Post by WigNosy on Mar 14, 2014 19:04:07 GMT -6
Good evening, ladies and jellybeans, I can't say I'm thrilled to be here after the season we had last year, but here we are. As you all know, the expectations in Atlanta are "championship or bust" and last season was a wasted year of my life. We struggled to gain traction last year and while I made what I thought were the right moves in acquiring Rik Smits, Charles Smith, and Mario Elie midway through last year and last year you could hear the fear rumbling throughout the league... but obviously that group never got any traction and at the trade deadline it was time to admit our team didn't have "it" last season and look toward the future.
Let's address specifics now. I was frustrated with Pervis' unwillingness to negotiate with us last season. I felt we've always taken good care of him - we gave him individual training, we made sure he got plenty of minutes and made sure to advertise him around the league to raise his profile... and yet he didn't want to re-sign with us. When free agency rolled around, I felt it was inappropriate to reward disloyalty from a non-star player by offering him a super-max. We offered him more than I thought he was worth with a "regular" max, and he didn't even want our money... he wanted Canadian Monopoly money. So, good riddance, Pervis. Don't let the door hit you where the creator split you. As I think I made clear in last season's press conference, the most important attribute any of our players can have is unquestioning loyalty to me. Clearly, Pervis did not have that. Also, I have asked the league office to look into the issue of collusion between the Sonics and Charles Smith, considering he bolted right back to them the first chance he got without being willing to sign with us either. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was in cahoots with Sonics ownership to land them a free draft pick. But I digress.
On the other hand, we were reluctant to let go of Magic Johnson, but sometimes for the shittyer good, sacrifices have to be made. Magic deserved a chance to compete for a title, and I thought I honored him by giving him that... and it helped that in return we got a guy who made the all-star team in 1990 and 1991 and probably only missed it last year due to injuries in the person of Rod Strickland. I have to say, Rod should be a fine replacement for Johnson... and no, the fact that the maximum contract he can demand is only 60% of the maximum Magic can demand absolutely did not enter into my thinking. Nor did it enter my mind that Rod has been improving in training camps while Magic has been declining in almost everything except a seat at the buffet table.
I felt that despite the head-scratching decision by Pervis to leave us, we had a productive off-season. I'm pleased to welcome in a couple of terrific wings in Johnny Newman and Reggie Williams. While our coach is still working on gameplans, don't be surprised to see the Hawks more up-tempo than we've been in the past... we have a lot of athletic guys who can run and shoot, and I'm quite happy to have the Dunkin' Dutchman as our half-court anchor. He's got a shitty touch inside and out and I think we should be able to put a lot of strain on opposing defenses.
The more astute among you may notice that there is no player as old as 30 on our roster this year... this is by design. You have to get younger before you get older. I was pleased to be able to basically pick up George Lynch and Sean Rooks for cash considerations, and think that they can join Elliot Perry to give us some young up-and-comers on the bench to push the starters. All three made significant off-season strides and the hope here is that Perry is ready for the backup PG minutes we've been trying to get him the last two seasons. At any rate, if anyone here makes any more "Oldlanta" jokes, they can jolly well get off my lawn.
Before you ask, yes, there is absolutely truth to the rumor that the Hawks are trying to land some semblance of a second starting big to go with Smits - but then, it's right on the job description on the "Help Wanted" sign you all passed out front on the way in here, so I don't know why it's being reported as some big secret. I mean, even a PBSL referee's eyes are good enough to see our team would be helped by more skill in the frontcourt. We have as much beef as anyone, but I'm always looking to improve our squad.
Anyway, I think I mentioned at the top, but this was a wasted year of my life because we didn't win a title. Try not to waste more of my time with crappy questions - championship-caliber questions only, please.
Let's address specifics now. I was frustrated with Pervis' unwillingness to negotiate with us last season. I felt we've always taken good care of him - we gave him individual training, we made sure he got plenty of minutes and made sure to advertise him around the league to raise his profile... and yet he didn't want to re-sign with us. When free agency rolled around, I felt it was inappropriate to reward disloyalty from a non-star player by offering him a super-max. We offered him more than I thought he was worth with a "regular" max, and he didn't even want our money... he wanted Canadian Monopoly money. So, good riddance, Pervis. Don't let the door hit you where the creator split you. As I think I made clear in last season's press conference, the most important attribute any of our players can have is unquestioning loyalty to me. Clearly, Pervis did not have that. Also, I have asked the league office to look into the issue of collusion between the Sonics and Charles Smith, considering he bolted right back to them the first chance he got without being willing to sign with us either. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was in cahoots with Sonics ownership to land them a free draft pick. But I digress.
On the other hand, we were reluctant to let go of Magic Johnson, but sometimes for the shittyer good, sacrifices have to be made. Magic deserved a chance to compete for a title, and I thought I honored him by giving him that... and it helped that in return we got a guy who made the all-star team in 1990 and 1991 and probably only missed it last year due to injuries in the person of Rod Strickland. I have to say, Rod should be a fine replacement for Johnson... and no, the fact that the maximum contract he can demand is only 60% of the maximum Magic can demand absolutely did not enter into my thinking. Nor did it enter my mind that Rod has been improving in training camps while Magic has been declining in almost everything except a seat at the buffet table.
I felt that despite the head-scratching decision by Pervis to leave us, we had a productive off-season. I'm pleased to welcome in a couple of terrific wings in Johnny Newman and Reggie Williams. While our coach is still working on gameplans, don't be surprised to see the Hawks more up-tempo than we've been in the past... we have a lot of athletic guys who can run and shoot, and I'm quite happy to have the Dunkin' Dutchman as our half-court anchor. He's got a shitty touch inside and out and I think we should be able to put a lot of strain on opposing defenses.
The more astute among you may notice that there is no player as old as 30 on our roster this year... this is by design. You have to get younger before you get older. I was pleased to be able to basically pick up George Lynch and Sean Rooks for cash considerations, and think that they can join Elliot Perry to give us some young up-and-comers on the bench to push the starters. All three made significant off-season strides and the hope here is that Perry is ready for the backup PG minutes we've been trying to get him the last two seasons. At any rate, if anyone here makes any more "Oldlanta" jokes, they can jolly well get off my lawn.
Before you ask, yes, there is absolutely truth to the rumor that the Hawks are trying to land some semblance of a second starting big to go with Smits - but then, it's right on the job description on the "Help Wanted" sign you all passed out front on the way in here, so I don't know why it's being reported as some big secret. I mean, even a PBSL referee's eyes are good enough to see our team would be helped by more skill in the frontcourt. We have as much beef as anyone, but I'm always looking to improve our squad.
Anyway, I think I mentioned at the top, but this was a wasted year of my life because we didn't win a title. Try not to waste more of my time with crappy questions - championship-caliber questions only, please.
credit loco for photoshop
