Posted by: Ted on February 22, 2007 12:58PM EST The Hawks are always trying to make a move with draft picks and also trades, but why do we never get something that we need? We picked up Speedy to run our point, but now we also pick up Johnson, does not make any sense.. As far as veteran leadership goes, that is great and all, but would'nt that pay off if we actually made the playoffs. We just got outscored by Ginobili as a whole team, no matter what we do we can't win, I am a Hawks fan, but this is just getting harder and harder to watch

Posted by: Ernest on February 22, 2007 1:23PM EST Hopefully this is the precursor to another deal, securing help for the paint. This deal primarily gives us a healthy, veteran presence at the point. We don't have a need for 4 point guards though. I understand the concern about bringing in someone like Magloire (will he resign) but wouldn't Nazr be an upgrade over what we have now? Detroit is also looking a veteran point as a backup. Can we make a deal with them?

Posted by: Kevin on February 22, 2007 1:29PM EST GET RID OF BILLY KNIGHT. I am sick and tired of him. He has done nothing good for this organization. The one great thing done, was not brought on by him but by Joe Johnson wanting to come here himself, Knight had nothing to do with initiating that transaction. This latest trade is Knight at his finest, doing something mediocre which will not help this team much at all. This organization is a good one that has great chances to succeed if we could gamble more. I still do not understand why we have too many "swingman" type players. Childress, Smith, Williams, Johnson. They all are good but we need to move talent in order to better this team. We need to shore up the middle with a true big man, Zaza is good but will take us no where. The Speedy expirement is still too young to tell but why did we even spend millions upon millions on a journey-man backup? I have been a Hawks fan all my life and it just plain hurts to watch all the ordeals we go through. FIRE KNIGHT! Put someone at the position who has B@LL$ to run it.

Posted by: Micah Hart on February 22, 2007 1:31PM EST I think this trade absolutely addresses a need, Ted. The Hawks pg's are banged up - it would be nice if we could focus on other needs as well, but this is certainly an area we need help in right now. Johnson doesn't kill our cap or hurt us long term - all he does is come in and give us some help in the immediate future in an area we desperately need it.

Posted by: DHD on February 22, 2007 1:32PM EST Where do I order playoff tickets? Come on owners!!!!!! Do something that will actually make a difference. PLEASE.

Posted by: Brian Robinson on February 22, 2007 1:32PM EST Are you kidding me? Billy needs to go now. He keeps proving he has no clue. This trade just proves the point. If he leaves please take Mike Woodson with him! We are a joke.

Posted by: Ted on February 22, 2007 1:50PM EST Picking up Johnson does not hurt our team, but it does not help us at all, we don't need someone that is only giving us like 6pts a game, we need some defense in the middle and we also need another scorer so that there is not as much attention on Joe Johnson, our only scored consistently that we have. I just wish for once the Hawks fans were happy for a transaction and not bashing them. Billy Knight for sure needs to get out of here, he is terrible, i bet that either one of us can pick players better them him. I am still thrilled that we guaranteed Sheldon Williams with the 5th overall pick. He is giving us like 6pts and 4 reb per night, what good is that doing us. Please help us

Posted by: Ted on February 22, 2007 1:59PM EST We are the only team that is under the cap room, we have over 7million to spend, what are we waiting for? I heard that there is this really good Middle school player in the area, maybe we will wait until he is available and sign him in 7 years, come on Hawks make it happen

Posted by: Eddie on February 22, 2007 4:00PM EST The only reason I don't like the trade is the fact that we may have just given up the only pick we had that in the 07 draft. Unless of course, we end up with a top 3 pick in the lottery. As a season ticket holder I think it may be time to start a petition among season ticket holders to FIRE Billy Knight and take it to management. I don't think I will be renewing if he is there next year.

Posted by: Big_Dave on February 22, 2007 4:18PM EST Eddie, we still have Indiana's pick regardless of what slot we draft in, which isn't looking too bad. They are 29-24 with a pretty tough schedule ahead of them.

