Dejay

If all it took to obtain KG was the Joshes, I would impersonate BK on the phone and make the deal myself (like Kevin McHale would know the difference). Trade a guy with ridiculous potential (note the word, POTENTIAL) and a career role player (just like a hamburger; you can get one anywhere, depending on what you want and how much $$$ you're willing to spend) for a first-ballot HOFer who isn't washed up, ala Moses Malone, Reggie Theus, Sidney Moncrief, and others the Hawks brought in who were long past their primes. I don't believe that there is anyone on this board who, if put in the proverbial 'room of truth', would pass on it without the need of a designated driver to get home afterwards. The guy has some wear on his body but he still has more than enough in the tank to be MVP-caliber for another 3 years and All-Star worthy for three more. If MW is everything folks on this board says he will eventually be, he, KG, and Zaza would be deadly. And I haven't even mentioned JJ yet in the equation. Imagine KG, JJ, and an up and coming MW in the East; are you kidding me? The Hawks would be annual contenders for the next 5-7 years, starting the instant the deal was announced. We'd be talking about homecourt seeding after the All-Star break THIS SEASON and not about who looks good in the NCAAs for BK to get with Indy's pick. And what upcoming free agents wouldn't mind playing with that group, especially considering how popular Atlanta is with pro athletes? Wait a minute, even Minny isn't that 'effin' dumb. This would never happen, even in Harry the Hawk's best wet dream.

Not quite. First, he'll have to play like garbage for the first few seasons, then have the lightbulb pop on during the tail end of his contract year. Of course, he'll need help from the front office and voila; a contract extention which kills your cap space and limits your team's ability to bring in more talent. BTW, something in my gut told me that about Henderson; I was one of the few voices on the AJC's old forum who hated the fact that Babs passed up Michael Finley to draft him and later crying for them to let him go after he hit free agency because he had little talent and no heart. The only reason he had the stats at IU was because Bob Knight would insert a foot in his hindparts if he didn't put out; with Lenny in charge and Babs running the show, what were the odds of that happening?

Poor man's Alan Henderson and Sheldon Williams should never be uttered in the same sentence. While I was no fan of the pick myself, I pray to God that he's better than that stiff.

I'm glad that Childress is doing well but I'm sticking to my guns; I'd have taken Iguodala or Deng, period. I've said that for close to three years now. I would've been proven wrong (not the first time) if the other two were struggling while Childress was playing lights out basketball but the fact remains that the other two are putting up similar, if not better numbers while having fewer opportunities to shine (wanna compare getting the ball from JJ to trying to pry it from Iverson or Webber's hands? The defense rests) so 'Iggy, Deng, who' one-liners holds no water.

12.3 pts. 5.8 rebs. 4.2 assts. .581 FG .455 3FG .826 FT Comparatively speaking, Iggy's numbers aren't exactly garbage and could be even better if AI and Webber weren't chucking up about half of the shots; neither are Deng's (17/5.7, shooting .526 from the field). Most here prefer Childress; I'm just not the biggest fan, at least until I see him be able to get that shot off in someone's face consistently. I've seen the other two do it; just not him.

I have to agree with TP here. Last I checked, David Stern doesn't hand off championship tropies to teams six games into the season. I'm as happy as anyone else about the start and hope that they can avoid the injury bug and be consistent with their efforts unlike a certain team of a winged persuasion down the street (see Falcons, Atlanta). As for this year's pick, I'm still convinced that Sheldon's talents could've been had by getting Cato or trading off Harrington for Jeff Foster or something. To me, you need more than 4/6 from the 5th pick overall. Of course, many of us have debated this topic to no end and as it stands right now, its a moot point anyway; what's done is done. So let's continue to enjoy the season and a hopeful rebirth of our franchise, fellas.

This was one move by BK that I was totally in favor of from the start. Move a guy who clearly didn't want anything to do with our team for a guy who does. I'll bet that Bill Walton will come up with some excuse for him ('aww, what did you expect from a guy who should've been co-MVP with Steve Nash last year. He played in the World championships and he's just a little tired'). I wonder what he'll say when JJ is in the All-Star game while Diaw is in the stands watching (while chomping on fries, burgers, hot dogs, milkshakes, couissants,....).

I'm with you, Sothron. We had to endure a year of abuse as everyone came out of the woodworks to call Diaw the second coming (see Walton, Bill). The man basically sandbagged his talent here when it was badly needed and then decided to break out when he had no pressure to perform and open looks at the basket to boot; that's why I just can't stand him. Even Dion Glover would put up stats in that arena-league style of hoops Phoenix plays (then again, maybe not). I can't wait to hear about him sulking (won't be the first time, wouldn't it?) because he's not getting the 'love' he got a year ago and resembles the Kool Aid man than the All-World caliber player he and the experts believe him to be. Some in Arizona may call it vindictive; I call it poetic justice.

