Positive signs coming from Atlanta

[Kolo]

It's dated today, but I imagine it'll be in tomorrow's ajc:

Hawks, NBA seek resolution

By TIM TUCKER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/10/05
The NBA and the Atlanta Hawks' owners were working behind the scenes Wednesday night to find a resolution to the ownership battle that has become an embarrassment for the league as well as the team, several people familiar with the situation said.

The talks, initiated by the league, were aimed at addressing the stalemate over the pending Joe Johnson trade and the larger issue of an ownership group that now admits it cannot co-exist.

"There is dialogue between the owners and the NBA — progress toward a long-term resolution," said one person close to the situation. "Very much unlike the day before."

On Tuesday, with three NBA attorneys observing in a Boston courtroom, part owner Steve Belkin won a preliminary injunction to block his eight partners from removing him as the Hawks' NBA governor. The partners responded by asking NBA commissioner David Stern to give "prior approval" to the removal of Belkin in hopes that might sway the judge to reconsider his ruling.

Stern has not announced a decision. The NBA indicated it will comment on the situation Thursday.

During Tuesday's hearing, Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Allan van Gestel invited the owners seeking to oust Belkin to take their case to the league, saying: "Why can't you simply contact the NBA and say, 'We've got a problem. Mr. Belkin is doing terrible things. Can we remove him?'"

In his ruling, the judge focused on the fact that Stern had not approved removal.

Outside the courtroom Tuesday, part owner Bruce Levenson said of the ownership group: "It's pretty obvious we're going through a divorce right now. I would hope, sooner rather than later, [Belkin] comes to the realization that . . . all that needs to be worked out now is the property settlement."

Levenson declined further comment Wednesday.

The courtroom scene captured the bitter dispute: Belkin seated on one side, his partners and team officials on the other; Hawks general manager Billy Knight refusing a proffered handshake from Belkin.

On Wednesday, Knight got a standing ovation from 300-plus Hawks-Thrashers-Philips Arena employees when he entered a company-wide strategic-planning meeting.

"Up until very recently, [Stern] was content to let [the Hawks' owners] fight among themselves and leave it out of his office," former Hawks president Stan Kasten observed Wednesday. "I do think he's going to take some action. . . . I don't think he can allow it to go forward as it is.

"David could always be encouraging settlement talks — 'encouraging' being a euphemism for 'threatening.'"

 

[George O'Brien]

If Stern rules against Belkins, I'd look for another injunction. This thing is not going away easily.

The fact is this whole process began years ago when Turner's group strip mined the team to get salaries really low so they could sell the collection assets. They did not try to create a team that could make money by selling tickets, but one that did it by keeping costs down. That was what Belkins bought and had no reason to think it should continue otherwise.

Realistically, Belkins is probably right. JJ is not going to turn the Hawks into a competative team. He's quite good, but the Hawks need great and JJ is not great. Whatever novelty he might create the first year as it relates to ticket sales will be overwhelmed by the front loading of the contract. The Hawks will lose a lot of money, have traded away their draft picks, and still not be very good.

It takes a fairly dismal team when that is the best they can hope for.

 

[cly2tw]

Realistically, Belkins is probably right. JJ is not going to turn the Hawks into a competative team. He's quite good, but the Hawks need great and JJ is not great. Whatever novelty he might create the first year as it relates to ticket sales will be overwhelmed by the front loading of the contract. The Hawks will lose a lot of money, have traded away their draft picks, and still not be very good.

It takes a fairly dismal team when that is the best they can hope for.

This is the famous Hen and Egg cycle with the Hawks. You gotta establish reputation to want to build a winner in order to attract "greats"! Even JJ is not that great, this is the first step to build that reputation, not to mention that along the way with hopes you sell more tickets to soften the burden of the initial, necessary "overpayment" for the "less greats" like JJ. You don't and can't build Roma overnight.

 

[George O'Brien]

This is the famous Hen and Egg cycle with the Hawks. You gotta establish reputation to want to build a winner in order to attract "greats"! Even JJ is not that great, this is the first step to build that reputation, not to mention that along the way with hopes you sell more tickets to soften the burden of the initial, necessary "overpayment" for the "less greats" like JJ. You don't and can't build Roma overnight.

The best way to build a team is through the draft and then re-signing the good ones. If the Clippers kept the guys they've let go, they'd be a serious contender because they have drafted pretty well.

It is very hard to go from zero to contender through free agency. Very very hard.

 

[myrondizzo]

The best way to build a team is through the draft and then re-signing the good ones. If the Clippers kept the guys they've let go, they'd be a serious contender because they have drafted pretty well.

It is very hard to go from zero to contender through free agency. Very very hard.

i dont know about hard but very expensive.

 

[cly2tw]

The best way to build a team is through the draft and then re-signing the good ones. If the Clippers kept the guys they've let go, they'd be a serious contender because they have drafted pretty well.

It is very hard to go from zero to contender through free agency. Very very hard.

