Zaza!
by hawksdawgs on Jul 8, 2009 10:52 PM EDT
27 comments
Maybe it is the fact that my old blog was called Zaza's playground or the man I got to 98% of Hawks games first bought a Zaza jersey or even that my trivia name at the Matador Cantina in Glenwood Park has been Zaza's Ankles (2nd place tonight no big deal), but I love me some Zaza Pachulia.
When talking about underrated/overrated, Zaza is as close as they come to real, live underrated. In the last three years, he has lost his starting job, failed to gain a vertical leap, and dunked four times. Nothing about those things can be overrated. They really cannot be more underrated.
Yet he has gained a role on this team as a dirty/tough/big man who can score with, if not athleticism, some skill. And I know after last post, I begin to look like an optimistic, rubber stamp corporate man, but a four year, 19 million dollar deal for a true center who has accepted his role at 25 and loves this city is as close to perfect as you can get.
Would I like Marcin Gortat for 19 million? Shoot yes. But Gortat for 34? Well for 34, Zaza you not only have my heart, but you have my mind. It makes sense and I salute Rick Sund for getting it done.
The Hawks still need front court help, but with this week, I am willing to sit back and watch the Hawks brass work before I freak out about what is yet to be done. Woah, when is the last time Hawks management had a sentence like that written about them?
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ZaZa!!!
In Soviet Georgia, you no get money! Money get you!
Go ZaZa!
Joe is a Beast
Al is a Beast
Smoove is a MONSTER!
by Garrison Hayes on Jul 8, 2009 11:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I wish I could type in the andre the Giant voice but instead...
by thirdfALCON on Jul 8, 2009 11:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Overpayed
Zaza is now overpayed, Gortat’s contract is for 5 years which = about 6 mill a year, Zaza is a backup center who is ineffective half of the time getting 5 mill a year, that’s too much. I don’t like it.
by Hawks-Semi Fan on Jul 8, 2009 11:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
that extra year is important though for signing other guys
and i don’t think you are winning big with gortat or zaza as your starting center so i would take zaza for less money and less years.
plus, it would be paying zaza the salary he has now and then 15 million his fifth year. That is a lot.
by hawksdawgs on Jul 8, 2009 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gortat played 12 minutes a game last season
His per minute numbers were great, but I don’t see how you could argue that he’s better than Zaza, or that he’s earned 6 million a year.
Zaza on the on the other hand is only getting an average of 750k above what he made last his last contract. So I really don’t know what your whining about.
Also I’ve asked this before, but are you a semi-hawks fan? or a fan of the hawks and Semi trucks?
by thirdfALCON on Jul 9, 2009 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ask A Million More Times
For what I care, Zaza is still being overpayed.
by Hawks-Semi Fan on Jul 9, 2009 1:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like the guy Third
But we are now down to about 6 mill under the luxury tax for next year. This includes Marvins Qualifying offer, and we have not done anything to improve our ball movement or defense. I don’t see how we are going to be better next year with what we are doing. I understand Bibby but not so sold on Zaza nor Marvin as must keeps and that’s the way we are treating them even if it means not getting any better.
by Hawks-Semi Fan on Jul 9, 2009 2:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
First of all
I was sad cause you wouldn’t tell me if your a semi hawks fan or a fan of the Hawks and Semi trucks. (and I little made that I had to type that out a third time)
Anyway, as you said, we are 6 million under for the last two roster spots, so we can still add another defensive minded big, or trade Childress for Bruce Bowen, or whatever, so don’t worry it’s not over yet.
I get where your coming from, though, we are basically bringing back the same team, and it was good, but wasn’t that great last year. However our biggest weaknesses were depth and rebounding. And we arguably have more depth now, and could get deeper, and also address our rebounding problems with that 6 million.
