The HHB Catches Up

Looks like we picked the right week to take a holiday on the farm.

In the Hawks World, we saw:


Josh Childress Returns to Greece

Sure, we can lament the fact that the Hawks almost had the bones of Bruce Bowen or Kurt Thomas---or both---but we just can't get worked up about the fact that Childress decided to go back to the greenery of Greece.

In the halls of the HHB HQ, we felt this was a sailed ship a year ago, when the team failed to recognize how productive Childress was and let him entertain offers from pastures that are free from NBA extradition. That the Hawks (and some fans, mind you) mused that Maurice Evans might be a less expensive match for Childress indicates the serious devaluing of the former #6 pick's skills and contributions.

We thought it strange at the time (and if you go back through our entries from that period, we were in full D-Nial mode) that Childress would take an overseas offer, given that the Hawks would hold his NBA rights as long as they posed a qualifying offer every offseason. The same frustration he felt in the summer of 2008 he will continue to feel every season unless some team knocks the socks off the Hawks with a sign and trade offer, Childress signs a tender and plays out the season, or the Hawks feel generous enough to not offer and let Josh go.

Being good businessmen, the Hawks have not just let him go--the NBA is hardly a place where you can be so noble to a mid-20's aged lottery pick who, by the way, can be very productive. And no team has reportedly offered a "gotta take it" deal either summer, unless you really have a thing for former defensive specialists.

So that leaves Childress deciding to either continue his European Vacation or hold his nose--play out the qualifier--and become a free agent the next season. If he had done this last season he would have made a couple million less in '08-'09, sure, but he would have been free to sign with anybody this offseason. If his dream is to have a long, successful career in the NBA, he is letting it drip away by staying away with every season. As it stands, he goes back through the same dance again in June 2010.


David Andersen Realizes His NBA Dream---In Houston

If Josh wants to know how long the Hawks may hold rights without doing anything, the most recent example can now be closed. David Andersen, who had been Hawks property since 2002 without ever coming over to Philips Arena will finally, at age 29, make it to the NBA thanks to the Hawks dealing the Aussie big man to Houston for some second round suds.

It's interesting that the Hawks finally made a move on Andersen, since it doesn't seem like a second rounder wouldn't have been offered in the past by another team, though we wouldn't know that for sure. Certainly we can understand Houston's interest, after Yao's injury and failing to get either Marcin Gortat or Zaza Pachulia.

What would entice the Hawks to make a move now as Andersen cost them no cap space to hold his rights? It might indicate, as Hoopinion mentioned soon after the deal, that the Hawks don't seem interested in a quality 10th man on the roster, else they might have brought him on themselves in addition to re-signing Pachulia. Rumor was it wouldn't take much more than 2-3 million to bring the big guy over.

Since the Hawks need more size, and have really since even before 2002, it's not entirely encouraging that this transaction occurred. It means that Hawks fans might have to get used to the idea of spending the MLE on 2 or 3 replacement level free agents vs. one above average player in the frontcourt, but hey, we'll stay somewhat optimistic until that times comes.

Hawks Summer League Highlights





Ok, Ok---There is a mini-camp going on--but when the highlights are of Coach Woodson "coaching up" Jeff Teague and Othello Hunter putting on a dunk show, it's probably pressing to look for real important stuff there. You can check out pictures and summaries from Micah over here. As nice as the Philips Practice Court is, we miss the opportunity to watch summer league games and overrate our young talent just like everybody else.

Imagine hearing that Teague scored (27) against the "Jazz" at the RMR---or that Hunter pulled down double digit boards in (16) minutes---it's our right to be overly excited about their play and the prospects for greatness heading into the season. Heck, we used to gush about the play of Dion Glover and DerMarr Johnson in the Shaw league for crying out loud--you know we would have hyped Garrett Siler blocking a shot against some D-leaguer in Vegas.

Alas, we'll just wait until the preseason camp---hopefully we'll have another big rebounder to watch at that point---and know if Marvin Williams signed the tender, got an extension, or took Terrence Morris' spot in Russia, leaving the Hawks with (2) refugees abroad.