Posted by: FireBK on February 22, 2007 4:35PM EST I hope noone is surprised by this. I don't believe BK is intentionally trying to run JJ out of town, but WHEN, not if, ATL doesn't win next year, he will be gone. Why would he want to stay? No ownership, the 2nd worse GM in the history of professional sports(take a wild guess who is number 1...his predecessor perhaps), and a below average coach. I wouldn't stay either.

Posted by: William on February 22, 2007 5:02PM EST I like this trade. I don't know why everyone doesn't like this trade. Let's face it, Speedy Claxton is playing well, but not what we expected. So, Billy Knight got another veteran PG that can maybe run the team. I think I rather have a veteran PG than a second round pick rookie. I say Good Job BK!! Good Luck Anthony Johnson!!

Posted by: Jonathan on February 22, 2007 5:02PM EST We need to ask the question why did we ever hire Billy Knight in the first place? He is the man that got fired in Memphis for having terrible teams/coaches and some how we decided he would do great things for Atlanta? Memphis made the playoffs after he left. I understand that Jerry West is one of the best GMS but you are a GM for a reason. You should have some knowledge and skill assessment none of whic he seems to have. Yes, He did draft some good players while he was at Memphis but none of them stayed. In closing he drafted Byrant Big County Reeves with the six pick in 1995

Posted by: Roy on February 22, 2007 5:12PM EST I like AJ. We need help at the point and in the middle. This costs us basically nothing and addresses one of our needs. He is a big tuff guard that used to play good D. I hope he still can. If so I think we can make the playoffs. If we do make the playoffs then we can look back to this trade and thank BK. Give it a chance.

Posted by: BK on February 22, 2007 5:27PM EST Seriously Billy. Another guard. Pretty sure we dont need to waste draft picks on a guy averaging 3.8 ppg and 2.0 apg. Yikes

Posted by: Scott on February 22, 2007 5:33PM EST Bout time a solid deal was made. AJ is a class act and a hard worker. Speedy was a mistake and now we have AJ and Tyronn to run the point. Sweet!

Posted by: Jules on February 22, 2007 5:48PM EST Well, it would have been nice if someone had given speedy's health a looksy before we signed his million dollar contract. Who the F signs a million dollar deal with an athelete with a DEGENERATIVE KNEE DISEASE. but now that hes on board and not performing, and with T lue (who we NEED as a bench point) having injury troubles, this trade seems solid, especially considering how it only cost us a miscelaneous rookie from the second round of this years draft. I mean, if you guys have been watching this years games, how many times have you all cringed when Royal Ivey is handling the ball at our point, because you absolutely KNOW something bad is going to happen. Props on the trade. If we end with a .500 record, which isn't impossible, and should be the teams goal, I think all the trash talking should end. (if not, I will sign that petition)

Posted by: Philip Meehan on February 22, 2007 7:33PM EST you guys are all being hard on this team and Billy Knight. do you remember where they were before him, if you dont i believe they were called the "playoff bound " atlanta hawks. i only liked them back then because i got all my money back. This team,like many others, has just run into some bad luck with injuries to two MAIN PLAYERS lue and claxton. DO YOU GUYS REMEMBER WHATS LUE HAS DONE FOR US SINCE HE HAS BEEN IN THE ATL?!?!? I say this trade is good for now until we get healthy and hopefully make the playoffs and save the suns from getting a pick. I do have to agree with you guys for later on though, once everyone is healthy there would be no need for so many guards. We are turning into the old knicks inside, when all their centers were 6'8"-10". i say keep on developing young talent and if someone comes along that can add to the chemistry we are building, cuz there is no rush here in atl like nyc, than add them

Posted by: Jerry on February 22, 2007 8:10PM EST I think the trade was good temporary fix. I feel we have a great team in Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, and Josh Childress. I feel that they need a more motivating and demanding coach. These kids need more development but we know they are going to be great. I hope Anthony Johnson comes in and gives us a little more life for the remainder of the games and put us in a good position toward the playoffs.