Plus one thing Sund has been good at through out his career as a GM is finding bargain free agents that fit what the team needs. see Flip Murry (twice!), Mo Evans, Reggie Evans, and Danny Fortson as exibit A.
by thirdfALCON on Jul 9, 2009 2:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I mean, yeah,
you can complain about not spending money on defense and rebounding, but that was obviously never the goal. Woody said he wanted everyone back (so we could win 47 games again, presumably, and because he is sticking by his belief that injuries cost us the Cavs series).
If we gave a rat’s-you-know-what about rebounding and defense we would have made a different trade and/or a different draft pick.
I have resigned myself to the fact that Woody only wants combo guards on offense and doesn’t actually value defense and rebounding. It’s not what Larry or Bobby taught him, that’s for sure, but in both their cases he had excellent mentors in how to say a bunch of crap you don’t actually mean or do.
by rbubp on Jul 9, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He wasn't overpayed
That’s market value, considering how overpayed Gortat was (yes he has potential but he still only averaged 3 pts a game) Zaza was far from overpayed. 19 mil is market value in today’s NBA for a good NBA center.
by atlantaray on Jul 12, 2009 2:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If we're going to round up for Zaza,
then let’s be consistent. 34 mil for 5 years is a lot closer to 7 mil/yr than 6.
by rbubp on Jul 9, 2009 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I said I'd do it...
I said that if the Hawks resigned Zaza, I was going to buy a #27 jersey. Time to pony up!
He’s the heart of the team. Who knows, he might play out of his mind next year. He has gotten better and better every season, and he’s go the hometown fans with him now!
by tentenlarry on Jul 9, 2009 3:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i cant believe zaza has the chance to be a hawk for 8 years now
def. worth a jersey purchase.
by hawksdawgs on Jul 9, 2009 8:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no way
if we re-sign him he needs to be third off the bench as centers go behind horf and one of these undrafted free agents.
by ca$hmere36 on Jul 9, 2009 4:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m very happy to have Zaza back. The contract seems reasonable enough to me. Despite what you read in the AJC about everybody now wanting to play for the Hawks, I suspect there’s still a premium that must be paid to free agents to get them to come to Atlanta instead of the usual championship contenders (Spurs, Lakers, Cavs, Celtics). Sund has done well to bring back Bibby and Zaza as unrestricted free agents. Certainly the team hasn’t improved much overall, but it’s quite possible Orlando will take a big step backwards this year so the Hawks may yet have a shot at the 3rd seed in spite of themselves.
by redwards95 on Jul 9, 2009 8:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Zaza shows passion. ..
These kids around him feed off that. You can quantify that in stats, but I saw it in the playoffs. I’m sure some of y’all did too…
I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I only lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three.
Elayne Boosler
by NaGaNole on Jul 9, 2009 10:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
that stat is actually called a "zaza"
zaza pulls averaged 2.5 zazas a game last year.
by hawksdawgs on Jul 9, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is misleading though since Zaza didn’t play all that many minutes. His zaza/48 were among the league leaders.
by redwards95 on Jul 9, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Marvin
situation needs to be handled. But they should also try to make an offer to Millsap even though the Blazers want him too.
by $73.27 on Jul 9, 2009 3:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
didn't think we would get him back
I thought anothger team would have made a bigger offer. Good deal, the guy is only 25, and you want to keep him but not over pay him. He has played extremely well in the playoffs. When he got tossed in the playoffs the energy left the building. Some fans don’t realize what he brings. I would like to see him get a signature post move. He turns and faces the basket and drives, but he cant finish strong. So maybe a running hook, or turn around jumper would be nice….but we still need more beef down low…Mikki Moore, Wilcox??…
by Cmart34 on Jul 9, 2009 4:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree with hawksdawgs
Zaza Authentic Jersey is a must have now…..
John Hollinger mentions a possible sign and trade with the Bucks. Childress for Bruce Bowen, protected first round pick. Any thoughts or likelihood???
by marvin's ladies of the night on Jul 9, 2009 4:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Would be better than the second round pick I thought we would get
But I want Kurt Thomas, brings shot blocking, rebounding, and defense, arguably our three biggest needs
by thirdfALCON on Jul 9, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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