NBA Basketball Trade Rumors and Rumor Mill Gossip » Hawks

Hawks pull out of Josh Smith deal with Milwaukee in final minute

admin — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 23:56:08 +0000

The Milwaukee Bucks did indeed make a move before the NBA trade deadline, acquiring JJ Redick from the Orlando Magic in a six-player deal. But a report from ESPN’s Ric Bucher suggests the day could’ve brought even more drastic changes to the Bucks’ roster. Bucher said in a tweet that the Atlanta Hawks pulled out of a deal in the final minute that would’ve sent Smith to the Bucks in exchange for Luc Mbah a Moute, Ekpe Udoh, Beno Udrih, and a protected 1st-round pick. It’s likely the Hawks would’ve sent more back than Smith, but no specifics were given. ESPN’s Chad Ford says the talks were part of a larger deal involving the Magic:

http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/2/21/4014702/nba-trade-deadline-hawks-pull-out-of-josh-smith-deal-with-milwaukee

Hawks, Bucks seriously talking on Josh Smith deal

admin — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:22:24 +0000

Hawks, Bucks seriously talking on Josh Smith deal, sources tell Y! Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh among players discussed for Smith, Devin Harris.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 21, 2013

NBA trade scenarios as we close in on deadline

admin — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:42:13 +0000

After eight-plus seasons, almost All-Star forward Josh Smith and the Atlanta Hawks have decided it’s time for a change.

So the Hawks are trying to trade Smith before Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, and like that awkward Facebook friend page you come across, it’s complicated.

Several teams have expressed varying degrees of interest in Smith – from the Los Angeles Clippers to the San Antonio Spurs to the Washington Wizards to the Phoenix Suns to Brooklyn Nets to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Teams all have the same questions about Smith.

1. Will Smith re-sign with the team that acquires him? No team wants to give up key assets for the remaining two months of the season and get nothing long term.

2. Do teams want to sign Smith, who will makes $13.2 million this season, to a five-year deal for maximum money? That’s a lot to invest in a quality player who has never been a first-, second- or third-team All-NBA selection or an All-Star.

There’s also a third issue that concerns league executives: How will Smith impact the locker room? The Hawks suspended and fined Smith earlier this season for “conduct detrimental to the team.”

Brooklyn’s offer: MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries and a first-rounder for Smith, a person familiar with the proposed deal told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of fluid negotiations.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/02/20/nba-trade-deadline/1932729/

ATL called LAC and asked about Bledsoe

admin — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:45:03 +0000

In trying to move J Smith, ATL called LAC and asked about Bledsoe. Short conversation. Clips not really interested in trading for Smith.

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) February 19, 2013

Hawks lose altitude

admin — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 11:54:08 +0000

After a year away from the game, Mike Woodson might
have seen his coaching stock rise with the tumble of the Hawks, who
slipped by six wins and appeared less formidable. Woodson’s contract was
not renewed last season by Atlanta general manager Rick Sund, who believed Larry Drew was
capable of leading the team to the next level.
But according to league
sources, unless the Hawks turn in a positive performance against the
Magic in their first-round series, Drew’s job may be in jeopardy. Drew
is one of the league’s lowest-paid coaches, and the plethora of hot
assistants, as well as college coaches interesting in making the jump to
the NBA, may entice Sund to shake up the franchise.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2011/04/17/sacramentos_hopes_rest_on_johnsons_shoulders/?page=4

Hawks Reach Out To Boykins

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:44:02 +0000

The Atlanta Hawks have reached out to free agent veteran Earl Boykins, confirmed a league source to RealGM.

Boykins helped stabilize a tumultuous season for the Washington Wizards,
appearing in 67 games and averaging 14.2 points per 36 minutes. His
09-10 season was a return to the NBA after a lucrative interlude playing
in Italy for Virtus Bologna during the 08-09 season.

Despite being 34-years-old, Boykins remains one of the NBA’s most effective scorers off the bench.

Boykins is amongst a group of veteran free agent guards, including Earl Watson, Jannero Pargo and Rafer Alston.

Hawks still hopeful on Ilgauskas

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:57:46 +0000

By Michael Cunningham

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Hawks believe Zydrunas Ilgauskas eventually will re-sign with Cleveland when he’s eligible to do so.

But the Hawks, unlike some other suitors for Ilgauskas, are not giving up hope. If Ilgauskas decides to play for another team, the Hawks feel they have the best shot at landing him, a person familiar with situation said on Monday.

The person said Ilgauskas is “leaning towards” re-signing with the Cavaliers after they traded him and then the Wizards subsequently released him. Ilgauskas officially cleared waivers on Monday.

