TnDawg

I don't think Belkin is a BK fan. He appears to be at odds with the rest of the owners who supports BK plans on how to build a team. I hope in the future the other guys can buy him out, if not we may be headed for trouble. I wished the Gearons had the overall power over the Hawks. They are more committed to the home team.

Here is what I read. It is at the bottom of a Sekou Smith's article. EVEN SWAP? What about the draft picks the Hawks will give up to acquire Joe Johnson? The picks are lottery-protected, so unless the Hawks make the playoffs --- an extreme long shot even with Johnson in the fold --- they'll have given away nothing but future picks, much like the one they received in the trade-deadline deal in February that sent Antoine Walker to Boston. Having their own pick protected through the top three draft spots in 2007 keeps alive the Hawks' ping-pong ball chance at the most promising crop of teenage post players in years --- a group headlined by Indianapolis 7-footer Greg Oden, 6-10 Nashville native Brandan Wright and 6-10 German I guess after reading it again, he could just be thinking that as long as the pick is protected through 3 we have a chance. I hope it goes at least through the top 9. Here is the whole article: http://www.ajc.com/tuesday/content/epaper/...8462ab1082.html

I read somewhere last night that it(ours) will only be lottery protected through the first three picks, which would allow us a chance to pick one of the top Center prospects in the upcoming draft, like Ogden. If I remember where I read it I will go back and post it.

With Phoenix maneuvering to create cap space to keep JJ, do anyone know if we can raise the proposed $20 million in the first year of the offer to make it harder for the Suns to match?

I have noticed that none of these post takes in consideration that part of the reason we may miss out is the delays due to the CBA. Is it BKs fault that it ran out in the year that we have alot of money to spend. What happens if the salary cap comes in at around $52 million instead of the supposed $48-49 that most teams predict. Given the higher possible cap and the time that teams gained to manuever, giving them more time to explore more options (screwing us) in making deals involving players we may have considered. Would it still be BKs fault if we are left with alot of room to try next year rather than overspending on players who aren't worth it? If so, I would like to Thank him for staying the course and not reacting to outside pressure. I think we are on the way to something good. I like our core guys and we only need serviceable players at the 1 and 5 spots to continue to improve. Unless of course he can swing a deal to get us a quality center. I wouldn't mind taking a chance on Curry, but I may be just as happy for the short term if we pick up Zsa Zsa and bring in Anderson. This isn't a short sprint but a long race.

Someone else reported earlier that the FAs siginings would be delayed until after Friday. I didn't see a link, but here is the story: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2112505 It states that the signings are delayed indefinitely, until the details of the new CBA are worked out. A union spokesman stated that most likely we will be able to start signing FAs in the middle of next week though. Unfortunately I thinks this hurts us more than it helps. More RFA may be moved through sign and trades while the details are sorted out.How do you guys feel?

I haven't heard any news yet, but i'm thinking it may be a regional type thing. Following that logic we would be partners with the Bobcats, Dallas with Houston, Miami with Orlando etc...

Here is a nice article on Tre. It looks like he could be a BK type players. Being able to play the 1-2-3. He can nail a outside shot and handle the ball. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/spor...471_soni18.html The article states that he will have a hard time making the team though. Do you guys think he is a better option than Ivey on our roster? Here is the meat of what I like in the article: "When Hawks assistant Larry Drew called Simmons' name during the second quarter of Saturday's game, the former Husky felt the weight of the world lift from his shoulders. During the remainder of the game, Simmons displayed his trademark long-distance shooting ability as well as an array of untapped skills, including deft passing, playmaking ability, ball handling and on-the-ball defense." "After 19 minutes on the court, the Hawks discovered that Simmons could not only shoot, but at times he played point guard, shooting guard and small forward while finishing with eight points, two assists and a rebound."

He also showed up at the end of Mondays practice session. That is a good sign.

It goes without saying that you cannot compare Salim's salary against Big Z or Al. He is a rookie and that wouldn't make sense. What I intended was, even though we have the cap space to get Big Z straight out if he signs, do the Hawks want him without outbidding the Cavs. A SnT may cost us less than a max contract( more cost effective). The reason I posted this is while reading this "A possible sign-and-trade scenario would have the Cavs sign Ilgauskas and trade him to the Atlanta Hawks, who have about $24 million available under the salary cap.", Al's name didn't pop into mind as part of the trade initially. I think the Cavs are set with Gooden and Lebron at the forward spot. With the article also talking about Cleveland's desire for a pure shooter, Salim came into mind. Who do we have that would meet that need besides Salim? I prefer to keep him, because once we address the 1 and 5 spots we will be set for awhile and once the team gels we can contend for a long time. Long term for Salim = Vinnie in Detroit or Kerr for the Bulls. Draining shots from the outside to keep teams honest, coming off the bench.

