HAWKS sign Thomas Gardner

[gurpilo]

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1218165927122730.xml&coll=7#continue

He can be a good addition, can provide what Salim did, score off the bench and be a shooter for the team. He really played well on the summer league, has the size to play SG 6-5 and outplayed both Richardson and Jackson althought Jackson did better than Richardson, showing good percentages and carrying the Hawks along with Bennet to an impressive win over Warriors on las match, that game he was 6/10 from downtown. It's a good signing but we still need a backup SF!

I wanted these two guys (Hunter and Gardner) to get signed, let's see if they can sign now a backup SF like Gelabale, a big Elson, Magloire or Fazekas and Livingston as long term investment. Sekou is reporting on his blog Hawks maybe interested on both Elson and Livingston.

[gurpilo]

For info, Summer league stats:

http://www.nba.com/media/jazz/2008_team_cume_stats.pdf

As you can see Garner lead the team in scoring, most importantly coming off the bench except last game. His percentages were really good specially if you compare them to Richardson's

[evildallas]

This one surprises me a bit, but I can't fault the signing of another shooter. I think it indicates that Mario is gone, which I thought was a possibility after Maurice Evans was signed.

3 possibilities at SF. #1 that Othello Hunter is consider the backup. #2 that the flexibility of JJ, Josh, and Al are seen as ways to back up Marvin. #3 that Jeremy Richardson is still likely to be signed.

[gurpilo]

I really hope we are planning to sign a veteran proved backup SF

- Hunter is more a PF than a SF at least on Summer league, anyway his play would be very similar to Marvin's and we do need a player that can provide something different to open opportunities on the court.
- Johnson could definately play SF and provide something different to the game but really we need someone else apart from JJ, Marvin and Evans because right now only two of them provide outside shooting.
- I really hope we have something better than Richardson, he proved me nothing either on summer league or on the games he have. I would prefer to sign Luke Jackson rather than him.

I have always supported the signing of first Hermann and now Gelabale. Gelabale is quicker than Marvin, can defend well, is very athletic and can shot the 3pt. That is something differente to what Marvin provides. Anyway with the last news aI would go after Finley or even Wells because they could really provide the bench scoring we also need.

[mattlanta]

He's not set on making the team. He's on the training camp roster.

[fo_o_fo_404]

The Oregonian says he signed a one year contract. So, that means he's on the team roster past training camp and is officially a Hawk. As with Othello Hunter, it was noted that he signed a contract that would guarantee him a training camp spot, and half of a one year minimum deal that would officially make him a Hawk if he lasted until Dec. 15th.

Ironic how Gardner and Salim are from the same city, Portland.

[raleigh]

Waiving Hunter and Gardner will likely only cost a few hundred thousand, depending on the stipulations in their contract.

These kind of contracts are common for training camp invitees.

[killbuckner]

dallas- evans is the backup SF....

[td00]

Evans take on the exact role that Chills had last year with the potential to help outside the arc.
I would not be surprised to see him start for Marvin if Marvin gets off to a slow start.