Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > July > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLosing Childress an astonishing mistake by Hawks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This summer was the test. The Hawks flunked. Are we surprised?
They couldn’t persuade the lesser of their two prized free agents to stay. They got outspent and outhustled by a team from Greece. Think about that.
An NBA-caliber player in the flower of his youth has chosen to play somewhere other than the NBA. It’s unprecedented, yes, but it’s also fitting. After this ham-handed non-negotiation, the Hawks should forfeit all claim to being big-league. They allowed something to happen that simply cannot happen.
Josh Childress isn’t a star — Rick Sund, the Hawks general manager, characterized him Wednesday as “a utility player” — but he’s precisely the sort of multi-tasker found on great teams. He’s a quick and clever sub who changes games. Having nurtured him for four seasons, the Hawks should have had some sense of his value. Alas, they wound up being penny-wise and pound-foolish. They dared Childress to leave. He took the dare.
This was Childress, speaking via conference call from Athens: “I wanted to get it done early … I was disappointed by the initial Hawks offer. They said, ‘Go out and find another offer’ … There was no urgency, no desire to get anything done.”
How could that be? The Hawks had no picks in the June draft. Sund and co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. had claimed the entire offseason focus was on keeping Messrs. Childress and Smith, but this disconcerted effort drove one Josh across the Atlantic.
Working a sign-and-trade wouldn’t have been the preferred course — Childress needed to stay here, period — but at least it would have yielded a return in personnel. This way the Hawks get nothing, and to twist the knife they must take a hit against their salary cap if they choose to retain his NBA rights. (Lon Babby, who represents Childress, was only happy to share that nugget with his media audience.)
This astonishing whiff comes not three months after the Hawks took the Celtics to Game 7 and this woebegone franchise began to buy back the good will lost over a decade of incompetence and indifference. This summer was going to be the time to consolidate precious gains, to prove to a suddenly rapt audience that happy days were here again. Instead we see that, in the serious-about-basketball department, the Hawks weren’t even a match for Greeks bearing gifts.
“After the Boston series, we thought things would get done,” said Childress, speaking of himself and Smith. “But I don’t think there was any commitment shown … We had a good run, we’d done everything we were expected to do, and we were put on hold.”
Sund noted that the Hawks offered Childress “more than market value,” but there comes a time when an organization that would win big has to spend what it takes to win big, even if it’s above market value. Sund wasn’t willing to do budge upward, not even after Olympiakos raised the stakes. Said Sund: “Going above the luxury tax with a team under .500 is probably premature.”
That’s the kind of small-minded thinking that has, over time, reduced the Hawks to irrelevance. After the pain and suffering of making all those lottery picks and watching them flail, the organization had cause to think this group might well win if kept intact. And now the Hawks’ fourth-best player is gone, and the third-best could follow.
For a few dizzying spring days, we dared to believe the Hawks were no longer the Hawks, that they were something better and brighter. Fooled us again.
Permalink | Comments (188) | Post your comment | Categories: Hawks/NBA
Comments
By bobby
July 23, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this
To whom it may concern,
I write this letter as nothing more than evidence of my disappointment with the Atlanta Hawks franchise,front office,and management, and as public plea for The Atlanta Spirit Group to sell both Atlanta Franchises they own, and allow new owners to run these franchises to a level in accordance with the leagues and cities they represent . Today’s events truly made me cringe, as for the first time in history an NBA Player(without a foreign background) has decided he would rather play in Europe then the NBA. As a season ticket holder of The Atlanta Hawks I’m not surprised that this has happened to the Hawks. As a franchise the Hawks have been through, and put there fans through more grief then most. As far back as the ill advised trade of a hall of famer, NBA Icon, and hero to the city Dominique Wilkins to the most recent unprecedented events of Josh Childress leaving our dysfunctional franchise for the greener pasture of Greece. Some may spin this as the globalization of basketball, but there is no doubt that for the average competitor the goal is to play against the most elite talent in the world, which no doubt resides in the NBA. Mr. Childress seems to have chosen Greece as his only option to avoid continuing along a path of uncertainty with one of the most unstable franchises in sports history. The Atlanta Spirit group owns not only the Atlanta Hawks but also the Atlanta Thrashers. A group bought the franchises promising to build winners in both organizations, to most common observers they have been complete failures. The Thrashers and Hawks have combined for two playoff appearances (one by each team) the Thrashers followed there best season with that of one with the third worst record in the league, whereas the Hawks have followed it up by losing a restricted free agent to a European team(did I mention that it is completely unprecedented) The Atlanta spirit group continues to make moves typically at the pace of a meandering Alligator through the swamp, slowly and without much direction. Move after move continues to bring new lows of management expertise. Clearly these men have all been successful in there own endeavors, being as they have accumulated the money in there respective careers to purchase a franchise, which 99 percent of the world cannot afford, but clearly they have not found there niche. From the parade of coaches to the ridiculous sound bites, this group seems to not only undermine itself but embarrass it’s fans year after year. Today’s events are just a microcosm of the poor management decisions that occur year after year and season after season. Some fact ,poor drafting,poor free agent signings, one owner suing the rest for control(still not resolved after two years), and some items reported but not confirmed, GM’S wanting to fire coaches mid season, players screaming and ranting at coaches, and the financial troubles of the ownership group. I write this as nothing more than a fan. I’m not some great success in my own endeavors or some entrepreneur. I’m the average sports fan, who has pent up his frustrations to long to not at least put this on paper in some way shape or form, and maybe someone will hear. I love the Hawks, Thrashers, Falcons, Braves, Dream and Force, and just about anything else involved with sports, Atlanta, and the state of Georgia I support and root for. So to whom it may concern, these are my thoughts.
Bobby Atlanta,GA
By greenvegas
July 23, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this
the mistake the hawks made was not lettting childress go, but not signing someone to take his place. Childress can be replaced. Unfortunately, he probably wont be able to be replaced THIS year because of the timing. I think the hawks could get a player that offers more than childress does and would be a better fit. But we will probably have to wait till next year to do it.
