NickJYD

Zaza Pachulia is now an Atlanta Hawk. Pachulia, who played power forward and center for the Milwaukee Bucks last season, will join the Hawks under a four-year, $16 million contract. The Bucks made the decision late Monday afternoon. http://www.journaltimes.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=1665 This is good news for us. We need a big young kid that can hit the boards and play defense in the post. I hope Zaza is ready to bang in the post because Im sick of these 7 foot centers we've had shooting 15 footers and playing no d.

Yes, when is this hearing? Also, when will we get word on Zaza? Wednesday? Personally, I find ESPN's basketball coverage lately to be awful. Chad Ford goes on leave as the moratorium ends. Nobody is writing a daily column telling us what is going on. Stein hasnt written an article about JJ in days. You'd think hed write an article guessing at what is going to happen at tomorrows hearing.

Maybe your boy Arn would like to buy out Belkin? Cause at this point, that might be the way out of this mess.

Is Stephen Hunter waiting this deal with Zaza out, or is he just taking his sweet time deciding where to go? I would love to have his shot blocking abilities for 15-20 minutes a game.

I wish I was as confident as JJ and his agent. This situation still seems beyond screwed up as far as I am concerned. I have never heard about any situation like this, so its hard to figure out what is going to happen in court tomorrow.

Thats right. Damn. Other than his, the Suns dont have any bad contracts we can take off their hands.

Eisley is bought out?

What if we agreed to take on Eisley's salary and take back one of the picks? Seems like it saves Phoenix money, and possibly allows them to find another player via free agency.

Other than signing Zaza today, the other bright spot is that we no longer have to argue as to whether BK is a good GM or not, because he is no longer allowed to do his job!! Belkin has clipped his wings and taken his power. Hopefully Belkin is a genius in evaluating talent, because Im sure for his next trick he's going to run our draft next summer.

Exactly. One thing we are all missing here is that ownership is not allowing the GM to do his job. BK was told he can do as he likes, but this idiot Belkin, who juding by the looks of him was never a good basketball player, thinks he knows how to judge NBA talent and has now cut BK's legs out from under him and made him look like an idiot. If Im BK, Im totally pissed off right now.

Maybe the league is trying to help us save face. Our ownership had a month to get their act together and they cant even make a decision. If Belkin comes out and says he doesnt approive of the deal, it only makes us look worse, it only makes Joe not want to come here more, and it continues to make us look like a joke of a franchise that cant even make a decision after a month of talking about it. I hate to say it, but Chad Ford was right. We obviously cant run a bball team with 45 owners. Furthermore, you think we are pissed now...think about BK. He has had his feet cut right out from under him. This is a joke. I hate frickin owners who think they know how to make personel decisions. Let BK do his job. If hes been in ATL 5 years and we still suck and have no future, then fire him, but dont take his legs out when he makes a deal!! Best case scenario is we buy out Belkin in the next year, because its obvious that he isnt helping.

Belkin wont say why he wont sign off....... Hawks mum on delay for Johnson deal Co-owner Belkin hasn't given approval for trade By SEKOU SMITH, TIM TUCKER The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 08/03/05 The Hawks are still in Joe Johnson limbo, two days after a league-wide moratorium on signing free agents was lifted. When business ended Wednesday the proposed sign-and-trade deal between the Hawks and Phoenix Suns wasn't completed, the process still being held up by Hawks part owner and NBA Governor Steve Belkin. Belkin has yet to sign off on the deal agreed upon by the rest of the Hawks ownership and management and the Phoenix ownership group and management team. The Boston-based Belkin remained mum on the matter Wednesday. "Sorry, but I am not giving any comments at this time," he said in a late-morning e-mail. Asked again in late afternoon to address the situation, Belkin responded by e-mail: "I have now been informed the league has requested we make no comment and direct any inquiries to them. Sorry." Calls to the NBA office were not returned Wednesday. Hawks part owners Bruce Levenson and Michael Gearon Jr. declined to comment on the situation. That wasn't the case in Phoenix Wednesday, where the Suns' brass turned out for an introductory press conference to introduce the man who could eventually replace Johnson in their lineup, free agent guard Raja Bell. "There are some limitations about the circumstances that we can't talk about," Phoenix president Bryan Colangelo said. "Atlanta is hopeful of resolving their internal issues by the weekend. That's all I can say." The Suns made it clear Thursday that they'll either trade Johnson or match any offer sheet he signs, forcing the Hawks to either consummate the deal or risk losing Johnson altogether. "They have their own hiccup," Colangelo said. "We're continuing to move forward with our business." This is not the first time the Hawks' ownership situation has drawn league attention. In late April, NBA commissioner David Stern and a league committee met with three of the Hawks' owners — Belkin, Levenson and Gearon Jr. — to discuss discord within the partnership. "They (the league) just said, 'Hey, you guys, work it out,'" Belkin said after the April meeting. He also confirmed at the time there had been discussions about whether any of the Hawks-Thrashers owners would like to sell their stakes. Belkin asked the Atlanta- and Washington-based members of the group if they would like to sell to him; they said no and asked if Belkin would like to sell to them. He said no. Belkin holds a 30 percent stake in the Atlanta Spirit LLC ownership group, while the Washington-based partners — principally Levenson and Ed Peskowitz — own 40 percent and the Atlanta-based partners — led by Gearon and Rutherford Seydel — own 30 percent. The Hawks did receive a signed offer sheet Wednesday from Milwaukee restricted free agent center Zaza Pachulia. The Bucks have seven days to either match the offer or lose Pachulia to the Hawks.

