hawks havent ruled out out shaq yet!

[JohnnyCASH]

While the Hawks have ruled out paying luxury tax to sign Shaquille O'Neal -- or any other free agent, for that matter -- the organization hasn't shut the door completely on bringing Shaq to Atlanta, a person familiar with the team's thinking told CBSSports.com. If O'Neal were to lower his asking price from the mid-level exception -- starting at about $5.8 million -- to the bi-annual exception of about $1.9 million, the Hawks would be interested in exploring such a signing. Atlanta would be able to pay O'Neal the bi-annual exception -- or a portion of its mid-level -- and avoid paying luxury tax. But the current ownership group has never paid luxury tax and doesn't plan to begin paying it now. Also, the Hawks haven't discussed -- nor are they interested in -- a sign-and-trade arrangement with the Cavs that would cost them a piece of their young core, sources say

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/23224606?source=rss_blogs_NBA

[Diesel]

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/23224606?source=rss_blogs_NBA

That is an insult?!!

You might as well say that we have given up on Shaq.

The fact that we would choose to keep Marvin and his 4 years of less than mediocrity over Shaq and his size and celebrity is mind boggling. We will see what happens when Mr. African American studies put in another nothing year and his value drops sharpely.... While we still are getting our asses handed to us by every big man in the league.... we will see...

[MaceCase]

Smart move by Sund. There is no market for Shaq, nobody he wants to play for wants him and nobody who wants him can pay more than us. It makes zero sense trading any one of our players just so the man can make 7 million more than anyone else is willing to or capable of paying him. Tough s*** that his idea of trading himself for Marvin aint work out for him but there aint no 8 million dollar starting position with lots of playing time waiting for him out there anywhere so he might as well take whatever money and the chance to actually be on an NBA roster next season or he can go full time into the entertainment business.

[tonegully]

Im rolling with Sund on this one. Shaq is not worth it. Not worth what he is asking and not worth a straight up trade for Marvin.

[AHF]

If Shaq is willing to sign for less than $2 million he will be playing somewhere more high profile than Atl, IMO.

[KB21]

If Shaq is willing to sign for less than $2 million he will be playing somewhere more high profile than Atl, IMO.

Well, it won't be Miami because they want no part of him. It should say a lot that they would rather have Big Z than Shaq at this point. The buyer beware sign is flashing big time on Shaq right now, and it isn't just about his declining skills. The biggest question about him is whether he can suck up his pride and ego and accept the fact that he's little more than a defensive role player at this point, and if he can't, then that will ultimately be the source of the contention with him. If he comes in thinking that he should be a focal point of the offense, then there will be problems because he will cause them just as he has done everywhere else he has been when he hasn't gotten what he wanted. That's a bad mix for a locker room that has already had its share of locker room chemistry issues.

[Guest]

Shaq is only good at defense against Dwight...he isn't quick and can't slide his feet to protect the hoop when wing players drive or when u put him in pick n roll, he is a liabilty on defense otherwise.

[Swatguy]

The arguments, Shaq: Brings 2000 new fans to the Philips every game. Brings added revenue to the Hawks from advertisement and endorsments.Brings at least 5 more national games, not NBA/TV but ESPN/TNT games. Those three alone offset a 2-4 million luxery tax. Brings identity to a team without an identity. Brings leadership to a needy group. Brings championship know-how.

Without Shaq, Al probably walks. Al has been telling the ASG "get me help".

Raja Bell

Matt Barnes

Anthony Morrow

Guys better than Marvin that we have missed (Barnes may still be available).

In the end, we look to be stuck with Marvin wishing someone take him (cause he is what he is) and lose Al. Because we cannot pull the trigger on getting Shaq. See, its bigger tha Shaq, it is the future of the franchise.

Edited July 17, 2010 by Swatguy

[Vol4ever]

Well, it won't be Miami because they want no part of him. It should say a lot that they would rather have Big Z than Shaq at this point. The buyer beware sign is flashing big time on Shaq right now, and it isn't just about his declining skills. The biggest question about him is whether he can suck up his pride and ego and accept the fact that he's little more than a defensive role player at this point, and if he can't, then that will ultimately be the source of the contention with him. If he comes in thinking that he should be a focal point of the offense, then there will be problems because he will cause them just as he has done everywhere else he has been when he hasn't gotten what he wanted. That's a bad mix for a locker room that has already had its share of locker room chemistry issues.

