Why Jason Collins?

[frankthetank966]

Sekou claims the hawks are close to signing C Jason Collins. Whats so intrgiguing about this guy. He has similar stats to Randolph Morris and is similar in size. I just dont see the addition necessary. We could sign SIller.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/joe-126887.html

Adding Joe Smith wasn’t the Hawks’ last frontcourt move of the summer. The Hawks are close to completing a deal to add veteran center Jason Collins.

Collins was in town for a workout with the Hawks two weeks ago and made a favorable impression. A 7-foot, 255-pound eight-year veteran, Collins would also sign a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum, as Smith did.

A quality defender with a physical presence, Collins also would provide depth and insurance in the frontcourt. He spent the first six and half years of his career in New Jersey, starting 404 games at center time there. Collins was a starter on the Nets’ 2003 NBA Finals team.

[Popeye]

Sekou claims the hawks are close to signing C Jason Collins. Whats so intrgiguing about this guy. He has similar stats to Randolph Morris and is similar in size. I just dont see the addition necessary. We could sign SIller.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/joe-126887.html

Adding Joe Smith wasn’t the Hawks’ last frontcourt move of the summer. The Hawks are close to completing a deal to add veteran center Jason Collins.

Collins was in town for a workout with the Hawks two weeks ago and made a favorable impression. A 7-foot, 255-pound eight-year veteran, Collins would also sign a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum, as Smith did.

A quality defender with a physical presence, Collins also would provide depth and insurance in the frontcourt. He spent the first six and half years of his career in New Jersey, starting 404 games at center time there. Collins was a starter on the Nets’ 2003 NBA Finals team.

It's the little things, the guy is best at taking charges of all big man in the league....

[MaceCase]

In all honesty? If people can justify having Mario on the team as a defensive specialist then they should just as easily accept the Collins addition. He is our big man specialist, a player who's skills and experience will be more than needed when checking the larger lumbering centers that have given our team fits such as Shaq, Big Z, JO, Eddy Curry and Yao if he is to play this season. That is what he excels at so having him as our 5th-6th big to come in only against those foes is a luxury for us. Great sign Sund.

[DrReality]

It has to be defense and since Cleveland got Shaq and Magic Superman we definately could use another big. But I'm not convinced he's the guy. Hope his contract is contingent on making the team.

[Brotha2ThaNite]

This is very bad.

I understand the thinking about having a vet with NBA knowledge to come off our bench IF NEEDED but I really don't think it will be worth the money. The same thing this guy can do Siler can come very close to doing for less money.

Besides, I can't stand to see a 7' player that shoots under 45% FG. This guy shot 31% from the floor and 41% for his career. URGH!

[Brotha2ThaNite]

It has to be defense and since Cleveland got Shaq and Magic Superman we definately could use another big. But I'm not convinced he's the guy. Hope his contract is contingent on making the team.

:beer:

[capstone21]

This is very bad.

I understand the thinking about having a vet with NBA knowledge to come off our bench IF NEEDED but I really don't think it will be worth the money. The same thing this guy can do Siler can come very close to doing for less money.

Besides, I can't stand to see a 7' player that shoots under 45% FG. This guy shot 31% from the floor and 41% for his career. URGH!

He does not shoot enough for that FG% to really impact anything. We got an experienced big man for the league min. He is here in case of injury. He can play d and he can rebound if needed. I think it is a good signing.

[frankthetank966]

If he is good defensively then fine. I will take him off the becnh 5-8 mins a game

[Admin]

Wow this is very exciting! Not exciting in the sense that he can lead a team to wins on his own but exciting in the fact that we're becoming a DEEP team and he's a quality BIG bodied defender. I have honestly never been happier with a Hawks off-season and I don't even think it's close. Basically we upgraded Flip's production with a bigger Crawford and then added quality veteran players at the 4 and 5 while keeping our 4th seeded core together plus added the young talented Teague to hopefully provide some defense at the point.

Bibby/Teague

JJ/Crawford

Marvin/Mo

Smith/Smith

Horford/Zaza/Collins/Morris

That's 12 guys under contract and 11 of them should produce for us this year. And now we've got two 7 footers to trot out there when going into the off-season there was a lot fear among us that we wouldn't even have one.

So what are we looking at for the other 3 potential roster spots? I'd say West is the most likely and then two of Hunter, Korolev, and Siler with Siler probably being the odd man out unless we terminate Morris which seems unlikely.

[Peoriabird]

I'd say West is the most likely and then two of Hunter, Korolev, and Siler with Siler probably being the odd man out unless we terminate Morris which seems unlikely.

What is this board's infatuation with Mario West? He is totally unecessary for this team at this point.

[ATLNY7]

Did Collins sign already?

[Admin]

What is this board's infatuation with Mario West? He is totally unecessary for this team at this point.

Because he is the only guard (sans possibly Teague) that can even remotely defend the opposing PG. I'm not sure you can ask for more from your 13th man.