Ratto is an idiot, and many of us could have argued our points better than the Stews did. Heres my issue with 790 today....ABSOLUTELY ZERO SPECULATION ON WHY THIS DEAL ISNT DONE!!!!!!!!!! Why arent they talking about it? Where are nba sources? Where is Sekou Smith? At least speculate or figure something out instead of dancing around with Ray Rotto. We dont even HAVE Joe yet!!!!!

Ratto thinks winning a title is better than being a star. Thats his biggest issue with this.

Ray has a big problem with Joe leaving 60 million on the table and taking 70. He thinks 10 million when you make that much, is not that much money. This interview basically sucks.

Still says Joe is dumb for wanting to come here and leave Phoenix. Says its great we got Joe, but that Joe leaving Phoenix is crazy.

Ratto on now. They want to beat his ass.

Dont you want to hear him get called out on his BS?

They are gonna talk to Ratto (the guy that wrote the nasty article on ESPN) on 790 within the next hour or so.

I dont know Inside Mans credibility on this board, but none of us have heard or seen this anywhere. Its not on ESPN news, its not on Real GM, its not on ESPN.com and it isnt on 790. I think he may be trying to stir the pot here with pure speculation.

I have seen nothing about this anywhere. What is your source???!!!!!!!

Koncak resigning, trading for the Snake Kenny Norman, trading for Isiah Rider, drafting Adam Keefe, trading for Big Dog.

Hawks pursue Pachulia Atlanta offers four-year deal By CHARLES F. GARDNER cgardner@journalsentinel.com Posted: Aug. 2, 2005 Milwaukee Bucks center Zaza Pachulia could be heading to the Atlanta Hawks, if the Bucks fail to match a multiyear contract offer from the Eastern Conference team. Milwaukee Bucks center Zaza Pachulia has received a multiyear contract offer from the Hawks. Sources confirmed Tuesday that the Hawks had offered Pachulia a four-year, $4 million deal. Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, after Pachulia signs the offer, the Bucks have seven days to either match the offer or let Pachulia, a restricted free agent, go to the Hawks. The 21-year-old Pachulia averaged 6.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in 18.9 minutes per game last season, his first with the Bucks. The 6-foot-11, 240-pound native of the Republic of Georgia was obtained by the Bucks in a draft-day deal in 2004, when general manager Larry Harris sent a second-round pick to Charlotte to obtain Pachulia. Pachulia could be the final piece in the roster puzzle for the Bucks, who have elevated their profile this summer. During a busy off-season, the team has agreed to terms with free agents Michael Redd and Dan Gadzuric and drafted center Andrew Bogut with the No. 1 overall pick. The Bucks also were able to reach a five-year deal with guard-forward Bobby Simmons, an unrestricted free agent who played last season for the Los Angeles Clippers and was named the National Basketball Association's most improved player. Tuesday was the first day free agents could sign under the new collective bargaining agreement, but the Bucks did not sign any players on the day the league moratorium ended. It is expected those signings will be done at some point this week. Harris was not available for comment Tuesday. Veteran forward and free agent Toni Kukoc also remains unsigned after playing the last three seasons with the Bucks. The Hawks, a team with dollars to spend, are in the process of making a sign-and-trade deal to obtain guard Joe Johnson, a restricted free agent who played for the Phoenix Suns last season. The Hawks are also looking for help at the center spot, and Pachulia might even play a starting role in Atlanta. He would be paired with Jason Collier in the middle. The Hawks have a definite need at the position after they released their starting center from 2004-'05, Obinna Ekezie, this summer. If Pachulia returns to Milwaukee, he probably would be used to back up both the center and power forward positions. Bogut, the 7-1 rookie from the University of Utah, and the 6-11 Gadzuric are expected to get the bulk of the playing time at center. Veteran Joe Smith and Pachulia would be expected to play at the power forward spot. The 6-6 Simmons also might play some at power forward, but he is a natural small forward or shooting guard. According to sources, the Hawks have been interested in Pachulia for a long time. Atlanta was rumored to be interested in Chicago Bulls center Eddy Curry, but the restricted free agent did not receive an offer sheet from the Hawks. Pachulia, who participated in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders Program last week in Treviso, Italy, is expected to sign the Hawks' offer sheet today. The Bucks are expected to release 6-11 forward-center Calvin Booth, who was obtained as part of the Keith Van Horn trade with Dallas last season. If the Bucks exceed the $61.7 million luxury tax threshold this season, they could benefit by releasing Booth and gaining a one-time waiver of the luxury tax penalty on his remaining salary. The Bucks would still have to pay Booth's salary - $6.35 million this season and $6.8 million in 2006-'07 - but they would not have to pay the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax penalty.

What the hell is Belkin doing? You'd think he could be available to sign some paperwork on the biggest day of Hawk buisness during the summer!!! Maybe Belkin has decided that hes a genius, that he doesnt want Joe, and is now trying to find a way to trade for Tariq Abdul Wahad.

Thanks Jay. Sekou Smith was not very clear in his article, and to me, the protection of OUR first rounder (not the LA/Boston pick) is crucial.