KB21

Memphis isn't more talented. It's crazy to think so. Any NBA personnel exec would tell you the same thing. There are several opinions out there about the Hawks and their talent level. I was in Memphis recently and talked to one of the Grizzlies scouts, and he agrees that there is no excuse for the Hawks being as bad as they are with the talent they have. He thinks the team has serious chemistry problems that is a "too many cooks in the kitchen" type of thing between Terry, Robinson, and Abdur-Rahim.

I wouldn't mind having Miller, but he's not in the Jason Kidd class of being a poor shooting point guard that can make average joes look great at times. Miller is a very good point guard. He did very well dishing out 10 assists per game on a terrible Cleveland team last year, but he's not so much of an impact player that he would instantly make the Hawks a better team. The Hawks still wouldn't have a scorer they can go to in crunch time and have that scorer create his own shot. Plus, Miller isn't worth the contract he will be asking for in the offseason. He wants a max deal, and he's not a max point guard yet.

.....is Jeff Van Gundy interested in the Hawks job? In Jeff Shultz's article today, Shultz made it sound like Van Gundy was taking shots at Hawks management. First, Van Gundy stated the obvious that the team turns the ball over too much and doesn't play good defense. He then said that it is the Hawks main players that are turning the ball over, so that is a problem. The criticism of the management, according to Shultz, seems to be when Van Gundy states that the Hawks have to find them a core group of players, build around those players, and be patient with that group. I think Pete will have to give up some personnel power if he is to land Jeff Van Gundy. I e-mailed Pete suggesting Mike Fratello to him. This is his reply: Thank you for your suggestion. First, Terry Stotts is doing a good job currently as we have won 5 of our last 7 and played well in six of those games (we were awful versus Miami in our last game). Second, I cannot discuss my recommendations to our owners, but I think Mike is an outstanding coach and should have been coaching the past few years. He did an extraordinary job with the Hawks and I was upset that we never had a real opportunity to work together (we were together for the last month and a half of his time here). When I took this job I was excited about working with a coach of Mike's capability, but after getting here, found that the die had been cast already on his fate unfortunately. He may be the most qualified coach NOT coaching in the NBA today. Again, thank you for your input and interest in the Hawks. He makes it sound like it wasn't his decision to let Fratello go. He's also very complimentary of Mike Fratello, while at the same time complimenting Stotts. In reply to: He may be the most qualified coach NOT coaching in the NBA today. That statement has to be including Jeff Van Gundy, as he is a qualified coach that isn't coaching in the NBA today. Something tells me that the next coach for the Atlanta Hawks will be one of these two coaches. I think the only chance Terry Stotts has is if this team makes the playoffs this year, so I don't think Stotts has much of a chance to shed the interim label.

If the deal was offered, I'd take it. You don't get many chances to get a true superstar in the NBA. Kevin Garnett is arguably the best player in the NBA. He impacts the game in so many different ways. Offensively, he's an all around threat. He can beat you on the perimeter and in the post. He's a player that makes the players around him better. Defensively, he's one of the 5 best defensive players in the NBA. Reef is an above average player, but he doesn't impact the game like Garnett does.

Stan Kasten needs to look back into history and see what re-hiring a former head coach can do for a team. The Atlanta Braves once fired Bobby Cox. After re-hiring him, they have reeled off a string of 11 straight playoff appearances and a Worlds Championship. The Hawks should do the same with Mike Fratello. This is a rehash, I know, but this is the guy this team needs. They need the fire he coaches with. They need the discipline he brings to the table. They need his ability to set the right strategy for his team. They need his ability to teach defense.

I think Fratello is an even better defensive coach than Van Gundy, and Fratello knows how to get the most out of his talent offensively as well. Van Gundy really seems to lack imagination when it comes to getting offense from his players. Fratello is a great teacher and a master strategist. Why the Hawks got rid of him in the first place for Boob Wiess, I'll never know.

.......he hasn't improved. He's played for almost three years, and his game has not improved. He's gone from shooting 50.5% on FGs in his rookie year, to 48% as a soph, to 40% as a junior. His ppg have gone from 9.4 ppg to 9.5 ppg to 8.2 ppg. His rpg have gone down each year. He's currently shooting 0% from behind the arc and 50% from the free throw line. He's simply a player that has no position. Unless he really, really, really dedicates himself and gets a doctor to work on his jump shot, he's never going to be anything other than a role player. You are seriously flawed in your evaluation of talent.

Keith Van Horn and Shareef Abdur-Rahim would give the Hawks two players who are have max deals. Whatever salary cap space we would gain by losing Derrick Coleman's contract will be taken up due to the increase in their pay plus the resigning of Jason Terry to at least a 1 year tender offer. If the Hawks wanted to do that, then they could just forget about adding Derrick Coleman and trade Theo Ratliff and Glenn Robinson for Keith Van Horn, Eric Snow, and Todd MacCullough. Van Horn would be a nice compliment to Shareef. It would allow the Hawks to kick Shareef back out to the small forward position and let the perimeter oriented Keith Van Horn play power forward.

