"WOW" - Judge rules Belkin can buy out ownership group!

[sunsfn]

[FONT=times new roman, georgia, times]Judge rules Belkin can buy out ownership group[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Trebuchet MS, Helvetica]ASSOCIATED PRESS[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Georgia, Times]ATLANTA, [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Georgia, Times]June 9 —[/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman, Georgia, Times]Steve Belkin has the right to take over the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers from his former co-owners, a Maryland judge ruled Friday. [/FONT]

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[FONT=Times New Roman, Georgia, Times]
The Boston-based Belkin is entitled to buy out the Atlanta Spirit LLC group for the Hawks, Thrashers and operating rights to Philips Arena, Montgomery County (Md.) Circuit Court Judge Eric Johnson ruled. But the current ownership said in a statement released by Atlanta Spirit spokesman Tom Hughes that the decision would be appealed.

''We have just received the court's 23-page decision,'' said the statement, attributed to the ownership group but no individual owner. ''The decision is wrong, both on the law and on the fact. We will review our options with our legal counsel but we expect that the decision will be overturned on appeal.''

Belkin was forced out of the ownership group following a bitter and public dispute over the Hawks' decision to trade Boris Diaw, two first-round draft picks and a $4.9 million trade exception to the Phoenix Suns for Joe Johnson.

Eric Johnson ruled the teams' seven other owners didn't abide by the terms of an agreement to buy out Belkin. Johnson said the group's actions triggered Belkin's right to buy them out.

The ownership group, led by Washington businessmen Bruce Levenson and Ed Peskowitz and Atlantans Michael Gearon Jr. and Rutherford Seydel, had the support of NBA commissioner David Stern in forcing Belkin out and selecting Gearon to replace Belkin as the NBA governor in the group.

In an e-mail to Atlanta Spirit LLC staffers obtained by The Associated Press Friday night, Gearon and Levenson promised business would continue as normal.

In the e-mail, Gearon and Levenson called the judge's ruling ''disappointing.''
''Along with our legal counsel, we remain convinced that it will be overturned on appeal, which could take an extended amount of time,'' Levenson and Gearon wrote.

''In the interim, there will be no change in the governance of the partnership or day-to-day operations of the Atlanta Spirit.''

Belkin was the only owner who didn't support Hawks general manager Billy Knight in the deal for Joe Johnson. Belkin contented the Hawks were giving up too much for the guard, who signed a five-year deal with Atlanta worth about $70 million.
Diaw, a neglected backup in Atlanta, became a productive starter for the Suns. Johnson led Atlanta with 20.2 points and 6.5 assists per game.


http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusspt/ap06-09-180459.asp?spt=nba&vts=6920061937[/FONT]

 

[elindholm]

Does that mean the trade is rescinded?

 

[devilalum]

Does that mean the trade is rescinded?

No, but I'd say it defenitely improves the Suns chances of getting a really good draft pick from the Hawks.

 

[SeattleCard]

Does that mean the trade is rescinded?

Yup, guess we gotta give back Diaw.

 

[sunsfn]

I am sure that this is not over in the courts with the appeals that will happen, but if it does this would be an amazing turn of events.

Think of all the people that are currently employed there that would lose their jobs, starting with the G.M......WOW!

The current owners of this Atlanta franchise & Belkin are all a bunch of incompetent jerks!

 

[Sir Charles Barfbag]

Belkin isn't incompetent. He was right. Terrible trade for the Hawks. Incredible trade for us. Diaw is every bit as valuable as J.Johnson and we got 2 first rounders to boot, along with an MLE.

Colangelo completely ripped Atlanta off. Total mugging. A$$ raping.

 

[NastyOne]

Belkin isn't incompetent. He was right. Terrible trade for the Hawks. Incredible trade for us. Diaw is every bit as valuable as J.Johnson and we got 2 first rounders to boot, along with an MLE.

Colangelo completely ripped Atlanta off. Total mugging. A$$ raping.

Well looking back now its a steal, but No one knew Boris Diaw would be this good.

He was just a "throw-in", or atleast thats what the suns front office pitched to Atlanta.

