Knight, Stotts Speak about Trade

[jaywalker72]

Billy Knight speaks about the late night deal that sent Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Theo Ratliff, and Dan Dickau to Portland for Rasheed Wallace and Wesley Person.

In his statement released by the team, Knight talks about the difficulty in dealing a player like Shareef that "has everything you want in a player" and calls the team "financially strapped".

Also in the statement, Terry Stotts talks about the deal from the coaches point of view.

Read the entire article:

http://hawks.realgm.com/showarticle.php?artid=412

[Admin]

Damn Jay this really sucks man. I love having the caproom but I am very worried about what we will be able to do with it. If we can add Kobe then this franchise will be fine, but without him I think we are in serious trouble trying to get people here.

Is there any chance that all of the details of this trade havent been completely released, like we might have gotten some draft picks or throw ins like Woods or Outlaw?

[DirtyBirdNetic]

Good post... I wonder what the chances are of them signing Wallace to a multi-year deal. Not sure how I'd feel about it if they did.

[jaywalker72]

I think the details are final, there will be no picks.

We'll talk to Billy tomorrow at 1pm...I doubt we will see anything different than he said in his statement tonight.

[sinctybldh]

Jay I see you're the resident insider. What is your take on this deal and do you think we can spin Rasheed into something else? Also when is JT eligible to be traded?

[jaywalker72]

I doubt there will be a sign and trade out there for Wallace, because it means we would be taking on salary to replace the money for Wallace.

He is eligible to be traded anytime. JT loses his BYC one year after his deal was signed, which would be towards the very end of the summer.

Part of my take (I will have more after tomorrow's presser) is here:

http://hawks.realgm.com/showarticle.php?artid=411

[Wretch]

Quote:

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Billy Knight on trading Reef:

“It’s a tough situation, he’s the player making the most money and he’s the player everybody wants. He’s our best player and I have to do what’s best for the organization, and that supercedes what’s best for me.”

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I'm sorry, I don't speak Puppetish...can someone translate this for me?

[sinctybldh]

thanks Jay. Keep up the good work.

[Plainview1981]

In other words...The Hawks franchise is cheap. It wouldn't

even sign a player to a 10 day contract and only dressed

9 players....That alone shows how cheap the franchise is.

[hawkszone]

Quote:

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If we can add Kobe then this franchise will be fine, but without him I think we are in serious trouble trying to get people here.

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That's my main concern - that the Hawks may have a whole lot of money and no one to give it too.

Dikembe Mutombo was the last "big" free agent to sign with the Hawks and he basically told his agent just to find the best deal.

Most free agents have a much different take than Deke, they want to play for a team that yes, has money, but also has a good reputation and a legitimate chance at winning.

The Hawks may only fit half the bill after this one....

http://www.hawkszone.net

[Boondocks]

So if we don't resign Rashweed and Wesley,

we'll have a cap of 32 million which will be 20 million once Terrel Brandon comes off the cap as well which is when exactly?

At least Wallace will be playing with all he's got for his next contract but what will the hawks get out of this?

[TROUBLEMAN69]

Quote:

---

In other words...The Hawks franchise is cheap. It wouldn't

even sign a player to a 10 day contract and only dressed

9 players....That alone shows how cheap the franchise is.

---

Well, the Hawks have 2 players on injured reserve, and the NBA declined their request for an additional spot. With 12 players on the active roster, how in the heck were they supposed to sign a player to a 10 day contract?

TROUBLEMAN

[Diesel]

He says it's difficult to trade a player like Reef who has everything you want????!???!???!??!?!

I would almost believe him, but this is the second time he has traded Reef.