Hawks News (8-1-03)

[HawkTodd]

Power Rankings: Uncertainty aside, Lakers No. 1 (8-1-03).

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/6512728

29) Atlanta Hawks

The ownership change is still in flux, they haven't re-signed Jason Terry and they still don't have a coach. But they will have salary cap space come February. As they used to say at the Omni, "Big Whoop."

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Hey MJ, why don't you give TV a try? (8-1-03).

http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/smith_sam/1588406.html

There doesn't appear to be any franchise other than Charlotte, which begins operations in the 2004-05 season, with the welcome mat out for the formerly greatest player in the game. Jordan was supposed to own the Milwaukee Bucks by now, but owner Herb Kohl decided to retain his franchise. There was some talk about Jordan getting an interest in the Miami Heat or Atlanta Hawks, but nothing appears imminent. And Jordan has told friends he's not excited about returning to Charlotte to live.

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THE DAILY (8-1-03).

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_4750.shtml

Atlanta - After the Terrell Brandon deal, the Hawks are in the rumor mill again - this time in another blockbuster trade with Dallas and Portland. They also may be looking to San Antonio to take some championship experience.

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Friday Dish: Little Earl to Get Big Money (8-1-03).

http://hawks.realgm.com/showarticle.php?artid=336

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Spurs re-sign backup center Kevin Willis (8-1-03).

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/6438757.htm

San Antonio's 2002-03 championship was the first title for the Detroit native and Michigan State product, who spent the most productive years of his NBA career in Atlanta.

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Boykins closer to contract (8-1-03).

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%7E90%7E1545745,00.html

San Antonio Spurs free-agent shooting guard Stephen Jackson visited the Nuggets on Thursday. Jackson averaged 11.8 points and 3.6 rebounds last season for the NBA champions. The Nuggets also are interested in shooting guards Dion Glover of Atlanta, Voshon Lenard of Toronto, Detroit's Jon Barry, Dallas' Adreian Griffin and Minnesota's Kendall Gill.

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BEST IN BISHOW: The Vulture’s Circle Atlanta (8-1-03).

http://www.jtthebrick.com/fanclub/nbafans/...BA&id=38755

So even though the Clips did lose Michael Olowokandi, the before-mentioned Piatkowski, and point guard Andre Miller to free agency, at least they will be competitive (though with no chance at the playoffs). One thing they are no longer is the laughing stock of the league.

That distinction belongs to the Atlanta Hawks.

The Clippers to be fair were never as bad as the Hawks or say the Cleveland Cavaliers, they just got the laughing stock moniker because they have been bad the longest, and could never keep anyone in town.

The Cavs by winning the LeBron James sweepstakes made there move to become better and more entertaining, and let’s not forget bringing in Paul Silas as coach which will help dramatically.

What have the Hawks done in the off-season? Well they traded away their leading scorer, Glenn Robinson, for Terrell Brandon, who incidentally is expected to never play again. They fired there coach Lon Kruger and have yet to replace him, unless you count Terry Stotts, who is the interim man.

Oh, and as long as we are talking about interim, they also have one of those as their GM, Billy Knight, and still no official owner either. Ted Turner is out and it appears David McDavid will be in. Yes, that is his real name.

The Hawks amazingly could get even worst, because their best remaining player, Jason Terry, is a restricted free agent. Atlanta said they will match any offer made to him, and they better, because if they lose him they might be the worst team ever assembled.

You have to feel bad for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who has played the most games of any active baller without making the playoffs. That streak will add another full season to it this year unless he is mercifully traded.

The one positive for the Hawks is that they can’t really disappoint their fans because, apparently, they don’t have any. They had the lowest attendance in the NBA last season, and even when they were good and had Dominique they didn’t draw well. Even the Braves don’t draw well, and they make the playoffs every year.

Maybe there is a way the Hawks can get Michael Vick to suit up, because he seems to be the only player that the people of Atlanta will pay to see.

Well, Vick and Ira Newble. Oh wait, Newble went to Cleveland; well, there goes my reason for buying season tickets.

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Say Sayonara to sleep - it's time for some football (8-1-03).

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-sarni01aug01,0,1492321.story?coll=sfla-sports-headlines

The Heat didn't rate a nation- al telecast for the second season in a row. Also left out: the Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards, who had 20 telecasts a year ago with Michael Jordan.

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Arroyo happy to return to Jazz (8-1-03).

http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Aug/08012003/sports/sports.asp

Jason Terry remains a possibility, O'Connor said, but don't expect anything to happen soon. "We continue to talk," he said, "and talks ebb and flow."

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NBA Summer Attraction A Hit At Centennial Park (7-31-03).

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=...37826&rfi=6

Representing the Atlanta Hawks were NBA Advance Scout Harold Ellis, Chris Crawford, Theo Ratliff and NBA icon Dominique Wilkins. Ratliff was one of the few bright spots for the Hawks in 2002-03, averaging 8.7 points and leading the league in blocked shots with 3.23 per game.