Thursday, June 28th, 2007 at 1:26 am  |  58 responses

Links: Oh No Yi Didn’t!

Al Horford, welcome to Atlanta…

by Lang Whitaker

Let’s make this quick, because it’s late, I just got home, it’s pouring outside and I’m soaking wet, and…well, let’s just make this quick.

As hopeful as I was that the Hawks were going to get Amare Stoudemire, I hear it’s not happening. Chad Ford basically says strange estranged owner Steve Belkin vetoed the deal, but Sekou Smith says it’s just a case of things being even more difficult than anyone else let on — that they would’ve needed a fourth team to make it work. I was told tonight it’s still alive but the chances of it happening were less than twenty percent. (So you’re telling me there’s still a chance!)

Also, the Suns are saying that they’ve never had direct contact with the Hawks. Well, of course they’re saying that. Do you want them to admit that they were shopping Amare? You think he’d be happy with that?

Now, moving on to the Draft…

I’ve been beating the Yi drum for a while because I was told the Hawks owners loved Yi and that was the way things were going to go down, regardless of whom GM Billy Knight wanted.

Not anymore.

Now the pick will be Al Horford, who Billy Knight loves, even though they drafted a power forward last year (Sheldon Williams). My main man Adrian Wojnarowski says there’s still a chance it could be Yi. Well, that’s not what I hear. It’s Horford. Billy has the power!

And with the 11 pick, if they don’t move it, they’ve got a deal for Luke Ridnour sitting there waiting for them to pull the trigger if they want him. We’ll see.

If it’s true that Belkin ended up vetoing the Hawks’ chances to bring in Amare, I’m going to sue Belkin. It’s late and I can’t run this rumor down right now. I’ll post something tomorrow when I hear more.

Oh, and finally, I heard a great story today — and it’s true, which makes it even better: A GM recently checked out Chad Ford’s mock Draft and my former nemesis C-Fizzle had this GM taking someone the GM had “never heard of.”

Gotta love Draft time!

Later…

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  • RV Posted: Jun.28 at 2:01 am
    first?…ridnour, not bad..he’s been in a slump since he lost his starting job, but i think he’ll do well in the ATL

  • Joel O's Posted: Jun.28 at 2:01 am
    first? lol

  • Joel O's Posted: Jun.28 at 2:02 am
    noo! haha. anyway, good job on the title pun. hahaha.

  • JpT Posted: Jun.28 at 2:02 am
    first?

  • JpT Posted: Jun.28 at 2:03 am
    wow. 3rd. aint bad… :)

  • RV Posted: Jun.28 at 2:07 am
    Lang, you think the suns instead wanted Amare to know he’d get traded just so he’ll come back stronger next yr?

  • JpT Posted: Jun.28 at 2:23 am
    why dont garnett and gasol(plus some players) swap? and then memphis trade garnett to lakers for odom, bynum or brown..

  • Chukaz Posted: Jun.28 at 2:57 am
    @JpT: Boy, you’z a genious. KG to L.A! F*ck Yeah!!!!
    @RV: Son, that just stupid. The Suns want nothing to do with Amare and his knees, which could explode on any minute. If KG went to PHX, he would be good for the next 5 years. If STAT stays he will be good for the next 4 years, then he will need to get that surgery again (or at least that’s what the doctors told the Suns when Amare came back).

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Jun.28 at 3:00 am
    That photo is seriously creepy. Re-touch city. That said, Horford has gotta be a decided upgrade over The Absentee Landlord.

  • Chukaz Posted: Jun.28 at 3:07 am
    Oh, I forgot to mention that JpT should be hired as the Laker’s new GM. It doesn’t have to be him, just randomly pick someone walking the streets of L.A, that’ll do. Mitch Kupchak(?) sucks c*ck.

  • Chukaz Posted: Jun.28 at 3:18 am
    If a 4 team deal was to go down, I would hape that the Lakers were the 4th team. The Lakers could take Amare and send Bynum to the A. After that, you can send Kobe to the Warrior for J-Rich and Baron Davis. That would be awesome!!!

  • Chukaz Posted: Jun.28 at 3:21 am
    I can totally see it now. Starting lineup: Baron, J-Rich, Lamar, STAT, (insert name here). Or they could also move Baron to the 2, J-Rick to the 3, Odom to the 4, and STAT to Center and start Jordan Famar at the point.

