Where

[HMFFL]

With the start of mini-camp today and with guys like Earl Barron, Chris Taft and rookie Garret Siler all set to attend, the Hawks have a chance to evaluate three guys that could possibly help solve their issues in the frontcourt. But none of the three offers the sort of psychological security you get with the aforementioned bigs that have gone elsewhere.

That doesn’t mean the Hawks have given up on the idea that Randolph Morris (who is under contract and according to most folks I’ve spoken to, is working harder than he ever has to fight his way out of Mike Woodson’s outhouse and back into contention for playing time) could be a factor. And Solomon Jones is a restricted free agent the Hawks have have for three years. He could also become an option. Link

[td00]

The names mentioned above bring very little to our frontline.

I know we need to find someone, and David Andersen ends up coming over for a salary would probably should have considered, but if everyone is healthy, the guy behind Zaza is going to get very limited minutes.

We do need someone in case of injury, but I bet you move forward not resolving our depth in the frontcourt.

[HoopsGuru25]

but if everyone is healthy, the guy behind Zaza is going to get very limited minutes.

It rarely works out that way though which is why you need depth. Horford,Marvin,and Smith all had 3 separate injuries at 3 different times that caused them to miss 10 plus games at a time. It would be nice to get someone like Wilcox,Dice,Gooden,etc for insurance instead of having to depend on completely terrible players like Solo or Lo Wright for an extended period of time.

[JoshB914]

What a surprise, Sekou reports that a third stringer is working his butt off in offseason (Morris). Reminds me of the article on the new and improved Solo before last year began.

[CAM]

Solo really has improved a little each season......... I'm not sure if you guys are going to hate on me for this, but:

Solo is a skinny, skinny guy. Each year we say he needs to put on muscle, each year he does. He is much more cut than he was his first couple of seasons........ he just needs to keep going because he still has a ways to go. He's got such a skinny frame that he's never going to have wide shoulders, but he still needs to find a way to thicken out as much as he can.

Solo has a real nice stroke for a big guy. He's a solid 70% plus free throw shooter and pops up for a long jump shot from time to time with confidence.

We know he can block shots, he just needs to learn better timing and when to stay on the ground.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWohTkHC76I&feature=fvsr

He has a ridiculous wingspan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Yx8bdkPhg

I recall him playing well, particularly rebounding well earlier in the season when Woody was giving him minutes. I don't remember Solo doing anything in particular to fall out of the rotation, but after about the first 20 games, he was hardly played at all.

Now I'm not saying Solo is the answer for us, he's not, but I still think he should remain on our roster as a back up plan. I think he gets a little too much slack around here for being a scrub.

[evildallas]

We might be in a relative no man's land with respect to wooing free agent big men. Here are my reasons for this theory:

1) We're financially prudent. The Hawks haven't thrown money at an external free agent since the ill-fated Speedy Claxton signing. With concerns about the future cap levels, I doubt the team is offering more than 1/2 the MLE.

2) We're aren't upper echelon for a ring. If a player is taking less in hopes of getting a ring then he'll be more likely to sign with Boston, Cleveland, Orlando, or the Lakers. I'd include Denver in the list as well, but they aren't spending. To compete on that level our core unit has to get better. Until people see that play out on the floor we won't get the benefit of the doubt from the ring seekers.

3) Lack of minutes. If you aren't overpaid or fast-tracked for a ring, then you want to be sure you at least get plenty of minutes to show off your skills for your next contract. Barring injury the Hawks have the heart of their rotation and don't have a lot of spare minutes lying around. If you are a PF/C, you know that Smith, Horford, and Zaza are getting minutes. You can look at the minutes played by Solomon Jones and Randolph Morris as a guideline for what's readily available. Maybe the right guy gets more minutes or maybe their just aren't many available under Woodson. I think this may have been a factor with Chris Wilcox. The Detroit front line was Villanueva, Maxiell, and Kwame Brown. All he has to do to play major minutes is take them away from Kwame Brown. Not only do I think that is easy, but it could end getting starts as well. Starting in Detroit looks better on one's resume than 15 minutes a night in Atlanta.

We strike out in each area which means we're not likely to land a difference maker at this time for the bench.

[pja123]

I hope the Hawks sign a veteran big man to round out their front line. There are still some solid bigs available that would take the league minimum including...

Brian Skinner
Mikki Moore
Theo Ratliff
Robert Swift

[azuresou1]

I'd rather have the project big man than any of those bigs, and not just for salary/contract reasons either.

[jagstang76]

Siler looks interesting to me. Having another big dude like Zaza could have it's advantages. I don't know what sort of skill he has, but he could grow into another version of Zaza with time. At the same time, it's seems that the big Cs like Yao and Shaq are fewer and harder to find these days. It almost seems more logical to get more guys who are around 6-10/6-11 and 250 lbs. who can be more athletic and cover the PF too. Taft is an intriguing possibility as he's a smaller guy who plays big like Wilcox. If he can prove he's not a fake, he could be just the right kind of player we need.

[HoopsGuru25]

From Sekou...

Hawks expecting a veteran (big man) visitor tomorrow that will upstage the mini-camp gathering. Details to come shortly.

I really hope he's talking about Gooden or Rasho. There isn't another big out there(including Diogu who I want)that deserves that kind of a teaser. Chances are it's just going to be a stiff like Magloire.