Ilgauskas’ agent, Herb Rudoy, has said Ilgauskas wasn’t happy with the trade but his emotional ties to the Cavaliers make it a “very complicated decision” for the 7-foot-3 center. But Rudoy told the Akron Beacon Journal on Monday that a thumb injury suffered by Cleveland center Shaquille O’Neal would impact Ilgauskas’ decision “based on his loyalty and affection for his teammates.”

O’Neal is expected to miss six to eight weeks. Ilgauskas is eligible to re-sign with Cleveland on March 21.

A person familiar with the Hawks’ plans said if they don’t sign Ilgauskas, they would not pursue any other free agents for the 14th roster spot, barring an injury. Veterans waived on Monday (the final day for them to retain playoff eligibility) included Mark Blount, Michael Finley, Mike James and Travis Diener.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/hawks-still-hopeful-on-340280.html

Hawks roster depth is shallow

admin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:26:38 +0000

SEKOU SMITH

Hawks coach Mike Woodson has a white board hanging from the back wall of his office with various scribbles on it, but it wasn’t hard to make out the two rows of initials he jotted down one recent afternoon, or the glaring omission in one category.
There was no power forward listed behind starter Josh Smith. And there is little in the way of depth behind Smith, starting center Al Horford and starting center Zaza Pachulia in a frontcourt rotation that looks dreadfully thin on paper. Seldom-used backup Randolph Morris is under contract but will have to make a major push in training camp to push his way into the rotation.

“We’re in a bind right now,” Woodson said. “When you see it up there on the wall, it really hits home where we’re lacking right now.”

While big men have been flying off the free-agent shelves all summer, the Hawks have had no luck in luring talent outside of the organization. The Hawks’ have been pursuing veteran power forward Joe Smith since last month but haven’t been able to secure a commitment from the former No. 1 overall pick.

They rescinded a qualifying offer to Solomon Jones, who proved to be an able fill-in when Josh Smith was injured early last season. Jones signed a two-year deal with Indiana last week, leaving the Hawks razor thin, at least for the time being.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/hawks-roster-depth-is-111737.html

Why The Hawks Aren’t Trading Josh Smith

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:31:12 +0000

Lang Whitaker of Slam reports that

The big trade rumor flying around (if you’re already tired of the Shaq-to-Cleveland talk) centers on the Hawks’ Josh Smith. Several league sources told ESPN.com that the Hawks have been working hard the past few weeks to see whether they can find a taker for Smith.

The Hawks have some financial issues coming into the summer. Two key players, Mike Bibby and Marvin Williams, are free agents. So are a few others on the roster — Josh Childress, Zaza Pachulia and Ronald Murray. Although the Hawks would like to keep those players, they can’t afford to pay all of them. That has opened the door to the possibility of trading Smith, who, although talented, has a reputation as a difficult player to coach.

The Hawks have had no problem finding teams interested in Smith. The issue is the whopping $6 million trade kicker attached to his contract. The trade kicker essentially would require the team that trades for Smith to pay him the $6 million immediately. In this economic climate, many owners will balk at the payment.

“You are going to see very few owners willing to do things like that anymore,” one GM said. “I’m not saying he’s impossible to trade. There are a few owners like Paul Allen, James Dolan, Mark Cuban and maybe Daniel Gilbert who would pay the money. But there aren’t many.”

So that’s Chad’s report. Since then, I’ve been reporting the heck out of this. I spoke to multiple sources today and yesterday, and there’s a couple of things to address here:

1) Josh’s trade kicker is more like $7 million, not $6 million. (It’s actually a percentage of the money owed under the contract, not a set amount.)

2) Because the Hawks matched an offer sheet from Memphis to retain Josh, they can’t trade him for one year unless they get the consent of the player.

Read the full article from

http://www.slamonline.com/online/blogs/the-links/2009/06/links-why-the-hawks-arent-trading-josh-smith/

Hawks Rumors, News and updates

admin — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:35:19 +0000

Boston.com is reporting that the Atlanta Hawks are at a cross road as they have many players who are set to become unrestricted and have many different options to make regarding potential players to sign and players to move.

It is reported that “The Hawks have key free agents in point guard Mike
Bibby, small forward Marvin Williams, and center Zaza Pachulia, as well
as Solomon Jones, Mario West, and Thomas Gardner.

As of now, Atlanta has only $40.8 million in committed salary next
season, but it remains to be seen whether the fiscally challenged
ownership will do what it takes to bring back Bibby, Williams, and
Pachulia, or bring in some notable free agents.

There have been rumors of Williams being dangled in a sign-and-trade
for cash. Don’t be surprised if talented yet unused guard Acie Law, the
11th overall pick in the 2007 draft, is moved, too.”

Read the full article from

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2009/05/17/kings_hope_lottery_will_be_the_ticket/?page=2