With Big Z being unrestricted, we don't have to trade anything to get him if we offer high enuff. With all of the rumored sign and trade scenarios out there, I found this one interesting that Cleveland really wants a outside threat and with us drafting Salim and not signing any of our picks as of yet, would BK actually consider trading him to make a more cost effective deal. I hope not. I think it will be great to have his shooting on our team. Its like I think Diesel stated, part of me has accepted a possible SnT with Al, but are we likely to be a part of another one?? Would you guys trade Salim at this stage for anything, (someone obtainable)??

Although I will admit that I am not against the Hawks picking up Big Z, I would not do it if we have to trade away Salim. The following is a portion of a article from a Cleveland newspaper. His agent is saying he is exploring possible SnT to help bring in a better shooter for the Cavs. I would do it if all it costs is Al and Delk. Salim is hoing to help us alot spotting up from the outside along with Marvin's ability to hit from the outside. Heres the article: Signing Hughes was a major plus for the Cavs, but the team still has issues to resolve. Now that Hughes has received some major funds, how will that affect Zydrunas Ilgauskas’ deal? The Cavs still need to add a point guard to back up or start in front of Eric Snow. The team remains in need of a shot blocker, a back-up or starting center if Ilgauskas does not sign, and most of all, the Cavs still need an outside shooter. All of this must be accomplished with about $16 million left to spend. “I don’t have any updates, and I’m still having discussions with [General Manager] Danny Ferry,” said Ilgauskas’ agent, Herb Rudoy. “I’m talking to a lot of teams about a possible sign-and-trade. I’m in consistent dialogue with several teams. We’re in no rush.” A possible sign-and-trade scenario would have the Cavs sign Ilgauskas and trade him to the Atlanta Hawks, who have about $24 million available under the salary cap.

Here is a article from the AJC. basically Bk is saying how teams,agents, players, reporters will always use teams with cap room to further their own agenda. He stated that he has contacted the guys they are interested in and has left no doubts to the Hawks intentions. What I like most is he stated they are interested in RFAs. Which only follows what has been posted here anyway. Well, here it is for anyone who wants to read the whole story: Nearly every free agent rumor floated in the past six months has included the Hawks in some form or fashion. With an estimated $24 million in salary cap space and a plethora of needs up and down the roster, Hawks general manager Billy Knight expected as much. But even he couldn't have been ready for the deluge of misinformation that has spread like brush fire since the NBA's free agent negotiating period began at midnight on July 1. No contracts can be signed before July 23, but recruiting pitches and conversations are ongoing. And the rumors — from the feasible to the completely ridiculous — continue to circulate. "That's the way it goes," Knight said Tuesday. "Every team that has cap space is being mentioned with [free agents], even when they aren't talking to those guys. And guys are being mentioned with those teams, too, when they shouldn't be. It's not just us." The Hawks have been active since 12:01 on July 1, when Knight says he made initial contact with the players the Hawks are most interested in. Knight declined to name names, choosing instead to pursue his targets without a spotlight, no matter how much agents and others want to press the issue in public. "You sort of have to do the dance a little bit," Knight said. "So you're using your intuition and feel, trusting your relationships with agents or whoever. You're operating the best way you can. "We've talked to the people I want to talk to, and we've stated our intentions clearly and communicated our intentions. But I don't like my conversations being made public. My philosophy is you talk to the guy you want to get, come to an agreement or you don't, and then you move on. There is really no gray area. "We've had some good conversations with people. We won't know until the signing period begins if we'll get them signed or not, and there will still be a waiting period on some guys because they're restricted free agents. But the players we are really interested in, we made it very clear to them. We've stated our intentions very clearly." With a quality center a top priority, the Hawks have been mentioned as an interested party for Cleveland All-Star center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, whose agent, Herb Rudoy, once represented Knight. "There's a good number of teams we're talking to about a sign and trade, and there are a couple of teams under the cap that are talking to me," Rudoy told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "We're also talking to [Cavs GM] Danny [Ferry] about Z returning. Z's thinking about [remaining with the Cavs]. He'd like to stay." Another intriguing rumor has a trade between the Hawks and Bulls, with Hawks power forward Al Harrington and Bulls center Eddy Curry as the principals. But like most everything else being bandied about, neither Hawks nor Bulls officials have verified such a deal has even been discussed. Seattle shooting guard Ray Allen can also be crossed off the Hawks' wish list. He agreed terms with the Sonics on Tuesday, according to his agent Lon Babby. That leaves Suns rising star Joe Johnson, Bucks sharpshooter Michael Redd and versatile Wizards star Larry Hughes as the top free-agent guards available. And since Johnson is a restricted free agent and Redd is rumored to be the top priority for Cleveland as well as the Bucks, who've already offered him a max deal between $80-90 million for six years, the Hawks' attention in Hughes could intensify