No. Memphis isn't going to be willing to take on Robinson's contract, and the Hawks would be fools to invest in Jason Williams as a point guard at his overinflated salary. You think we turn the ball over too much now? Wait till you see Jason Williams and his usual out of control, turnover prone play. I don't know why Pete has his mind set on getting a true point guard while also desiring to keep Jason Terry. Detroit wins without a true point guard. Sacramento wins without a true point guard. Houston is winning without a true point guard. The Hawks have to do one of two things when it comes to Jason Terry. 1. Structure the team like its a team with a scoring point guard. 2. Let him go and build a more traditional team. This trying to make Jason Terry into something he isn't has gotten the Hawks nowhere.

First, Atlanta isn't going to trade a player who has 2 years left on his contract for a player who has 4 years left on a bigger contract. Philadelphia's owner also isn't willing to allow Philly to take on added salary, which is what they would be doing if they trade for Theo and Glenn. That's why the Theo for Coleman deal hasn't happened yet. Philly is hesitant to take on Theo's contract, which only has 2 years left. Second, Gasol is being shopped so the Grizzlies can dump a bigger contract. The players they are trying to deal Jason Williams and Lorenzen Wright. They are basically saying, you can have Gasol if you take either Jason Williams or Lorenzen Wright, or maybe both. Third, I don't see West being interested in Eddie Jones. He's older than he was when West had him, and he is notorious for slumping after February. The Grizzlies aren't going to waste potential cap space because they will actually be able to attract free agents. Jerry West will make that happen.

The only thing Miles can do is dunk. That's it! There is no comparison to Garnett, even though some wanted to really push that comparision when Miles came out of college. Garnett worked on his game, and he is a threat to shoot the ball, pass the ball, dribble penetrate, and dunk. Miles can only dunk. Garnett grew as a player and got better as he aged. Miles has gotten worse. He simply doesn't shoot the ball well enough to be an impact player in the NBA. I'd like to get Darius, but that player is Darius Rice - a player with real basketball skill.

The lies of ESPN Insider and their sources, i.e. the Chicago Tribune. First of all, the Hawks aren't shopping anyone. People are calling them showing interest in the Hawks players. Secondly, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Jason Terry are the two players the Hawks don't want to move, and it will take a major deal to move either one of them. Both players are very much in the plans of what the Hawks want to do in the future. Abdur-Rahim to San Antonio? This never was a consideration, and the deal they were speculating about doesn't even work because Ferry and his BYC status. Abdur-Rahim to Seattle? Only if Gary Payton comes to Atlanta. There is no moving Terry with a bigger contract, because either way, the Hawks aren't going to get value for their best player. There is a better than average chance that the team you see now is the team you will see after the trade deadline. The players the Hawks are actually throwing out when talking about trades are Theo Ratliff, Glenn Robinson, and Nazr Mohammed with Glenn being the one they want to move the most.

I wouldn't do it. I think Gasol is a bigger defensive liability in the post than Abdur-Rahim is. I had a feeling that once Jerry West took over, Gasol wouldn't be in their plans for very long. Honestly, I think Drew Gooden has a higher upside at the power forward position than Gasol does.

Because of his ability to initiate the offense and his perimeter ability.

There are lots of misconceptions out there. Despite what you may read from ESPN Insider, the Hawks don't want to "blow" this team up and start all over. They do want to make some changes and give themselves some flexibility. Right now, Jason Terry and Shareef Abdur-Rahim are the two players the Hawks are least likely to trade. If they rebuild, it will be around these two players. Any trade rumors that you have seen regarding these two players are not being seriously considered by the Hawks. They will only trade one of them if it improves the team. There are two objectives the Hawks are looking at doing via a trade: 1. They want a bigger ball handler to help JT out in the backcourt. 2. They want to get bigger inside. Theo Ratliff and Glenn Robinson are the players the Hawks are pushing the most in their trade discussions. Theo is drawing a lot of interest, as it Nazr Mohammed, but teams are reluctant to do anything with the luxury tax looming over their heads. If something happens, it will likely be consumated during the All-Star break and announced later. *Theo to Philly will only happen if Philly can move Keith Van Horn as well. *Don't be surprised to see the Hawks and Wizards get together on a Robinson for Stackhouse deal. Of course, more will have to be added to equal out the salaries, but the Wizards would like to add some shooting ability to their line up.

Unfortunately, there aren't many true superstars in the NBA, and the Hawks don't have enough high picks to land one. Maybe they will luck out and land the #1 draft pick for Lebron James. The chances of that happening are slim though. The question is, do you move Theo and Shareef or Theo and Big Dog in attempt to creat salary space to resign Jason Terry and sign someone like Corey Maggette, who has the talent to be a superstar and looks to be breaking out of his shell. Maggette could be a guy who explodes into a 25 ppg superstar once out of Clipper land, or he could be a guy that gets a fat pay check and sits on his rump.