  • jay n Posted: Jun.28 at 4:05 am
    Why doesn’t Chad Ford just start calling his ‘mock draft’ by the more appropriate name of ‘Chad Fords wild approximations of who he thinks might be chosen at a certain point during the draft’.Seriously isn’t he on about mock draft version 67.2.

  • neaorin Posted: Jun.28 at 4:31 am
    It would be funny to see a bunch of draft-night trades as teams fight to get better, completely dismantling Chad Ford’s mock draft in the process.

  • Boing Dynasty Posted: Jun.28 at 5:43 am
    Can anyone tell me the difference between Marvin Williams, Sheldon Williams, and Al Horford?

  • JpT Posted: Jun.28 at 6:01 am
    14 hours left.. i bet lang cant sleep.

  • Rome Posted: Jun.28 at 8:19 am
    “…but the dysfunctional dynamic between the Hawks’ ownership and front office caused the organization to forgo further discussion over the trade that would’ve brought Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire to Atlanta…” Lang, When I read that I though about you,then I just laughed and laughed, Lang why do you continue to waste your time rooting for that team?

  • Detroit11 Posted: Jun.28 at 8:58 am
    Good question, Boing. I can’t really tell the difference between those 3 either, other than the fact Sheldon sucks. But Al Horford? So much for the Marvin Williams experiment….

  • Myung Posted: Jun.28 at 9:48 am
    Marvin is entering what would be his senior yr in college. If you’ve watched him play, you know he has all the tools to be a solid NBA player. I am a big fan of his, but even I’ll admit that he possibly will never be more than a good player (and not a great one). His game is nothing like Shelden and Al. Shelden is a straight up bust. Al could end up being better than both ACC Williamses.

  • Lang Whitaker Posted: Jun.28 at 9:52 am
    Marv’s a perimeter player, to start with. And yes, I couldn’t sleep last night.

  • Myung Posted: Jun.28 at 9:53 am
    I’ve been telling my friends for 2 years that this collection of athletes (Smith, Joe, Childress, Marv) needs a pass first, low turnover PG. I always mentioned Ridnour’s name as a possibility. If the rumored trade takes place, I for one, will be happy. I think Ridnour on this team makes a lot of sense. If only we could do something about that COACH of ours. SIGH!

  • Detroit11 Posted: Jun.28 at 10:12 am
    Lang, I was actually being sarcastic to the fact that the Hawks have like 10 forwards. I completely understand Marv’s a perimeter oriented player. And Myung, I agree that Ridnour does look like a good fit on ATL….

  • bakers' dozen (12-13) Posted: Jun.28 at 11:19 am
    This is Atlanta we’re talking about…the (arguably) worst front office around. They’ll take Yi Jianlan due to pressures the media has talked about, and then they’ll take Jarvis Crittenton (sp?) at 11 as the “sexy” pick. It may turn out alright…but it won’t amount to jack poo if you look at the fact that they could have had Amare. However, they may just turn around and deal both picks for Steve Kerr, Darko, and two third rounders in 2009. :)

  • DP Posted: Jun.28 at 11:21 am
    I hate when trades never happen. play wit it.

  • DK52 Posted: Jun.28 at 11:35 am
    Sheldon Williams doesn’t suck. At least not defensively. Marvin Williams reminds me so much of Darius Miles. Not really good enough to be a starter, but can explode for an occasional dunk in someone’s grill.

  • DK52 Posted: Jun.28 at 11:36 am
    Horford could have a Barkley like career if he stays healthy and keeps his body in top notch shape.

  • DK52 Posted: Jun.28 at 11:37 am
    Looks like Carlos Boozer and Elton Brand could go on to break the Duke curse by having solid NBA careers.

  • Myung Posted: Jun.28 at 11:48 am
    Shelden Williams may not suck, but he is what he is. As a ROOKIE last year, he was already near the average age of the team (23.5 yrs when the season started, before we acquired Anthony Johnson at midseason). Josh Smith, in his third year, was younger than Shelden. I can see him having a long career, but so will Jason Collins. He has long arms and is a good FT shooter for a big man. He was a good college player and a bust of a lottery pick. Paul Millsap is everything Shelden Williams isn’t, and he was a 2nd rounder.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Jun.28 at 11:48 am
    I seriously think that photo makes it look like Al graduated from college in 1953.

