Who else wants to do what ever it takes to resign Zaza

[High 5]

Zaza is a quality backup most of the time. Not sure why tontoz acts like he's the worst player to ever put on a Hawks uniform. He's the first to mention when Zaza plays poorly, but he's no where to be found on the issue if Zaza plays well.

[Harry10]

one thing is for sure, we can't screw up again like last season, we can't sit on our ass and let some other team take him away.

I hope that is exactly what we do. A center who shoots 45% and can't play D isn't worth keeping around. Bringing him back should be a last resort if they are unable to find anyone else.

My god man your making it like the guy is the worst player in the league. I'm not saying we should pay him as much as the orginal poster is saying, but he is seriously not as bad as you make him out to be. If you want us to replace him what somebody else could you at least name some other bigs who might be available.

Amen, i hate it when people say "the Hawks should sign a defensive center"... like those are available every year, or even every other year.

every time i hear somebody say something like that i think how dumb they are..... at least i look at the projected free agents for the up coming summer.

BTW, do you know who is a good defensive center... Dan Gadzuric, would people really rather give Gadzuric 6M and not Zaza?

[tontoz]

Zaza is a quality backup most of the time. Not sure why tontoz acts like he's the worst player to ever put on a Hawks uniform. He's the first to mention when Zaza plays poorly, but he's no where to be found on the issue if Zaza plays well.

Sorry if i am not impressed with a center shooting 42% who can't guard a safe. This is his fourth season here. I know how he plays.

If you can get all excited when he does well against a Noah/Tyrus/Gray front line then i am happy for you.

[tontoz]

Amen, i hate it when people say "the Hawks should sign a defensive center"... like those are available every year, or even every other year.

every time i hear somebody say something like that i think how dumb they are..... at least i look at the projected free agents for the up coming summer.

BTW, do you know who is a good defensive center... Dan Gadzuric, would people really rather give Gadzuric 6M and not Zaza?

The Bucks decided to pay Gadz and let Zaza walk which should tell you how much they valued Zaza. Any center that is actually getting minutes is a safe bet to be better on D than Zaza.

[JoshB914]

^^^ To be fair, most Bucks fans say they wish they had Zaza instead.

[High 5]

Zaza is a quality backup most of the time. Not sure why tontoz acts like he's the worst player to ever put on a Hawks uniform. He's the first to mention when Zaza plays poorly, but he's no where to be found on the issue if Zaza plays well.

Sorry if i am not impressed with a center shooting 42% who can't guard a safe. This is his fourth season here. I know how he plays.

If you can get all excited when he does well against a Noah/Tyrus/Gray front line then i am happy for you.

He's our best post player and a solid offensive rebounder. He draws fouls on both ends and frustrates the other team. He's a quality backup center. He had 9/5 in the first half last night before he got hurt. He was fouled 5 times. I think he also drew an offensive foul. He's not going to give you a great night every night, but he is a capable NBA player and can really give the team a spark.

I'm not even saying he should be re-signed (you have any realistic alternatives?), but it's foolish to act like Zaza contributes nothing.

[tontoz]

Zaza is a quality backup most of the time. Not sure why tontoz acts like he's the worst player to ever put on a Hawks uniform. He's the first to mention when Zaza plays poorly, but he's no where to be found on the issue if Zaza plays well.

Sorry if i am not impressed with a center shooting 42% who can't guard a safe. This is his fourth season here. I know how he plays.

If you can get all excited when he does well against a Noah/Tyrus/Gray front line then i am happy for you.

He's our best post player and a solid offensive rebounder. He draws fouls on both ends and frustrates the other team. He's a quality backup center. He had 9/5 in the first half last night before he got hurt. He was fouled 5 times. I think he also drew an offensive foul. He's not going to give you a great night every night, but he is a capable NBA player and can really give the team a spark.

I'm not even saying he should be re-signed (you have any realistic alternatives?), but it's foolish to act like Zaza contributes nothing.

Last year Zaza was 60th among 65 centers in shooting percentage. He was 10th worst in turnovers. He was 5th worst in blocks. He can't defend at all and is a lousy scorer. All he can do is flail around and hope to get bailed out by the refs.

[killbuckner]

By the way- how about an acie law for Sean Williams trade? Both guys need a change of scenery. I'd think Williams has more value but he has been buried on the Nets bench so maybe thats changed.

[tontoz]

By the way- how about an acie law for Sean Williams trade? Both guys need a change of scenery. I'd think Williams has more value but he has been buried on the Nets bench so maybe thats changed.