Posted by: GA Buckeye on February 22, 2007 9:28PM EST This is another in a long line of BK moves that don't make sense. We have deliberately avoided bringing in veterans that have been available because we didn't want them to hinder the development of the young players. Add this to Marvin as a #2 pick in the entire draft. Remember he didn't even start for his college team. Shelden Williams at 5 with his limited upside. Josh Childress, who has come on this season, but will never rise to the level of a #5 pick in the draft. Josh Smith as an 18th pick. Good job with that one. But the poor picks far outweigh the good. The Speedy signing? Established starting point money for a career backup. Woodson has done a decent job for the 'hand he has been dealt'. Give him some better players and some time and we'll get the return to the playoffs we all anxiously are waiting for.

Posted by: DP on February 22, 2007 9:29PM EST Billy Knight just doesn't get it, he continues to draft 6'7"-6'10" swing men (like himself) while passing on consensus "franchise" point guards like Deron Williams and Chris Paul, all the while trying to make the fans think he has filled the pg hole with the likes of T.Lue, Claxton and now/again AJ, these guys have all been around for a while and have never been the answer @ pg for anyone! Mr. Knight needs to check his ego at the door and realize building a team in his own image just won't work, a team needs pg's and "long" power players in the middle, when a guy like 7'0''Tyson Chandler, an excellent rebounder and interior defender, was available, what did we get? S. Williams!! another 6'9" forward, and the hawks D continues to be a lay-up drill for their opponents, the coaching isn't much better, they continue to run undersized line-ups out there but won't run, like Phoenix, how long do we have to sit and watch the Josh's, the Williams's and Pachulia shoot jumper after jumper, hello!! they can't shoot! especially M.Williams, some body stop him!, and it didn't take the Suns coaches long to find they had a player in B. Diaw, when the didn't try to shoe horn him in at pg like the Hawks coaching staff did he blossomed, Mr Belkin where are you!.

Posted by: Bryan on February 22, 2007 10:59PM EST First, we draft Sheldon(which was stupid). Now we waste a second round pick on some has been. I agree, fire Billy Knight. Billy Knight has done a lot for the team, but i believe it is his time to go. Next point, "DP" why the hell are you saying we lost a player in Boris Diaw. #1 Diaw was absolutely pathetic as a Hawk. He couldn't shoot and at the time had no low post game. #2 We got Joe Johnson for him. Again I ask, why the hell are you complaining about that.

Posted by: 7yrstogloryBlazer on February 22, 2007 11:26PM EST It's so apparent how long past due giving Billy Knight and that so so so sorry loser Woodson the boot out of the Hawks' organization is; one 'quick' look at their track record proves my point. I truly feel sorry for Joe Johnson and his supporting 'cast' -- they've never had a chance under this GM and that sorry jork of a coach. We need a SHOOTING guard to back Joe up and some intelligence in the 'front office' come draft time; the building 'idea' is not working...... i.e. Speedy who??? did anyone check his injury chart before begging him to come save this sorry organization?!! sheeeeeesh How about some help for ZaZa???

Posted by: Verne on February 22, 2007 11:26PM EST The Hawks overlooked addressing their need at PG in the past 2 drafts (which included Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Raymond Felton and Marcus Williams, to name a few) and drafted forwards instead. Yet these forwards (mostly swingmen) haven't given the team an inside presence and the PG issue continues to be addressed by aquiring career back-ups (no disrespect to T-Lue). Mr. Knight and this organization either don't care or don't have a clue. NOK, Utah and NJ (Kidd was on the trading block! why is that?) secured their future success on the court and in the stands, while we stockpiled underachieving forwards (Josh Smith being the exception). I'll continue to watch from home until the current mgmt is gone.

