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[jeddelong]

Here is latest on the re-trade of Rasheed, it has quite a negative tint on the Hawks moves. I have to agree especially if we turned down that deal rumored in the NY Post for Radmonvich, Murry, and Brent Barry from Seattle....Sorry formatting is not good because of the protections they put on the page.

Are Hawks suffering from buyer's remorse?

By Chad Ford

NBA Insider

Send an Email to Chad Ford Tuesday, February 17

Updated: February 17

11:49 AM ET

Less than a week after the Hawks traded Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Theo

Ratliff to Portland for Rasheed Wallace, the verdict from NBA GMs on

the trade is overwhelmingly in. . . the Hawks didn't get enough.

Will they, in the course of the next three days, reverse course and

try to get more for 'Sheed?

"Cap room is great as long as you have a concrete plan how to use

it," one GM told Insider in L.A. "They aren't getting Kobe. No way.

And when you look at the rest of the board? There isn't another

player available as good as Rahim. Atlanta could, like Utah last

year, strike out this summer. That's not good."

Everyone understands the Hawks' desire to blow things up. The team

was going nowhere and new management wanted a fresh slate. But as

the team positions itself to have nearly $20 million in cap space

this summer, you have to wonder . . . are any free agents really

willing to come to Atlanta?

Several GMs were shocked that the Hawks didn't get at least some

talent back in return -- perhaps a first-round pick or a young

prospect. After trading Nazr Mohammed to the Knicks on Sunday, the

team's core is now Jason Terry, Boris Diaw and second-round pick

Travis Hansen.

Considering that management would prefer to unload Terry this summer

when his base-year compensation status expires, the Hawks sure don't

look like a very desirable free-agent destination for either a

marquee free agent or a top-flight coach.

Young players like Kenyon Martin, Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson

and Stromile Swift could probably be had for the right price on this

summer's free-agent market. But given the Hawks' no-existant

nucleus, will any of them make a real difference?

That's led to growing speculation that the Hawks will now try to

see, over the next few days, if they can get cap space and a

prospect or two from another team interested in Rasheed.

The problem with the speculation is that there are actually very few

teams with that type of cap room or expiring contracts to make a

deal. The Nuggets, Pistons, Kings, Spurs and Jazz are the only teams

in a position to offer the Hawks similar cap room, plus picks or

prospects in return. Complicating matters even further, with 'Sheed

telling everyone who will listen that he's playing in New York next

season -- barring some huge financial windfall elsewhere -- why

would a team give up anything in order to get him?

The Pistons and Spurs are the only teams with any motivations. With

the Knicks, Nets and Pacers all looking strong in the East, you've

got to believe that Larry Brown is pushing hard for an inside

scoring presence in Detroit. The Pistons offered the expiring

contracts (Bob Sura, Zeljko Rebraca, Lindsey Hunter), and an extra

first-round pick (from Milwaukee) to Atlanta. But contrary to

published reports, the Pistons also were insisting that the Hawks

take either Corliss Williamson or Chucky Atkins. That pretty much

kills that deal.

The other problem is that the Pistons don't really have the

resources to re-sign 'Sheed this summer. Dumars is intent on making

Mehmet Okur part of the long-term future in Detroit. They need all

of the cap room created from those expiring contracts to get far

enough under the cap to re-sign Okur, who is a restricted free

agent. While the Pistons could rent 'Sheed for the rest of the year

and then say good bye . . . it seems like their first-rounder could

get more value somewhere else.

The Spurs are in a similar boat. They could package Ron Mercer,

Robert Horry, Hedo Turkoglu and one contract with one more year left

(like Bruce Bowen's) to make a deal make sense for the Hawks. But it

would cost them Emanuel Ginobili in the end.

Like the Pistons, the Spurs need the cap room from their expiring

deals to re-sign Ginobili this summer. Even if they didn't, the

Hawks would certainly insist on Ginobili being part of the package

for Horry. While 'Sheed would be a great fit in San Antonio, the

cost is too high for the Spurs.

The other teams that are really interested in Sheed -- Dallas, New

York and Houston -- just don't have the goods to get a deal done

with the Hawks.

The bottom line -- the Hawks took a big risk last week with little

chance of reaping rewards in the open market. The best hope may be

to use their space to broker a trade with a team desperate to get

under the cap in July. Several teams like the Grizzlies and Suns

will be in hot pursuit of Kobe Bryant this summer and may be willing

to trade away significant assets if they get an agreement from

Kobe's people that he's willing to play there.

The Hawks would be in a position to reap the benefit in such a

situation. But short of that? Iraq may be rebuilt before the Hawks

are.