If the Hawks management blows this team up, the first thing they need to get in return is draft picks. Lots of draft picks. Well, make that the 2nd thing. The 1st thing that needs to be done is to bring in a name coach - one that will attract players to ATL to play and not just visit or live in ATL. I think you also have to be prepared to go into a season with what is pretty much developmental league talent. Much like the 1999 Orlando Magic. If you blow the team up, you have to come out and explain to the fans why you are doing this and let them know that it is a time staking process. The important thing to do is not overinvest for talent. But, if the Hawks blow this team up, then they have to start at the top. Bring in new management first and let them do what they want to do. The future of this franchise is very much in question right now. The team is going to be sold eventually, and a big problem with starting over is that we don't know when this sale will happen. If we start over with new management this offseason, then what will happen when new ownership takes over?

Their first round pick is going to Cleveland via the deal for Lamond Murray.

....Pete Babcock is not going to trade for Latrell Sprewell!! How many times does Pete have to say that before it sinks in. Plus, Shareef isn't going to be traded anyway unless they get a young player of his caliber or lots of early draft picks in return.

Pete's telling the truth when he says he isn't shopping his players. He's not shopping them. Other teams are calling him about the players. The two deals I have heard of that are on the table: Theo to Philly for Derrick Coleman. This deal only serves to dump Theo's contract and get the Hawks under the luxury tax. Philly will only do it if they can unload Keith Van Horn as well. There is a potential 3 way deal with New York, Philadelphia, and Orlando. New York will get Keith Van Horn, Philadelphia will get Grant Hill, and Orlando will get Latrell Sprewell. This will open the way for Philly to do the Theo Ratliff for Derrick Coleman deal. The other deal that is on the table is with the Lakers. They want Jason Terry and Nazr Mohammed. The main players they are offering are Robert Horry and Kareem Rush. Horry has an ending contract in a year, and Rush is considered potential as a shooting guard. The Lakers feel they need Terry and Mohammed to make their playoff run. I'm not sure who else will be invovled. Probably Stanislav Medvedenko and Darvin Ham. Shareef Abdur-Rahim is a long shot to be traded, because the Hawks want multiple high draft picks in return as well as an ending contract. There are no rumors on Big Dog.

....there is some argument over his pro ability. There was a blurb in Sports Illustrated where a pro scout was comparing Duhon to Jameer Nelson from St. Josephs, and this guy stated that he would take Nelson over Duhon. Honestly though, I thought Dickau was the best pure point guard in the draft, even though some may argue the he wasn't a pure point because he had to score for his team. I didn't think the draft was very strong with point guards though. This year, I think the best point guard out there is Luke Ridnour at Oregon.

He may lack speed, but he doesn't lack quickness. I watched Steve Nash when he played at Santa Clara in college. Santa Clara played my Mississippi State Bulldogs in the first round of the 1995 NCAA Tournament when Nash was a junior. That was my first opportunity to see him, and I follwed him from then throughout his senior season at Santa Clara. At the collegiate level, his game and Dan Dickau's game were identical. They both were players who were more quick than fast. They both were playmakers who had the responsibility of being their teams only scorer and passer. They both had a dead eye shot from the perimeter, could penetrate and kick at will, and could set up their teammates. Both players had the "Can they defend quicker point guards" question mark when they entered the draft. Nash was a two time conference player of the year and honorable mention AA, while Dickau was conference player of the year in the same conference and a 1st team AA in 2001-2002. Their college #s over their last two college years: Steve Nash: 1994-1995 20.9 ppg, 6.4 apg, 4.2 tpg, 1.8 spg, 44.4% FG, 45.4% 3P 1995-1996 17.0 ppg, 6.0 apg, 3.6 tpg, 1.3 spg, 43% FG, 34.4% 3P Dan Dickau: 2000-2001 18.9 ppg, 6.3 apg, 3.7 tpg, 0.8 spg, 48.5% FG, 48% 3P 2001-2002 21.0 ppg, 4.7 apg, 2.9 tpg, 0.8 spg, 44.1% FG, 45.7% 3P Their rookie numbers are very comparable as well. I see nothing that makes me think Dickau won't develop into a Steve Nash type of PG.

Yeah. I played, and I know for a fact that when the crowd is loud and rocking, I fed off it. My energy level was much higher. My adrenalin pumped throughout my body. I went on to play football at the JUCO level, and the fans at that level weren't into the game like the fans at the high school level. I could tell the difference.

But, the Hawks are only 4.5 games out of the 8th seed: 01. Indiana Pacers (34-14) 02. New Jersey Nets (32-15) 03. Detroit Pistons (31-15) 04. Boston Celtics (26-21) 05. Milwaukee Bucks (24-22) 06. Philadelphia 76ers (25-23) 07. New Orleans Hornets (24-24) 08. Orlando Magic (24-25) ---- 09. Washington Wizards (23-25) -0.5 10. New York Knicks (20-26) -2.5 11. Atlanta Hawks (19-29) -4.5 Heck, catching the Bucks for the 5th spot (only 6 games back) isn't out of the question. The Hawks have to keep up the intensity and continue buying into Terry Stotts' system to do it though.

Things look to be coming together. Knock on wood! The offense flows with more ball movement. The defense is improving with their help side defense. No one is forcing the issue on offense. I just hope Pete doesn't [censored] this up by making a boneheaded trade for the sake of making a trade. Leave the back court of Jason Terry and Dion Glover alone, IMO.