KB, what is your solution to the 2nd round dismantling by Dwight Howard? Just wondering......................

[Diesel]

KB, what is your solution to the 2nd round dismantling by Dwight Howard? Just wondering......................

Uhhh. Uhh.. I know.

Let Horford suffer then watch him go off to be with the Thunder next year.

[KB21]

KB, what is your solution to the 2nd round dismantling by Dwight Howard? Just wondering......................

Get better perimeter defense so Vince Carter, Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, and JJ Reddick don't shoot us out of the gym like they did last year. Instead of overpaying a guy because he has size, Atlanta should be concentrating on getting some perimeter defenders. Perimeter defense was by far Atlanta's weakest area last year, not their interior defense.

[DJlaysitup]

Get better perimeter defense so Vince Carter, Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, and JJ Reddick don't shoot us out of the gym like they did last year. Instead of overpaying a guy because he has size, Atlanta should be concentrating on getting some perimeter defenders. Perimeter defense was by far Atlanta's weakest area last year, not their interior defense.

The thing is KB - even better perimeter defenders can't be in two spots on the floor at once. We tend to collapse on the interior to help our 6'9-1/2" Center and our 6'8" PF defend other teams 6'11"-7'0" Centers and PFs...once they do that the perimeter is open. If they don't do that we get killed inside. Pick your poison - and we are at least smart enough to hope they miss from the perimeter than give up dunks/layups inside (usually).

[NineOhTheRino]

the MLE or Marvin is too much to give up for a situational player like Shaq.

Edited July 17, 2010 by NineOhTheRino

[Plainview1981]

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/23224606?source=rss_blogs_NBA

If I was Shaq I'd retire before I sign on for that much. I'm sure he has more pride than you sign cheap for a team that will not be able to get over the hump.

Get real ownership.

[mrhonline]

Move Evans to a team under the cap for a 2nd rounder.

Sign two players to vet minimum deals ($854,389 cap hit each).

Sign one player to a 1st year minimum deal ($473,604 cap hit).

Sign Shaq to a two-year deal starting at $5M.

BAM! You're under the tax.

The Hawks are so pathetic sometimes...

[NJHAWK]

So that 3 mil we got for pick 31 wasnt to offset luxury tax after all was it. Were going to go to bat with a much improved East and two powerhouses in our own division while making NO IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS TEAM.

:white flag:

[TheNorthCydeRises]

Well, it won't be Miami because they want no part of him. It should say a lot that they would rather have Big Z than Shaq at this point. The buyer beware sign is flashing big time on Shaq right now, and it isn't just about his declining skills. The biggest question about him is whether he can suck up his pride and ego and accept the fact that he's little more than a defensive role player at this point, and if he can't, then that will ultimately be the source of the contention with him. If he comes in thinking that he should be a focal point of the offense, then there will be problems because he will cause them just as he has done everywhere else he has been when he hasn't gotten what he wanted. That's a bad mix for a locker room that has already had its share of locker room chemistry issues.

LOL @ defensive role player. He had a PER of 20.3 at center last year. The dude is still big, and people still aren't going to stop him if he gets the ball at point blank range.

You talk like he's Zaza or somebody.

[Dexmethylphenidate]

So that 3 mil we got for pick 31 wasnt to offset luxury tax after all was it. Were going to go to bat with a much improved East and two powerhouses in our own division while making NO IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS TEAM.

:white flag:

That's a bit harsh because they have gotten better by not retaining mr. potato head. Now they just need to find a big that can backup Horford whose name is not Zaza. I just wish ASG didn't sell that 31st pick and get Whiteside.

[Admin]

Move Evans to a team under the cap for a 2nd rounder.

Sign two players to vet minimum deals ($854,389 cap hit each).

Sign one player to a 1st year minimum deal ($473,604 cap hit).

Sign Shaq to a two-year deal starting at $5M.

BAM! You're under the tax.

The Hawks are so pathetic sometimes...

Except that Shaq has said he wants more than the MLE to sign with the Hawks so I'm not sure that a 5 million dollar per year deal is any less insulting than a 2 million per year deal for a guy that is used to making 20 million.

[Eddielives]

I'm starting to wonder if Shaq is just going to retire. Until his ego accepts he isn't going to make mad dough anymore, he won't sign with anyone.