Jamal Crawford not happy to get the silent treatment from Atlanta Hawks

by Jason Walker on Dec 8, 2011 10:01 AM EST

Most of us know the story:

Jamal Crawford was pilfered from the Golden State Warriors for the last 2 years of the 7 year, 55 million dollar contract (a SNT, btw) bestowed upon him by the Chicago Bulls as they shipped him to the New York Knicks.

To acquire Jamal, Hawks GM Rick Sund had to part with magic beans by the names of Speedy Claxton and Acie Law.

And with that, Sund replaced the otherwise useful Ronald "Flip" Murray with Jamal and banked that he would somehow be a more efficient player than he career had defined to date, 4 point baskets and 50 point outburts notwithstanding.

And he did.

Jamal played his finest season during his first season with the Hawks, under the go-ahead-and-shoot-it mentality of offensively starved isolationist coach Mike Woodson. His play led to a 6th man trophy and Crawford first ever appearance in the playoffs.

Last season, his first under Larry Drew, saw a regression back to Crawford's more established levels of contribution and playing somewhat out of position as a backup point guard along the way.

Some things were made about wanting an extension, but Sund demurred, preferring to wait, presumably, until the rocky CBA agreement was worked out and there was an understanding about where the salary cap would be, and Sign and Trades (SNT), etc.

Now that all that stinky smoke has cleared, the Hawks now face the well documented financial dilemma regarding Crawford: He's going to command a somewhat large dollar, multi year deal and the Hawks have already spent too much money on the guys already under contract and would have to pay the luxury tax to retain Crawford's service.

So far, nobody is sure of their direction. Sign and Trade, bringing back someone with a lesser salary who can help the team and yet still fit under the cap trade rules? Let him go and get nothing? Or sign him and pay the tax to maintain the status quo?

Nice story, eh?

It's the kind of story ordinary fans who care only about that game or that season and have no interest in the types of things that kept those games and this season in jeopardy for the last couple of months tend to hang onto. They focus on the really cool stuff in the right now, with no regard to later. This isn't wrong, mind you, but it conflicts with those whose focus is on not just this year, but subsequent years as well.

It's those ordinary fans that see the crazy, ankle breaking dribbling and the amazing 4 point plays. They're the ones that trust, unconditionally and nonsensically, Jamal with the ball, 30 feet from the basket, with under two seconds to go.

And it's those kind of fans that have been reaching out to Jamal Crawford via Twitter and begging him to stay...and Jamal is telling them all that, doggone it, he might not be wanted in the ATL and that he will to go...ummm...just about anywhere.

A selection for your pleasure--hit that Twitter for even more.

@JCrossoverJamal Crawford "@k_lewis93: @JCrossover I know you have been talking to a lot of teams but any chance on wearing the Pacers jersey next year?"--yes!

jarradejones Jarrad Jones @JCrossover The Pacers?? I think Chris Carter and Keyshawn Johnson would say it best...C'mon Man! LOL #GS Warriors2 hours ago

in reply to @jarradejones ↑

@JCrossoverJamal Crawford @jarradejones --lol! Whoever wants to talk I'm willing to listen..that's what happens when ur own team is confused

@imsoRAW12ryan walkerI respect Tracy mcgrady but damn what bout the best sixth man in league@JCrossover disappoitned Hawks fan right now

JCrossover Jamal Crawford "@DavidBaumann33: @JCrossover .. Magic on your list? Go ahead and make it public haha"--WHOEVER has me on their list, their on mine.4 hours ago

@JCrossoverJamal Crawford "@EricSilver34: @JCrossover r you done with the Hawks :'("--i honestly don't know...

JCrossover Jamal Crawford "@mbillups: @JCrossover Who do we need to say what to in order to get the #Hawks to give you the right deal to stay?"--talk to ownership!

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Comments

So ASG is bushleague like that? I wont even ... thats on Rick Sund, not even give the man a time of day.

Thats less than human. The guy cant play defense for sh** but he was a hard worker for years. With the bad ownership situation you’d think ATL would be more gracious, but Sund is a jackazz. Keep him on the hook like a fish. NO ONE is coming to ATL. Bushleague.

You dont think other players notice this? WOW. Too late to mend fences…These guys keep kicking the franchise into the dust and need to get their acts together NOW.

Hawks trade {Al Horford} for {PF Jon Leuer and C Andrew Bogut}
* Andrew Bogut * Jon Leuer * Josh Smith * Joe Johnson * Jeff Teague *
* Zaza Pachulia * Keith Benson * Malcolm Thomas * Marvin Williams * Kirk Hinrich *
inj. reserve: Pape Sy, Jason Collins

by PointGuardSlim on Dec 8, 2011 10:07 AM EST reply actions

Looks like to me we haven't heard but one side of the story

Of course you already have the answer so why bother to even ask the question

@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on Dec 8, 2011 10:09 AM EST up reply actions

Kind of proves the point of the story, eh?

