RealGM

Since it's been a while since he's stepped down, I think it's a good thing to rate the "Caretaker" Rick Sund and the job he did as GM?

Draft:
Jeff Teague (19)
Sergiy Gladyr (49)
Jordan Crawford (27)
Pape Sy (53)
Keith Benson (48)

Signed:
Jamal Crawford
Joe Johnson (121 Million)

Trades:
Jordan Crawford, Mike Bibby, and 2011 pick (#18 0verall) for Kirk Hinrich.

What I don't like about Sund is that he never had a plan. I call him a care taker because that's all he did. He kept the status quo which was win but don't spend so much. (except on Joe).

So Hawks fans, what is your judgement of Rick Sund??

The JJ Contract alone gives him a grade of F-

He traded for Jamal and he also resigned Josh, Marvin, Zaza, Bibby and Al. Yes, he was Mr. Status Quo.

I give him a C-. He kept the status quo, drafted Jeff Teague, Al Horford, and traded for Jamal Crawford but that Joe contract he gave wass awful and so was trading two firsts for Hinrich.

Huh... I give him a B-.

For what he was supposed to do, he did it and did it well. He consistently put together an above average to good bench with the Jamal trade and a bunch of vet mini types (Flip;T-Mac;Twin). His drafts were very solid - outside of the Benson pick, every player he picked ended up as one of the top 2-3 on the board. We were taken to the shed on the Hinrich deal, but I still have to give him decent marks for being willing to pull the trigger on deals to make the team better and the Jamal deal gets as big a plus as Hinrich's was a negative. All his resignings except JJ were considered a decent deal by national pundits at the time he signed the player; in hindsight, he said that JJ could be dealt in a few years if we regretted his signing and he was right.

The big negatives I see: we could argue that, in hindsight, all of his resignings were at least a year too long and some shouldn't have even been resigned. Still though, the fact he took to the caretaker so easily was his big knock in my book. While he kept the status quo and improved the team slightly, it was a common assumption that the team was, at best, a 2nd round out. You'd wish he would have taken a larger role in shaking that up, but instead did nothing.

EDIT: Forgot that the Chills episode was on his watch. Keeping the grade the same, but it's noteworthy at least.

He gets a C from me. he inherited a playoff team. Kept them a playoff team.

And of course he tried but was denied the chance to trade Josh Smith. Even though it was clear both sides needed a divorce and Josh had asked for a trade over and over again.

Jamal, Flip, Mo Evans were all solid acquisitions. The Jordan Crawford draft debacle just speaks to how much his hands were tied when it came to finances, ownership decision-making.

The Pape Sy experiment, the L Drew hiring and the Hinrich trade all pale in comparison and stupidity to giving JJ a max-deal. Though I heard whispers he was forced to offer the deal by ownership who expected to sell the team and let someone else pick up the tab.

Jamaaliver wrote:He gets a C from me. he inherited a playoff team. Kept them a playoff team.

And of course he tried but was denied the chance to trade Josh Smith. Even though it was clear both sides needed a divorce and Josh had asked for a trade over and over again.

Jamal, Flip, Mo Evans were all solid acquisitions. The Jordan Crawford draft debacle just speaks to how much his hands were tied when it came to finances, ownership decision-making.

The Pape Sy experiment, the L Drew hiring and the Hinrich trade all pale in comparison and stupidity to giving JJ a max-deal. Though I heard whispers he was forced to offer the deal by ownership who expected to sell the team and let someone else pick up the tab.

Actually, I believe that Joe was resigned because we were looking to sell the team. Maybe to the Pizza Man? However, what if the new owner to be was the Russian that bought Brooklyn?? Then it makes more sense because he didn't mind spending the money.

Also, It was under his Administration that the Franchise went as far as we have gone in the playoffs since the Nique Bird standoff.

diesel50 wrote:Actually, I believe that Joe was resigned because we were looking to sell the team.

Right.

Exactly.

I...think that's what I just wrote.

diesel50 wrote:...what if the new owner to be was the Russian that bought Brooklyn?? Then it makes more sense because he didn't mind spending the money

There's difference between wanting to spend and be able to spend, and signing Joe to the Max made the team unable to make good deal. BKN got Joe, but had pieces to trade more than we had at this time.

Meanwhile, I think that the sad part, and I don't know if we can blame Sund for this, or if it had only to be linked with owner was the incapacity to bring a good head coach, because I'm sure the team would have been able to reach Eastern Finals without injuries and a great coach, and once you are there, you don't know what can happen...

EDIT: quote changed, sorry Jamaaliver that it was your name

^I...never said that. You edited that quote super wrong.

I would have to say the biggest mistake that Sund made was keeping Marvin and not resigning Crawford. We can also discuss holding on to Smoove too long.
Signing Joe was not that big of a deal. Stars beget stars. I remember when Joe, Lebron, Melo, Wade, Bosh, and Amare had "the summit before each of them signed new deals. To have Joe at that table really meant that Joe had respect of other stars in the league. I think in this rendition of the NBA, if you want to draw a star player, you need to have a star player (who has respect) out there recruiting them. These guys are too afraid to be the man.