Until then here is the updated list of free agents for 2009 with their corresponding PER (Hawks players in bold; Attempted to highlight in the team's colors that the free agents choose---who's your money on for the next to go?)

David Lee (RFA)	19.07
Nate Robinson (RFA)	18.95
Paul Millsap (RFA)	18.77
Andre Miller	18.71
Charlie Villanueva	18.64
Chris Anderson	18.16
Ramon Sessions (RFA)	17.65
Marcin Gortat (RFA) Leon Powe Ben Gordon	17.20 17.20 17.02
Jason Kidd	16.95
Hakim Warrick (RFA)	16.91
Antonio McDyess	16.63
Lamar Odom	16.60
Brandon Bass	16.49
Mike Bibby	16.38
Drew Gooden	16.34
Marvin Williams (RFA)	16.04
Shawn Marion	16.02
Allen Iverson	15.89
Ron Artest	15.64
Trevor Ariza	15.51
Grant Hill	15.26
Rasheed Wallace	14.91
Hedo Turkoglu	14.82
Von Wafer	14.79
RFM	14.79
Anderson Varejao	14.62
Rasho Nesterovic	14.15
Zaza Pachulia	14.14
Joe Smith	13.85
Raymond Felton (RFA)	13.80
Shelden Williams	13.78
Chris Wilcox	13.37
Jarrett Jack (RFA) Matt Barnes Ben Wallace	13.10 12.60 12.18
Wally Szczerbiak	12.18
Anthony Parker	12.16
Solomon Jones (RFA)	12.08
Robert Swift	11.50
Theo Ratliff	11.22
Glen Davis (RFA)	10.77
Raef Lafrentz	10.40
Channing Frye	10.09
Mario West (RFA) Ime Udoka	10.00 9.57
Stromile Swift	6.80
Malik Rose	5.28

Regarding Zaza

We still await the morning of the 8th, where we will see what actually happens when pen moves onto paper all across the NBA.

But we felt compelled to comment about Zaza Pachulia, about whom Sekou Smith on Twitter (@sekousmith01) and republished @ Hoopinion said the Hawks made "their case" to the unrestricted free agent big man Monday afternoon.

That the Hawks made their case sounds more like explanation that proposition, but maybe that's just an odd choice of words for the excellent beat writer Smith. However after appearing on The Bill Shanks Show on Monday, Smith, Shanks, and company sounded less than enthusiastic regarding the odds of Zaza returning to the Hawks next season.

It would make sense, considering the needs in Houston and Orlando that Pachulia would be in demand. Also, given the money that Marcin Gortat and Glen Davis are set to be offered by the Mavs and Spurs respectively, close to full MLE (5 and 30-33 million) if reports are to be correct, it might be fiscally prudent to let Pachulia mosey to those significantly green pastures.

However, if Pachulia should walk, it's important that the Hawks address his absence with not just David Andersen as discussed in our previous entry, but with an additional big man as well, giving the Hawks a Plus One in the big man category. Since the Hawks have been mired near the bottom half of the league in rebounding rates despite having a terrific offensive rebounder in Pachulia and a top 15 defensive rebounder in Horford, it makes sense that this is an area that would have to be addressed.

In regards to signing both Andersen and another big man (McDyess and Gooden would be our first two options) the question came up regarding whether we had the cap space to sign both. The Hawks, with their cap holds for their free agents (Bibby, Childress, Williams) along with their current commitments are expected to be over the cap, meaning that they would need to and could use the Mid-Level Exception (MLE) to sign McDyess or Gooden (see how the HHB is trying to creep those names). As for Andersen, the Hawks still retain his draft rights and he carries a zero dollar cap value from being a second round pick, so the Hawks can sign him as they would this year's second round pick.

What Hawks Fans Should Watch For

As the actual Free Agency Week (you know, when people can actually sign and teams can finally relax) comes into being, let's quickly review what Hawks fans should be watching for, according to the last few days of reports:

Jason Kidd, who was being sought after by, in large part, the Knicks and Mavericks, has apparently decided to take more of Mark Cuban's money and remain in Dallas. In addition to being the best offer, it also allows Kidd to perform in an offense and with teammates that best suit him at this time in his career. The terms of Kidd's contract are widely reported to being in the 3 year, 25 million+ range.

