Those looking for the Atlanta Hawks to add a big man to the front-court rotation may be disappointed. Rick Sund told the AJC on Thursday thatthe Hawks were "looking and watching" but no moves appear to be imminent or in the works.
"I always start the season, everywhere I've been, with three point guards and centers, just in case you lose one of them," Sund said Thursday. "We are looking and watching [for other options], but who knows?"
After the injury to Al Horford, Atlanta is left with just two true centers on their roster. Zaza Pachulia has been getting the starting nod of late and instead of using Collins, Larry Drew has opted for a smaller lineup with 6-foot-8 Ivan Johnson manning the center position as a back up.
Atlanta cleared a roster spot on Thursday by requesting waivers on point guard Donald Sloan who was expendable with Kirk Hinrich healthy and Jannero Pargo still on the roster. By waiving Sloan Atlanta slides just below the luxury tax threshold which means that instead of paying the tax, the Hawks will be one of the teams that receives money from tax paying teams. Sund talked more about the decision to waive Sloan with MC:
"We really like what Pargo has given us. He's played a lot and [Jerry] Stackhosue gives us experience. Sloan, we liked him. I think he's a guy who will be in the league."
If the Hawks want to add to their frontcourt, then they will likely have to make another roster move if they want to stay under the tax threshold. The Hawks don't appear to be interested in any of the free agent centers that are available although they have been rumored as a possible suitor for Kenyon Martin once he returns from China. Martin might add some muscle up front for the Hawks but there are no guarantees that they would be able to lure him or a player like him to Atlanta.
"I think we have a really good club, and I think our players accept responsibility that the goal is still to make the playoffs," Sund said. "You don't replace a player like Al, but we also have a lot of [other] good players on the team."
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