Swatguy

Yeah, you did. You said the Hawks were in position to get the ping pong balls and that's a flat out fabrication.

Nope, getting the ping-pongs does not mean "have the worst record". The worst record does not guarantee the #1 pick (I did say that). Most know the more "Ping-Pong" balls the better odds to get the #1 pick (it is what I said). Most understand that all teams not in the playoffs get "Ping-Pong" balls. Think about what you are saying.

Trade him to Houston for Asik. It is the humane thing to do.

You missed the point. The point is that it was IMPOSSIBLE for us to have finished with the worst record that year in the final 21 games. If we lost all 8 of those games, Orlando wouldn't have won their final 2 games and we'd still finish 1 game behind them.

It is not what I wrote.

Two things: We missed on the key of the chemistry from last year, Coach Drew. Not Hiring Drew for Bud was a big mistake. That decision surely was done in 2012. Management probably did not expect the ragtag group of expirings would gel and play so well. Had Zaza and Lou not gone down that may have gotten the third seed.

Secondly, getting nothing for Josh. We have not swapped Milsap for Josh as some reason, we lost Josh for zip and used getting Milsap as a salve.

Save, July ten is coming and perhaps we wake up and the nightmare is not real.

So, no worries about Horford right now? That's how you're looking at it? The nitpicking analyst in me can't help but think, "Wow...I don't want that to get out of control. That would SUCK."

You're absolutely right and it is an assumption and it's worst case scenario. But, there is one guaranteed thing here...as of right now, Horford is guaranteed money through 2016. He's what...27? This is his prime...and his next contract will be the last significant one he'll see. Dude is a collegiate champion...you know he wants to win. I wouldn't say we did it for him this year...not with these signings anyway.

This is our centerpiece and all of that is a sticky ball of facts to fool around with.

No center picked up. Al ain't happy. You think he wants to play through this build? I doubt it. Probably wants a trade.

Oh revisionist history is my favorite!! Yeah the Hawks won games that they shouldn't have but guess what? We won 7 more games than Orlando did BUT we only won 6 of our last 12 games, NOT 7. We won 8 of our last 21 games while Orlando won 5 of their last 21 games. So we only won 3 more games over that final 21 game stretch than Orlando did, but even if we matched their impressive 5-16 record, we would have still finished 4 games better than Orlando. Are you going to criticize Orlando for winning those 5 games or even worse, winning their final 2 games and risking losing the best shot in the lottery?

Oh you got me!!!

We won 7 of the last 15. Point is we needed not to focus on wins at that point, the focus should have been the ping-pongs. having the worst record never guarantee's the #1 pick, more balls would have changed the odds. We arrogantly anti-tanked in April.

I never said that Horford was going to still be around for a championship year. Building a team with him on the roster should be a no brainer. Having said the above, Paul Pierce was in his 30's before he won his 1st championship and Boston kept him around all those years so what's the difference?

Really? the difference between Pierce and Al? One is a HOF'er. Boston did have stars around him before the two came. Only one is a go-to-guy.

Of course if both D12 and CP3 DID decide to come here the headlines would be "Ferry Disproves the old axiom that Rome wasn't Built in a Day!"

My point being it generally isn't built in a day - but the Celtics and MIA basically built Rome in a day in the last decade.

They both had one top level player (Pierce-Wade) like we did (AL) and they were successful in bringing in two top level players to go with him and won...we tried basically the same thing but were unsuccessful.

We came after CP3 and Dwight with BUD. The rookie coach!! Hiring this coach did nothing to bring in Chris and/or Dwight. Larry Drew would have had a better chance. Drew did wonder's with his roster and they played hard all the way thru.

Many of you cheered him and wished him here last week, now you bash him with hate. The Hawks dissed Dwight first in 2004. Hawks in place to get the ping pongs but decided to win every game possible that march and april. Terry Stotts and Bob Sura went for new contracts by winning 7 of their last 12 games. He was devastated.

Well for one we are still at the beginning stages of building next year's team, we drafted a center in the 1st round, Milsap can play SF, and if you look at the FA list there are still plenty of guys available in Zaza and Ivan's talent range if not better.

Can Milsap really play sf? I don't know. What also hurts is getting nothing back for Josh. Perhaps there will be something not mentioned in the coming days. But if we get nothing for Josh, it is on Ferry, a huge blunder.

So far outgoing we have Smoove, Zaza, Ivan. Incoming we have Milsap, Carroll and of course our draft picks. We need some bigs but I'm not seeing where the team has changed that much.

Problem is, Al has been requesting a center for years. Probably was promised a center. Zaza was the only center last year. Now we have none. He doesn't like it, he is not appreciated just used.

Al is not going to sit well at PF. I'm not surprised if he wants out.

Can some of these deals be made into SNTs?

I heard somebody say Zaza's deal. Especially if we put it together with a Teague deal.

But more importantly, is it wrong to convert Milsap's deal into a SNT for Asik? with his agreement of course.

