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http://www.foxsportsohio.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/story/Cavs-Suns-have-special-interest-in-LA?blockID=879921&feedID=3561

• In free agency news, word is the Hawks’ first priority will be to keep unrestricted free agents Josh Smith and Kyle Korver during the off-season. If it proves too costly, the Hawks will shop one (or both) in a sign-and-trade.

If this is true, I am sad. It's like the bad, abusive, ill-fated relationship that won't end.

Depends what we get him for. If its 9-12 million............its not a bad deal for a person of his athleticism. We might sign him and trade him though.

I think Ferry will make a run at him within reason, Josh will want a MAX, and he will go somewhere where someone will offer him the money (there are teams that will pay him more than we will IMO). Im not that surprised they would say this publicly, but I dont think he stays, doesnt strike me as a guy willing to eat crow and take a non max deal in ATL. He will "welker" us and go somewhere else.

Korver I dont see sticking around either. Hes getting old, and I think after this season there will be some other teams willing to sign him to a 2-3 year deal where he can compete. Im not sure he stays around. Rumor is he wants to go back to Utah.

That "rumor" was started by a Utah paper asking "Hey would you come back to Utah?" and his response was "I wouldn't rule it out" BLAM!!! KORVER WANTS TO GO BACK TO UTAH. He said the same thing about Chicago.

Smith is going to go for 14-16 a year. The question is are we going to be willing to offer it.

Kyle is getting his most usage in a long time and has teammates constantly looking for him. His role is bigger here than it would be anywhere else, so unless someone blows him out of the water with a offer, he will probably be back.

I think a big part of re-signing them, Korver particularly, is who the coach is next season.

If Drew returns, he already has a certain familiarity with how Kover should be used offensively & defensively.
That wouldl be a real selling point to Kyle, as he won't be rotting on the bench.

If Ferry hires a defesnive coach with little offensive philospohy (Nate McMillan, Mike Brown) Korver might see the writing on the wall and look elsewhere for a chance to contribute.

**** I hope not. If we resign him I would be leaning towards being anti-Hawk until he is gone.

Ferry will allow Josh Smith some freedom to explore his options, but I believe Josh prefers to stay in Atlanta, so as usual money is the issue. I trust Ferry to make the right decision when it comes to Josh Smith. I believe he'll let him walk if the max is our only option.

I'd like to see Kyle Korver signed long-term.

Yungsta404 wrote:**** I hope not. If we resign him I would be leaning towards being anti-Hawk until he is gone.

You and Jamaaliver both

PandaKidd wrote:Depends what we get him for. If its 9-12 million............its not a bad deal for a person of his athleticism. We might sign him and trade him though.

I think Ferry will make a run at him within reason, Josh will want a MAX, and he will go somewhere where someone will offer him the money (there are teams that will pay him more than we will IMO). Im not that surprised they would say this publicly, but I dont think he stays, doesnt strike me as a guy willing to eat crow and take a non max deal in ATL. He will "welker" us and go somewhere else.

Korver I dont see sticking around either. Hes getting old, and I think after this season there will be some other teams willing to sign him to a 2-3 year deal where he can compete. Im not sure he stays around. Rumor is he wants to go back to Utah.

Josh is a very humble person. Also he never stated he wants a max he said he feels as if hes a max kind of player. Him and Ferry are obviously gonna figure something out and hes going to return for a reasonable price.

Wouldn't mind having Smoove back in town if we surround himself with good passers. Have a PnR game with Smoove and get a coach that'll go hard on him. Bring Josh back to the ATL!

GrimeyKidd wrote:Josh is a very humble person. Also he never stated he wants a max he said he feels as if hes a max kind of player.

On a different note, shouldn't Teague be the first priority to lock up so some team doesn't make an outlandish offer to him that we might have to match in Restricted Free Agency?

Jamaaliver wrote:

GrimeyKidd wrote:Josh is a very humble person. Also he never stated he wants a max he said he feels as if hes a max kind of player.

On a different note, shouldn't Teague be the first priority to lock up so some team doesn't make an outlandish offer to him that we might have to match in Restricted Free Agency?

Getting a PG is easier then a PF.

NeZoRiL wrote:

Jamaaliver wrote:


On a different note, shouldn't Teague be the first priority to lock up so some team doesn't make an outlandish offer to him that we might have to match in Restricted Free Agency?

Getting a PG is easier then a PF.

1. I wholeheartedly disagree.

2. W already have a better PF on our roster.

Center & PG remain the 2 most important positions in basketball. Those should be our FA priorities.

Jamaaliver wrote:

NeZoRiL wrote:

Jamaaliver wrote:


On a different note, shouldn't Teague be the first priority to lock up so some team doesn't make an outlandish offer to him that we might have to match in Restricted Free Agency?

Getting a PG is easier then a PF.

1. I wholeheartedly disagree.

2. W already have a better PF on our roster.

Center & PG remain the 2 most important positions in basketball. Those should be our FA priorities.

Look at the FA's right now, just...right now. Boykins, West, Arenas compared to Murphy, Mensah Bonsu and Ike Diogu?

Jamaaliver wrote:

GrimeyKidd wrote:Josh is a very humble person. Also he never stated he wants a max he said he feels as if hes a max kind of player.

On a different note, shouldn't Teague be the first priority to lock up so some team doesn't make an outlandish offer to him that we might have to match in Restricted Free Agency?

Do you really think that Teague would sign if we made him an offer right now without testing his value in the market and trying to get as money as possible? It's not happening. Teague will be a Hawk next year but he is going to want to get paid.

On topic, I'm fine with Josh coming back as long as it's not an absurd deal. Josh at 12-14 million along with Teague at 8-10 should leave us enough room to bring in a solid guard and possibly a Center.

I think Corey Brewer would fit in perfectly with this team but I'm not sure of his contract situation. Does anyone know if he is an unrestricted free agent this season?

Not in favor of signing Teague now, but don't want to wait until Free Agency begins when other teams can make bids.

We've seen what Josh has to offer. Nine years is an adequate sample size.

But Teague is just scratching the surface.

NeZoRiL wrote:

Jamaaliver wrote:

NeZoRiL wrote:Getting a PG is easier then a PF.

1. I wholeheartedly disagree.

2. W already have a better PF on our roster.

Center & PG remain the 2 most important positions in basketball. Those should be our FA priorities.

Look at the FA's right now, just...right now. Boykins, West, Arenas compared to Murphy, Mensah Bonsu and Ike Diogu?

I'm talking long term fixtures at PG. It's a PG driven league, and they are at a premium right now.

What team with an elite PG won a title in the past 10 years? Besides Tony?

NeZoRiL wrote:What team with an elite PG won a title in the past 10 years? Besides Tony?

Detroit and Chauncey. Kind of an unfair question considering SA won twice, Phil's triangle offense isn't the best fit for an elite PG, and most teams with an elite PG, don't have the talent around that guard to do anything anyway.

So, everybody agrees: championship teams either have to have a hall of famer and run a triangle offense - or have a great PG and a good all-around team.

NeZoRiL wrote:What team with an elite PG won a title in the past 10 years? Besides Tony?

Tony Parker 3 times

Chauncey Billups 1 time

Rajon Rondo 1 time

Over the Hill Future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd 1 time

By any count, at least half of the last 10 NBA Champions have had a top flight PG.

The other half had either DWade, Kobe or Shaquille.