By JakeJ
July 23, 2008 8:10 PM | Link to this
Yeah you are right bradley these are the hawks and they once again are going right back downhill how could you not resign josh childress a vitale part of our success im am just mad and confused at the management right now….
SO WHATS THE LATEST ON JOSH SMITH ANYWAY BRADLEY PLESAE LET US KNOW SOMETHING AFTER THIS HORRIBLE DAY
WHATS THE LAST ON J SMOOTH? IS HE THE NEXT TO GO?
By JakeJ
July 23, 2008 8:11 PM | Link to this
Yeah you are right bradley these are the hawks and they once again are going right back downhill how could you not resign josh childress a vital part of our success im am just mad and confused at the management right now….
SO WHATS THE LATEST ON JOSH SMITH ANYWAY BRADLEY PLESAE LET US KNOW SOMETHING AFTER THIS HORRIBLE DAY
WHATS THE LAST ON J SMOOTH? IS HE THE NEXT TO GO?
By jbcoors
July 23, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
What a joke, I will not spend another penny on a franchise (Hawks or Thrasher’s) until this COMPLETE JOKE of an ownership group is completly out of the ATL.
By Gary
July 23, 2008 8:14 PM | Link to this
I knew this organization( a real loose term) would screw up the only thing they had to do this summer. The only thing was to sign to restricted free agents and could not even outbid a NON NBA team. Please stay away from all Hawks games this year and show this group of owners what fans can do when they shove it the fans ear. ( Not the word I wanted to use)
By Vito
July 23, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this
ok can we at least go get deng
By jbcoors
July 23, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this
AMEN Gary, AMEN!
By barney strickland
July 23, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this
big WHOOP. This guy couldn’t even crack the starting 5. And he wants a superstar contract. Good luck JOSH… hope you enjoy the euroleague. The Hawks should dump the rights to him….. since he will suck in Europe anyway, we can (why?) get him back for next to nothing. Josh Smith should be our top priority…. not this benchwarmer. I think he was a bust in the draft. I wonder who we should have picked instead of him. I wish I could get a job where my employer nurtures me along to the rate of his rookie contract. Then to show gratitude, I ‘ll play contract hardball and eventually go with the euroleague. Spoiled B*tch !!
By Josh
July 23, 2008 8:25 PM | Link to this
To Rick Sund and the Atlanta Spirit:
You people have proven once again why even with making a nice run in the first round last year that the Hawks are still the laughing stock of the league. Josh Childress leaving for Greece isn’t helping your reputation around the league as being complete idiots. Josh Childress wasn’t worth keeping because he was a “utility player” Sund? Here’s a helpful hint the Spurs and the Pistons are made up of many solid utility players like Childress that help their franchises year in and year out contend for a championship. Which leads me to a question. Who the hell is going to make up our team after Smith decides to leave your pitiful organization? Is the this the starting lineup you are planning on having on opening night? I don’t know about you but I wasn’t planning on coming to Phillips in front of a sellout on opening night to see Luke Jackson and Speedy Claxton (assuming he stays healthy) playing big minutes. Give Smith his money for the love of God and fill out your roster with “utility players” such as Childress who you just let walk for nothing to put a decent team on the court or come the end of Joe Johnson’s contract you will lose him just like everyone else!
By CB
July 23, 2008 8:27 PM | Link to this
The ASG needs to do some serious soul searching after this debacle. I guess they have some intelligence ( or did they inheret the wealth )but this cannot go on. Atlanta deserves better than the ASG!!!!!!!
By The Grinch
July 23, 2008 8:32 PM | Link to this
This is beyond disgusting. How do these people (the ASG) sleep at night? Do they read the papers? Have they no shame? WHY WON’T THEY DO WHAT’S BEST FOR THE CITY, THE FANS, AND WHAT”S LEFT OF THEIR REPUTATIONS AND JUST LEAVE? This can’t possibly be fun for them, unless they’re a bunch of guys who just sit around together and laugh about how they’re powerful enough to ruin an entire city and nobody can do anything about it. Really, would any of you want to be desperately hated by everyone in the city you live in, especially if you were high profile? Why do they stay? Why won’t they sell? Why? WHY?
By Fury
July 23, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this
I tried to tell people that Belkin was the man. ASG has to go. The are nothing but profiteers and know NOTHING ABOUT RUNNING A PROFESSIONAL FRANCHISE. Belkin may be an A$$ but he knows how to do business on any level. The ASG members are chumps that can never be champs.
By Mitch
July 23, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
The bottom line is Chills got $32.5M for 3 years and the irony is he does not fit the mold of the typical Euro style of play. Because of the wider lane, baseline players need to be three point threats, or else the other team will just sag on them.
Back to the bottom line: The Hawks offered $33 for 5 years…which fopr Childress is a good and fair offer.
Which would you take: $32.5M/3 or $33m/5?
In order to save face Chills has to sound like the Hawks stiffed him…he’s an American who is shunning an opportunity to win an NBA Championship…alll for what? The $$$$$$$$$!
Mr. Bradley, I share your frustration…but I think you are over-reacting here.
Childress was not even starter, thanks to BK’s penchant for drafting a slew of 6’8” forwards.
The Hawks can make up for this…but Rick Sund better start making swifter, more creative, more gutsier moves…unlike, er, re-hiring a coach that was not well liked by the players, contrary to what the papers say. JJ likes Woody cuz Woody gives him the ball a=on a clear out with the game on the line. That simple, folks.
Ask J-Smoove what he really thinks of Woodson. Ask Salim. Ask Zaza. Ask anyone but JJ and Al Horford (who would bust his butt for any coach).
By Angry Fan
July 23, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this
Amen, Mark Bradley. AMEN!
By edward
July 23, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this
So trade his rights for another bench player. He had ONE decent season out of what..4? Big whoop. I am more upset that we couldn’t have tried for Posey from Boston. He raked all during the playoffs. He made us and every other team look silly. We get rid of Childress’ rights and we save money right? So lose him. His agent smuggly mentioned that we get the hit for him still. So wipe the smug off his pug. I am sure we can find another decent bench player. They are on the bench for a reason..and it’s not to make $33million!!