 

[Tank]

Well looking back now its a steal, but No one knew Boris Diaw would be this good.

Even back then, it was still a good trade for us. Three first round draft picks (one previous and two future) for a player that did not want to be on our team

I think the biggest problem he had with it was that they still had to front load the contract for JJ even with the trade. The reason for front loading the contract was to keep the Suns from matching, but with a sign and trade agreed to, there should be no reason for that.

 

[Yuma]

l love how the article mentions Diaw like Belkin was opposed to us getting him from Atlanta. He could care less if we got Boris. It was the two first rounders he opposed. He thought one was enough. Which it probably was. Phoenix ripped that franchise off, not counting Diaw. I was surprised the commisioner aproved the trade. If you honestly think about it, is Joe Johnson worth two first round picks? I don't think so. Just think further back. The Boston Celtics thought they pulled a fast one when they unloaded JJ to us. I bet they never thought in their wildest dreams anyone would give two first round picks for Joe Johnson! Let alone get an NBA Most Improved player in the mix. Ha Ha Celtics!

 

[Forrestham]

I have said on this board I would NOT trade Boris back to Atlanta for Johnson. Plus we got 2 first rounders. Belkin was rigth. Look how many people were infatuated with Joe Johnson. He is a good player but not a maxs player

 

[NastyOne]

I have said on this board I would NOT trade Boris back to Atlanta for Johnson. Plus we got 2 first rounders. Belkin was rigth. Look how many people were infatuated with Joe Johnson. He is a good player but not a maxs player

While i love Diaw and think he has great potential, Did you see some of the games JJ had for Atlanta this year?

And he was the focal point of a weak offense.

JJ is turning into a allstar caliber player and has the potential to put up Paul Pierce like numbers with the right supporting cast around him.

He really did turn a huge corner going to Atlanta and becoming the #1 option, even if it cost him playing for a winning team.

And i wouldnt be surprised if JJ averaged somewhere between 21-23 points and 6+ assist in 2007.

If Amare comes back healthy and dominates the paint again, i would rather JJ of Atlanta over Diaw of Phoenix. Meaning how each played on their current teams, not past performances.Cause JJ can spread the floor way better than Diaw will ever beable to do, plus he can drive and is a very good passer.

People also fail to remember that JJ and Diaw are close to the same size because JJ is listed as a guard. But Diaw of the playoffs showed he can work the paint better than JJ.

The only thing that would make this trade a real steal is how we use the draft picks we got from Atlanta.Those picks have to contribute to our team (either drafting players or trading the picks for something good) before we call the trade a steal.

Can you really say this lineup...

PG-Nash
SG-Bell
SF-Johnson
PF-Marion
C-Stoudemire

isnt better than...

PG-Nash
SG-Bell
SF-Diaw
PF-Marion
C-Stoudemire

Unless Diaw develops a three point shot, in our offense JJ would be more lethal.

 

[Yuma]

While i love Diaw and think he has great potential, Did you see some of the games JJ had for Atlanta this year?

And he was the focal point of a weak offense.

JJ is turning into a allstar caliber player and has the potential to put up Paul Pierce like numbers with the right supporting cast around him.

He really did turn a huge corner going to Atlanta and becoming the #1 option, even if it cost him playing for a winning team.

And i wouldnt be surprised if JJ averaged somewhere between 21-23 points and 6+ assist in 2007.

If Amare comes back healthy and dominates the paint again, i would rather JJ of Atlanta over Diaw of Phoenix. Meaning how each played on their current teams, not past performances.Cause JJ can spread the floor way better than Diaw will ever beable to do, plus he can drive and is a very good passer.

People also fail to remember that JJ and Diaw are close to the same size because JJ is listed as a guard. But Diaw of the playoffs showed he can work the paint better than JJ.

The only thing that would make this trade a real steal is how we use the draft picks we got from Atlanta.Those picks have to contribute to our team (either drafting players or trading the picks for something good) before we call the trade a steal.

Can you really say this lineup...

PG-Nash
SG-Bell
SF-Johnson
PF-Marion
C-Stoudemire

isnt better than...

