David Aldridge article on Hawks / Ressler / GM

[Bankingitbig]

http://www.nba.com/article/2017/05/08/morning-tip-future-atlanta-hawks-mike-budenholzer-paul-millsap

Quote

Sources said Wilcox wanted to move Millsap and go all-in on the rebuild, focusing on the team’s young talent like Schröder, Hardaway and rookies Taurean Prince and DeAndre’ Bembry. But Budenholzer, who had the final say on personnel moves, and who had approved the trade of Teague to Indiana last summer, nixed any more potential deals.

“It was kind of a Game of Thrones kind of thing,” said one observer who is familiar with the parties.

This has been one of my biggest complaints over the past year or so which is the fact of no clear direction. Are we rebuilding/retooling or trying to fully compete?

Quote

Millsap’s future is first and foremost. (No matter who is picked as GM, Millsap will be dealing directly with Ressler on his contract going forward, I’m told.) Budenholzer and the owners want to do everything possible to re-sign him -- “there’s no disagreement on whether we’re going to try and keep him, and whether he’s great for the Atlanta Hawks,” Ressler said.

Ressler taking control of negotiations with Millsap signals to me that the front office screwed up last year in regards to Horford. Sounds like they are going to give him whatever he wants.

Quote

One source said there was unhappiness among some with a lack of accountability for other players who consistently made mistakes on the floor. There was also confusion why Budenholzer kept a healthy Thabo Sefolosha out of the rotation during the Wizards’ matchup, especially after Washington’s Bradley Beal started cooking offensively late in the series.

“We had guys out there doing (stuff) they had no business doing,” the source said.

Something we all complained about... Why wasn't Thabo out there for his defense. Seems that Wilcox and even some players weren't too happy either.

[Lurker]

So this makes it all but certain that Paul Millsap is going to be wearing an Atlanta Hawks uniform next season. Just hope that a strong enough GM is acquired that one of those bad contracts gets sent packing because if not, resigning Paul Millsap puts this team in a hole cap wise.

[Lurker]

I think that source in the final quote is talking about Kent Bazemore and Mike Muscala. That's all I can think of.

[hawkman]

I'm actually glad all of the changes are happening. At least we know that they realize things couldn't continue as they were going. I have no issue with Ressler taking charge. This is essentially his team so it's his right. I just hope he knows what he is doing and I hope he knows when to cut bait. It's actually good to see that management saw the same issues on and off the court that the fans saw.

[gsuteke]

Maybe we got rid of the wrong guy

[Bankingitbig]

7 minutes ago, Lurker said:

I think that source in the final quote is talking about Kent Bazemore and Mike Muscala. That's all I can think of.

Definitely thought about Baze in terms of the unaccountability part. I thought the source was particularly talking about THJ in guarding Beal in terms of THJ having no business trying to guard him.

[Guest]

8 minutes ago, Bankingitbig said:

Definitely thought about Baze in terms of the unaccountability part. I thought the source was particularly talking about THJ in guarding Beal in terms of THJ having no business trying to guard him.

Could be but the stuff Bazemore was doing out there was extremely egregious on both ends.  THJ could've played better.  That's for sure.  However, I believe Bazemore was a primary reason we lost multiple games.

Also, Ressler getting more involved is horrible.  Let the basketball people do basketball things.  Let the owners sign checks.  That he's such a fan of Millsap is troubling.  He has been great for us but he's still an old player looking to make superstar money.  That the owner is a huge fan of his personally is a problem.  You want to be paying Sap $30+ million in 5 years?  That's what Ressler appears to be about to sign us up for.

[Bankingitbig]

4 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Could be but the stuff Bazemore was doing out there was extremely egregious on both ends.  THJ could've played better.  That's for sure.  However, I believe Bazemore was a primary reason we lost multiple games.

Also, Ressler getting more involved is horrible.  Let the basketball people do basketball things.  Let the owners sign checks.  That he's such a fan of Millsap is troubling.  He has been great for us but he's still an old player looking to make superstar money.  That the owner is a huge fan of his personally is a problem.  You want to be paying Sap $30+ million in 5 years?  That's what Ressler appears to be about to sign us up for.

My take is that Ressler only wants to be involved to ensure that we retain Millsap and then will hand the keys to a new GM. Let's hope that's it.

[Guest]

18 minutes ago, Bankingitbig said:

My take is that Ressler only wants to be involved to ensure that we retain Millsap and then will hand the keys to a new GM. Let's hope that's it.

Yeah but if retaining Sap involves anything over a 2yr deal then it's to the detriment of the Hawks.

I'm hoping Ressler shuts the FU and gets back to writing checks.  I hate the owner that needs to let everyone know he's "in charge".  We get it.  You're in charge.  Now follow the model of the successful owners in the sport and simply empower the people you hire.

[frosgrim]

26 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Could be but the stuff Bazemore was doing out there was extremely egregious on both ends.  THJ could've played better.  That's for sure.  However, I believe Bazemore was a primary reason we lost multiple games.