By durttydogg
July 23, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
ITS A SAD, SAD DAY! IM JUST TIRED OF THIS. STOP BUYING TICKETS PEOPLE. SHOW THESE OWNERS WE WILL NOT TAKE LOSING ANYMORE!!! YOU HAVE TO SHOW THEM. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. IM GA BRED, AND GA FED AND I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE!!
By Tron5000
July 23, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
Did anyone really think that we were going to re-sign the Joshes, considering that acquiring Mike Bibby’s $15 mil this season pushed the Hawks over the luxury tax? The NBA has a salary cap. Bibby’s acquisition pushed the Hawks over that cap.
So, again, did people not see this coming 4 months ago? Come on, now.
By newkid
July 23, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
Okay Mr. Sund, so Childress is a utility player? Well you’re a utility general manager (at best), and the ASG is a utility ownership group (at VERY best). You’re bush league for attempting to denigrate a player for pursuing what’s financially in his best interest and that of his family. No, in the NBA market Josh is not worth what he’s being paid by the Greek owners, but shouldn’t you be more the professional than to cheap shot the guy simply because he wouldn’t accept what you could reasonably offer? This nonsensical drivel we’re NOW hearing from you about Josh being ‘money hungry’ and a ‘utility player’ is just crass. Find your rock and quietly crawl back under it.
By Joshua
July 23, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
Look I’ve been a Hawks fan for to long , They drafted Marvin Williams instead of Chris Paul Shelden Williams over Marcus Williams Rudy Gay and a bunch of better players , Then dealt Williams for an over the hill point guard who got us to the playoffs then vanished . Traded Nique’ to LA for Manning and then let him bolt for nothing . Signed Jon Koncak to a massive deal just to one up Detroit , Moved from a basketball city in St Louis to a football town in Atlanta yawn , I need to find a real team and if they don’t re-sign Smith I am done as a Hawks fan .
By Big Bob
July 23, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
It’s the owners’ fault, and that’s all there is to it. If you want to blame this on a player, you are a retard who gives bad meaning to the name. These owners don’t know how to win. They put Childress on hold while all the other teams are paying for free agents. What happened to promises to sign these guys? Liars. That’s all there is to it.
By These Guys Suck
July 23, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
Let’s not crap on Rick Sund, he is merely the puppet of Atlanta Spirt - probably the worst ownership group in the history of American pro sports. We make the Clippers look like a model franchise in comparision.
ASG is a total joke and was when they first bought the team. There are no excuses why J-Chill is going to be eating feta cheese & pita bread next fall instead of Atl’s finest restaurants.
Billy Knight started this debacle when he did nothing last summer to resign the Joshes and is probably the most arrogant guy in the world for someone who has done nothing good for this team.
Little Gearon likes counting his daddy’s cash and playing with the Hawks as a toy. He dances around the media and gives half-baked answers about any serious issues.
When you look at all of the bad draft picks (excluding Big AL) and the sheer lack of free agency spending the Hawks are officially the worst team in the NBA. Period.
They may have made the playoffs, but that really is forgotten as you left one of your rising starts jet overseas for cash and a good piece of baklava.
By Sean
July 23, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this
I’m done with these idiots. They’ve wrecked both franchises. This is the Hossa story all over again only more pathetic on the part of ASG.
I’m not spending another dime @ Phillips til these clowns sell.
By Harpie
July 23, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this
If the Hawks had hired a decent coach, Childress would have stayed. Stupid, stupid!
By Harpie
July 23, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
If the Hawks had hired a decent coach, Chidress would have stayed. Stupid, stupid!
By TheAntiMe
July 23, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this
I used to think that the Rankin Smith family who owned the Falcons for many years was the cheapest of the cheap ownerships. This latest insult to our city’s NBA franchise by the Atlanta Broke Spirit Group makes Rankin Smith look like George Freaking Steinbrenner. It’s a crime the way ASG is holding the Hawks franchise hostage. This is just the latest disgusting chapter of the sad story of how ASG has ingloriously sunken to depths previously thought to be unfathomable, making ASG, by far, the worst sports ownership in the history of our galaxy. Please, Batman, make these Jokers go away!
By drmaryb
July 23, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
I will never watch another HAWKS game - ever! A 15 year season ticket holder - like a 2-Live stews caller? I’m Gone!
By AfroDawg
July 23, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
We’ll get a chance to see Mike Woodson model his expensive suits and dyed hair while the club loses. I was really excited about the upcoming season based on how they finished up the season, foiled again I guess. These clowns don’t want to win, there’s absolutely no mandate for change.
By Kent
July 23, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this
The failure to sign Josh Childress is another in a long list of heartbreaks with the Atlanta Hawks. Childress is a versatile and talented player, and an important part of the Hawks’ success. WHY couldn’t the Hawks offer Childress and Smith good, competitive offers at the BEGINNING of the summer (or before) to show them they are wanted? There’s only one way to describe this — the people in Hawks management continue to be IDIOTS.
By jessica
July 23, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this
we haven’t even discussed the difference per game Childress will make in Greece -
his new team only played ~30 games last yet.
By jessica
July 23, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this
we haven’t even discussed the difference per game Childress will make in Greece -
his new team only played ~30 games last year.
By former hawks fan
July 23, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this
I’ve defended this team and rooted for them through these past 15 years of mediocrity … but I will no more. Why pay my money to see a game when it’s used as a profit, rather than a tool to keep our own players? Greece …. Greece …. really …. no really …. Greece? How, Why? I think I’ll send them the Idiot’s Guide to Basketball. We will have the worst bench ever assembled.
So throw away the next season (along with the Falcons) … and I don’t think I’ll get my hopes up for the future, maybe I’ll move to Canada and root for the Raptors.
Maybe Sund was brought in to push the Hawks out of Atlanta … (the sonics are moving now) Change colors again Hawks, it can’t hurt. Who would want to resemble the god awful blue Hawks
By Scot Waldrop
July 23, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
I am a JChills fan, I really like his effort and willingness to do the little things. That said, it would have been a horrible mistake to pay him $10 mil/yr for 3 years for a player that only average 7 pts/gm in the playoff series vs. Boston.