PG-Nash
SG-Bell
SF-Diaw
PF-Marion
C-Stoudemire

Unless Diaw develops a three point shot, in our offense JJ would be more lethal.

I would agree EXCEPT with Diaw the lineup is more like:

PG - Nash
SG - Bell
SF - Marion
PF - Stoudemire
C - Diaw

Diaw has played center for us way more than he's played SF. Just look where he is on offense and who he guards on defense. This allows Marion and Stoudemire to play their "true" positions, (although I see Amare ending up as our center as his body matures in the future) which makes Diaw all the better fit for our team than JJ. He brings one more assist guy that can feed Marion and Amare than Nash. You can't double Nash to take the ball out of his hands when Diaw is on the floor. This helps Nash take bigs on switches one on one. Otherwise, you double Nash, he hits Diaw who drives, shoots, or more than likely passes to Marion or Amare who now have one on one coverage. No, I gotta say I agree JJ is better for Atlanta, but Diaw is definatly better for us!

 

[George O'Brien]

JJ is a very talented guy, but it remains to be seen if he's the kind of leader who can pull his team to the playoffs. There is more to the game than good stats. Boris is younger, but his growth as a player has been amazing.

One interesting comparison is Boris at the same amount of NBA experience, ie to JJ's third season (03-04). Both had forgettable seasons their first two years.

JJ (2003-04) 16.7 ppg, 43% shooting, 30.5% for three, 4.7 rpg, 4.4 assists per game

Boris 13.3 ppg (18.7 ppg in the playoffs), 52.6% shooting, 26.7% for three, 6.9 rpg, 6.2 assists per game.

Obviously the situations were different, the 2003-04 Suns weren't very good and didn't have Nash. Still, JJ played a month an hald with Amaer attracting double teams which Boris didn't.

At the end of the 2003-04 season there were serious questions about how good JJ was. I haven' seen many questions about Boris lately.

 

[JCSunsfan]

The ball doesn't move nearly as much with JJ as with Diaw. Diaw a much more unselfish player that makes his teammates better.

Our entire offense is MUCH more efficient with Diaw playing, and I have every reason to expect that he will pass to Amare, which JJ rarely did.

I would rather have Diaw over JJ.

 

[SunsTzu]

The ball doesn't move nearly as much with JJ as with Diaw. Diaw a much more unselfish player that makes his teammates better.

Our entire offense is MUCH more efficient with Diaw playing, and I have every reason to expect that he will pass to Amare, which JJ rarely did.

I would rather have Diaw over JJ.

I wouldn't say JJ was a selfish player when it came to his lack of ball movement, on wide open breaks he nearly always gave the ball up. I do think he was afraid to take chances with his passes though and watching the Hawks play this year it seems to be a part of his game that is still improving.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

JJ is a very talented guy, but it remains to be seen if he's the kind of leader who can pull his team to the playoffs. There is more to the game than good stats. Boris is younger, but his growth as a player has been amazing.

One interesting comparison is Boris at the same amount of NBA experience, ie to JJ's third season (03-04). Both had forgettable seasons their first two years.

JJ (2003-04) 16.7 ppg, 43% shooting, 30.5% for three, 4.7 rpg, 4.4 assists per game

Boris 13.3 ppg (18.7 ppg in the playoffs), 52.6% shooting, 26.7% for three, 6.9 rpg, 6.2 assists per game.

Obviously the situations were different, the 2003-04 Suns weren't very good and didn't have Nash. Still, JJ played a month an hald with Amaer attracting double teams which Boris didn't.

At the end of the 2003-04 season there were serious questions about how good JJ was. I haven' seen many questions about Boris lately.

Diaw is only 10 months younger than Joe Johnson.

 

[George O'Brien]

Diaw is only 10 months younger than Joe Johnson.

What I was describing was NBA experience, not age. A rookie is a rookie, whether 18 or 23. A great many players take a few years to develop, not matter how old they are when they start. But as a rule, if a guy hasn't shown anything by his third year, he's not likely to make it (assuming he was not injured which would delay progress). The main exceptions have been HS prospects.