Why isn't he playing? That seems strange since he was so promising last year.

While i have been a big Acie backer I would probably do that deal although it leaves us very thin at the point. It would probably be better to wait until near the trade deadline if possible.

Bigs are tough to get. I don't think it would be that hard to draft another pg at or above Acie's level.

[killbuckner]

It does leave the Hawks short at PG but the Hawks seem inclined to give those minutes to Flip anyway. Plus if speedy comes back at all then that is a big upgrade over Acie anyway. And to be honest- the Hawks could replace Acie's production (as opposed to "potential") from a D league guy.

Like I said- I have to think Sean Williams is worth more but if the Nets are playing for next season maybe they would be willing to take Acie and give him some burn to see what he has.

[High 5]

Last year Zaza was 60th among 65 centers in shooting percentage. He was 10th worst in turnovers. He was 5th worst in blocks. He can't defend at all and is a lousy scorer. All he can do is flail around and hope to get bailed out by the refs.

Zaza was unusually terrible last year. But this isn't last year. People should really watch the games...This is why I stopped arguing with you about Horford because you just repeat the same few things over and over again and ignore everything else. Pretty childish, but it's all good. That's just the way you are...

[killbuckner]

Right- the question is whether last season was the fluke or whether these few games are the fluke. Zaza was useful 2 seasons ago and last season he was wretched. He has been useful again this season but I still can't imagine why anyone would want to pay him 6 million a season.

[tontoz]

Last year Zaza was 60th among 65 centers in shooting percentage. He was 10th worst in turnovers. He was 5th worst in blocks. He can't defend at all and is a lousy scorer. All he can do is flail around and hope to get bailed out by the refs.

Zaza was unusually terrible last year. But this isn't last year. People should really watch the games...This is why I stopped arguing with you about Horford because you just repeat the same few things over and over again and ignore everything else. Pretty childish, but it's all good. That's just the way you are...

Zaza is shooting 42% this year. The only game he showed up on the defensive glass was against a dismal front line.

He is a career 45% shooter that can't play D. Period.

[killbuckner]

Ok... looked at his stats. There are 3 main differences in his game this season. First is that he has an 18.4 rebounding percentage. That isn't going to last- in his career he hasn't ever been at even 16. (Right now he is top 20 in the league).

The other changes are that he is turning the ball over far less than he has ever done in his career and he is assisting far more than he has ever done in his career. We'll see how much of this persists but he definitely has some simple regression to the mean coming soon.

[Rod700]

I'd give him what he gets now, maybe 0.5M more, but not sure. His 4M are what he deserves IMO.

I think this is about right. I would offer him no more than 4.5 over each year, two years guaranteed, one year team option. I would do this though, only after resigning or signing and trading Bibby, Marv, and Flip.

Zaza isn't a great player but, except for last season, he does serve his purpose. Right now he is rebounding great with 5.8 rebounds per 16.9 minutes. If he played 30 minutes, that would be 10 rebounds a game (assuming fatigue isn't a significant factor). His inside scoring, although limited, does help keep the other team honest. His defense too, while not impressive as a stand alone performance, is key to the team's defense. His strength and size keep teams with large dominant centers from powering into the lane and scoring effortlessly. Granted Zaza can't stop these guys on his own, but they at least have to work for their shots, and it gives teammates the opportunity to come over and play help defense. It is the same reason Luc Longley's pathetic @$$ was important to the Bulls. He just held the big guys back from powering their way in, and defensive players like Rodman, Pippen, Jordan, and Ron Harper helped challenge the shots.

In any event, with all the potential trades I was formulating or supporting last year, if we keep winning, we try to keep this team together at a reasonable cost. Period.

[ATL DirtyBird]

Where the F is Speedy Claxton? Will he ever play?

[markdeez33]

If Jerome James deserved that contract from the Knicks for one playoff series (And celebrating afterwards by parading around with a trash bag as a cape), then Zaza DEFINITELY deserves to be re-signed.

I was at the Hawks/Celtics home games (as I'm sure many of you were) and Zaza was THE HEART of this team.

[tontoz]

If Jerome James deserved that contract from the Knicks for one playoff series (And celebrating afterwards by parading around with a trash bag as a cape), then Zaza DEFINITELY deserves to be re-signed.

I was at the Hawks/Celtics home games (as I'm sure many of you were) and Zaza was THE HEART of this team.

A guy averaging 4/3 shooting 28% who can't play D isn't the heart of the team.

I think Smith's 56 points in games 3 and 4 against the DPOY and JJ's historic 4th quarter outburst put them ahead of Zaza.