To offer him anything more than the typical mid-level exception would have been equivalent of the Jon Koncak signing. It would have hamstrung the organization for years to come!
Congrats to Josh, I hope he is truly happy playing in the minor leagues.
By Forrest Gump
July 23, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
So now we have a puppet for a GM who likes to move slowly. Guess what Rick? Josh Childress is gone. That’s just what this organization needed was another tight wad with no sense of urgency. I think it’s time for David Stern to step in and drug test the ASG and Rick Sund. By the time Rick Sund makes a decision, the Atlanta Hawks will be the Birmingham Hawks! My mama said there will always be days like these….
By atlantasportsfan
July 23, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this
Where are the idiots that were celebrating the Atlanta Spirit Group when Time Warner sold the Hawks/Thrashers? So many people on here were blinded by “non-corporate ownership.” They were tired of a faceless conglomerate owning the teams, and were clamoring for anyone—ANYONE, as long as they weren’t a corporation—to buy the teams.
Well, you’ve got it now. It’s so stupid to say “only non-corporate ownership is successful.” That’s completely short-sighted. Sure, a corporation might not have “winning” at the top of it’s priority list, but an individual owner (or group of owners, like the ASG) can be just as dumb, or seem just as non-caring as a corporation.
Atlanta Spirit Group’s first mistake, and Rick Sund’s, specifically, was keeping Mike Woodson. It has been made apparent over the last few years that he’s a complete idiot, yet the ASG let the mirage of a playoff appearance cloud their judgment. The truth is the Hawks BARELY made the playoffs in one of the worst conferences (record-wise, top to bottom) in the history of the NBA. The truth is that the Hawks took the Celtics to 7 games, but the REAL truth is that they just happened to match up well with the Celtics, and the young guys on the Hawks were motivated immensely by their boisterous home crowd.
Rumors have flown around that Josh Smith does not want to play with the Hawks as long as Woodson is there, and I think it’s pretty clear that Childress didn’t want to play for him either. ASG failed to see this. There is a science to negotiation. Sure, you have to make the other party believe that they’re not as valuable as they may think, but there’s a classy way to do that. “Classy” does not mean severely low-balling, and then saying something to the effect of, “Whatever, dude. Go find something else” in as nonchalant a manner as possible.
The Hawks have screwed this up. In my opinion, Childress was more important than Josh Smith. Smith is erratic and inconsistent, and makes horrible decisions a little too frequently. Granted, I think much of this is Mike Woodson’s fault—he hasn’t figured out how to coach Smith. Childress, if you look at the per-minute stats, has some of the best numbers on the team, and he does everything that others don’t - defense, rebounding, passing, even running the point sometimes.
We’re screwed.
By darrell starks
July 23, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this
HEY MARK WHATS UP YOU NO BY NOW JOSH CHILL IS OVER SEAS GO CHILL GET YOUR MONEY ASG ARE SUCKERS JOSH CHILL GET AND OFFER from greece for 3year 30million and at the last minute hawks offer him 5YEARS 34MILLION WHICH CONTRACT WILL YOU TAKE they think that we are fools they wasnt trying to SIGN JOSH CHILL IN THE FIRST PLACE they try say face so we can think that they where trying to SIGN CHILL THEY ARE GOING CHEAP LOOK AT HOW they did THRASHER now the same for the HAWKS MARK BRADLEY CAN ANY ONE BUY THIS TEAM SUCH AS COKE COLA OR A TED TURNER EVEN AND ARTHUR BLANKS i am so tired off loosing its driving us fans crazy we need a owner that cares about winning not for a tax right off at the end of the season. GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
By Joshua (AKA FIRE MIKE WOODSON EXPRESS)
July 23, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
Who would want to play for Mike Woodson?? The wrost coach in the NBA. They passed over Avery Johnson and Larry Brown for Mike AKA STEVE HARVEY WOODSON. And now they just lost Childress, lol I promise you Josh Smith is next.
By Dan
July 23, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Can season ticket holders get a refund? This season is over before it even begins.
Sund sucks! What an idiot. He has managed to make this team worse in just a few months. We all know the Atlanta Spirit group sucks, but I thought Sund might help things. I should have known better.
By Jerrell
July 23, 2008 10:33 PM | Link to this
DUMB Being born and raised in Georgia, I am probably one of the “Truest” fans out there. Braves, Falcons, UGA, and sadly enough the Thrashers, and Hawks. I have bared witness to some of the dumbest decision making in sports history, but this takes the cake. Looking at the attendance of the Phillips Arena is almost unbearable. If you remove the attendees that are staff, player associations, and workers across ATL that receive the tickets free or heavily discounted there would be no audience. What we achieved late last year was so moving to not only a fan like myself but the hundreds of other band-wagoneers across America that have been waiting for some Basketball to cheer about in ATL. I don’t quit know where to place the blame, is it Sund or the 10-15 owners of the teams. Why can’t the Hawks be ran like Arthur Blank ran the Falcons; oh I know Mr. Blank is a businessman that is not so accustomed to losing. I have followed this team for 17 of my 35 years of life and I can’t do it anymore, I am severing my ties to the Hawks…Will this make a difference? I wouldn’t imagine so but I won’t have to endure the mockery from friends and co-workers anymore. I have defended this organizations since they gave Dominique the shaft but not another day. I hope that Josh Smith finds a team that can assist him in his bid to greatness. I want Joe Johnson and Bibby to find a team that will surround them with talent, and Horford look what you have to look forward to in 3 seasons. Just ask Jason Terry about it.
Former Hawks Fan
By Bulldawg
July 23, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this
I hate to see Childress go, but this whole scenario is just another reason why I’ve lost a lot of interest in professional sports. Most of us are trying to scrape up enough money to buy $4 a gallon gas and pay the bills, while these arrogant turkeys are haggling over a few million dollars. There is obviously no loyalty in professional sports from either the players’ or owners’ perspectives. In the end, it is the fans who are the big losers because we are the ones who put out the funds that drive this madness. My personal opinion is that the fans should simply stop buying tickets until the ASG either builds a winner or sells the team to someone that will.
