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July 2006
A gentlemen’s game?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As the trade deadline looms closer in Major League Baseball and as NFL teams sign free agents before camp opens, I am intrigued with the NBA’s “sign and trade” method. To my knowledge, no other pro sports league moves players to other teams quite like that.
Instead of simply becoming a free agent and choosing where the money is, Al Harrington will simply wait for the Hawks to sign him and then trade him to another team for players.
Amazing.
Amazing that a team would re-sign a player and trade him instead of letting him go. In this day and age, I guess I’ve gotten used to the “free-for-all” that the other sports leagues use. A better term might be, “You snooze, you lose.”
Kudos to the NBA for putting this method in place. It makes sure that some teams aren’t left holding the bag when their best player(s) leave. But, the downside is that players like Harrington are waiting, so I guess it turns the players into “cattle” more so than other leagues.
Thoughts?
Back in junior high
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Well, the Atlanta Spirit vs. Steve Belkin is at it again.
Here’s the latest: The Hawks and Thrashers can’t sign any free agents to multi-year deals, make trade for players who have multi-year deals and can not make changes in management without Belkin’s consent.
So, the good news is that the Hawks can continue to sign Sheldon Williams, their draft pick this year, and Speedy Claxton, since draft picks and deals already in the works are not affected.
The bad news is that this saga is not over.
Belkin’s lawyers want to make sure that the Atlanta Spirit doesn’t devalue the franchise before Belkin can take control. According to quotes in the AJC, Bernie Mullin and Don Waddell are upset at this accusation.
Sorry to break it to you, guys, but that’s how lawyers work.
Belkin’s lawyers are upset that the Atlanta Spirit has “everybody here expect Speedy Claxton to try to influence this case.”
Well, of course, that’s what their lawyers try to do.
So, it begins again. Another day in court. More finger pointing and name calling. Its like breaking up a fight between two junior high kids. I’m waiting for the day GM Billy shoves Belkin to the ground and spits on him.
It has gotten to the point now where I don’t care who becomes owner. I just want an NHL team that makes it to the playoffs and an NBA team that’s respectable again.
Is that so wrong?
The Hawks get a point guard from New Orleans
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No, no, not that point guard.
The Hawks signed veteran point guard Craig “Speedy” Claxton, who recently played with New Orleans.
It seems that the Hawks liked the fact that he backed up/played alongside Chris Paul last year and was on San Antonio’s 2003 Championship team.
If memory serves me correctly, that is one of the reasons the Hawks were attracted to Tyronn Lue: Being around a championship team. If you remember, Mr. Lue was a member of the Lakers during the early 1990’s.
So, now our starting PG has championship experience from 2003, our backup PG has championship experience from the 1990’s and our third string guard, who might be traded, only has NCAA post-season experience.
I have no idea what Mr. Claxton brings to the table. I hope his nickname is an accurate one, because it wouldn’t be a bad thing if this Hawks team was a little quicker.
So, tell me, Hawk fans, what can we expect from our newest Hawk this year?
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