I sure hope you're right, D. I still think they reached too much to draft him instead of Foye or Roy (my preference). It wouldn't have hurt to trade down to get him and a little more (Rondo or Marcus Williams, perhaps?). To me, you don't spend 5th picks on role players who's entire game (well, 85% of it, anyway) is rebounding and defending; that's what second-tier free agents and late first rounders are for. But what's done is done; I'll wait until the season gets going to see what he does.

Can this team ever catch a break (no pun intended)? This bunch is more accursed than The Mummy. Just when you think things are beginning to look up for a change, we get not one but two starters to come down with broken hands along with one of our big men getting suspended for the opener because of a fight with a scrub. Super start to a super season, fellas.

Ennis Whatley? I nearly spit soda on my laptop after reading his name. I recall a Hawks pregame show years back when Ennis was being interviewed on the court regarding his jumper (or lack thereof) and that it was improved(??). To demonstrate, he put up a couple of shots on the air...and bricked both of them. I nearly collapsed a lung from laughing so hard. I'll play the game, D. Here's my contestants of the All-Enron team because they stole tons of $$$ here. Jim Les. So bad that they had to bring Ennis back. Todd Mundt. Adam Keefe could shoot over him without worrying about his shot being blocked. Fat John Bagley. Didn't work out (on the court or off for that matter). Sasha Volkov. Stole my thunder with that one. But looking back, no one in the league had the gift of plowing into the lane and being called for charging like him. Paging Jim Mora, paging Rich McKay.... Dion Glover. A shining example as to why you don't draft on athleticism alone. No shot, no in-between game, no chance of sticking with the big boys. Also: Steve Henson, Morlon Wiley, nearly every first-round draft choice in the 1990's, I think that covers it.

Ellenwood by way of SW Atlanta (Lakewood area to be specific). Was one of the original employees of Lakewood Amphitheater when it opened in 1989. After some time away for school (Tennessee), I returned and have been in the River Road area ever since.

He makes the list with a bullet. The epitome of what was so wrong with the NBA a few years ago. Tons of athleticism, with the basketball instincts/IQ of my 2-year old daughter. I didn't help that he had no shot from outside whatsoever; it was a miracle that he didn't crack the backboard with that shot of his. He made Childress's jumper look like Del Curry's in comparison.

Alan Henderson definitely makes my list. Talk about corporate criminals; he stole tens of millions to spend half the season in Armani suits every year. No wonder why the Hawks have $$$ issues. Adding to the list.... John Bagley Ken Norman Rumeal Robinson (top-5 in my book as well) Roy Marble (should've drafted his college teammate, B.J. Armstrong) Chris Washburn (a true waste of talent) Roshown McLeod (would tease you with flashes, then get hurt, tease you with flashes, then get hurt, tease you...)

Danny Manning (didn't want to be here from the second the Nique trade was made; was on the first plane back to the west coast after they were eliminated by Indiana) Isaiah Rider (we all know the story on this one) Jim Jackson (clubhouse cancer/complainer; its no small wonder why he's been on about 56 teams since leaving Ohio State) Boris Diaw (sandbagged on his talent and whined like a 4-year old here, then played balls out in Phoenix) Other dishonorable mentions are... Adam Keefe Doug Edwards Ed Gray Jon Koncak Glen Robinson Ennis Whatley

Like I said before, anyone who thought of Nique as just another ballhogging dunker with hops don't know half the story. If Nique had half the talent around him like Bird, Isiah, Magic, Hakeem, and MJ did, he'd also have a ring or two and would've been a shoe-in as far as being in the top-50 list as well as a first ballot HOFer. It's not Nique's fault that the front office goofed on numerous draft picks and pretty much sat on their hands when the entire NBA world knew that another scorer was needed in order for the Hawks to get over the hump, only to make moves two years too late (see Malone, Theus). Nor was it Nique's fault that Babs and Co. sold him down the river when the Hawks were 36-15 for a guy that couldn't get off the tarmac at Hartsfield before talking about not wanting to be here (see Manning, Danny). Them's the facts, folks.

I was there when Allan Houston was the only player worth watching. It was a sad sight to see him be the sole guy getting double and triple-teamed while the rest of the squad couldn't hit a shot if they were alone in a gym. I also knew that the Ed Gray pick wasn't going to work out. What Vols beside Houston was worth a first round pick back in those days?? As for Diaw, its amazing how every media guy in the world (especially Bill Walton) foresaw this talent being unleashed when he was a jabronie in Hawk gear. This is one of the few instances where I'm in total agreement with BK. He was given all the chances in the world to be successful here. The man did everything except write on a stone tablet about his desire to leave and return to Europe last summer; BK obliged him and rightfully so. The man wanted as much to do with the Hawks as Danny Manning did in 1994. And as for his development or lack thereof by Woodson, it didn't seem to have a negative effect on MW or the Joshes; if so, Harrington's press conference would've been here. While I may not be a fan of most of BK's moves, this one I was and still am fully being and can't wait to see Diaw's bumpy descent back to Earth once the league adjusts to him.

