Hawks News (8-17-03)

[HawkTodd]

INSIDE THE NBA (8-17-03).

http://www.ajc.com/print/content/epaper/ed...ca621b00ed.html

And you may also understand the disappointment of Jason Terry, who doesn't want to leave but has yet to receive any more than a qualifying offer from the Hawks. If he cannot agree to a long-term deal with the Hawks, Terry can take center Michael Olowokandi's approach. Olowokandi accepted his qualifying offer with the Clippers last year to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Restricted blues

New Jersey Nets forward Kenyon Martin has no desire to be in Odom's position or Terry's position next summer, but his agent, Brian [censored] (who also represents Hawks free agent guard Dion Glover), denied reports that Martin demanded to be traded after Nets president Rod Thorn offered him a six-year deal worth between $65 million and $70 million --- about $20 million less than the max. If they don't reach an agreement by Oct. 31, Martin will become a restricted free agent next summer, which means the Nets can match any offer.

"He can't do anything. What can he do? The Nets hold all the cards. He doesn't have anything. He can't bluff. He can't do anything," Nets point guard Jason Kidd said about Martin. "If someone offers him a contract, all the Nets have to do is match it. Right now, it's too early. His demanding a trade, the bottom line, it did not happen."

Chemistry issue

Hawks center Theo Ratliff wasn't surprised by the recent Glenn Robinson trade. He felt the deal revolved around more than just money. "It was a chemistry issue more than anything," he said. "We didn't jell as a team. We had more individuals than a team." . . . Hawks coach Terry Stotts said he has received about 40 calls from coaches interested in becoming part of his staff. He said he "ideally" would have a staff in place two weeks before training camp.

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Denver close to deal with Detroit's Barry (8-17-03).

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~90~1575393,00.html

Denver is considering adding another shooting guard; candidates include free agents Stephen Jackson of San Antonio, Voshon Lenard of Toronto and Dion Glover of Atlanta.

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HYDE: The $65 million question -- Why take on Odom? (8-17-03).

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-hyde17aug17,1,5230130.column?coll=sfla-sports-front

And don't say Riley is really betting on himself to change Odom. Please don't go there. Riley is as fascinating a sports personality as there is, a fact that's lost with his team losing. But if he were to leave, the Heat could be the faceless Atlanta Hawks.

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NCAA is wrong? Say it can't be so (8-15-03).

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/c...ultz/index.html

Say this for Hawks executive vice president Lee Douglas: He doesn't hide the obvious. Douglas made mention of the team's primary three weapons (Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Theo Ratliff, the still unsigned Jason Terry) the other day. But when asked how he'll market this team to the public, he admitted, "We'll probably go hot and heavy with some of the story lines in the NBA and little in the way of references to us."

What must it have been like in the Stotts household with

Terry going from interim Hawks coach to probably fired to job candidate in Philadelphia, New York and Milwaukee to snubbed by all three to Hawks head coach? Quoth Jan Stotts, the resilient wife: "This summer has been a long year."

[Guest]

Say this for Hawks executive vice president Lee Douglas: He doesn't hide the obvious. Douglas made mention of the team's primary three weapons (Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Theo Ratliff, the still unsigned Jason Terry) the other day. But when asked how he'll market this team to the public, he admitted, "We'll probably go hot and heavy with some of the story lines in the NBA and little in the way of references to us."

IT's so sad that it has to be done that way. But that says

it all about the team.