The emotional side of this is that Jamal has endeared himself to the city—-and this is a real consequence of business.

by Jason Walker on Dec 8, 2011 10:15 AM EST up reply actions

Did he really

endear himself – are we really calling him a son of the city? He’s a good guy, but really – I think this Jamal ‘outrage’ stuff is completely offbase and that we can like him and not believe that we’re going to care about him leaving that much as a city. I am aware of his civic outreach, but unless there was some turkey giveaway or homeless building he bought or something. It ain’t gonna be a break up between the city and Jamal. It’ll be a date that we won’t make too many call backs on, though we’ll keep him as a Facebook friend.

Hawk Str8Talk

by Hawk Str8Talk on Dec 8, 2011 11:06 PM EST up reply actions

Jamal knows the story

and it is highly unlikely that the Hawks have had no contact with his representatives if they are actively discussing sign and trade options. So one of these reports can’t be true.

@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on Dec 8, 2011 10:22 AM EST up reply actions

I like Jamal a lot

He was a quiet and soft spoken guy in that locker room who I thought did the Hawks well for two seasons but at the same time he is also an incredibly one dimensional player that is going to make a lot of money at a position that Atlanta already has a ton invested in.

That is the business.

@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on Dec 8, 2011 10:23 AM EST reply actions

True. But if they regard you high enough they'll meet face to face and have the heart to explain that to him. "We appreciate your scoring but we want to move in a more defensive oriented direction

A face to face meeting is too much to ask? If I were him I would not appreciate it.

Mr. Willis I heard a rumor of Troy Murphy to ATL. Is there any news on Hawks contacting him.

A big shooting F-C like Troy Murphy might help some if he regains his touch.

G Teague
G Johnson
F Smith
F Murphy
F Horford

by PointGuardSlim on Dec 8, 2011 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

They couldn't talk until this week because of the lockout

I find it hard to believe that there are sign and trade rumors out there if the two sides haven’t talked. Its kind of like his trade demand summer before last that wasn’t.

@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on Dec 8, 2011 10:35 AM EST up reply actions

Id also contact Earl Clark and Al Thornton to see if theyre not 2 expensive & interested in a playoff team.

by PointGuardSlim on Dec 8, 2011 10:31 AM EST reply actions

I believe Earl is in China but not sure

@Kris_Willis

by Kris Willis on Dec 8, 2011 10:36 AM EST up reply actions

I'm not sure what's the story here

Whenever someone gets cut, gets traded, or leaves in free agency the mantra that it’s business gets uttered. Like how he does it or not this is standard procedure for Sund. He was quiet with RFAs because he wanted another team to set the market. He was probably very communicative with Joe and Al (signed early). It comes down to where the leverage and the want is.

With Jamal Crawford the team has determined that he can’t be afforded. For one thing the current coach misused him. Hard to justify overpaying for a nice tool if you’re handyman doesn’t know how to use it. The bigger aspect is that it would push the Hawks into the luxury tax just to maintain the status quo. We’re not talking about overpaying to keep a championship team together, just a playoff team. Luxury tax is still reserved for acquiring an impact player that changes the game in Atlanta, not just for business as usual.

So Jamal isn’t a target and for Sund that means he doesn’t need to talk to him. If a S&T opportunity comes up they’ll come to Sund and he’ll deal with it then. Until then he has to be out there convincing league minimum players that their best option is to come to Atlanta. You have to schmooze when you can’t offer more than other teams.

by Evildallas on Dec 8, 2011 11:02 AM EST reply actions

correct me if I'm wrong but....

Isn’t Sund the guy who gm’d the sonics into oblivion? I have never approved of his methods and when he was hired it was just like every other ASG move, cheap. Trying to weasel out of ponying up the moolah to make a true contender. These guys are suit and tie business men, not sports owners. Sund is about as useful as a kickstand on a baseball, but he is not the real problem…. that would be the ASG.

by birdwatch on Dec 9, 2011 12:40 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I believe that 100% of the people on this site would agree with saying the owners are the problem

"A ‘No’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble."
Mohandas Gandhi

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
Winston Churchill

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"
Jesus

"We were real solid on both ends of the floor today and had positive energy coming from the bench tonight."
Jeff Teague

Follow me at @Th3_Prophet

by Throw on Dec 9, 2011 1:16 AM EST up reply actions

You'd think a franchise with historical screw ups would own up to them.

I dont want Jamal back. He cant play defense. But instead of saying to his face “we’re going for more defense Jamal”. They’re going for the same undersized core, Horford down low, and Josh Smith is our rim protector. Sprinkle with 1-dimensional shooters.