Posted by: Shay Mack on February 22, 2007 11:38PM EST You got to be kidding me! I respect Billy Knight as a person and think he's a great guy but the Hawks need to get rid of him. I have been a season ticket holder for some years until last year. I GOT TRIED OF THEM SAYING WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR. They had there best shot when they had Shareef, Jason Terry and Theo Ratliff whenever he was healthy. They get talent and trade it away for those players to excel with another team. Every player that left the Hawks are with a winning team now. Let's stop making FOOLISH deals and spend some of that money you have way under the salary cap, and show the fans your at least making an attempt to go after a markee player to sell some tickets and fill the arena. STOP BEING THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE LEAGUE! Stop getting washed up players. If you like.. I can get a team together with a couple of my boys to beat the Hawks. And this is sad to say, You can't blame the players. IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT BILLY!

Posted by: Verne on February 22, 2007 11:53PM EST Two more points: 1. I do believe Phoenix receives Atlanta's 1st Rd Pick this year unless it's in the Top 3, so making the playoffs this year (as someone mentioned) would forfeit the pick automatically. Not a good thing! 2. While Anthony Johnson may be an upgrade on Speedy, who based on the pay was supposed to upgrade Tyron, wouldn't a young PG like Marcus Williams have been the best upgrade?

Posted by: HaroldATL on February 23, 2007 8:54AM EST Some clarifications on the Draft: * We own Indiana's No. 1 pick this year regardless of where they or we finish. * Phoenix owns our No. 1 pick this year, UNLESS we place in spots 1, 2 or 3 in the draft. So...if a miracle happen, we could still land Durant/Oden. * So judging on where we are likely to finish, say #23 overall....and where Indiana is likely to finish, say #14 overall....there isn't *that* much of a drop-off in the caliber of player that we are getting with our pick (handed to PHX) versus Indy's pick (handed to us)

Posted by: Peter D on February 23, 2007 9:36AM EST I like the pick up. As opposed to last year where BK let the injuries linger without making a move. Don't let AJ's stats fool you. He was just not getting the playing time on the Mavs because he played behind Harris and Terry. I think we are on to something. I think we can make a strong push for the playoffs with this acquistion. Remember he dropped 40 on New Jersey last year in the playoffs. He has the potential and the experience to run this team. AJ learn that playbook. This summer is going to be real interesting!!!!!! Let's go Hawks !!!!!!!!

Posted by: DP on February 23, 2007 10:09AM EST point back to Bryan, I'm not complaining about JJ at all, he's the only player we have that could start for a true contender, with the posible exception of Josh Smith and that's only if he stops shooting 25 footers and starts posting up and/or driving more, and if you recall we paid a lot more than B. Diaw for JJ, my point was that if B. Diaw wasn't forced to play the point or shoot jumpers and just alowed to pass, rebound and run the floor from either forward spot like Phoenix allows him to do, he would have been much more effective and a great help, but the coaching staff completely mis-used him, he's much better than M.Williams, they're doing the same thing with Josh Smith, JS is not a 3 point shooter, period, you didn't see James Worthy shooting 3's for the Lakers did you? he posted up, drove and filled the lane on the best fastbreak the game has ever seen, if the Hawks had drafted one of those point guards we could have something similar, also JJ is a lot better that B. Scott was at shooting and penetrating, but we'll never see it because the current mgmt. only sees 6'7"-6'10" swingmen.

Posted by: MFFL58 on February 25, 2007 7:51PM EST Please let AJ know his fans in Dallas miss him. Ya'll are lucky. GO AJ

Posted by: jeff on February 28, 2007 1:17PM EST Don't get me wrong Anthony Johnson is a good point guard, but not for Atlanta. Why are we giving away draft picks for a guy that only has a year or two left in him. This is just another idicotic move by the Hawks front office. Sometimes I think I could do a better job.

Posted by: HAWKS FAN FROM DAY ONE on December 23, 2007 5:44PM EST I hope that ALL OF YOU NAY-SAYERS come back on this blog and post all of your apologies to the Hawks, Billy Knight, Coach Woodson AND Anthony Johnson! I did..... Turns out AJ was just what we needed at the right time. How dumb does management look NOW?? Not as stupid as some of the stuff I've read on here.