In the NBA, it seems you’re always doing one of three things: rebuilding, reloading, or re-signing. The Atlanta Hawks are seemingly doing all three. The team has also re-signed free-agent forward Marvin Williams on a five-year deal of almost $40 million total.  They have also re-signed free agent Mike Bibby to a three-year deal worth roughly $18 million.  The playoff team is also reloading, as they traded Acie Law and Speedy Claxton to the Golden State Warriors for combo guard Jamal Crawford. In the rebuilding phase, the Hawks have drafted Wake Forest point guard Jeff Teauge. Teague could eventually become Mike Bibby’s replacement, as he is a true point guard yet still loaded with an incredible offensive toolset. While he may find a tough time seeing action this year, and could even end up in the D-League for most of the year, Atlanta got a bargain in the draft and arewell stocked at guard now and in the immediate future.

A $7 million trade kicker in Josh Smith’s contract guarantees he will not be traded by the Hawks this summer. Smith is a young, versatile, multi talented player who can fill the stat sheet in every category. This makes him a great fantasy player, but a question mark in reality. He is mentioned in trade rumors because of his potential, but to actualize that into becoming a great player seems like a challenge. Smith can oft be a head case and may not have the character that a franchise player needs to possess to build around and lead his team deep into the playoffs. Atlanta seemed to fizzle out and barely make an effort in the Cleveland series, a far cry from pushing the eventual 2008 champion Celtics to 7 games with virtually the same team in the prior season. Former Hawk sixth man Josh Childress even opted to return to Greece again next season, as opposed to voiding his contract  and returning to the NBA. Whether Atlanta has done enough to lift themselves out of the same position as last season rests on the shoulders of all-star Joe Johnson. In a contract year and in the elite group of the heralded 2010 free agent class, Johnson needs to prove he is max contract worthy by moving the hawks from a four seed into the upper class of the eastern conference.

Share on Facebook