[jerrywest]

Sekou claims the hawks are close to signing C Jason Collins. Whats so intrgiguing about this guy. He has similar stats to Randolph Morris and is similar in size. I just dont see the addition necessary. We could sign SIller.

Collins is bad in just about everything that has to do with stats. He has never avearaged 1 block in a season despite starting about 500 games. Never had 6.5 ppg or 6.5 rebounds in any season.

I wonder why he played in 75 playoff games, more than any hawk, and started in 58 of them, only 2nd to Bibby. He must do something that the coaches like.

All we need him to do is to take 6 good fouls, play as an enforcer, set good picks, take some offensive fouls and do some intangibles. We don't really need him to score. He can't be worse than Morris in the things we need help in.

If Siler is as good as some of us hope he is, he will take over as the 5th wheel anyway. On the other hand if Siler sucks, we have Collins as insurance. Better safe than sorry. Not like we invested anything more than Mario money.

[jy23]

Wow this is very exciting! Not exciting in the sense that he can lead a team to wins on his own but exciting in the fact that we're becoming a DEEP team and he's a quality BIG bodied defender. I have honestly never been happier with a Hawks off-season and I don't even think it's close. Basically we upgraded Flip's production with a bigger Crawford and then added quality veteran players at the 4 and 5 while keeping our 4th seeded core together plus added the young talented Teague to hopefully provide some defense at the point.

Bibby/Teague

JJ/Crawford

Marvin/Mo

Smith/Smith

Horford/Zaza/Collins/Morris

That's 12 guys under contract and 11 of them should produce for us this year. And now we've got two 7 footers to trot out there when going into the off-season there was a lot fear among us that we wouldn't even have one.

So what are we looking at for the other 3 potential roster spots? I'd say West is the most likely and then two of Hunter, Korolev, and Siler with Siler probably being the odd man out unless we terminate Morris which seems unlikely.

I would rather go with Korolev over Mario, we know what we have in mario and its not much. With Korolev he could end up being one of those specialists that come off the bench and gives us some sharp shooting, combine that with his length and i would take him any day over rio. You say he can guard other teams pgs and i agree but how often does woody actually let him do that? he comes in at the end of the half every now and then and thats about it. I like him but I think he's useless to us. Much rather see us sign korolev and siler and let siler go to the dl and leave that last spot open for a possible 3rd string point. Just my opinion.

[DrReality]

Sekou in his blog said there could be some interesting FA invites to camp. Have no idea who that might be but it's good to have options.

[Duff_Man]

Cheap, strong, veteran post player? Yes, please.

If nothing else, we should be happy with the amount of activity our GM has created for this team. He sees needs and is trying to fill them. Pretty nice off-season.

[Watchman]

He does not shoot enough for that FG% to really impact anything. We got an experienced big man for the league min. He is here in case of injury. He can play d and he can rebound if needed. I think it is a good signing.

Collins does not rebound. He should join the Eddy Curry and Big Baby Davis non-rebounding big man club.

[tbhawksfan]

Collins is very nice as the twelveth man. Big and defensive abilities and at the minimum. What's not to like?

Saw on Sekou's blog that the Hawks plan on having 13. Between: Mario, Korolev, Siller or hunter, who's going to help the most.

I also like that we're leaving a couple of spots open in case we need to sign a replacement or a vet to solidfy a playoff run.

Edit: 11th man, he plays before Morris.

Edited August 31, 2009 by tbhawksfan

[DrReality]

In past years we'd have been tickled pink. We're not talking 6-7-8 man here. We're talking the end of the bench on a team that has never had enough bigs.

[sillent]

So what are we looking at for the other 3 potential roster spots? I'd say West is the most likely and then two of Hunter, Korolev, and Siler with Siler probably being the odd man out unless we terminate Morris which seems unlikely.

I'd prefer the last three to be West or Carney(lockdown defender. Carney can also shoot/West hometown kid still improving/cheaper).

Gerald Green or Othello Hunter. If we get Carney, Green might be redundant but green can shoot lights out like what you would want from Korolev and can also a great enough athlete to finish consistently at the rim.

Stromile Swift or Garret Siler (again Siler might be redundant if we get Collins). Stromile Swift is also an athletic phenom and if we want him there is no need for Othello. He can block shots,rebound(offensively/defensively)like nobodies business. He would definitely put pressure on the other bigs to defend. He can match up with any of our second tier bigs Zaza, Joe and even provide a stronger first string line up if Marvin/Joe were unable to play/perform and allow Horford to slide down to power forward and Josh to small forward for a big/quick defensive line up.

All in all a lineup of

Mike Bibby/Jeff Teague/Jamal Crawford

Joe Johnson/Jamal Crawford/Mario West/Gerald Green

Marvin Williams/Maurice Evans/Gerald Green/Josh Smith

Josh Smith/Joe Smith/Stromile Swift/Al Horford

Al Horford/Zaza Pachulia/Jason Collins/Randolph Morris/Stromile Swift

Would give us unlimited versatility at every position able to withstand injuries and other complications of an 82 game season.