Atlanta
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Going into the regular season, the Hawks roster has been all but completely revamped, and yet Atlanta's front office better not be done for the summer. The team has strengths, to be sure, but also a lot of holes.
The biggest strengths are their offseason acquisitions Antoine Walker and Al Harrington. Both were not quite All-Stars last year but could make a good push for a bench spot in the Eastern Conference this coming year. They have a rookie in Josh Childress who does not appear, at this point, to be primed to be a superstar immediately, but does appear to have enough talent and composure to crack the rotation for any team in the league. And they have returning last year's prized rookie Boris Diaw.
That's it.
They don't have a lineup like Detroit where every position is manned by a player who could legitimately be an All-Star. In fact, they only have two. If they had gotten Erick Dampier, maybe it would have given them the frontcourt with the most name recognition across all three positions but that's it. In terms of actual performance, Predrag Drobnjak is no Dampier, but he can hold his own. And if Hoopsworld.com columnist Patrick J. Austin has his way (see Newslines below), and the Hawks can land Keon Clark, they will have enough of a presence in the center spot to be able to hold their own as a team.
Really the biggest downside right now is the point guard position. Names floated around have included the likes of Kenny Anderson. Indeed, they do have Tony Delk who is certainly serviceable at that position.
Jason Kidd yesterday reportedly came up with a list of teams that he wouldn't object being traded to. It's not a trade demand, more of a trade facilitation. That list (Lakers, Wolves, Mavs) did not -- surprise, surprise! -- include the Hawks. But if the Hawks were to give up e.g. Chris Crawford and Tony Delk for Jason Kidd, and if they could structure it so that they remain under the cap, and if they can ink both Walker and Harrington to a non-maximum extension this summer, then... well, that's a whole lot of ifs, isn't it.
Still, the Hawks better not be done for the summer just yet.
TEAM NOTES
Angry at the Hawks owners? Pleased with how they've handled the offseason? Got an idea for how they can make more money? Send email to owners@hawks.com.
Our own Patrick J. Austin ofHoopsworld.comwrites: I was so pleased to hear that Erick Dampier was finally off the market and heading to Dallas (in a sign and trade) rather than to Atlanta.He's not what we need, and the fact that he publicly stated his reluctance to play for a rebuilding team made me dislike him even more. The fact is, Dampier is an average center, and is not someone who will put a team over the top (Dallas will find this out very soon). He is an underachiever and only plays for the money. The Hawks don't someone like that; we've already had J.R. Rider... The best center available on the free agent market right now is Keon Clark. I've said before that Keon would be a good addition. He is extremely long and athletic, but has a history of injuries. Think of him as a poor man's Marcus Camby.
Kyle Veazey ofThe Birmingham Newswrites: If you're an Atlanta Hawks fan coming to the team's exhibition at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex Oct. 14, consider a game program with a lineup to be a wise investment.That's because Atlanta General Manager Billy Knight has been cleaning the Hawks' house this summer.
Tom Reed ofThe Beacon Journalwrites: Ann Brown turns 100 years old today.Her son, Larry, will be unable to attend the milestone birthday because he's coaching a U.S. Olympic basketball team that, after a loss to Puerto Rico and a narrow win over Greece, is one only a mother could love. ``The greatest gift my mother could have is my brother (Herb) having a job (as an Atlanta Hawks assistant) and me having this honor,'' Brown said. ``She would be the first to tell you she is a huge fan.''