If I am Al Horford I am DEMANDING DF trades him. By all means trade me (Al Horford) to Houston. No way Al wants a part of this shipwreck. DF has move the Hawks from a perennial playoff player to the lottery, when he didn't have to.

Without DF and Bud - I doubt the Hawks even get a sit down interview with D12.Hawks weren't on his list of teams he wanted to be traded to and I think it was a courtesy FA visit to not look bad for his home town if he had denied the interview.

I believe if Drew was the HC we would have a better chance. Guys knew, respected and played hard for Drew. LD stood up and made guys accountable. Why do Ferry/Bud invoke such respect?

^^^^^^^^^^^these two posts. I have been preaching this for some time now. I believe DF is smart enough to know this and hopefully will do something.

The Hiring of Bud does not equate definite smarts. It smells like a deal done in 2012. This smells like a slow build and we were already past that point enjoying perennial playoff staples. Cleveland, Washington and Detroit passes us this year.

We need to stop this battered wife syndrome when it comes to Howard. The guy is a punk and does not like Atlanta nor does he want to play here. The pressure is too much, but the accountability of being home is too great for him. Some people just cannot handle that pressure.

He wants to go play millionaire/baby maker elsewhere, so let him go do that. No need to worry or talk about this guy anymore.

it's over.

Ok, we have a rookie coach, 9 players to fill on the roster, no legacy, no pedigree, no fanbase and a boatload of haters TOWARD HIM !! The choices to play are LA, San Fran and Atlanta. On a scale of ten both of those cities are a 9+ and Atlanta is a 7 at best. Mark Jackson has equipped him well, McHale is a fixture of legendary proportions and we have Bud. Dwight has tasted the world and owes nothing to Atlanta especially you haters. The Bay is very nice, LA is...you know. Atlanta allowed a very good coach go for Bud. He owes us Nothing!!

I'm moving back to 50/50 with Houston and LA. Because next off season LA will only have two contracts, Dwight and Nash. After resigning Kobe they will still have a bundle to spend. And of course the LT means nothing to them. They will need a different coach though.

I know both. Big Dwight (Dwight, Sr.) will only tell the truth.

Part of the reason he doesn't like the city is because of the mess he's created for himself. If the dude would learn some responsibliity and be a parent.......................................

He doesn't have kids here.

The guy can play basketball but some of the things that come out of his mouth just don't make sense to me. How can anybody hate the city of Atlanta? What does he want? We're a big city yet we have huge parks and trees around. Don't want to live directly in the city? Live in a suburb and be in the city in 20 minutes. We have warm weather. You can see live music every night of the week. Like to laugh? Go see a comedy show any night you want to. We are diverse. Go see a laser show or hike at Stone Mountain. Take a trip up to Lake Lanier. We've got the Fox Theater. We have art and musical festivals almost weekly during the summer. We've got history. We've got the Chattahoochee River. We've got awesome local breweries. Tons of movies are filmed here (I know he is interested in that), we are known for our strip clubs (sounds like he's interested in that as well), I could seriously go on and on but I guess these are reasons why I will live in Atlanta my entire life. It's a BS excuse.

IF this is true and only IF this is true I hope he never steps foot in Atlanta again except for when he comes to town to lose. Take a little pride in where you come from. He shouldn't show is face anywhere in Atlanta ever again. Not in Downtown, not in Midtown, not in East Atlanta, not in Little Five Points, not in Old Fourth Ward, not in Buckhead, not in Kirkwood, not in Bankhead, not in Grant Park, not in Decatur, not in Atlantic Station, not in Cabbagetown, not in Inman Park, not in Edgewood, nowhere. Sorry for the rant, I love this place.

I understand brother I too love Atlanta. I also believe If Dwight said it, he was quoted out of context. I do not believe he dislikes the city, I believe he is comparing the livability of the two cities.

Have you ever been to LA? Spent any time there? It is a totally different vibe. To live it in LA wealthy is much different than Atlanta. San Fran is my favorite but LA is not far. So, don't think he hates Atlanta, I think he Loves LA.

ow what lengths

D12 saying he does not like the city but likes the team (from Hairy's Insider) has absolutely nothing to do with Ferry effectively recruiting him. I doubt the Hawks would have even gotten a sit down with D12 if Ferry wasn't here.

You may be right and I do not know what lengths Ferry and ASG went to. However, not having 'Nique at the table or any current Hawk (Al or Lou) in tow probably gave Dwight pause. That room probably felt foreign for him. I could be wrong. just sayin (I may be banned for my opinion any moment)

I think Houston. I hope Atlanta but I believe hiring Bud killed it. I believe had Drew was still here or another proven HC he may have chosen the Hawks. Ferry seems to not understand how to effectively recruit him. This coaching staff ... is not the things of greatness.

You guys are a simple bunch. You believe this 4th hand dribble and are now venomous. Shame.

Off topic...

I've been listening to the radio for the past 2 days or so.. No mention at All on radio or internet on Al Jefferson. Is he plan B?

My dial has not changed from 91.9 since you enlightened us of the local ratings. over two weeks now. WCLK !!!

They must be out of their minds. Splitter!