I don't have a problem with us signing Big Z if we can front load the contract for 4 years with team option on the 5th. Although he may not be a part of the Hawks long term plans, he would make us alot more competive for the next couple of years. The reason that works for us is if he stays healthy, along with the growth of our young guys future FAs may be more willing to sign with the Hawks. We can be frugal only to a point, at some time we have to spend money as dictated by the CBA. Why not swing for the fences with a good NEED player, and then sign a couple of second tier guys to round out our roster. If getting Z helps us to sign Jaskevicious everyone would be happpy with our FA moves.

Here it is: The NBA draft is over and the Hawks actually prospered. They grabbed the overwhelming promise of Marvin Williams, along with the dandy shooting of Salim Stoudamire for a team that needed both. Not only that, the pending strategy involving free agency for what has been a clueless franchise also makes sense. Well, theoretically. About that strategy: You run Dominique Wilkins and every nickel of the $22 million that you have underneath the salary cap up the flagpole, and you see how many wonderful free agents salute. Said Wilkins, the Hawks icon who eternally is one of the NBA's most recognizable faces, "I'll play a major role in trying to get guys here, because I've been around Atlanta for so long. I can give them a definite insight on what the city is about as far as style of living, education and other things along those lines. I've also built that respect over the years, with the connection that I have with retired players as well as with current players." Now back to reality, where the Hawks have two mighty problems after today, when teams can begin the process of trying to entice free agents to sign contracts near the end of July. First, in the minds of free agents, the Hawks are still the Hawks, winners of an astonishingly low 13 games last season and foreigners to the playoffs since the 20th century. Second, of all the years for a team in search of a renaissance to have a ton of money to spend on free agents, this is among the worst. No Tracy McGrady. No Shaq. Even when you're talking about the handful of free agents this summer that you've actually heard of (Ray Allen, Larry Hughes, Michael Redd, Joe Johnson), they're either staying with their current teams or joining the Hawks only in your wildest dreams. Thus the unfortunate truth for the Hawks regarding free agents: If you can dribble and chew gum at the same time, there is no incentive for you to join the Hawks right now. And, no, that Atlanta thing doesn't matter. In case you haven't heard, there likely are more pro athletes residing around these boundaries than those of any other city in the country. They like the culture, the airport, the cost of living, but they don't like playing for the Hawks. Remember Kenyon Martin? After he teased the Hawks forever as a free agent last year, he ignored the Atlanta thing and thought about that Hawks thing and bolted for the Denver Nuggets. More specifically, if you're Ray Allen, and you're 30 in search of championships, you're not going to choose to struggle a years or more with the rawness of the Joshes (Smith and Childress) and Williams, an impressive 19-year-old who nevertheless isn't there yet. In contrast, if you're Ray Allen, you know the Cavaliers have the negativity of Cleveland, but they also have more money under the salary cap than even the Hawks ($25 million) and an already established star (LeBron James). Still, the Hawks are hopeful with their strategy for free agents and with Wilkins in the middle of it. "We've talked about different guys that we'd like to have, but I'm not at liberty at the moment to say who they are," Wilkins said, chuckling. "We have our little room that we all go into, and we talk about this stuff." Hopefully, among the "stuff" that the Hawks discuss is a Plan B that doesn't involve free agency. A wise Plan B for the Hawks would be ignoring free agency as their savior and seeking to trade for somebody to fill one of their slew of holes, ranging from point guard to center to the bench. Even so, Plan B has its flaws for the Hawks with nobody not named Al Harrington to offer another team. This is assuming that a team would take Harrington, especially since he exposed himself last season during his first year away from the bench of the Indiana Pacers as mostly a player who should return to somebody's bench. Come to think of it, the Hawks should stick with Plan A and pray.