Also, Ressler getting more involved is horrible.  Let the basketball people do basketball things.  Let the owners sign checks.  That he's such a fan of Millsap is troubling.  He has been great for us but he's still an old player looking to make superstar money.  That the owner is a huge fan of his personally is a problem.  You want to be paying Sap $30+ million in 5 years?  That's what Ressler appears to be about to sign us up for.

Yup, very troubling. It is beginning to look like we're in ASG, the Sequel. Sigh.

By the by, Ressler said on a radio interveiw he has a small group of 2 to 3 owners helping with selecting the next GM. Want to bet one of those is no other than GM Jr, Mike Gearon?

[macdaddy]

I don't understand why folks think Thabo should have been in.  He played really well at the start of the season and then started to look really bad offensively and a step off defensively.   After the injury he seemed ineffective to me.   

I think maybe Ressler is righting the ship.   A full max for Sap seems dumb but it seems that both Wilcox and Bud went to ownership and said that their roles as president and GM weren't working.   Bud is a good coach.  All coaches have weaknesses.   

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, frosgrim said:

Yup, very troubling. It is beginning to look like we're in ASG, the Sequel. Sigh.

By the by, Ressler said on a radio interveiw he has a small group of 2 to 3 owners helping with selecting the next GM. Want to bet one of those is no other than GM Jr, Mike Gearon?

(I read/heard there's an Unbreakable 2 in the works?)

I want to take this moment to say that the lack of gifs on the site likely contributed to our playoff failure.  Because of @Sothron I eschewed many gif-infused posts so as not to offend his sensibilities.  It's not #ThanksObama for me, it's #ThanksSoth

[hawkman]

35 minutes ago, kg01 said:

Could be but the stuff Bazemore was doing out there was extremely egregious on both ends.  THJ could've played better.  That's for sure.  However, I believe Bazemore was a primary reason we lost multiple games.

Also, Ressler getting more involved is horrible.  Let the basketball people do basketball things.  Let the owners sign checks.  That he's such a fan of Millsap is troubling.  He has been great for us but he's still an old player looking to make superstar money.  That the owner is a huge fan of his personally is a problem.  You want to be paying Sap $30+ million in 5 years?  That's what Ressler appears to be about to sign us up for.

Now this worries me but I'm hoping this is just PR. Billionaires understand assets and liabilities.

[macdaddy]

10 minutes ago, frosgrim said:

Yup, very troubling. It is beginning to look like we're in ASG, the Sequel. Sigh.

By the by, Ressler said on a radio interveiw he has a small group of 2 to 3 owners helping with selecting the next GM. Want to bet one of those is no other than GM Jr, Mike Gearon?

[Guest]

15 minutes ago, hawkman said:

Now this worries me but I'm hoping this is just PR. Billionaires understand assets and liabilities.

Uhm, not necessarily.  Certainly not in a cap-driven league.

I bet a lot of them are like, "Bwah, $35mil.  Eh, I got that in my sock drawer.  Jus' pay it."

Yeah ok, that's fine but what are the cap implications.

[macdaddy]

Quote

The truth is we are looking for a great GM who adds to what we have as a franchise, not with a preconceived notion of a direction.

This is going to be hard to find.   This sounds like a position with 3 bosses.   Ressler, Bud, Wes.   This sounds like how you end up with Rick Sund as GM.

[AHF]

1 hour ago, kg01 said:

Could be but the stuff Bazemore was doing out there was extremely egregious on both ends.  THJ could've played better.  That's for sure.  However, I believe Bazemore was a primary reason we lost multiple games.

 

Can't we all get along and agree that both THJr and Baze shamed themselves?

(Stupid mobile phone can't insert images.)

[Peoriabird]

One source said there was unhappiness among some with a lack of accountability for other players who consistently made mistakes on the floor. There was also confusion why Budenholzer kept a healthy Thabo Sefolosha out of the rotation during the Wizards’ matchup, especially after Washington’s Bradley Beal started cooking offensively late in the series.

“We had guys out there doing (stuff) they had no business doing,” the source said.

 

In other words, WTF was Bud thinking having that personnel group in the game during crunch time of a very winnable game.  As Chris Paul would say

[GameTime]

2 hours ago, Bankingitbig said:

 

One source said there was unhappiness among some with a lack of accountability for other players who consistently made mistakes on the floor. There was also confusion why Budenholzer kept a healthy Thabo Sefolosha out of the rotation during the Wizards’ matchup, especially after Washington’s Bradley Beal started cooking offensively late in the series.

“We had guys out there doing (stuff) they had no business doing,” the source said.

 

Edited May 8, 2017 by GameTime

[KB21]

52 minutes ago, macdaddy said:

This is going to be hard to find.   This sounds like a position with 3 bosses.   Ressler, Bud, Wes.   This sounds like how you end up with Rick Sund as GM.

I think it is very clear, because Ressler clearly states in another article that Bud will report to the new GM.  Wes is simply an advisor.  He will only be giving his input, not making the decision.