Should the Hawks amnesty Hinrich?

[evildallas]

Kirk Hinrich was expected to be the 3rd guard this year (unless Drew stubbornly started him), but with his surgery he could be out for at least a month if not the more likely half a season. Hinrinch is due 8M this season as an expiring contract. In hopes of flexibility with the luxury tax should the Hawks use the amnesty clause on him and resign Jamal Crawford? An alternative would be to waive him and stretch his salary over 3 years saving 5.4M off the luxury tax this year, but having dead money for 2 more years. Either more would make it easier to add a big and/or a competent substitute for Hinrich. The downside is it would cost the ASG 8M out of pocket and if amnesty is used it wouldn't be available down the road for other underperformers.

Is it best to wait for half a season of Hinrich or should the team get some flexibility to get replacement pieces?

[parson]

Wouldn't we be paying him but not playing him either way?

To me, trading a valuable expiring contract brings in more.

[Superiorblogman]

No, amnesty makes the least since with Kirk IMO. He is the most valuable asset we currently have becuase he is expiring. He should be traded just like Jamal should have been traded. As I continue to express the most sensible deal is

Kaman and Bledsoe or Travis Leslie or Trey Thompkins for Zaza, Kirk and a 2nd round pick or 2.
'
Why? Because Kaman is expiring and would just give you a look at what your team would look like with a real starting Center. If it does not work, cool. No loss other than the 2nd round pick or picks. If it does work, then re-sign Kaman, draft a legit Center whom there are very few, or get a real Center cheaper than Kaman in Free Agency. The Kaman deal is the best because it offers the most flexibility.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=7wljv5t

[ATL Boy]

I would just save the amnesty and use it on Joe in a few years, no need to waste it right now on a guy who has trade value.

[Air Poohdini]

Will you be starting Teague this year with Kirk as the backup?

[Ruhiel]

1) How many amnesties do you get?
2) Jamal Crawford cannot get you to the ECF with the current roster. If he could defend the PF or C spot. Then his offense would be perfect. However he is all jump shots no defense. Redundant with Joe,
3) Air Poohdini to help out Derrick Rose's ankle we'll bring him off the bench.

[HMFFL]

Will you be starting Teague this year with Kirk as the backup?

Kirk is going to be out of a month or longer, so yes, Jeff Teague will be the starter.

1) How many amnesties do you get?

One

[Ruhiel]

Only 1. Thats what I thought. lol NO evildallas!

Well actually now I would like them too. That would mean they would HAVE to turn a profit with Joe Johnson. Correct?

[Geaux_Hawks]

Trade him? Yes. Amnesty him? No.

[basic21]

Kirk's contract has more trade value than Joe. Amnesty would just be dumb at this point

[evildallas]

My counter on the trade is that we've seen this before with the ASG. Expiring contracts with trade value are rarely traded, instead they are allowed to expire and then the player is either signed, signed and traded, or walks. The list includes Harrington, Childress, Marvin Williams, and Jamal Crawford. I would hope they would use Hinrich's contract combined with a S&T of Jamal to tangibly improve the team, but I don't expect it.

The reasons I brought up amnesty of Kirk is that it isn't the huge cash outlay that the ASG probably can't handle. It would free up enough space to keep Crawford if they desire (not that I think that is a good idea). I put it out there for the people who wanted to keep Jamal, it is a method.

Since everyone seemed to react to the theoretical trade value I won't push that the other option is waive and stretch which would free up 5.3M dollars in cap room under the luxury tax to replace him and help the team.