By ant.b
July 23, 2008 10:54 PM | Link to this
we have poorest head in the NBA in ATL , What moore can go wrong with this team , I love the hawks , but i can’t take much more of these bad a* deceison. Please sell the team to someone who want to spend some money and Win. Because you guys don’t have a clue.
By no_id
July 23, 2008 10:58 PM | Link to this
lol@Steve Harvey Woodson..that was funny..i can only imagine what the other Hawk players are saying about this..They might just hate the ASG more than we do since they have to deal with them first hand..Next up Josh Smith, lets see how the ASG will find a way to screw this up too.
By David
July 23, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this
The Hawks are loosers with Childress! Wake up people this is not a winnng team with or without Childress and the rest. The were lucky to be in the playoffs, can anyone remember the last winnig season? Stop crying about a player that couldn’t help produce a winning record in his 4 years here. I’m sick of the loosers here in Atlanta…………
By Mark Bradley
July 23, 2008 11:01 PM | Link to this
I wouldn’t be so quick to fault the owners on this one. Sund made the offer and — even more to the point — didn’t raise it. I’m not sure Sund valued Childress nearly as highly as did those who have been around this team the past four years.
Me, I think Josh Childress was the Hawks’ MVP over the seven games of the Boston series. (I know Josh Smith and Joe Johnson had big games, but Childress was terrific the whole way.)
By chad
July 23, 2008 11:07 PM | Link to this
32 million for 3 years, your taxes and living expensives paid for, maid, driver, and you play half the number of games per year, or 33 mil for 5 yrs, 70+ games a year, and you pay for everything? The Hawks are not to blame in this- economics 101 is. Hawks gave Josh a chance to find his value, and best deal for him, and he took it. Remember folks- no other US team gave Childress this kind of deal- if they did he would have taken it. If the Hawks didn’t match it shame on them, but it didn’t happen that way. It’s because he simply is not worth more than the Hawks offer, or another US team would have offered/signed him. Yeah, the Hawks made the playoffs, as a team under 500 in a bad division of a week conference. Get real-they sucked last year and got lucky to make the playoffs. If you want a winner, then buy tickets to the games- not just the playoffs. Atlanta has the worst fans, they sit at home and complain that the team sucks, complain that the game(NFL) is blacked out, that the owner suck and ruin the team. Look at yourselfs first. To overbid on your own player by offering an average player a huge contract is stuipd. Yes- Childress was average, if he was better than the Hawks offer, then he would have an offer to be a starter- here in the USA- so if the Hawks are wrong, then so is every other team in the NBA.
By John K
July 23, 2008 11:07 PM | Link to this
No other team made a move for Childress. That should give you a hint at his market value. It would have been foolish for the Hawks to try to match the Greek offer. I liked him as a bench player but there is no way the Hawks should pay him that much.
By tyger
July 23, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this
Later is NOW
Childress didnt start for a below .500 team.
Never played an 82 game season in 4 years. Wears orthopedic shoes. Avg. 10-15 missed games each year.
A #6 pick that lost his salary to a #17 pick.
Not in same class as UFAs: Gordon, Deng, Iguadola, Okafor, Smith.
Yet, we were supposed to blow up the bank for a sub? Get real, losing Childress allows us to balance the roster and spend wisely for the future.
Is Childress on the Olympic Team? NO! Is Childress on the US Select Team? NO! Is Childress an alternate for either? NO!
Guess who is? Guess who’s going to get paid?
The writing was on the wall. When the Hawks drafted Marvin Williams, a #2 pick, another 6’8 SF, you had to know there would be a purge sooner or later.
Later is now.
Whats the Answer? Pay Smoove, sign Kwame and Rush, fill needs and plan for JJ and Horfords re-up.
Why worry about the bench when you have a coach that doesnt give a hoot about the bench?
By CSM
July 23, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this
Guys, blame the Euro/Dollar situation. Without a 1.00euro/$1.6usd, this would never have happened. Is there ANY NBA team that would have paid Childress as much as he’s geting from the Greek team? Not a Chance!! Yeah, Team Spirit looks pretty bad at the moment..Not sure paying a player more than he’s worth is ever such a good idea, though.
Hawks can get past this.
By Shut up ALREADY !!!!
July 23, 2008 11:27 PM | Link to this
Settle down and take a moment to think about why the Hawks can’t win down the stretch,,,, can’t hold a lead,,,,,, can’t out rebound or out defend most all of the NBA,,,, IT IS BECAUSE THE HAWKS ARE WAY TOO SKINNY AND TOO DAMN SOFT !!! I say bye-bye to J.Chill and don’t come back until you’ve put on some weight and some toughness !!! He is going to be INJURED erly and often in Europe where they BANG.
We need more BRUTE strength on the Hawks or they’ll once again STINK !
A BENCH PLAYER who weighs a buck fifty soaking wet !! You bloggers are the idiots , who think this is a major loss. SHUT UP ALREADY,,, DAMN, HOUSEQUAKE!!!!
By Bradley, please
July 23, 2008 11:36 PM | Link to this
Although I hate to say it, Sund is right. Going over the salary cap for a 6th place sixth man is comparable to Speedy Claxton’s deal years ago. I agree, good teams spend money. However, they spend money wisely and they know when to make the deal and when to cut bait. If J-Chill did anything for his current and/or future NBA career, he displayed that he can’t be trusted until his ink is on a contract. Teams are going to be scared to negotiate with him because they know he’s got one foot out the door at all times. Enjoy the gyros J-Chill. I give you two weeks.
By Randy
July 23, 2008 11:51 PM | Link to this
My GOD people! IT’s Josh CHILDRESS! The #6 overall pick who at best turned into a bench player.
Everyone talks about him like he was the best player ever. The GREEKs WAY overpaid for him! They can have him.
There is NO NBA team that would pay him the money he is now making.
By Chris G
July 24, 2008 12:07 AM | Link to this
Give this a chance!
We have way to many 6’-8” forwards. Chills is a good solid BENCH player.
Has anyone thought what we can do with that money? Possibly BIG MAN that we need desperately!
The money we offered him was very fair considering his numbers. NO other NBA team made any offers did they?
