Joe Johnson and his "wink, wink deal" with New York Knicks
by hawksdawgs on Mar 12, 2010 11:51 AM EST
4 comments
After thinking for about four minutes on this Joe Johnson to the New York Knicks in a "wink, wink deal" because his agent has known Donnie Walsh for 20 years is a bit ridiculous. Does Joe Johnson care about who his agent knows? Does he care about who he is friends with? Is that why he has an agent? No, he has an agent to get the most money at the place he wants to be.
Even if we want to say Joe Johnson wants to do whatever will help his agent's personal life, it does not match up with what happened this summer. Joe and his party came to the Hawks this summer. This is according to Rick Sund, and Sund personally told me they offered Joe an extension, but in doing so, informed Joe (or at least admitted to Joe) that an extension does not offer the same contract structuring that being an unrestricted free agent does. Sund literally told me, "it was in Joe's best interest not to sign anything last summer." And they told him so.
I have no idea if Joe Johnson wanted to or was planning on signing when he reached out about an extension, and I have no clue if Joe's opinion of the Hawks and where he wants to go has changed over the course of this season. Moreover, I don't know if the Hawks organization had changed their opinion on Joe (although Sund said this season will not alter his value of Joe) as far as his place in the Hawks' plan going forward.
Yet, the history so far does not match the story coming out now. Was Joe's agent taking a break from Walsh last summer? Why did Joe not sign with Indiana a few years back? I get that the extra cap space now may now be inciting or Joe just feels he is not willing to give up shots to Josh Smith or any number of things, but it is a bit ridiculous to say things have changed so dramatically because an agent goes to the beach with the Knicks GM.
Then again, I am not quoting any anonymous Eastern Conference GMs either.
4 comments | 0 recs |
Peachtree Hoops: All Joe, All the Time....
(Ed. Note: This seems more like a paper seller more than hard and fast. When is the last time something this big came out this early and correctly? But at the same time, well, damn. That is interesting.)
Found from here at SB Nation...
Key quote...
There is a growing sentiment among opposing team executives that at the very least the Knicks will sign Atlanta's Joe Johnson, whose agent, Arn Tellem, orchestrated the Tracy McGrady trade to the Knicks and has been friends with Walsh for 20 years. It's called a "wink-wink deal," and even though it is against NBA rules, the practice does exist and is nearly impossible to police.
"I think that's a done deal," said one Eastern Conference GM.
If it is the Knicks, could we work a sign and trade? Maybe take Toney Douglas to compete as a young PG and Eddy Curry's salary as he would come off the books next summer and open a lot of cap room between him and Crawford? Maybe make them include Sergio Rodriguez for Bibby?
ATL-WAS Game Review: Next Time, Skip the Tour
by The Human Highlight Blog on Mar 12, 2010 7:44 AM EST
23 comments
There is a growing concern among some Bird Watchers that the Hawks may not have the mental focus and drive to be anything more than part-time participants in the NBA Playoffs. Recent games have been consistently marked by uneven play offensively and minimal defensively.
For those who count those traits as a serious issues, then the Hawks 105-99 win at Washington did nothing to assuage their concerns.
The Hawks found a feisty foe in the you-name-it depleted Wizards, but the playoff bound Hawks decided they would try to see if they would win with two arms tied behind their backs. One of those arms was named Defense and the other named Discipline.
23 comments | 0 recs |
Atlanta Hawks 105, Washington Wizards 99 or C- work
by hawksdawgs on Mar 11, 2010 10:01 PM EST
17 comments
Predicted bane of the Hawks existence: The trade with Dallas. No joke the only thing that used to stop Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee against the Hawks was the Washington starters.
It was as I expected, and you can't be too mad at the expected. And I would not be if it was all mildly surprising jump shots and tip of the hat runners, but these guys were not the bane because they out skilled or out lucked Atlanta. They outworked the Hawks. They beat them down the floor and on boards. They were aggressive on mismatches. Hell, McGee out pouted Josh Smith. That is serious effort.
The Hawks won tonight doing everything we do not like, and since I actually pretend the team might learn from these blog post, I feel like a rejected teacher. Every Josh Smith jump shot was hours of tutoring down the drain. Every bad defensive possession with the same old lineup felt like parents not caring about their kids grades. So yea, the team came back running down the hall with a C- yelling "I passed, I passed" You sure did, but that is not really worth my investment.
