of his price point (considerably less than Smith's), more teams would be interested, thereby increasing the intrigue. 2. I never felt that the Hawks really understood his value throughout the league and would let him go, even at the exception level (which most team would offer). This is why I wanted to talk to him during my only trip into Philips this year. The conversation did not surprise me, as he is such a solid guy and very honest about what he wants. He wants to play. Not just play 37 minutes one night, and then 17 the next. He wants a solid role on a team that includes consistent starters minutes. Quote: “To be honest, the opportunity to play will be important,” says Childress about what he would be looking for as a free agent. “That’s something that will be my main factor—where I can play the most.” While it would be a risk, unless Childress finds a place where he can feel like he is getting his number one priority, consistent starter's minutes, I don't know if he'll sign any tender or sign and trade. If he plays out his option, he finds himself free to choose wherever he wants to play, but it means that he risks injury AND maybe not finding any place that will offer what he wants (apart from money). The Hawks seem intent now on signing him (amazing how that coin in your pocket gets a little shinier when others are interested in taking it off your hands), which is good, because I believe the Hawks are better with Childress on the floor, but would the Hawks hold the line if, say, a legitimate center were offered as part of a S-N-T? All of which makes the Childress RFA very interesting and considerably more unpredictable than the market setting FA tour that the "other" Josh has embarked on. And that's my penny on the matter---if it's even worth that.

I have to emphatically agree with #1---That's always been a basketball myth, but it was watching first hand as season after season we ambled along with no floor leadership from the quarterback position and suffered many, many inefficient offensive seasons because of it that set this in stone and made 2005's draft the stake through Billy's Knight's "guards are guards" theory. In the spirit of the post, I will add another to D's list. I submit: You MUST play inside-out offensively to be consistent offensively. Terry Stotts and I were on complete sides of this discussion, as Stotts believed that you established the outside and it opened up the inside. This is why you saw a whole lot of jump shot possessions here and in Milwaukee and the ball would never see the post. (Ed note: And we didn't win) An addendum to this is that, along with a point guard (see #1), you must have an effective low post player to make the inside-out game work. We saw in the Boston series that when the ball went into Horford (you may have to check your TiVo, but yes it did happen), it opened up a previously suffocating Joe Johnson outside. This is not uncommon among teams that have a clue offensively. Has San Antonio really had great 3-point shooters over it's run at the top, or has it been Duncan inside (Or Shaq in LA, etc.) that has made guys like Matt Bonner shine? No answer required.

I wouldn't say that---Remember, a lot of these national columnists get a part of their info from agents, agents that have clients in need of publicity---such a need can lead to a mention in the aforementioned national columnists "article" on a certain GM search---

I thought it was funny that Zaza waited until he was sure that Garnett got pinched by the stripes and then happily got back in Garnett's face.

He has earned it---Will he keep the fire burning as a max-ish player? That's the issue with taking kids that young---you have to make a call on their makeup before they really fully grow up in the NBA. But, no doubt, he has earned it.

It has been replaced with legitimate concern---serious doubt has to have set in that they are destined for the Finals.

We're the story---or should I say---The Celtics fading invincibility is the story---depends on your angle---

You've been here through all of it---Eat the cake with everyone else---You deserve a seat at the smile buffet with the other hard core Hawks fans. Well done. Feels good to be proud of the team, eh?

Amen.