I have been a real Hawks fan for over 25 years now. Does anyone remember Jon Kontract? Liked to have killed us.
I think Chills made a huge mistake. This team will win and i’m glad to see the new GM stand up and make a tough decision.
I say strongly dump the rights and go get a true Big Man! Did anyone notice the lack of control in the middle last year?
This would allow the highly talented Al Horford to really play his natural position!!! Imagine that!
Also, Josh Smith WILL get signed! Do not compare J. Smith with J. Chills. Totally different talent levels.
Give this a chance!
By Tree Rollins
July 24, 2008 12:16 AM | Link to this
I’m so happy the Hawks didn’t sign him. I’m an Atlanta resident and former season ticket holder. The Hawks need to save some money to keep Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby. There’s no way they can afford the 2 Josh’s - either Childress or Smith. I think Josh Smith will walk away also AND HE SHOULD. The coach Mike Woodson is the worst in the NBA, the owners are the flakiest in the NBA and the new GM Sund is working in early retirement on the owners’ money. Why stay with the Hawks? The Hawks need to go ahead and win the lottery by losing games all year next year and try for another great rookie like Horford that they can afford.
By Tree Rollins
July 24, 2008 12:16 AM | Link to this
I’m so happy the Hawks didn’t sign him. I’m an Atlanta resident and former season ticket holder. The Hawks need to save some money to keep Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby. There’s no way they can afford the 2 Josh’s - either Childress or Smith. I think Josh Smith will walk away also AND HE SHOULD. The coach Mike Woodson is the worst in the NBA, the owners are the flakiest in the NBA and the new GM Sund is working in early retirement on the owners’ money. Why stay with the Hawks? The Hawks need to go ahead and win the lottery by losing games all year next year and try for another great rookie like Horford that they can afford.
By clueless
July 24, 2008 12:20 AM | Link to this
Childress avg. 7pts and 6 rebounds and you say he was the MVP of the playoffs and you wonder why people don’t respect you Mr. Bradley. The fact that you came back and added that asinine statement on this blog shows how clueless you are.
By Gilley
July 24, 2008 12:21 AM | Link to this
No Comment on Rick Sund and the Hawks right now
But for those who think J. Childress wasn’t valuable to the Hawks then they need to watch some Hawks games. SMH
By Vin
July 24, 2008 12:24 AM | Link to this
One way to show that you care is not going to the game. I am surprise at the inactivity of the contract negotiations for both Joshes.
By Darius
July 24, 2008 12:28 AM | Link to this
Blunder? It would have been a blunder if the Hawks had made on offer to Childress anywhere in the vicinity of the $10M/year he is getting from the team in Greece.
By Tree Rollins
July 24, 2008 12:28 AM | Link to this
LOSERS beget more LOSERS. The Hawks have been LOSERS so long nobody can remember when they were ever any good. I think maybe it goes back to when Mike Fratello coached the team. The new management is the most inept in pro sports (ie if you’re not sure about this check out their track record with the Thrashers hockey team also). Coach Mike Woodson couldn’t coach a prep school team to the league championship. GM Sund ruined the Supersonics according to their fans. Etc. etc. but it will be great to see the rappers coming to the games again this year and sitting on the front row while all the rest of the seats go empty. Perhaps we can get lucky and Pee Wee Herman can take over the team and bring in some organization skills to this moribund group!
By former hawks fan
July 24, 2008 12:29 AM | Link to this
Why do people blame the athletes for wanting money? They have 1 or 2 chances, if they are lucky, to sign a contract that will change their whole lives. Why do we get mad when they make the most of it? Think about the relativity of this greed. When is the last time you heard an owner going bankrupt? It is screwed up to think about, but 1 million dollars is not going to alter an owner’s life or business. But to everyday people like us or these athletes, that money is life changing. Now I understand that fans do not want to overpay for a player, but if somebody is willing to pay more, who are we to judge the athlete? My point is that the owners are relatively greedier, extremely greedy. Loyalty has also been brought up. I’m sorry this isn’t 1970, but loyalty does not exist in professional sports. Like it or not, players are just as loyal to teams as the teams are to players. Don’t get mad at athletes for looking out for their own and their families best interests, the ultimate loyalty.
onto a different matter … Mark, A deal wasn’t reached before the Josh’s became UFA. Some of this blame has to fall on the owners. This problem could have been avoided altogether if they were not able to test the free agent market.
By David C
July 24, 2008 12:40 AM | Link to this
Childress has a year vacation making millions..the crows either take a cap hit or release him..Sounds like that Stanford education helped.
By Rafael "P** off" Patterson
July 24, 2008 12:44 AM | Link to this
This is extreme BS, why the hell did we hire a GM who has no history of winning when he has had total control. We have to many owners there should not be but one king. The loss of Chill leaves us with not one scorer off the bench. He had intangibles that were not appreciated besides Horford he was our only hustle guy. This does not relate to the topic but why would you make a big deal about keeping Mike Woodson but not a actual player who has earned a spot. Mike Woodson has yet to win a game due to coaching but he has lost countless. This entire statement is coming from a guy with two season tickets, I feel bad for me!
By Rafael "P** off" Patterson
July 24, 2008 12:45 AM | Link to this
This is extreme BS, why the hell did we hire a GM who has no history of winning when he has had total control. We have to many owners there should not be but one king. The loss of Chill leaves us with not one scorer off the bench. He had intangibles that were not appreciated besides Horford he was our only hustle guy. This does not relate to the topic but why would you make a big deal about keeping Mike Woodson but not a actual player who has earned a spot. Mike Woodson has yet to win a game due to coaching but he has lost countless. This entire statement is coming from a guy with two season tickets, I feel bad for me!
By Rafael "P** off" Patterson
July 24, 2008 12:46 AM | Link to this
This is extreme BS, why the hell did we hire a GM who has no history of winning when he has had total control. We have to many owners there should not be but one king. The loss of Chill leaves us with not one scorer off the bench. He had intangibles that were not appreciated besides Horford he was our only hustle guy. This does not relate to the topic but why would you make a big deal about keeping Mike Woodson but not a actual player who has earned a spot. Mike Woodson has yet to win a game due to coaching but he has lost countless. This entire statement is coming from a guy with two season tickets, I feel bad for me!
