We get Boston's number 1 also!

[ATL_BALLER]

This has been confirmed by the AJC. I like this deal.

As I said, we should extend Gary, and let him mentor Paul. Plus, we add a mid first round pick to add another young'n.

Bk has done it again!

[Admin]

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/sports/haw...05/25hawks.html

[chillzatl]

It opens up PT for the rookies and gives us a quality PG to help lead the team. If payton plays well, we extend him for a few years. If he doesn't, we let him walk and we get teh cap room we would have had with walker.

If we really get the celts pick, it's a double win for us. We get the experienced leadership we need, a pick AND retain our cap flex.

[Nicholasp27]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Bogut/best pg here we come!!!!!

[AHF]

Quote:

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Payton, Stewart and Gugliotta will wear Hawks uniforms for the next 29 games, if at all, as all of their contracts, like Walker's, expire at the end of the season

---

Excellent.

[ATownStomp]

I rather extend Lue he is younger and would be a solid backup to Chris Paul(If we draft him).

[Packfill]

I guess Yogi and Gugs get cut outright?

[Plainview1981]

You kidding? Lue is a horrible defensive player.

[jezmund]

I want GP to stay in Atlanta, at least to give us a face.

Payton/Chill/Smoove/Harrington/Ekezie

[AHF]

Quote:

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I guess Yogi and Gugs get cut outright?

---

Sounds about right to me.

[Nicholasp27]

unless we cut crawford...

[DominiqueWilkins]

Excellent job by Billy Knight.

*Slaps*

[Lascar78]

The first rounder changes everything. It changes this fromm a bad to a good trade.

Walker or harrington had to go. Problem solved. We need a PG to show the young guns how a good offense is run. problem solved. We need to keep losing games. Well, despite getting a good PG, we are losing our top scorer, top rebounder, and our second best assist man. Most importantly, we needed another 1st rounder to help complete our youth movement. Problem solved.

This was about as good a move as we could manage at this point. Plus, we are sending Toine where he wanted to go. Just like we let Barry go where he was wanted. having a reputation as a club that treats their players well will help us recruit in the long run.

[Lascar78]

yeah, there is no reason not to cut crawford. He's not playing this year, and is not coming back after this year I would imagine

[TheRedStripes]

I am completely happy with this trade now that i know the hawks got a first round pick out of this, GP is not the player he used to be, and i expect him to be gone after the season, but he is a better PG than the hawks had currently,

now lets all just hope the Celtics get worse so the hawks can get as good a pick as possible out of this

[Final_quest]

Do you guys think GP will be professional about this? Also, did anyone else read his quote where he said the next team he goes to will be his last?

Anyways this is a great deal for the Hawks. Not sure if GP will remain a Hawk or not, we'll see. BK sure surprises folk, though. I never saw the first trade for Walker coming last summer, and now this. Of all the trade scenarios we come up with I don't think anyone guessed on this one.

Now we have to hope the Celtics lose and lose.

[DominiqueWilkins]

Noway GP resigns with the Hawks, so I wouldn't even over think things.

Overall it's a outstanding trade for the Hawks, and specially now that we get one of the first round picks.

[BritishKnights]

I love this trade, Walker is gone...the hawks have a 1st round pick, still the same cap space after the season...and to top it off that annnoying Employee8 character will probably not be a hawk fan anymore

[emorystar]

Will Gary Payton play 1 game as a Hawk? I doubt it.

[Inside_Man]

The Celts have 2 1st round picks this year, and we get the lesser of the two. The other one is from the Lakers, but the Celts only get it if the Lakers make the playoffs. I'm not sure what happens if the Celts only have one 1st this year.