  • dwang78 Posted: Jun.28 at 11:58 am
    how come all the gm’s love yi but none of the fans want him!

  • Myung Posted: Jun.28 at 11:59 am
    I dare anyone who follows a team other than the Hawks to make a case that their GM’s make worse draft picks than the Hawks. You need any hard evidence? The Rookie (and Rookie-Sophomore) Game has been going on since, I think, 1997 (I could be wrong). Other than Jason Terry in 2000 and Josh Smith in 2004, I can’t remember us having a player in the game. And if that game existed before ’97, I doubt Adam Keefe, Rumeal Robinson, Rodney Monroe, and Roy Marble would’ve been playing on it either. 20+ years of Draft futility. I’m stuck in an abusive relationship, and I can’t escape. =(

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Jun.28 at 12:28 pm
    Don’t you dare say anything bad about Adam Keefe! Actually, nevermind.

  • Myung Posted: Jun.28 at 12:37 pm
    Priest Lauderdale, Cal Bowdler, Ed Grey, Dion Glover, Roshawn McCloud (I’m sure I misspelled some names there…I’m doing this off the top of my head…I’m afraid to actually do research and see who else we’ve used 1st round picks on, else this will be a most depressing day).

  • bakers' dozen (12-13) Posted: Jun.28 at 12:42 pm
    Alan Henderson

  • H to the izzo Posted: Jun.28 at 12:56 pm
    Cal Bowdler was a damn fine player,damn fine

  • Myung Posted: Jun.28 at 12:58 pm
    Salt in the wound, bakers dozen. =(

  • Dennard Posted: Jun.28 at 1:03 pm
    @Myung, I just took a look at the Hawks draft history on http://www.basketball-reference.com. All I can say is depressing may not be a strong enough word to define the last 15 drafts.

  • Myung Posted: Jun.28 at 1:17 pm
    Dennard, it goes deeper than 15 years, my friend. Maybe start with 1986. Also, we had FOUR first round picks in 1999. FOUR. I remember watching the Draft that year and just sobbing like my name was Jumaine Jones. JT was a good pick (to be honest, he’s easily in the top THREE of good Hawks Draft picks in the past 20 years; what does that say?), but to say we screwed up the rest of the first round is like saying “depressing” is a strong enough word to describe our drafts.

  • Russ Bengtson Posted: Jun.28 at 1:19 pm
    The Hawks probably would have done better picking names out of a hat. Or allowing one of their division rivals to pick for them. Wait, do the Hawks even have any rivals?

  • Myung Posted: Jun.28 at 1:27 pm
    Steve Belkin.

  • DK52 Posted: Jun.28 at 1:34 pm
    Hey Scoonie Penn used to be one of my favorite college players what ever happened to him? Terry was an okay pick and he’s had an okay career, but to be honest I don’t remember them ever having a solid pick since Kevin Willis all the way back before I was born in 1984. Don’t sleep on Salim Stoudamire, and Marvin Williams just yet.

  • Myung Posted: Jun.28 at 1:46 pm
    Salim Stoudamire is good for 1 thing, and everyone in the world knows what that 1 thing is. If his shot isn’t falling, he’s pretty worthless on the court. He’ll explode for a 20+ point game for every ten sub-10 point games he has. I don’t hate him, but he’s completely 1 dimensional (and one of the worst defenders in the L). I haven’t given up on Marv. I’m a big fan of his; however, we passed on Ray Felton, Chris Paul, and Deron Williams to get him. No matter what he accomplishes as a pro, I think that’ll always haunt him (and moreso, Billy Knight). But I have (fingers crossed) high hopes for the former SLAM Diary Keeper.

  • Dennard Posted: Jun.28 at 1:47 pm
    Myung, I took a further look. Jon Koncak at #5 in ’85. G*ddamn!!!!! Jon Koncak over Karl Malone, I know hindsight is 20/20, but what the hell was the sight at the time of that pick 20/150? This franchise is due a good pick. Maybe it’s the curse of the Dominique Wilkins trade.

  • bakers' dozen (12-13) Posted: Jun.28 at 1:58 pm
    The best move they’ve made in the last decade to 15 years was signing Mutombo away from my beloved Nuggets. Even THAT didn’t alst long. Still can’t believe they traded Nique for Danny Friggin’ Manning!