By Rafael "P** off" Patterson
July 24, 2008 12:46 AM | Link to this
This is extreme BS, why the hell did we hire a GM who has no history of winning when he has had total control. We have to many owners there should not be but one king. The loss of Chill leaves us with not one scorer off the bench. He had intangibles that were not appreciated besides Horford he was our only hustle guy. This does not relate to the topic but why would you make a big deal about keeping Mike Woodson but not a actual player who has earned a spot. Mike Woodson has yet to win a game due to coaching but he has lost countless. This entire statement is coming from a guy with two season tickets, I feel bad for me!
By GA rule
July 24, 2008 1:02 AM | Link to this
Can we sell the rest of the team to Greece?
By Bam Bam
July 24, 2008 1:11 AM | Link to this
Hey Atlanta, remember this… “Though a reliable defender for much of his career, Koncak is perhaps best remembered for the six-year, US$ 13 million contract he received from the Hawks in 1989 - an unprecedented total for a reserve. The deal was roundly criticized since it paid Koncak more than Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. His large contract prevented the Hawks from taking part in any other major free agent signings for several years. As a result, he earned the derisive nickname “Jon Contract.” Koncak is blamed for the rapid salary increases that occurred in the NBA following his signing?” What was Koncak reaction when folks were ragging on him? “What am I suppose to do? Turn it down?” So don’t hate on Childress being “a sub”, “a utility player” or whatever you wanna call him. Just remember…what is suppose to do? Turn it down?!? Would you take the Hawks offer or the Greek offer. If you chose the Hawk offer…then you’re the one who’s “stuck on stupid”
Go Knicks :-)
By Bowdler for 3
July 24, 2008 1:25 AM | Link to this
The moment Woodson was resigned as HC, I lost all hope. The TEAM makes the playoffs in spite of this goof and HE is the one rewarded. Unreal. Good for Chills. This had more to do with the whole Hawks situation than it did with $$$. Who would want to play here?
And to all of you saying good riddance…..if you’d watched some games during the regular season, you would’ve seen he was 1 of 2 guys who busted his a** every game. The other was Smoove, TO’s and all (which is more of a COACHING issue than anything). BTW, 4th best???? Was that a joke? Had me laughing. Horford isn’t there yet and Bibby WAS there a couple years ago (but not in the playoffs). Even JJ is debatable IMO. Smoove is only under-rated in Atlanta. Go figure.
You know, the Hawks REALLY ARE turning it around. Turning it right back to the cellar.
By Jonathan Goldberg
July 24, 2008 1:31 AM | Link to this
People who are whining are ridiculous. JChil is a good player but he is not worth a penny more than we offered. We should have acted sooner but we should not have offered more. He’s not worth nearly what he will be paid in Greece. Now we should give up our rights to him and use the salary cap to get another big player to help out Horford and Pachulia down low. This is not the end of the world and those people who are b*** about how bad the franchise are, are the same people writing endless negative diatribes before the Hawks took the eventual champs to 7 games. Now if we don’t go ahead and sign J Smoove soon that’s a totally different story. He should be the future of the franchise. And if we do get another free agent or good player through trade then I don’t want to hear what a great deal it was from any of you who are b*** now.
By Jonathan Goldberg
July 24, 2008 1:31 AM | Link to this
People who are whining are ridiculous. JChil is a good player but he is not worth a penny more than we offered. We should have acted sooner but we should not have offered more. He’s not worth nearly what he will be paid in Greece. Now we should give up our rights to him and use the salary cap to get another big player to help out Horford and Pachulia down low. This is not the end of the world and those people who are b*** about how bad the franchise are, are the same people writing endless negative diatribes before the Hawks took the eventual champs to 7 games. Now if we don’t go ahead and sign J Smoove soon that’s a totally different story. He should be the future of the franchise. And if we do get another free agent or good player through trade then I don’t want to hear what a great deal it was from any of you who are b*** now.
By TheHawksareCursedfor TradingNique!
July 24, 2008 2:36 AM | Link to this
Im Back!
By athdog
July 24, 2008 4:22 AM | Link to this
I realize that Ted Turner’s son in law and Gearon, Jr. did nothing to get rich other than be born or marry into it, so their stupidity is to be expected. The legitimate businessmen of ASG surely have sense enough to realize what an embarassment they are to the city, and how urgent it is now to sign Smith, and tie up Johnson longer term.
I wonder how long it took Sund to regret coming to work for this bunch of dysfunctional brats. I’ve followed the Hawks since the days of Zelmo Beatty and Lou Hudson…no more. I’m done.
By Boses
July 24, 2008 5:15 AM | Link to this
Hey Sund, good job! Way to earn that paycheck.
By Steve
July 24, 2008 6:15 AM | Link to this
I don’t blame the Spirit one iota here. Anyone who does is not thinking clearly.
Look, they offered JChill more than he was worth to begin with. Don’t give me this nonsense about him being invaluable off the bench. Every team in the league has at least one player like that, if not more. They are EASY to come buy.
You simply do not pay a ‘sixth’ man the kind of money it would have taken to keep Childress. If you do, it kills your franchise for years.
Will his loss hurt? Yes.
Can he be replaced? Yes, because we aren’t talking about anything more than an average NBA’er here with very little toughness.
Was he worth what the Hawks offered? Maybe, but it’s borderline.
Was he worth what the Greece team is paying him? Not even remotely.
For those of you being absolutely ignorant, think of it this way. If the Hawks offer him that kind of money and offer JSmith a long term deal that he is seeking, what are the chances of them being able to afford Horford in a couple of years? Pretty much nothing in the cap driven NBA. I would gladly see JChill leave in order to hold back money to spend on a real difference maker.