That is exactly why I prefer the Hawks go after him first, then Curry or Brown. I really think that Daly and Chandler won't be leaving their teams anyway. They can and should match any offer made to them. With Big Z, Curry and Brown I have read enough to at least signal that thier teams may let them walk if the offers are too high.

I read that Lebron is asking the Cavs to go after Curry. Also NY Post is saying that although Cleveland is trying to resign Big Z, that he prefers to go elsewhere. I think we should make a move to get Big Z. The Cavs can match us dollar wise for Curry and with his friendship with Lebron, where do you think he'll end up playing.

Sorry I missed the part about him covering the Hawks before. His reports still seems biased to me though.

All I can say is he is NO Jaywalker, and I missed his reports. PJA's analysis of the Hawks leaves you with the feel that he is covering a team he don't care about. Everything he says is just following along with the general views, that since we have been poorly managed in the past it will always be that way. Over time BK will prove them wrong, and we will never agree with all the decisions that is made concerning our team. We just need to hope he continues to make more good choices than bad ones . As is the case so far. JAYWALKER, I wish you the best of luck in the future.

I copied the part that pertain to Salim, he and Olsen views himself as playing PG for the Hawks, it also addresses an attitude adjustment: The same certainty did not surround Frye's UA teammate, guard Salim Stoudamire, who was taken with the No. 31 pick by the Atlanta Hawks. Stoudamire's personality, much more moody and reserved than Frye's, was creating questions about his draft status. While Olson said he had been told that Stoudamire would fall no lower than No. 32, he said he really had no idea what would happen. "Everybody I talked with said Salim had an unbelievable workout, and that was not the main question," Olson said. "The main question was his body language and (the personality image) that I talked with Salim about. … It's my opinion that he would have gone in the top 20, based on what people said about his workouts." In other words, Olson said, "if he'd been more like Channing," he might have been taken higher. It was a point Olson spent the better part of Stoudamire's four-year career trying to drive home. Olson twice suspended Stoudamire for attitude-related problems, the last when he kept the talented shooting guard on the bench during a Dec. 18 game against Marquette. Olson said after the Marquette game that it's "almost like he needs shock treatment to get it," and that he warned Stoudamire that time was running out to change his image before the NBA draft. "His leadership, on and off the court, has been so much improved, but the last hurdle is appearance," Olson said then. "I told him, '99.99 percent of the people will never have a chance to meet you; all they know about you is what they see.' I said, 'I'm not going to let you keep hurting yourself like that. It's you that's being hurt, and it's affecting our team.' " Since then, Olson has said repeatedly that Stoudamire had changed his tune and had become a positive force for the Wildcats. It also may have helped Stoudamire's case that he remained at Arizona, a program known for sending mostly trouble-free players into the professional ranks. "We're very proud of what's happened," Olson said. "The reputation of players around the league is that (UA players) are going to be well-schooled and team guys. That reputation, frankly, helps all the guys who come through the program." Lingering questions about Stoudamire's attitude still dropped him 11 spots further down the draft board than Olson said his talent justified, but it was not a crash landing. Going to the Hawks may be one of the best opportunities he could have asked for, Olson said. The Hawks do not have a proven point guard, and Olson said he did not believe they would acquire one this summer, giving Stoudamire a wide-open chance to start, or at least play a significant role as a rookie. "Salim will have a chance to play," Olson said. "The only problem is they don't win a whole lot of games. (Former UA and Hawks player) Jason Terry called me the day he got traded (from Atlanta to Dallas) and he said, 'I can't believe it. It's going to be like Arizona - we're going to play for some championships in Dallas.' But it'll be a good start for Salim." UA associate coach Jim Rosborough agreed, saying it will be a good opportunity, and Stoudamire quickly said he envisioned the same. A regular watcher of the NBA games via his television package last season, Stoudamire said he knew the Hawks could use him. "I watched every team. They need help badly, especially in the point guard position," Stoudamire said.

I hope we start hearing something about signings soon. It usually would be announce by now in other sports. I know BK will do the right thing though.

Can anyone tell me when we can expect to hear about any undrafted FA that we may invite to camp. Is there a waiting period. I would like to see Gilchrist, Morris and Conroy invited in. They would have a better chance at sticking with us than just about anyone.

Do anyone have a reason why he didn't participate in the workout today. That may have something to do with why BK passed on him. As of # 38 he is still available, he was supposed to have went awhile ago.

