Bibby could be huge trading chip

[HMFFL]

Is veteran Mike Bibby the long-term answer at point guard or are the Hawks just renting his services until the trade deadline?

Bibby is entering the final year of his contract ($15.5 million) and looms as a huge trading chip, if the Hawks were so inclined and not interested in signing him to an extension. He was the linchpin to their playoff push late last season. They were listless in the weeks leading up the trade deadline in February and then finished 15-15 over the last 30 games. There is no riskier move for the Hawks this season than trading Bibby without

any assurance that his backups (Acie

Law IV, Speedy Claxton and possibly Flip Murray) are ready to lead in his absence. Deficiencies at point guard sunk the Hawks’ playoff hopes in each of the three seasons preceding last year’s breakthrough.

Can seasoned veterans Mo Evans and Murray make up for the loss of Josh Childress, both on and off the court?

Theoretically, they should easily make up the statistical loss of what Childress brought (11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 29.9 minutes). Evans is every bit the defender Childress was for the Hawks off the bench, if not better. And he’s a more dangerous long-distance shooter. Murray, meanwhile, can swing between both guard positions and spell either Bibby or Joe Johnson. As much as the Hawks will miss the intangibles and yeoman’s effort Childress provided, he is being replaced by two more experienced players who are just as versatile.

The Hawks have a wicked early schedule, including 10 of their first 16 games on the road. Can they survive that early test?

They don’t really have a choice. If they don’t find a way to tread water during November, they’ll spend the next two months trying to dig out of that hole. The Hawks aren’t just playing on the road early on, they are facing quality teams — including nine of those first 16 games against playoff teams from last season. The Hawks have their entire starting five returning and all but one member of the core rotation. It’s not as if they’ll show up for these games the discombobulated crew they’ve been early in season’s past. So much of what they accomplish, or don’t, will depend on the moves coach Mike Woodson makes while sorting out his playing rotation.

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[niffoc4]

I think I (and others) have said this before, but Rick Sund has a history of flipping expiring contracts (see Payton, Gary) for decent value, so I think that trading Bibby is entirely possible. I don't think Acie Law succeeding at PG is the only scenario where this happens though. The other one is a bit more depressing, but say the Hawks season goes down the drain, what do they have to lose by trading Bibby for a combo of young players (hopefully PGs) and picks? I see this as just as likely to happen as Acie Law proving himself to be a pro PG.

[killbuckner]

niffoc- who is going to give up young players and picks for Mike Bibby? He has regressed 3 seasons in a row now. He is a below average starting PG and is getting worse. He is worth more than an expiring contract like Raef Lafrentz, but not a whole lot more. Remember that the Hawks basically just gave up expiring contracts to get him.

[Harry10]

depends on which team in the middle of the season is not doing as well as they thought they would, and then decide to start over, dump salary, and tank.

Nuggets, Pistons, or Suns might be in that situation in a few months.

just like the Bulls of last year, you never know what team will be in that situation this year.

[killbuckner]

If the Hawks want to take on bigtime salary in exchange for Bibby then hell yes they could get someone good for Bibby. But teams who are taking aren't in the habit of giving up "young players and picks"

[tsherkin]

Looking ahead to 2010, moving Bibby could certainly appeal to a team looking to clear some cap space to make a big run... and of course, the Hawks might like it for getting back some young talent to develop or a veteran something or other...

Could be useful.

Bibby himself was good for 30 games or so in the regular season... and then he looked like the inside of a donkey's sphincter in the playoffs, so I don't think the comment about worrying about backups is really worth anything. He flopped as hard as you can come the postseason and Atlanta needs a replacement for him anyway.

I hope Sund gets good value for him.

[niffoc4]

It's difficult to know at this point in the year. Teams like the Knicks, Nuggets, Heat could decide that they think they can make the playoffs, but need a PG.
You're probably right, that it won't be good young players and picks, it will probably be either/or. Either a 1st round pick OR a decent young player. As long as the Hawks are willing to take on salary it could work well. If they aren't, then Sund will have his hands tied (like Knight did with Harrington a couple of years ago).

[tsherkin]

Yeah, Bibby's value isn't super-high right now but that contract is still valuable, personal value aside. Whatever the Hawks get back, picks or young players, it will be useful to them as they continue to try and become legitimately competitive.

I hope Sund has the freedom to take on salary as well, it'd be nice for Atlanta to be good; the more competitive the league is, the more entertaining it is, and in a year or two when Boston's run is done, they'll really only have to go through Cleveland and (maybe) Detroit (presuming the Pistons get their youth together, which is likely). The rest of the East, well, Philly is a big obstacle but other than that, the Hawks could probably win 50% of their battles with the Magic in a 7-game series, maybe more (arbitrary number, assuming Orlando has improved since last season, low-balling), so they have a legit shot at making some noise.