But as Hawves said in the game thread, "W-I-N spells Win." So at least they aced the spelling test.
Go Hawks!
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Preview and Game Thread #64: Atlanta Hawks @ Washington Wizards (again)
by hawksdawgs on Mar 11, 2010 6:30 PM EST
327 comments
| Atlanta Hawks 09-10 Season Game #64 | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
@ | 
|
| 40-23 | 21-40 |
|
| Verizon Center |
||
| March 11th, 2010, 7:00 PM | ||
| Fox SportsSouth, Hawks Radio Network, NBA Audio League Pass | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Mike Bibby |
PG | Randy Foye |
| Joe Johnson | SG | Mike Miller |
| Marvin Williams |
SF | Al Thornton |
| Josh Smith | PF | Andray Blatche |
| Al Horford | C | JaVale McGee |
|
|
||
Hawks Injury Report: Mo Evans has the flu and did not travel with the team.
Wizards Injury Report: Josh Howard and the people with guns are out for the year.
Blogging With the Enemy: Bullets Forever
Predicted bane of the Hawks existence: The trade with Dallas. No joke the only thing that used to stop Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee against the Hawks was the Washington starters.
Game Preview:
The Wizards have the same winning percentage as the Knicks. It is another road game where Josh Smith jump shots will not be met with boos and failure to put away teams will not cause nervous clamoring. It is another game where all five position players are not necessarily better than their opposing Hawks, but they could be with some poor defense, execution, and effort.
None of this would have been an issue naturally if the game had taken place when it was suppose to. No, not because Washington was worse pre-trades, but because I was suppose to be at this game. A few rows behind the Hawks bench, booing Josh Smith jump shots and nervously clamoring over effort. I could have guaranteed victory. Alas, it was not to be. So Bob Rathbun and Steve Holman, you boys need to pull double duty tonight.
Keys to the game
1. Don't get embarrassed two games in a row, which is another way of saying win. Also, Al Horford.
Go Hawks!
327 comments | 0 recs
THHB's Top 10 Hawks of the Decade: Number One
by The Human Highlight Blog on Mar 11, 2010 4:42 PM EST
8 comments
Well, my friends, the time has come
Raise the roof and have some fun
Throw away the work to be done
Let the music play on....
-Lionel Richie, 1984
We may Karamu and Fiesta forever, but our countdown of our Top 10 Hawks (and more) of the Decade has come to its end.
We've shared a lot of memories over the last couple of months, from the top events to top statistical efforts to finally our list of the Top 10 (and more) players of the decade.
What's that? Haven't seen them? Where have you been? They are all conveniently linked here:
A Decade of Hawks Aughts (and Aught-Nots),
Top Hawks by Statistical Category
THHB's Top 10 (and more) Hawks of the Decade, #10, #9, #8, #7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2
Most have conquered the guessing game but allowed the illusion to continue (see #2 for some spirited "guessing" in the comments area) until today, the day we celebrate THHB's Number One Hawk of the Decade.
No player captured the imagination, passion, and conversation as this player did pretty much from the moment they drafted him. He has not made an All-Star game, has driven even the most ardent supporters crazy, and has become (for better or worse) the face of the franchise.
The Number One Hawk of the Decade is:
8 comments | 0 recs |
Don't ever question Speedy Claxton's toughness again. The man wears no work gloves.
1 day ago
hawksdawgs
10 comments
0 recs
Curt:
Is coaching over rated in the Nba? Give any average joe a superstar and 4 role players and he'll at least make the playoffs right?David Thorpe:
Just the opposite. It's a coaches league.
From David Thorpe Chat at ESPN.
I have always thought the opposite, but food for thought concerning our recent debates.
1 day ago
hawksdawgs
9 comments
0 recs
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Southeast Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Orlando
|
46 | 20 | .696 | 0 | Won 7 |
|
Atlanta
|
41 | 23 | .640 | 4 | Won 1 |
|
Miami
|
33 | 32 | .507 | 12.5 | Won 1 |
|
Charlotte
|
32 | 31 | .507 | 12.5 | Won 4 |
|
Washington
|
21 | 41 | .338 | 23 | Lost 5 |
(updated 3.12.2010 at 9:47 AM EST)
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