Horford and Smith are redundant and small and this core is done. I know Sund will pull in a crappy trade return for Smith this year.

I always wonder if Stern is controlling Sund because the majority of his past decisions are just terrible. This core is stale and mismatched and everyone knows it. Everyone is just waiting for the firesale.

* Andrew Bogut * Jon Leuer * Josh Smith * Joe Johnson * Jeff Teague *
* Zaza Pachulia * Keith Benson * Tracy McGrady * Marvin Williams * Kirk Hinrich *
inj. reserve: Pape Sy, Jason Collins

Hawks trade {Al Horford} for {PF Jon Leuer and C Andrew Bogut}

by PointGuardSlim on Dec 9, 2011 1:35 AM EST up reply actions

Jason are you a trouble maker?

I mean obviously this is business. Why bring this stuff up?

Jamal has profied from association with Hawks. Hawks have profited.
Jamal has options plenty. He is unrestricted free agent.

Next step, is all business….

by ATLpaul on Dec 8, 2011 11:14 AM EST reply actions

I am honestly surprised at the emotion this is driving.

by Jason Walker on Dec 8, 2011 11:46 AM EST up reply actions

Same, especially on Jamal's end

fans get attached, that’s what they do. But you’d think Jamal has been around the block enough to read the writing on the wall.

http://sportsandgrits.com/

by Mr. Sanchez on Dec 8, 2011 12:19 PM EST up reply actions

I think emotion has always entered into it

Just now we have social media so we get more of the emotion spilling out. In the old days someone would have to interview a player and asking them how he feels about how the team is dealing with him during his free agency. Not saying that never happened, but normally those articles are reserved for just the top free agents.

by Evildallas on Dec 8, 2011 2:39 PM EST up reply actions

Whatever

I like Jamal – met him a few times and as a person – i’ll always wish him well. All nice things aside, the ship has sailed. If he can help us get assets that move us forward, SNT ‘em – if not, let ’em walk. His value as a b-ball player is outsized with what the Hawks need. They don’t need a scorer only. As I always said, if he’s the last piece (an Eddie House – NBA Jams on fire piece) then fine – sign him and go over the cap for it if you like, but when you are 4 pieces away from a title – you can’t keep Jamal Crawford on your team. Period.

Hawk Str8Talk

by Hawk Str8Talk on Dec 8, 2011 1:08 PM EST reply actions

That is exactly why Smoove is upset that he gets called out so much, by fans, coaching, and analysts.

Smoove is the Hawks most multi-dimensional player. He is also the Hawks most exciting player. Jamal Crawford was the Hawks most one-dimensional player. He was also the Hawks second most exciting players.

But it was Smoove, who changed the game individualy more than any other Hawk, that was ridiculed for his short-comings. So I can definitely understand his frustrations when you have a player whose benefit to the team was a limited as Jamal Crawford. But its the excitement of Jamal, that the fans you mention, attribute more to his contribution to team success.

When Jamal is on, its a beautiful thing. When he is off, there is still hope because he could turn it on at any second. And so, when it is over the Hawks either won or Joe or Smoove lost the game. Jamal didn’t have as much accountability with this team as I thought should be expected of him. He excelled at being the 6th man. A huge difference from his failings in lead roles that he played on other teams.

Jamal never made it to the playoffs until he joined a ready-made playoff team. And for all the rift that Joe gets for being the best and highest payed player on the team, Jamal couldn’t ever do what Joe did for the Hawks.

by jdewayneatl on Dec 8, 2011 2:35 PM EST reply actions

one dimensional

I agree with jdewayneatl- Jamal is one dimensional. A great team mate by all accounts and a good guy. But if Sund resigns him to big money ATL gets ridiculed. Actually ATL gets ridiculed constantly by the media. We sign McGrady- desperate move, another team does- Heat, Lakers, Bulls, it is a genius move. We just live with that as ATL fans.

Everyone has gone made about signing good but not great players this off-season so far. For one, we aren’t the ones making questionable deals- though many fans seem to prefer action (even if it results in bad signings) than patience.

But Sund can’t let Jamal go and not get to work. It seems he is waiting for the Paul, Chandler, Butler, Nene, Battier dust to settle and see who is still out there and who is left to sweep up. there will be a lot of players out there given the weird nature of this offseason.

We need some bulk- Craig Smith? Reggie Evans?
And another PG/SG- Watson has been mentioned, what about Boykins (for real. Have you seen his PER?), Stevenson (can hit 3s, will fight people)

Any interest in McRoberts? or too expensive?

by Travis Mays on Dec 8, 2011 9:14 PM EST reply actions