You hit it on the head with me. With this team's history of falling on its collective faces for the better part of a decade now, they haven't earned enough points with me to grade them on the curve. D for me.

All I'm saying is that there is bandwagoning everywhere. People act as if this town invented the term. For example, a couple of weeks ago, someone made a mention of the empty seats for Cincinnati Reds home games despite them leading in the NL Wild Card race and Thom Brennaman (forgive spelling) simply brushed it off by saying that the fans 'just don't believe it quite yet' and to give them more time to 'be convinced'. Let this go on here and scores of folks from the national media will come out from the woodworks to crucify this town. If the Hawks were 35-30 heading into the final three weeks of the season, would Atlanta be given the same benefit of the doubt by the media? No need to respond because you already know the answer. The Hawks could've sold out the final twenty games of the season and folks would be trigger quick to find an empty spot in the standing room section and rip the city to shreds for its 'non-support' or better yet, piss on the accomplishment with the 'bandwagon' remarks. Name one city with multiple pro teams (and no, Green Bay, Salt Lake City, Portland, and Sacramento doesn't qualify) that hasn't had its share of hoping on the wave when things go their way and running for cover when things go south. I dare you to. Denver? Remember how empty McNichols Arena was when the Nuggets were bad? What about the Rockies the last few years? St. Louis? They lost not just one but TWO pro teams. Where were those 'great fans' at old Busch when the football Cardinals were so bad that they made the Bucs and Falcons look good at times? Where were they last year when the Blues were bad? Chicago? Remember the White Sox a few years ago? How about the Blackhawks, especially after their owner told everyone that Stanley Cups were 'too expensive' and stopped competing? Anyone else in mind? Cleveland? Detroit? Philly? Boston? Chicago? NYC? Bandwagoning isn't just an Atlanta thing. Its just pointed out here 100x more than anyplace else in America and that's too bad.

And you just made my point. Braves fans care as much about the Royals as Georgia fans care about Vanderbilt. Much, MUCH more is expected from the Braves than the Royals and when that expectation hasn't been met for over a decade despite the regular season success while the ownership continues to shrink the payroll, its no small wonder why empty seats have become the norm. As for your hard-on with the city, if you don't like it, there are plenty of highways, a Greyhound station, and an airport than can get you on your way so quit whining like a schoolgirl who got stood up on prom night. I love the fact that folks here aren't blindly loyal to a product that's repeatedly pissed in their faces time after time unlike the lemmings in Wrigley Field who pay top dollar to see the Cubs lose every year while Tribune laughs their asses off to the bank with their $$$.

What about the Braves? With a run like they've had over the last 14 years, to have teams like the Angels, Red Sox, and White Sox win as many titles as they have along with expansion teams like the Marlins and Diamondbacks, who weren't even around when this run started, should speak volumes about their lack of postseason success. Let me ask you something; if the Yankees had the same run that the Braves have had while their manager and GM's job security was as safe as a baby in its mother's arms, would they be packing Yankee Stadium now? Doubtful because they couldn't get 3 million in their place until the late 90's when they started their run of world titles. Why pay for the movie when you already know in advance how the ending will turn out? As for the Falcons' SB run back in 1998, they had the lowest season-ticket base in the league (about 35-40,000 at best) at the time. In the Georgia Dome, that meant having to sell over 35,000 tickets each week before the 72-hour TV blackout deadline while other teams only had to sell maybe a tenth of that. Good luck accomplishing that, especially with the Falcons' miserable history. Speaking of attendance, isn't it noteworthy that they have yet to have an unsold ticket since Blank took over after the 2001 season, including this year? Amazing what could be accomplished with an owner who actually puts out for his product.

Have the common sense not to spend hard-earned $$$ on a bad product like this one.

Another reason why fans should look forward to spring practice in April than playoff games in Philips. At this rate, another building would've replaced Philips Arena before the Hawks get a chance to play a game there that matters. But you're right, Diesel. The fat lady isn't singing but the music is playing in the background and she's giving a mic check right now.

SALARY DUMP. Why are the Hawks so hellbent on helping the Pacers keep their playoff run going when more could be had if they looked at all of their options? I know the free agent market is depressed but a future first-round pick for a 19/7 guy is the best they could do? What will BK get back once the Joshes and MW want to go elsewhere a couple of years from now? Will he get back TWO first-round picks and an option, then?