This impacts Hawks free agent PG Mike Bibby, who the Philadelphia Inquirer noted was intent on staying a Hawk over the weekend. Kidd's contract (terms and length) should serve as a high-end benchmark for the 31 year old PG, slated for his 12th season in the league. Though, as Sekou Smith reported over the weekend, a deal is not finalized, it makes sense that Bibby should stay where he likely will be the best paid, has had good success, and fits in well.

Also being reported is that this is finally the year that David Andersen realizes his dream of playing in the NBA. Sekou reported this as a probability last week, and over the weekend reports like this started finding its way into Bird Watchers' view. (We first saw it referenced over at Peachtree Hoops) . The highlight (for those who don't want to translate):

The Atlanta Hawks, who chose the number 37 in the 2002 draft, require players inside as they are about to lose Zaza patchouli, which has become a free agent.

"David is an option, as has every summer, to break his contract if it receives an offer from the NBA before July 15. I can not say anything more," said his agent, Kenny Grant, a "World Sports" .The Australian pivot Hawks will leave if the offer at least a contract similar to that charged in the Regal Barcelona: 2 million euros per season.

That's about 2.8 million dollars to match what Andersen currently earns over there. The July 15th deadline should mean that we may find out this week if Andersen is truly on his way over to play for the Hawks.

BTW, it's interesting (at least to the basketball nerds here at the HHB) that at the bottom of the article it talks about replacing Andersen there with Terrence Morris, who is done with his team in Russia. Morris was a selected by the Hawks in the 2nd round in 2001, and then was traded on draft night to the Houston Rockets for a future 1st rounder (which the Hawks in turn traded to SAC for the draft rights to Dan Dickau in 2002).

As was reported last week, Andersen was thought to be a fallback in case Zaza Pachulia was set to depart the Nest. Though no reports have contained the details of deals like Rasheed Wallace or Marcin Gortat, there is no question that Pachulia has suitors. Being unrestricted, Zaza can go wherever there is money and, given teams that were jilted by Gortat and Wallace still have their exceptions, Zaza may be finding the greener pastures in cities like Houston or Orlando, for starters.

That July 15th deadline is also in place for Josh Childress, who had a well publicized meeting in Milwaukee, but little other public detail. Over the course of this free agent week, we'll likely know if Childress has indeed opted out of his deal in Greece to come back to the NBA, and he won't opt out of that deal without something concrete here in the States.

It remains to be seen if the re-signing of Bibby does indeed mean the end of the short, but productive, RFM era in the ATL. Long thought that the Hawks would keep one or the other after the arrival of Jamal Crawford and the first round selection of Jeff Teague, keeping Bibby could Flip the switch off for the Hawks. It's important to remember, however, that the then 6-yr vet guard was headed to Russia with no better offers last season before believer-Rick Sund gave him a million dollar deal to come aboard the Hawks. One would think Murray's solid, even performance this season as the Hawks top reserve would open some other doors, but teams may still be wary of his past inconsistency.

Alas, this only contains folks we currently have---the natural reaction is to ask, "what about the Hawks getting in on some of these other names floating around?" For starters, the names right now out there are the higher dollar names, and those the Hawks would have to renounce the right to their own free agents to be able to sign, which the Hawks obviously haven't been interested in doing (it would include Bibby and Marvin, as well as Chill, Zaza, or some combination of any or all). So it really leaves the Hawks with their full mid-level exception and there are still some names that would good to use that on---they're just not the names that are out there in full force at this time. It does makes sense to wait for the smoke to clear and money to be spent before you start showing your hand.

Our bet? When the signings start and some of the names we've seen come off the free agent board, the Hawks will be in the mix for one of the second or third tier free agents. We would love to see Antonio McDyess or Drew Gooden get serious consideration from the Hawks given that they address a major weakness for the team last season---rebounding.

The HHB takes its show on the road to the ATL this week, so buckle up Atlanta! Complaints and traffic violations can be mailed directly to the Comments Area.