Finally some good news!

[HawkNJersey]

Hawks, Thrashers free to sign players

Judge eases restrictions resulting from owners' legal battle

By TIM TUCKER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 07/12/06

A Maryland court this afternoon lifted the ban that it last week placed on the Hawks and Thrashers signing players to multi-year contracts.

The teams now are free to conduct their business under less stringent restrictions from the court.

In an order, Montgomery County (Md.) Circuit Court Judge Eric Johnson said that ?upon consideration of the joint application of all parties to this action,? he would amend the portion of last week?s order that prohibited the teams from signing players, other than draft picks, to multi-year contracts while the ownership dispute works its way through the appeals court(s).

Under the new order, the teams are free to make transactions as long as they don?t exceed the NBA and NHL salary caps and don't acquire a player with a contract duration of more than four years.

The order further stipulates that the Hawks can make any sign-and-trade deal as long as they don?t acquire a player with a contract duration of more than four years. That apparently means the Hawks can sign a player to a contract of longer than four years for the purpose of dealing him away in a sign-and-trade deal.

The new order removes the cloud of uncertainty that had hung since last week over the Hawks? plans for a sign-and-trade deal involving their free agent forward Al Harrington. The Hawks now are free to do a Harrington sign-and-trade as long as they stay under the salary cap and don?t take back a contract of longer than four years.

The conditions become part of the stay, pending appeal, of Johnson?s earlier order that Steve Belkin has the right to buy out the teams? other owners at cost.

The new order says that any transactions that go beyond the new conditions – i.e., exceed the salary caps or result in the acquisition of contracts longer than four years – would require unanimous consent of the Atlanta Spirit board of managers. That basically means Belkin would have to agree with the other owners to make such transactions.

[swolehawk2]

I think the owners, BK and Al knew this would happen... Troy Murphy has 4 years left doesn't he?

[tmac13]

Great news..Makes us free to do about anything we want.

[Guest]

I like it. Sounds very fair and is a good compromise. Plus, I don't even think the Spirit was planning on exceeding the salary cap in their original budget.

Win-Win situation for the Hawks this offseason as of right now.

[AHF]

That is a great development and could permit us to go after people like Jackie Butler, too.

[OGRat]

Shouldn't be long now to hear about the S&T. Who will we get in return?

[KB21]

Adonal Foyle has four years though.

[vdunkndunk]

Great news for Harrington as well. I wonder if this means a trade is coming down the pipeline soon, because they probably fashioned the terms of the new agreement to fit whatever is about to happen.

[tmac13]

I don't want Murphy unless he comes with an unprotected 1st next year or Patrick O'Bryant..

[WraithSentinel]

This is perhaps a blessing in disguise for those who do not want Troy. BK isn't going to take on Foyle contract unless Biedrins is attach to the deal. It look like Warriors are out of it unless they give us draft pick(s).

[swolehawk2]

Murphy maybe going to Indiana in a three way...I know GS wants Al and they have to get rid of Murphy.

This should be interesting.

[Guest]

Quote:

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This is perhaps a blessing in disguise for those who do not want Troy. BK isn't going to take on Foyle contract unless Biedrins is attach to the deal. It look like Warriors are out of it unless they give us draft pick(s).

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Foyle's contract is insane. I want no part of that albatross($8 M, $9 M, $10 M, TO $10.5 M).

But apparently Diesel thinks it is only $6 million a year. If somehow we changed the whole contract so it was that, then that would still be an albatross for what he does.

[Diesel]

I'd be happy with Foyle, Monta Ellis, and GS unconditional first next year.

That'd be a good deal for us.

[HawkNJersey]

Expect to hear more Iverson rumors shortly, they were just talking about this ruling on the radio, here in Philly. And the guys on the radio brought up a good point. If there were to be a trade between Atl and Philly, no way its for J Smoove...stating 2 points. For one, the Hawks see Smoove as untouchable and currently the most marketable piece. And 2, you can not pair him on the wing with Andre Ig....because neither one of them are shooters and consistent scoring threats from the outside.

[Diesel]

Even at 3 years 27 million with a TO at the 4th year...

IF we can get an unconditional first and Monta Ellis.. we come out smelling like roses...

What difference does an average of 9 million per make if:

We get a good defensive BU at C.

We get a first round pick in the strongest draft probably since Wade's draft.

We get Monta Ellis as a BU SG..

You act like you would have to write the check?

[tmac13]

Foyle's contract is awful for his production..He's bad now, what will he be like in 4 years when we are paying him 10 million?

I see your point about Ellis, Biedrins, or POB and an unprotected 1st this year..If we can get that along with Foyle, maybe I can stomach him, but nothing less..Then we can pull for Golden State to tank this year..

[sturt]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who noticed... with their waiver pick-up from yesterday, they've now got 4.5 guys now who play PG either exclusively or with some regularity.

[Eddielives]

I don't mean to sound pessimistic but I highly doubt we are getting what some of you are proposing just for Al. I mean he's good but not worth an unconditional 1st, a rising star in Ellis and a defensive big(even if that big has a terrible contract).

[AHF]

Quote:

---

Expect to hear more Iverson rumors shortly, they were just talking about this ruling on the radio, here in Philly. And the guys on the radio brought up a good point. If there were to be a trade between Atl and Philly, no way its for J Smoove...stating 2 points. For one, the Hawks see Smoove as untouchable and currently the most marketable piece. And 2, you can not pair him on the wing with Andre Ig....because neither one of them are shooters and consistent scoring threats from the outside.

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Trading for Iverson would put us over the cap, wouldn't it?

[vdunkndunk]

If we could get Monta Ellis OR Biedrins along with a bad contract I'd still be pretty happy, even without the draft pick included. Biedrins and Ellis are just draft picks who are more proven and more developed because we've already seen them in the league--they'd both have a shot at being lottery picks next year even in this strong draft.