By Paddy
July 24, 2008 6:43 AM | Link to this
barney strickland…your points are fair but way to simplistic. The ASG had one chance to save this franchise with a little more money than normal, this problem could have been solved. Barney, it is not about getting someone better than JC to be 6th man. Read the comments from almost everyone the past 2 days. NBA players will not come to Atl. Fans are demoralized and angry. ASG will go even more broke as nobody cares and nobody will come to the games. I have never seen anthing quite like this. It was such an easy problem to fix for a smart group of owners. It is like the levees in New Orleans failing; it just should not have happened.SOMEONE should have known how to fix this @ ASG. Momentum then would have been king, the new era will never get started with this group. They will be swimming up stream as long as they are here.
By big baller
July 24, 2008 7:13 AM | Link to this
Can’t we at least get Cedric to be the coach. Woody Hightower should be leading the band.
By dd
July 24, 2008 7:24 AM | Link to this
This is the Hawks folks! If you’re mad.
My advice: Stay at home.
Don’t watch them on TV.
Find another interest.
Out of sight, Out of mind.
By Ken Thompson
July 24, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this
This is why the Hawks are arguably the worst run franchise in the NBA. They have been trying for years to get back on the NBA map. They finally have a chance after the series with Boston and they blow it. If there was ever a time to pay a little extra, this was it. We are tired of hearing wait until next year. The team this year will almost certainly be worse than last. They will certainly have to overpay to have a chance at a quality restricted free agent. If they wouldn’t pay for Chill, why should we believe they will pay for anyone else. Finally, there are no equivalent unrestricted free agents left.
By aaaetc
July 24, 2008 7:33 AM | Link to this
The Hawks are not going to win a championship with Childress. To spend an excessive amount on a substitute is not good business. The Hawks were bad a long time before this ownership group came on the scene, so all these hysterics are silly. What the Hawks need is to keep Josh Smith and figure out a way at some point to pull off a Celtic-like move. Few people seem to remember that Boston went from a 22-win season to the world championship in one year. What that takes is 2 or 3 great players. Josh Childress is not one of those players.
By JC
July 24, 2008 7:33 AM | Link to this
Josh Childress can’t even hit a 15 footer. He is no way worth even 5 million a year. The hawks made a fair offer and he thought he was way better than he is.
By Mark Bradley
July 24, 2008 7:38 AM | Link to this
I would agree in principle that it’s not a great idea to overpay anybody, least of all a sub. But Josh Childress wasn’t just a sub: He was the model of what the Hawks have aspired to be — young and gifted and versatile — and this was the first test of whether the team could keep its youthful core together. They failed the test, as I tried to note above, and more than that they let him leave without getting anything in return.
By Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 24, 2008 7:41 AM | Link to this
For anyone who thinks that Childress does not warrant that contract consider this.
James Posey,31, received a 4 year 25 million dollar contract to be a role player for the Hornets.
The ASG dropped the ball and how did this new GM allow this to happen? What a joke, the franchise has never been the same since the Nique fiascoe…
By aaaetc
July 24, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this
Mark, thanks for the reply. I respect your opinion, I just disagree with it. Being a model of what the Hawks aspire to be is not a good enough reason to spend a large chunk of the salary allotment on a player who does not start.
There is no guarantee that the Hawks could have worked a deal to get anything out of it, especially now that Childress decided to sign with the Greek team.
I’m only suggesting that the Hawks would be better served to wait and spend their money on players who can have a bigger impact on turning around the Hawks. Childrerss has been here a long time, and the Hawks have been woeful. We need a Garnett-like player to make a difference. Otherwise, it is more of the same, and Childress is more of the same.
Josh Smith, on the other hand, is good enough to pay and keep.
By Dimitris
July 24, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this
It’s obvious that none of you gentlemen has the slightest idea of what is happening in European Basket Ball lately. And it’s also obvious that you have never watched any European team playing. Well, as an Olympiakos (and Knicks) fan, but most of all a BASKET BALL fan, I’ll tell you one thing: Things have changed gentlemen! The European leagues are not minor leagues anymore as a gentleman stated above! Money is circulating, great players are coming from all the world and, believe it or not, there are European players that do NOT want to play in the NBA! Childress is only the beggining! If you see the free agents of next year, you will get the chills! And believe me, there are teams and presidents of teams that can pay 30-40 millions of $ per year for Iverson, Parker or Kirilenko, just to mention some names… As for Childress, the truth is that I don’t know what kind of player he is! He may be a sack of potatoes as some here say, but he also may be a good swingman coming from the bench as others mention. What is important for us, is that he will be put in a team of stars (Papaloukas, Vuicic, Halperin, Schortsianitis, Greer, Macijauskas and others) and do the job that the coach of the Greek National team (you know, the one that beat team USA in Japan) will tell him. Yes, he may came to Greece for the big bucks Olympiakos gave him, but at least here, he will have the chance to play in a competitive team and can actually win a League championship, a Euroleague championship or something. From what I read in this comments thread, in Atlanta he would never had a chance like this in his entire career…
By Ken Thompson
July 24, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
Face it. The ASG operates on the wait til next year plan. When next year arrives its not next any more -:). Care to guess where David Stern plans to get the replacement team for Seattle?
By D.Ellis
July 24, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
It’s not that he Chill left. It;s the fact that he called their bluff. It’s the fact that Sund told Chill…”find a better deal”…without being smart enough to realize that this was a possability. How can you not account for this scenario? Obviously tey didn’t know this could happen or see it coming. So why not trade him. I would have been in immedaite contact with him or his reps while he was in Athens and asked him straight up if he was seriously considering the deal. If the asnwer was yes I would have traded him for the best value I could have got for him within 24 hours. You can’t let your model of youth…your number 6 pick…..your 6th man…..your BEST utility platyer walk away AND GET NOTHING. His stats don’t matter. HIS PPG or REBOUNDS DON”T MATTER. It;s the simple fact that the organization has been played. Plain and simple. Not only do you let your BEST UTILITY PLAYER WALK…..BUT YOU GET NOTHING IN RETURN….NOTHING. HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN? How can people are hired to do a job and get paid crazy amounts of money and do so horrible at it. Chill can be replaced.
Mark Bradley is right though——it was a tet for this ownership….it was a test for Sund. They FAILED. How can you expect other players to want to come here? JJ/J.Smith/Al horford…..they are sitting at home thinking&