JTFan31

Great way in putting that. I also feel the Hawks will have a good player to put from the 1 through 4 position for 48 minutes JJ/Lue/Salim Chillz/Salim/Delk Smoove/Marvin/Chillz Al/Smoove/Marvin Zaza/Batista/Collier So I see the only position being the center position being our weakest link. Now that can change if Zaza has a breakout year and if Batista really impresses, works hard and does the thing he did in the tournament.

Yea there are a bunch of reports about him. If you do a google search on "Esteban Batista" Alot of articles would come out on him.

I feel the same way about Edwards. basically all we were doing is filling the roster with a big body. With the hopeful acquisition of Batman, we not only get a big man, but I strongly feel that this guy will not only make the roster but also be a very good contributor for us next season.

Thank you pvaras. If pvaras knows Esteban like he says he does, then this is why I am so excited for getting this guy as a Hawk, and so is Walter. Normally when I have a good hunch about someone, it turns out to be true. I definitely have a good hunch about him, and yes if everything you said is true, pvaras. Then I agree with Walter, this is like a mid 1st round acquisition.

You are right Walter. He is 6'10, which makes it 100% better and sounds better than 6'8. Thanks Walter. Again he has gotten offers from Hawks and Warriors, and Hawks being the only team to offer him a contract, Warriors only are inviting him to camp. He is leaning towards us, hope we get him soon, before he gets other offers.

Walter so officially he is 6'10? I knew I was kind of right when I listed 6'11 but if he is 6'10, heck that is still good. I did a conversion online from cm to foot and it gave me 6'8 So thats why I ask if he is really 6'10? My hopes will be higher on him if he is, longer arms and longer body. By the way good stuff on the websites you found, good job. You also seem a little excited about this guy.

Yea and thats why I didnt make a big deal about Edwards. But with Batista I feel that he is a hardnose player and he led the Tournament of the Americas in rebounds and yes I know is not no NBA or even Euro players, but he was playing against that kind of competion of Euro players. I feel anyone that can average 15 rpg, says to me that the guy is tough, hardnose and can rebound. He also averaged 18 ppg, as the focal point of his offense, meaning he saw double teams night in and night out in that tournament, it also tells me he can score the basketball in numerous ways. I think we found our own little gem. Dochawk, he did not get drafted, therefore he is a free agent.

Esteban Batista More Pictures More Pictures I made a mistake he is 208 centimeters which converts to 6'8-6'9....I guess they picked him as a PF backup and might also get some minutes in Center. Lets see how it works out.

I am constantly searching more on this guy, is weird but this guy that is only interested in signing with us has me very interested in him. Just a good hunch about him.

He is 6'11, still dont know his weight. He was basketball player of the year for latin basketball. Supposely this guy dominated the latin basketball league. if he does sign with us, we need to see what he really can do. 2005 Stats from Tournament of the Americas This is probably where he was scouted from. I guess he impressed. Now you are all probably asking why I am making a big deal of this guy. Well thos are pretty impressive stats, any one that can average 15 rpg is pretty impressive, and tells me that the guy knows how to rebound. I also have a good hunch about this guy, something tells me he can be a really good contributor behind Zaza.

Quote: Batista tiene ofertas de Atlanta y Golden State Por ENRIQUE ROJAS © 2005 The Associated Press SANTO DOMINGO (AP) _ Aunque su equipo ya se eliminó de la contienda, el premundial de las Américas ha rendido frutos para el uruguayo Esteban Batista. ADVERTISEMENT El delantero fuerte, líder en rebotes del torneo y uno de sus mejores anotadores, dijo que recibió ofertas de los Hawks de Atlanta y Warriors de Golden State para jugar en la NBA en la próxima temporada. "Mi agente está en conversaciones con Atlanta y Golden State", dijo Batista el jueves a The Associated Press. "Las mayores posibilidades son con Atlanta, ya que Golden State solamente me garantiza una invitación a los entrenamientos de pretemporada". Batista dijo que el cazatalento dominicano Pedro Pérez lo puso en contacto con el agente estadounidense Aaron Goodwin, quien ahora se encarga de manejar su carrera. "Goodwin dice que tengo muchas oportunidades de jugar en la próxima temporada de la NBA, aunque soy un jugador joven que todavía está aprendiendo a jugar", señaló el canastero de 21 años. Batista es la revelación de la competencia, consiguiendo dobles cifras en rebotes y puntos en seis de lo siete partidos de Uruguay. El pívot tiene promedio de 18,6 puntos y 15,3 rebotes por encuentro. "Definitivamente, haber jugado en el premundial ha sido muy importante en mi carrera", indicó. Mientras Batista ha lucido impresionante, la selección uruguaya ha ido de más a menos y solamente ha conseguido un triunfo en el premundial, especialmente por su incapacidad para mantener ventajas en los últimos minutos de los partidos. "Tenemos un equipo muy joven y sin mucha experiencia internacional, pero aún así hemos mostrado que podemos jugar con cualquiera", dijo el entrenador Alberto Espasandín. "Batista ha sido uno de nuestros puntos luminosos y cuando tenga más experiencia llegará bien lejos en el básquetbol", señaló. I will translate: Basically Esteban Batista is a center from Uruguay, 22 years old, average 18 ppg and 15 rpg.....he has gotten offers from Atlanta and Golden State, but he is leaning more towards the Hawks because the warriors are only willing to invite him to training camp and Hawks are willing to actually sign him. I guess he has been heavily scouted. I will try to get more info about him and post it to this post, anyone like can also help out :P Esteban Batista