Around the League

With Vin Baker now kicked to the curb, Celtics GM Danny Ainge has

turned his attention to the Celtics' glaring hole at the four. Using

Chris Mills and Chris Mihm as bait, sources told Insider on Monday

that Ainge has made numerous offers to teams and is waiting for

someone to come back and say yes.

Juwan Howard

Forward

Orlando Magic

Profile

2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS

GMPPGRPGAPGFG%FT%

5415.86.82.0.447.796

At the top of the Celtics list? The Magic's Juwan Howard. Howard's

reasonable (albeit long) salary, selflessness and hunger to play on

a good team all appeal to Ainge. Howard got great reviews in Denver

last season and the Celtics believe he can help. To make the deal

work, the team would likely also have to swallow the salary of Pat

Garrity, who's out the rest of the year with an injury and either

Steven Hunter or Gordan Giricek (who the Magic seem to want to keep)

in return.

That's not the only team the Celtics are talking to. The Pistons

(Corliss Williamson) and the Blazers (Dale Davis) are also potential

partners. Ainge's willingness to take on guaranteed salaries make

him an unusual player at the trade deadline. The Celtics are

confident they'll win in arbitration on the Baker situation, putting

their cap number at a more reasonable number. It won't be enough to

make a huge splash in free agency, which is why Ainge is determined

to move Mills and Mihm now before they slip away for nothing.

What does the wholesale dumping of talent get the Magic? Wiggle

room. The team would have only $37 million in guaranteed salaries

next season, but with a high lottery pick and several cap holds,

there won't be much cap room left to work with unless it also finds

a way to move Andrew DeClercq and Reece Gaines off the roster by

July 15th.

This really speaks to the problem the Magic are facing. Even with

just three guaranteed contracts -- Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill and

Drew Gooden -- the high lottery pick and the cap holds the Magic are

still nearly capped out.

Several other teams, including Detroit, Philly, Chicago and the

Warriors, have been trying to work out their own deals with Orlando,

but according to sources, the Magic really don't know what to do. Do

they try to add a veteran or two in an area of need (like Eric Snow

or Erick Dampier) or do they strip the team down to nothing?

The chances of adding a veteran who can really turn things around in

Orlando are slim. But stripping down will surely push McGrady to opt

out of his contract after the end of next season. Either way it

looks like the Magic are hurting unless, that is, Hill retires

(still, his contract wouldn't be of the books until January 2005) or

the team's able to trade McGrady for another superstar with more

years. Right now both event look unlikely.

Add yet another Knick to the trading block. Several sources told

Insider on Monday that Isiah Thomas has brought up Dikembe Mutombo's

name in several phone conversations.

Dikembe Mutombo

Center

New York Knicks

Profile

2003-2004 SEASON STATISTICS

GMPPGRPGAPGFG%FT%

536.16.80.4.496.663

With Nazr Mohammed and Kurt Thomas on board, Thomas feels like

Mutombo is expendable . . . especially if he can get another

younger, more athletic player in return. Who'd be crazy enough to

pick up the last year and half of Mutombo's deal? Thomas is

targeting the Mavs, Spurs and Grizzlies -- all of whom need a big

man for a playoff run.

The Bucks may not be done dealing either. Rumors are swirling that

the Blazers have approached the Bucks about a Dale Davis for Toni

Kukoc swap. Kukoc is in the last year of his deal and the Blazers

want the cap relief. Why would the Bucks do it? Davis has one more

year worth nine million left on his contract. With Bucks suddenly

looking like serious playoff contenders with the addition of Keith

Van Horn, adding another solid post presence like Davis could really

increase their chances in the East. He also comes with minimal risk.

The Bucks don't have cap until the summer of 2005 anyway -- when

Davis comes off the books.

According to reports, the Bulls won't pay Jamal Crawford more than

the mid-level exception next year, which makes you wonder . . . why

aren't they moving him now? Crawford will get more on the market

with so many teams now under the cap. Is John Paxson really willing

to lose Crawford for nothing in return?

[Nicholasp27]

sad to say, but they are right

sar/theo for sheed/person was a bad move and there isn't much hope for turning it around (we're hoping for crap expiring players and a playoff-team pick for sar/theo? wtf...2 weeks ago, we woulda called someone nuts for saying they'd give us expiring crap and a playoff pick for sar/theo, now it's looking like our best option)

he better have some good FA skills come this summer (the summer when hardly any decent FAs are available)

[Diesel]

OK.... Let's get the think tank going.

NY wants Sheed.

What can NY offer?

Thomas/Deke/Othella/Knight/F.Williams....