  • Myung Posted: Jun.28 at 2:00 pm
    Oh geez, Jon Contract. I should’ve said 1985 and not 1986 (a few posts earlier). I just thought of 1986 because it’s historically regarded as the weakest draft of all time (though a case can be made for 2000 and 2006), and we blew it that year too. But no doubt Koncak at #5 was a classic Hawks move, right up there with re-signing him for that multimillion dollar deal later in his career. Maybe we’ll re-visit the past and resign our latest #5 pick Shelden Williams when his contract is almost up, paying homage to Jon Contract.

  • hardboiled Posted: Jun.28 at 2:03 pm
    Is that an indictment of Ford of the GM. I say the GM. Can you tell me why the Hawks can’t play Shelden Williams at center? I mean Okay he can’t gaurd Shaq the 30 games he is healthy or the two times they play Yao, but other than that do you really think he can’t stay with Andrew Bogut, Fat Boy Curry, Z, or Ben Wallave in the east…. I mean I am a Pistons fan so the hawks can keep sucking but I don’t get it. holford williams and smith on the frontline is plenty in the east. They just need to ditch either childress or the other williams and get a pg.

  • hardboiled Posted: Jun.28 at 2:04 pm
    should read of Ford or of the GM?

  • RV Posted: Jun.28 at 2:31 pm
    chukaz, don’t call me son again, i’m old enough to be your father, i’m 24, but i’m assuming you cant be more than 7 or 8..

  • RV Posted: Jun.28 at 2:34 pm
    does anyone else think you shouldn’t ALWAYS draft for talent, especially when its not a no brainer like a lottery pick? You end up pushing talented guys to the end of the bench b/c their position is full and they end up leaving in a year or two and blow up somewhere else…..the rockets better not draft a small forward..

  • Detroit11 Posted: Jun.28 at 3:00 pm
    The Hawks also traded away Rasheed Wallace after 1 game……

  • bakers' dozen (12-13) Posted: Jun.28 at 3:19 pm
    Yeah, that was a classic move. Anybody have his jersey from the ATL? Sometimes I think drafting for need is smart. If you are only one or two players away from being a contender, why mess with what you have established? If you get too much talent at one spot, sure you’ve got great trade bait, but you still trade for an unknown (as far as how the gelling process will be). You can pick who you trade for (and you know how they’ll produce in the L), drafting, you never know.

  • Lang Whitaker Posted: Jun.28 at 4:05 pm
    I want one of those Hawks/Sheed jerseys. He wore number 36 the one game he played. I was actually at the game — it was in Jersey — and the Hawks nearly won it.

  • nothin _personal Posted: Jun.28 at 4:11 pm
    @DK52- Scoonie played for once-superpower, now reemerging Greek team Olympiakos. They pushed Euroleague champions (and eventually triple crown winners) Panathinaikos to a decisive game. With some help from Pistons SG Alex Acker, Sopho Schortsianitis and Sarunas Macijauskas, they made a push for the title, but fell short. Scoonie, after a regular season where he had to play almost every single second, (Gerry McNamarra could’t help from the benvh, finally got a backup, and had some great games in the PO’s averaging 12p, 3 as and 1.3st. I hope I covered you.

  • TyroneSlothrop Posted: Jun.28 at 4:32 pm
    The Hawks traded Sheed after one game and got a pick that turned into Josh Smith in return. Not exactly a bad net gain, in all fairness.

  • howard Posted: Jun.28 at 6:16 pm
    I don’t think cities w/large Black populations (ATL, Memphis, Charlotte)would be fond of Yi. That is unless Yi grows some cornrows, hits the strip-clubs, and learns the art of “making it rain”

  • tike Posted: Jun.28 at 6:35 pm
    Lang, face it the Hawks stink and yes as you already said the Hawks are going to get yet another Power Forward….i also hear that Monta Ellis maybe wearing a Hawks Jersey if A.C Law isnt avaiable at the 11spot…im just sayin…

  • DK52 Posted: Jun.29 at 9:16 am
    @ Nothin_ Personal Good Looking out bro. Thanks for the info.

  • Mike Johnson Posted: Jun.30 at 2:18 am
    Steven Parr Remember that name!!

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