Happy Birthday, Mr Graymule

Anyone know the Hawks current salary. The reason I ask is, Do we have enough money to offer Chandler a good deal, a deal maybe not max, but something that may lure him. I dont think he is a max player, but he is worth a very good contract, IMO.

well duhhh Dr. Zachary, I mean he did average 4.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg and 2.3 apg.......Now you ask he is a major subtraction? You bet your a$$ he is, I mean where can you really get a contribution like that, where, just where? Heck my little cousin can't even make a contribution like Diaw did for the Hawks last year, and he is the starting PG for his JV team.

And you have a great point. Defenses still need to worry about Al, Smoove, Chillz, Marvin will also make a difference, Lue will do his thing and also Salim.....and I say Salim because the kid can shoot, shoot and shoot some more. We all know what he can do, and that is score. If Salim had PG skills, he would of been drafted up there with Paul and Deron.

Quote: Whatever position he winds up playing, defenses will key on him, and he won't be able to slip under the radar as he did in Phoenix — where Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion were the focus on offense. This is the only thing that will worry me about JJ. Yes he did average 17 ppg, yes he did shoot 45% from behind the arc....but the question still remains to be, Can he do this as the main focus on the offense. In phoenix teams didnt focus on him as much, because they had Nash, Amare and Matrix to worry about. JJ was the 4th option. Still is a very important signing for the Hawks, because nevertheless, the man did infact averaged 17 ppg in a very heavily talented offensively team in Phoenix and shot 45% from 3point land. So we know he can score and we know he can shoot.

Absolutely 2 great signings with Lue and Salim. As far as Edwards goes, well all I can say that he is 7'0 and 270 lbs, is tough and can bang inside, get a couple of boards and block 1 or 2 shots. Hopefully he can become more than that. Quote: My lasting memory so far of Zaza is watching him last year get dunked on repeatedly by JSmoove. I won't judge Zaza on that, because JSmoove would dunk on anybody given the opportunity.

How come we signed John Edwards and he is not listed on the Hawks website on the roster list?

Yea but there is one MAJOR difference!! Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen Heck just Michael Jordan alone is the biggest difference. You can afford to have Zaza, Collier and Edwards if we had Michael and Scottie as well. But i am optimistic about this as well as you are. I sure hope it works out well. We all know what Collier can do with playing time, now lets see what Zaza and Edwards can do with playing time, hopefully they are good things.

Sorry dude but Chillz, is no career 6th man. He became a starter last year and this year he will be in the starting lineup. Chillz can do things that no shooting guard in this league can do.....give him just a consistent outside jumper, and Chillz is an all-star in this league.

I agree. Bk is taking a risk with Edwards, just a 2 year offer and see what happens, is not like he offered than man millions of dollars. On the other hand, he offered Zaza is good offer because Zaza has shown promise and is only 21 years old. Never know what can happen with a 24 year old 7 footer that is hungry for minutes, and if he works hard and plays defense he will get his share of minutes.

I think he really is looking for size, because most likely Arthur Johnson and Ekezie are better than this guy, but both are 6'9 and 6'10....Edwards is a legitimate 7 footer.

John Edwards averaged 12.8 mpg, 2.5 rpg and 3.8 ppg Against Andrew Bogut....Edwards Played 9 minutes, had 9 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block shot Bogut in 26 minutes had 6 points and 8 rebounds, and no blocks Well stat wise he didnt outplay Bogut, he just had a good game based on the minutes he played. So is this the center we have been raving about that has had any playing time. Well he is 7-0, 275 so we know he has the body to bang inside, I hope he is another Pryzbilla, because right about now we all wished we had the Pryz in this roster. He was great in block shots and rebounds and especially outlet passes.

Yes just saw that. Who is he and is he any good? It looks like BK is gambling on players that have shown potential, I guess they scouted him when he played the Bucks and outplayed Bogut.

Quote: The one thing that we improved going from last season to this season is Chemistry. We added shooters. I think that may help us get over the hump that stopped us so many times before. Bingo.... Now we are looking eye to eye, Diesel. Chemistry is a big factor in basketball, when 5 guys are meshing with each other. The other factor is shooters. We have just added one of the leagues best shooter and best 3 point shooter to the team, not only a shooter but a great scorer. Through the draft you added a "will be" all-star in Marvin Williams (this is the only spot me and Diesel aren't seeing eye to eye) and also Salim stoudamire, the steal of the draft and possibly the best shooter in the draft with tremendous 3 point range....and also a very well known scorer in the collegiate level.