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Atlanta Hawks (Last Year: 47-35)
Depth Chart:
C: Al Horford/Zaza Pachulia/Jason Collins
PF: Josh Smith/Joe Smith/Randolph Morris
SF: Marvin Williams/Maurice Evans/Othello Hunter
SG: Joe Johnson/Jamal Crawford
PG: Mike Bibby/Jeff Teague
Head Coach: Mike Woodson (7th
year)
2009-2010 Team Salary: $67.0 million
Projected 2010-2011 Team
Salary: approximately $49.0 million
Off-Season Grade: Aced
All things considered, the
Hawks had a very productive offseason. They re-signed their veteran
point guard Mike Bibby to a very reasonable 3-year, $21 million
contract. Atlanta then turned the expiring contracts and worthless
dead weight of Acie Law and Speedy Claxton into scoring guard Jamal
Crawford. Crawford does have $19 million-plus left on the next two years
of his contract, but adds some much needed depth to a thin Hawks roster.
The upgrading of the backcourt continued during the draft when the
Hawks picked Wake Forest combo guard Jeff Teague. Teague had a great preseason
and looks as if he will be a very valuable piece off their bench.
Depth was also added up front
when Zaza Pachuila re-signed, and Atlanta brought in veterans Joe Smith
and Jason Collins who have been through the rigors of the playoffs
before and should only help the Hawks come the postseason.
2009-2010 Outlook:
The Hawks continue to make
strides in the right direction. The franchise has gone from winning
just 13 games in 2004-05 to 47 victories last season and the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. The patience of re-making
their roster has proven to be worth it as young talent like Al Horford,
Josh Smith and Marvin Williams come into their own.
That young talent combined
A solid core of veterans makes the Hawks the top of the middle
tier in the East, still a step down from the big three of Boston,
Cleveland and Orlando. Could they crash the party in the post-season?
Doubtful, unless Johnson emerges into a true superstar in the league.
But the once-drowning franchise has once again found life and optimism.
Looking Ahead to the Summer of 2010:
The Hawks’ best player could be gone after this season. Joe Johnson is in the final year of his contract and in every indication, will test the free-agency market next summer. If Atlanta can�t convince him to re-sign, their cap space will be minimal to find a replacement of equal talent. Other than Johnson, every other major player is under contract so next summer in Atlanta will be all about getting Johnson to sign an extension.
2009-10 NBA Power Ranking: 8th
Written by Paul Banks of NBC Chicago and the Washington Times, and David Kay of the The Sports Bank.
Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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