OK...

Where can we move these guys to:

San Antonio

Deke/Othella to San Antonio

Ray Mercer/1st to Atlanta.

Thomas/Williams to GS for Damp.

So, here's what we would have:

Sheed to NY

Deke/Othella to San Antonio

KThomas/F. Williams to GS.

Ray Mercer/Damp/Knight/1st (san Antonio) to us.

The first is useless. All these guys will be cap. IF we can talk Damp into staying, we at least have a C.

We finish the season with:

JT/Mercer/Person/PF/Damp.

[TheDude]

what cr.ap...why would free agents not want to come to Atlanta? I mean I understand we've struggled the last 4 years but we're not the Clippers. And Atlanta is sure as he.ll more attractive than Utah, so I don't think comparing to them is quite fair.

I would HOPE that with new owners coming in and with the cap space, we could attract a big free agent.

If we can't though I can somewhat see their point.

I feel as if we'll know the the next couple of days after the remaining trade(s), what positions we'll need and that will help us know if we are screwed really or not. I feel that we need to try to get some bigs in here with that trade. Plus I personally am betting against getting Dwight Howard because percentages are against us.

[Diesel]

It's all about the Sell.

The City sells itself. The owners have to present a new creed. We're here to build and win and we're not building slowly. In fact, if the owners come right out and tell guys, we want 2 top notch FAs out of this class, 1 top Draft pick and NExt year we want another top notch FA and we have a 2 year plan to be in the ECF, I think that they would definitely listen. Actions Speak louder than words. We could have keep Reef and tried to get to the playoffs, but the fact that these owners wanted a clean slate suggests a lot.

[Vol4ever]

Good Article..................this is the same thing I've been preaching. The Hawks are in worst shape now than I can remember in the past 25 years.

Anybody with a neuron firing knows that Kobe is not coming to the Hawks.

See posting of "Will Kobe come????"

[Packfill]

I may be alone here, but not getting a big free agent this offseason may be a good thing. Get a high draft pick and some mid-level free agent, and struggle for another year. Then in '05, Hendu and Crawford come of the books, we have tons of money, another high draft pick and lots of free agents to choose from. To me it is a two year process. This offseason and next season are to develop young players - i.e., diaw and first round pick. We all know the draft is the best way to build a team and this scenario allows this. (granted this there is no guarantee going that route, see Chicago, but it is the best we can hope for). We get another high pick in '05 and suddenly this is a very attractive destination for a free agent. We will have two things they want: (1) money to spend and (2) some young pieces in place.

I am willing to suffer through another losing season or two if it means a legit playoff team two years from now. That and if we are going to lose, I rather do so with teenagers than established stars. That way, I can at least think about potential.

[Boondocks]

well yes and no, there are certain players I would target with our capspace upcoming offseason, like Jamal Crawford and/or Quentin Richardson and/or Kenyon Martin and/or Mehmet Okur and/or Stromile Swift and/or Ginobili and/or Etan Thomas perhaps even and/or Rodney White, but if we don't get a player we truly like then fugeddaboutit and not sign a high tier fa at all and sit on the money and try to make a good trade or try your luck next offseason.

This is partly why I would love Doc Rivers, who has been in this situation before and made a bunch of nobodies play their hearts out.

[CHORO44]

Well I think I know what Billy is going to do. The two free agents we will look at will be Jamal Crawford and Q Richardson. Both are restricted free agents on teams looking to do something else with their position. The Bulls want to play Hinrich and can't afford to pay Crawford, Chandler, and Curry so one of them is gone. I think Paxson, being a dependable guard, is ready to move Crawford before losing him to free agency. As for the Clippers I think they will be getting Kobe at Q Rich's expense. Regardless of what the media says Kobe no longer enjoys the triangle. Imagine having tremendous ability and having to put that on hold to work within a system. Kobe, Brand, and Kaman is a very solid trio in the West.

Billy is going to offer these guys contracts that the Bulls and Clippers won't match. I expect these contracts to start in the $7 million range, well above the midlevel exception that most teams have available. The good thing about Crawford and Q Rich is that they are young yet experienced and can put up big offensive numbers and excitement. Diaw is not exciting for people that don't appreciate an all around skillset so the offensive flash of JC and QR is a must for the majority of fans.

Billy's next move will be to sign Adonal Foyle to the mid level amount to play center. Foyle is a good defender who has hands, Dampier doesn't, and can finish on the break. Foyle also blocks shots and doesn't get pushed off the box easily. In short he's a center that can run and is looking for teams to use him on the offensive side of the ball. The fact that he is injured will reduce his contract demands.

