Atlanta
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Atlanta's biggest dream of the offseason was to get Kobe Bryant. They simply couldn't. What about another guard-forward who has been hailed as the next Michael Jordan? Do the Hawks have what it takes to (a) get Carter and (b) keep him happy?
The reason it makes sense for Atlanta as opposed to other teams to pursue the high-flying but often injured superstar is he is an immediate fan draw even on a losing team. Atlanta has a big problem with attendance. With Vinsanity, even disgruntled Atlanta fans will line up to watch.
The two issues are having enough in the way of interesting Toronto in terms of a trade and having enough left over to keep Carter from demanding yet another trade.
The only real asset the Hawks have is Antoine Walker's expiring contract. Then Toronto would have to include someone else in the package to match salaries, possibly Jerome Moiso (forget about their letting Chris Bosh go). The Hawks would have no real frontcourt then, unless Harrington sidles over to the power forward spot.
If Harrington were included in a trade, along with cap filler such as Chris Crawford and talent filler such as Boris Diaw, that would work too, but is it enough for the Raptors?
Walker and Carter on the same team would be similar to Walker and Pierce on the same team, and with a trade of a terrific young guy in Diaw, about-to-break-out Harrington, and Crawford, the Hawks would resemble quite closely the Boston Celtics team that went all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals two short years ago.
A lot of people have soured on Carter recently, both due to what seem to be constant injuries and his demand for a trade. But the guy is talented, versatile, and exciting. He immediately would make the Hawks playoff contenders, if Walker remains here as well. And it certainly solves all the attendance problems.
TEAM NOTES
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The Rocky Mountain Newswrites: Houston Rockets guard Bob Sura had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back. Sura, who signed with the Rockets in August, was injured during an off-season workout three weeks ago. Rehabilitation is expected to last at least eight weeks, about two weeks after the Rockets' opener against the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 6. A nine-year veteran who can play either guard spot, Sura averaged 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 80 games with the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks last season.
Ian R. Rapoport ofThe Clarion Ledgerwrites: And on Tuesday night at 6 p.m., twin brothers Reginald and Richard Delk knew they were going to Mississippi State. The Delks orally committed to becoming Bulldogs and can make it official during the signing period that begins on Nov. 10... Their uncle, Tony Delk, played basketball in college at Kentucky and currently plays for the Atlanta Hawks.They join Jackson Lanier's Monta Ellis as early MSU commitments.