Off-Season Articles

[HMFFL]

Atlanta's first order of business this offseason: Addressing its point-guard position, after Mike Bibby showed his age (31) and faltered badly vs. the Cavaliers. Atlanta's best moments, few as they were, came with Bibby on the bench and Flip Murray on the floor. Bibby is a free agent this summer, but the Hawks won't re-sign him if he's looking for big money. Link

I don't support Flip starting all 82 games.

The Hawks have key free agents in point guard Mike Bibby, small forward Marvin Williams, and center Zaza Pachulia, as well as Solomon Jones, Mario West, and Thomas Gardner. As of now, Atlanta has only $40.8 million in committed salary next season, but it remains to be seen whether the fiscally challenged ownership will do what it takes to bring back Bibby, Williams, and Pachulia, or bring in some notable free agents. There have been rumors of Williams being dangled in a sign-and-trade for cash. Don't be surprised if talented yet unused guard Acie Law, the 11th overall pick in the 2007 draft, is moved, too. Link

A SNT that involves Marvin Williams for cash should go over nicely.

[theatlfan]

I don't think that's what the author is suggesting about Bibby/Flip. Even with Bibby, you need to keep a capable backup around since Bibby can just disappear at times, and his D is suspect. I agree with his sentiments there and hope that we can retain Bibby @ a price that wouldn't preclude us for getting that complimentary backup to him. I think Flip is better served as a "Microwave"-type - an explosive scorer off the bench - not as a backup PG type to compliment Bibby.

I think Marvin's situation will be the most closely followed off-season transaction by Hawks fans. I do think he'll be back next year, but for how much and how long is debatable. I generally ignore rumors without citing who's spreading them. MEM could be spreading those rumors to see if Sund would be willing to let Marvin become their 4 on the cheap, or it could be DET who are looking to get younger and might see Marvin as an heir apparent to Prince, or it could be that the general feeling of other team's fans when talking about our team is true - ASG is cheap and would rather Marvin walked than pay him the QO. You just never know with those things.

While I still hold out some (small) hope for Acie and know that all he offers in trade value is as a small expiring, I wouldn't cry to send him shipped. If he could sink his shots, I think he could be a competent PG in the NBA. But he may already be past the "put up or shut up" point, and he definitely didn't put up.

[parson]

I only attend 1 or 2 games a season because the drive's kinda long. I've only brought my entire family once but I bring one of my sons every time (he loves it). So, if I stopped coming, they'd never miss my $$$. However, I could never pull for a team that traded a valuable player for cash. If they make a (further) farce of this team, .....

[raleigh]

A S&T of Marvin would not save the Hawks money, it would *cost* them money.

[evildallas]

The only way to sign and trade Marvin for "cash" would be a sign and trade to a team that can absorb him under the cap without sending back much if anything. There are only a handful of teams in that situation and it was doubtful that Marvin would be of interest to any of them given their existing rosters. If the Hawks really need to save money that bad they would just let him go in free agency by renouncing him or wait for him to sign an offer sheet and not match. They would take a hit in public relations though. The only thing that would mitigate that would a be a big signing after he's gone, but that would unlikely unless the decision to part with Marvin was basketball-based and not financial.

[HMFFL]

Andre Miller:

The talk is the Trail Blazers will sign the 76ers Andre Miller as a free agent. Then they’ll use their extra pieces, perhaps including Blake, to make a deal for a banger up front. Then the 76ers would need a point guard, and that could be where Bibby goes if the 76ers lose Miller, which seems likely as the free agent boycotted the team’s final meetings. Link

[evildallas]

^^^^ From the same article

Atlanta can get enough under the salary cap to absorb most of Hinrich’s contract. If that contract comes off the books, the Bulls should be in good position to extend a fair offer to Gordon—should they want to, of course, which I really don’t know.

It's hard to make a deal in trade checker work, but I've been in favor of Speedy's expiring contract in a deal for Kirk Hinrich. Anything other than that ignores the reality of the cap rules.