Here it is: NBA has only itself to blame for waning appeal The NBA is in retreat. It got big by promoting its stars, and now, handed an almost star-free Finals, it doesn't know where to turn. The NBA forgot about real basketball long ago, and a series between the Pistons and Spurs, who play something approximating real basketball, leaves the audience cold. It's not our fault. We've been conditioned. We keep waiting for Shaq and Kobe and Michael to ride to the rescue, but none of them ever shows. We watch for stars because that's how the NBA has presented itself the last 25 years — as the realm of individuals. We see a starless team like the Pistons or an anti-star like Tim Duncan and we change the channel. It's no coincidence that these Finals are approaching an all-time ratings low. As the NBA has sown, so must it reap. The game itself has become a succession of pick-and-rolls and isolations — in other words, star turns. The league has long ignored the simple reality that Magic Johnson and Larry Bird weren't captivating just because they were transcendent talents but because they were the engines in dynamic teams. But they came along in 1979, a time at which the NBA was at its most rickety and its salesmen were seizing on whatever they could find. And so it became Magic and Bird above all else and then, bang on cue, here came Michael. In terms of exposure, Michael Jordan was the greatest thing ever to happen to the NBA. In terms of pure basketball, he was the worst. It wasn't that he played the game the wrong way — he played it better than anyone ever has or ever will — but the NBA misread his excellence. It billed him as the new paradigm, the supernova who delivered every single time, and now that Jordan has finally retired the league wants us to believe that other Michaels will rise to dazzle the masses. Except that there isn't another Michael. And there won't be. The star system has gone bust. Kobe Bryant's team didn't make the playoffs. Kevin Garnett's team didn't make the playoffs. LeBron James hasn't played in a postseason game. Tracy McGrady's and Allen Iverson's teams lost in Round 1. Miami looked good until Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade got hurt, and then the Heat was toast. And that, sad to say, is what the NBA has become — one big name to a team, maybe two, and nothing beyond. It's no accident that the Pistons and the Spurs are meeting for the title. In the post-Jordan era, these are the only two teams — OK, throw in Phoenix — to function as teams. (The splendid Duncan plays less like a star than anyone since Bill Russell.) Thirty years ago, we'd have viewed this matchup as a delicious collision. Today, gorged on Jordan's heroics and the never-ending buffet of "SportsCenter" dunks, we see it as thin gruel. We want Dream Teamers taking and making the last shot. We don't want defense. We don't want Bruce Bowen and Chauncey Billups. We want what the NBA has wrongly led us to want. As Paul Hewitt famously said at the 2004 Final Four: "Shaq versus Yao — what's that? That's not basketball. It's tennis." The NBA got lucky that Magic and Bird arrived when they did, luckier still that Michael was on their heels, but now its luck has flown. Needing competitive games to juice the ratings, these Finals have generated four blowouts. And, with another lockout looming, there's no guarantee interest has hit bottom. It has become the custom to laugh at the NFL and its insistence on uniformity in all things, but it's worth noting that the NFL has never suffered such a slump. Pro football sells pro football. Brett Favre and Randy Moss and Michael Vick could retire tomorrow and the NFL would absorb the loss. In its zeal to go global, the NBA stopped selling basketball. So what are we to do when basketball is all that remains?

Would you guys be willing to take a chance on these guys in the second round?? Luther Head & Eddy Fobbs Winners 1. Luther Head, Illinois: The 6-foot-3 senior was the best 3-point shooter at the camp, and he also was one of the better penetrating guards. He's not quite a point guard, but he's no longer a second-round reach, either. He'll be a solid second-round pickup for someone, and if he slips into the first round, don't be stunned. 2. Steven Smith, La Salle: Here's a guy to root for. Four years ago he arrived at La Salle as a non-qualifier, and now he has his degree. Because of that he also earned back his missed freshman year of eligibility. Because of what he did last week -- 16 points per game on 56.3-percent shooting -- Smith won't need that fourth year of eligibility. He's firmly in the second round and might even sneak into the first round, according to scouts at camp. 3. Rawle Marshall, Oakland: This shooting guard measured nearly 6-6 with a wingspan of 7-1. Couple that incredible length with quickness and athletic ability galore, plus a solid shooting stroke, and he has gone from a small-school curiosity to a future NBA wing. 4. Eddy Fobbs, Sam Houston State: The senior center measured great -- a little over 6-11, with the longest wingspan in camp at nearly 7-7 -- and was springy to boot. He wasn't all that productive (eight points, three rebounds per game) but he was 5-for-9 from the floor and 11-for-14 from the line. He went from relative unknown to likely second-rounder.