<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Big-time decisions looming for Sonics By Percy Allen Ray Allen is accustomed to packing up and moving away. He grew up as a military brat and followed his father, a welding technician in the Air Force, all over the world from Germany to England to South Carolina. So if he has to, Allen is willing and prepared to spurn the Sonics' offer and take a chance with a new team.... ....Atlanta appears to have the most money beneath the salary cap at $22 million, but the Hawks finished with a 13-69 record and haven't had a winning season in seven years. Still, league sources said yesterday that Atlanta plans to court Allen just as they did Kenyon Martin a year ago. </div> Source ----------------------- I'm too happy and confused at the moment to reply to the topic but I'll get back to it when I'm done getting my thoughts straight and I have an opinion on this.
No money in the world will get Ray Allen to go to the Hawks. He is reaching 30 he does not want to be stuck on a rebuilding team. Certainly not on a team that has been a loser for a long time.
not happening He will get a max offer somewhere else and wouldn't even consider a Hawks offer. Why would he when he can get the same money and a better situation elsewhere?
After tasting great success in Seattle, I do not think there is a chance in hell that Ray Allen would want to be part of the rebuilding Hawks. Sure they'll try their best to get Allen but I can only see them acting more as a bargaining chip for Allen to bring to other teams such as the Sonic's and Cleveland.
I had my hopes high with Kenyon Martin last year and I ended up getting dissapointed so I'm not looking forward to anything at this point and time. Ray-Ray is an amazing player and I dont see a reason for him to come to the Hawks like much of you but It would sure be nice to have a superstar that played for the Hawks. IF Ray was to come here one of the Josh's would be gone and I dont think thats a good thing Childress at SG and Smith at SF make a good combination and if ray were in the lineup at SG Childress would either shift to SF and Smith would be gone or Childress would be gone with Smith still at SF.
Ray Allen and the Sonics were only $5Million apart prior to the playoffs. After his performance, I'm sure the Sonics will give in and pay him the additional $5Million. At least the Hawks are willing to go after the best player in the free agent market. The Hawks would probably be better off spending their money on two or three players instead of banking on an older superstar.
I think the only way Allen would consider Atlanta would be if they went out and got some other solid free agents. I heard a rumour that Atlanta and Cleveland would consider a sign and trade of Ilgauskas for Al Harrington and a 1st rounder. Also, the Hawks are going to go hard after Curry, Chandler, Dalembert and Marshall. Say the Hawks got Ilgauskas and Marshall or Chandler, that's be the only way Allen would even consider Atlanta as an option.
I think the Hawks big free agent pick up is going to be Kwame Brown. It's the perfect situation for him and he's from the Georgia area. The Hawks can outbid other teams for him, and will only have to concern themselves with the Wizards matching and then likely trading Kwame. However, the Wizards will spend most of their focus on bringing back Larry Hughes. The Hawks are not going to be able to get Curry, Chandler, or Dalembert this off-season without giving up their 1st rounder or Josh Smith + fillers. The Bulls have already said they'll match any offer for Curry and Chandler, and the 76ers GM said he will match any offer for Dalembert. The only other possibility could be Stromile Swift, but I think he'll end up on a team capable of contending now instead of going through another rebuild. Getting back to Kwame Brown, he was a huge attraction when he played high school basketball in the state of Georgia. With his hometown supporting him and playing alongside younger players like Josh Smith and Josh Childress, Kwame Brown might get comfortable again and start living up to his potential. Kwame Brown can step right in and play center for them (unless they draft Bogut) or he could start at PF once they trade Al Harrington.
I wouldnt mind having Kwame but I dont want Big Z. No disrespect to Z but he's getting old and he's had an injury prone history even though he's been doing good as of late. Marshall is no way coming to Atlanta because his family loves Chicago and he loves T-Dot so I'm narrowing his location down to those two and Philly because he's from near by and loves playing in the Wachovia Center. Man if we could Walter-Ray on our team it'd be a dream come true but right now it doesnt seem like its going to happen.
You wouldnt want Z on the team? He is a good veteran even though he isnt terribly old and he still can play defense against some good vets like Shaq and others. He will still give us 17 9 and that is what the Hawks need. Why dont we at least sign him and see what happens? It couldnt be any worse. We should get Redd. I think he would fit us perfeclty and he knows that we are bringing in guys that can help us get to the playoffs. We should at least give him an offer.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting YoungGun:</div><div class="quote_post">You wouldnt want Z on the team? He is a good veteran even though he isnt terribly old and he still can play defense against some good vets like Shaq and others. He will still give us 17 9 and that is what the Hawks need. Why dont we at least sign him and see what happens? It couldnt be any worse. We should get Redd. I think he would fit us perfeclty and he knows that we are bringing in guys that can help us get to the playoffs. We should at least give him an offer.</div>Big Z won't go to the Hawks. He's aging and is probably itching for a title at this point, as he is nearing 30. Plus, he's going to want a lot of money, and I'm not sure if it'd be wise to get wrapped up in a long term contract that will eat cap space down the line. Mike Redd might come, soley to be the main guy. He's said all season that he wants to be the main guy wherever he goes, and he'd certainly be so in Atlanta. However, he's also said that he wants to go back to Milwaukee. Who knows how that'll pan out. All in all, the Hawks are in a bad situation concerning free agents. Most people, such as Redd, Allen, Z, and Swift, aren't going to want to go through another losing stage in their career, as they've all seen it. They want to win, and coming to Atlanta likely won't get them anywhere.
Michael Redd is already the number 1 option with the Bucks, he has no reason at all to go to the Hawks.
The Hawks will be just as good as the Bucks will. The Bucks aren't going anywhere at all. And if Redd does come here he will know that he is the number 1 option on the team. That is something he wants right?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting YoungGun:</div><div class="quote_post">The Hawks will be just as good as the Bucks will. The Bucks aren't going anywhere at all. And if Redd does come here he will know that he is the number 1 option on the team. That is something he wants right?</div>I have to disagree with what you said here. The Bucks are a ways ahead of the Hawks. The one thing that they really missed all season was TJ Ford. He was a huge part of their success last year, and when he went down, they stopped winning. Get him back playing next year and bring back Redd, I think they can be good. With a backcourt of Redd, Mason, and Ford, that could be enough to frustrate a lot of teams.
Yeah I agree with you totally. But, I just see the Hawks being just as good this year. I think that Bogut can do awesome in a Hawks Uni. Another thing is that Redd would just be awesome in Atlanta. JSmith, Redd, Bogut, and Al. That will disturb some teams too.
The Hawks wont be good as the Bucks, If the Bucks draft Bogut and hes a sucess they will be a play off team. Redd, Ford, Mason + Bogut = Playoff team, going to the Hawks just wouldnt make any sense for Michael Redd.