Pistons. Only Prince was their own drafted player.

The problem is, unless you drafted a guy like LBJ, building through the draft is more fallacy than reality. You gotta have a mixed of both and commit to paying FA early enough to make staying on the team attractive to the young players you drafted.

 

[George O'Brien]

Pistons. Only Prince was their own drafted player.

The problem is, unless you drafted a guy like LBJ, building through the draft is more fallacy than reality. You gotta have a mixed of both and commit to paying FA early enough to make staying on the team attractive to the young players you drafted.

Usually the trick is draft well and then trade even better. In any case, the cost of paying ones own free agents is certainly easier than signing someone elses.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

The best way to build a team is through the draft and then re-signing the good ones. hard.

Words I wish the Suns would listen to once in a while.

 

[Joe Mama]

The truth is that good teams are usually built by drafting well, trading well, signing free agents well, and a little bit of luck. Some teams will do one of these things better than others. The Phoenix Suns seemed to me to be pretty balanced. They have drafted Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion. They signed Steve Nash. They traded for Joe Johnson.

I'm not sure why people want to get fixated on one particular pattern for building a team. The bottom line is that the from office has to be good at evaluating talent and putting a team together.

Joe Mama

 

[coloradosun]

If Stern rules against Belkins, I'd look for another injunction. This thing is not going away easily.

The fact is this whole process began years ago when Turner's group strip mined the team to get salaries really low so they could sell the collection assets. They did not try to create a team that could make money by selling tickets, but one that did it by keeping costs down. That was what Belkins bought and had no reason to think it should continue otherwise.

That's a good point, when Colangelo set out to sell the Suns he did the same thing paring the salaries of Penny and Marbury off the books. The beauty of his situation is that he some very young talent in Marion, Amare and JJ. A team that went to the playoffs the previous season and anyone wanting to buy the team was in position to field a winner not just a profit maker. As it proved out Sarver got a winning franchise with rock bottom payroll. He spent money to acquire players that would take them to another level.

The same cannot be said about the Hawks, the team cut payroll to sell the franchise but had nothing in inventory that could provide a winner. In that case there had to be three parties get together to buy a perpetual loser. Odds are that these guys were more interested in acquiring a franchise and selling it later to make a profit. Winning was definitely secondary, Belkin was in for that action.

 

[sunsfn]

Usually the trick is draft well and then trade even better. In any case, the cost of paying ones own free agents is certainly easier than signing someone elses.

I agree George, Sarver had his chance and blew it. No matter what people think JJ is worth, Sarver blew this deal starting last year and continued it this year. This should never have been a problem, and now it looks like the suns will lose JJ and our chance for a title this year. They will probably recover if they can get a replacement for JJ, but they do not have that player yet, and Finley is not the answer with his obvious lost of skills, especially his defense. They also will need a much better backup point guard if they expect to have a chance to win a title after losing JJ.

 

[Dr. Dumas]

I agree George, Sarver had his chance and blew it. No matter what people think JJ is worth, Sarver blew this deal starting last year and continued it this year. This should never have been a problem, and now it looks like the suns will lose JJ and our chance for a title this year. They will probably recover if they can get a replacement for JJ, but they do not have that player yet, and Finley is not the answer with his obvious lost of skills, especially his defense. They also will need a much better backup point guard if they expect to have a chance to win a title after losing JJ.

I think Finley would do just fine. He was injured towards the end of the season and into the playoffs. While being injured, he still had one huge game in the playoffs, which in my opinion was the reason Dallas won that game.

Also, I understand that JJ can handle the ball and play PG for limited minutes. Maybe I'm the only one on this board, but I don't think JJ was the answer for spot duty anyways. The guy doesn't push the ball up the court. The offense becomes stagnant while Joe holds the ball for the majority of the time and ends up shooting it in the end. If we could pick up someone like Claxton we would be fine.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Republic is reporting that Insiders agree that Finley is going to Miami....I cant stand this....i moved out here to Miami 6 months ago and i went to the Suns-Heat game (the suns were trounced and i had to keep quiet as Wade went off) and i actually saw Sarver at this game and said "great job w/ the team but we gotta keep JJ".... i dont think he listened to well

But as for finley coming to South Beach.....ARGHHHHHH....I thought there was a love fest last year w/ Shaq and DWADE....its only going to get worse

 

[sunsfn]

I think Finley would do just fine. He was injured towards the end of the season and into the playoffs. While being injured, he still had one huge game in the playoffs, which in my opinion was the reason Dallas won that game.

.

The part about Finley scoring all those points and then Dallas winning the game, is the game where JJ was injured and was not there to guard Finley!

 

[Dr. Dumas]

The part about Finley scoring all those points and then Dallas winning the game, is the game where JJ was injured and was not there to guard Finley!

You might be right.... But my point is that I think Finley can still get up and down the court, as well as be a valuable piece to the right team. Finley looked great even though he was injured. If the Suns could land Finley and a descent PG, we would not miss JJ.