We will then lineup:

PG - Crawford - Scoring

SG - Q Rich - Scoring

SF - Diaw - Point Forward

PF - ?

C - Foyle - Defense, Post scoring

Our power forward will be the high school kid Howard and yes we will be getting the first pick in the draft. The NBA needs the Hawks to succeed and the best way to do that is to provide them with a young player. What Lebron did for the Cavs, Howard can do for the Hawks. I know they say the draft isn't fixed but I haven't seen one that wasn't yet. Computers are made to be programmed. That's all I'm saying.

So our starting lineup will come in around 22 million dollars leaving us more than enough room to get serviceable back ups.

These reasons are why I'm not devastated that we traded Shareef and Theo for capspace as I feel that the media guys are neglecting to look at the advantage teams with capspace have in dealing with other team's restricted free agents.

[Iman]

Yup, two years of early draft picks plus cap space would give us a good shot at being tops in the east.

Shareef and Theo were good but were they really $20 mil better than something like drafting Okafor and picking up a Rodney White or Alvin Jones Jr type player. Especially given the extra money would get you a Kobe or McGrady type player if you can swing them to your franchise. I hate losing but overall I think we are in a better position now for the future than since the early 90s or earlier.

[Lascar78]

I like the plan, but here's the problem. Us wanting a player her edoesn't make it so. Players still have the choice of where they end up. I would really like to get Q and Crawford. I'm not so sure the Bulls will let Crawford go just like that, even though I agree they like Hinrich. Also is Q interseted in Atlanta? I don't know. I agree that Kobe could very well go to the Clips but that' just one possibility. What if Kobe goes to jail or resigns with LAL, then do we want a bidding war over Q? who else wants him?

Either way the plan certainly should be to get solid free agents and good picks this year, and go all out next offseason. But the key is to not overpay anyone. We'll see what we can actually et this summer, but I'm not counting on anyone coming here for sure until it's a done deal.

[RLHawk]

I like the plan. i like the plan better if you replace QRich with Mo Pete. I think we should fill the SF slot and let Diaw play the 2 next year. The free agent bananza that will be th offseason next year has several top tier SGs. I think we fill in wiht a Ray Allen or TMAC to that line-up and we will have a pretty darn good squad in 2005.

Starting Line-up

----------------

Jamal Crawford

Ray Allen

Mo Pete

Howard

A. Foyle

Backups

-------

Diaw

High Draft pick

Veteran FAs

[Lascar78]

I'm not impressed by Mo Pete at ALL. Toronto tried giving him PT and he folded

Also, Diaw will never be a 2. He can play PG or SF, but I doubt he'll ever be an efficient SG

[BlackHawkDown]

"Atlanta could, like Utah last

year, strike out this summer." - I am going to be completely honest

there is no way in Hell that could happen Utah struck out because Utah is

a state that is just below Montana as th least desiriable places for

any African American yet alon a African American athelete to live what would make them think they wouldn't.

Personally I dont like nor want Kobe. K-Mart is attractive but we could get Emaka Okafor for at least & milllion less. Q.Richardson would be great but only if we were a 3rd or 4th option. Camby is the exact type of center I like rebounder/shotblocker, I also like Chris Bosch.

[TheDude]

the only thing about camby is his injury past... plus his productive Knicks days are in the past I feel..

not a big Kobe fan either. I've always disliked him. But imagine how great it would be to sign him and then trade him for McGrady. Will never happen but it would amuse me.

[OGRat]

Say wha you want, but I agree with

"Less than a week after the Hawks traded Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Theo

Ratliff to Portland for Rasheed Wallace, the verdict from NBA GMs on

the trade is overwhelmingly in. . . the Hawks didn't get enough.

Will they, in the course of the next three days, reverse course and

try to get more for 'Sheed?"

I just hope we can salvage something out of this. However, if we do not get at least two new building blocks by next season, Billy will have failed.

[Diesel]

I agree with you in that I don't think we ought to sink 24 million into Sheed or 15 million into Kobe.

However, in order to get somebody in 2005, we have to have some form of foundation in 2004.

So yeah, a 2004 of Crawford, Howard, and Qrich would be nice.

A 2004 with Crawford, Howard, and Damp would be good.

A 2004 with Qrich, Howard, and Damp would be nice.

And I think that we can get those guys for less than 20 million all together. That means if we move JT in the offseason and sign only 1 year deals, then we would have:

That young core, plus another lottery pick and about 25+ Million to spend in 2005. 2005 will be a much bigger class than 2004.

The point is that guys like Tmac or Ray Allen or Reef won't consider Atlanta unless we have something in place.