AJC 8-17-05 --Hawks free-agent point guard Tyronn Lue is a patient man. He's had to be this summer, what with the franchise in turmoil involving another free agent ? Joe Johnson ? and the fact that he still hasn't signed a contract with the Hawks or any other NBA team. It's been two full weeks, and counting, since the league lifted the moratorium on free agent signings and Lue, a starter last season who is willing to return as a backup to Johnson, still hasn't agreed to terms with the Hawks. Lue said he's eager to return to the Hawks, a team he led down the stretch last season when the roster was thinned by fatigue, injuries and the grind of a 13-69 campaign. "Even with all the stuff we went through last year we developed some chemistry as a team," Lue said. "I think we started something and I told those young guys that I wanted to be around to help finish it." Yet Lue is still unsigned with the start of training camp looming. So what's the holdup? "It's the same thing that's holds up every process," Hawks general manager Billy Knight said Wednesday. "He has to agree on a number. We're talking to him and we'd like to get a deal done. But we have to agree on the numbers. "Ty's a good guy, who did a good job for us last year and really bought into what the coaches wanted to do. He helped our young guys, was great off the court as well. So there's no doubt we'd like to sign him back. "But we have to come to an agreement that he's happy with and we're happy with. It has to work for both sides." The tricky part for the Hawks is getting that deal done soon, because as the days pass, Lue's stock rises as the need for quality point guards intensifies throughout the league. Lue, just 28, started in 46 of 49 games with the Hawks last season. He averaged a career-high 13.5 points and 5.4 assists, playing so well that his self-proclaimed status as the "best backup point guard in the league" could be in danger. Lue also won titles with the Phil Jackson-coached Los Angeles Lakers 2000 and 2001. And Jackson's return as coach in Los Angeles earlier this summer has thrust the Lakers back into the picture. Chicago courted him briefly before matching a Toronto offer sheet to Chris Duhon. Also, the Raptors, Miami and Detroit all have Lue on their short list of backup point guard prospects. Knight said he knows there are other teams pursuing Lue but he's adamant about coming to an agreement that suits both sides. Still, it's hard to believe that any of those teams needs Lue like the Hawks need him. If the experiment with Johnson at point guard doesn't work out, a player with Lue's experience and familiarity with coach Mike Woodson's philosophy would be crucial with such a young cast of characters. "Billy and I continue to have ongoing conversations," said Lue's New York-based agent Andy Miller, who also represents Hawks forward Al Harrington. "Obviously, there is a lot going on at the current time. But at the end of the day, hopefully, we'll be able to come to an agreement. "[Lue's] made it clear to Billy and the Hawks, through me, that his interest is to re-sign with Atlanta. Ty's been very loyal and steadfast in his position that if all things were equal, he wanted to re-sign with Atlanta."-- I think this would be great. Billy needs to spend the money on Ty to make up for not drafting Chris Paul
Re-signing Lue would be a good move but for what price, he's a good backup and I want him back as a Hawk just as much as the next guy but I'd rather bring in a big man over him or a good veteran to play the role that Googs played last season. You gotta Link on this article, and next time your posting an article dont post all of it post a piece of it and leave a link.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Buckets:</div><div class="quote_post">Re-signing Lue would be a good move but for what price, he's a good backup and I want him back as a Hawk just as much as the next guy but I'd rather bring in a big man over him or a good veteran to play the role that Googs played last season. You gotta Link on this article, and next time your posting an article dont post all of it post a piece of it and leave a link.</div> This was my first post. I'm not sure how to put a link up because you must register at ajc in order to read the article
