Eternal Question #1

Why Are The Atlanta Hawks So Bad?

No offense to my Atlanta contingency (2/3 of the people who comment), but the Atlanta Hawks are off to a terrible start this year and help does not seem to be on the way. They have no veterans, an over abundance of raw swingmen, and their most consistent player probably won't be there next year (Al Harrington). Even worse, they've wasted a max contract on a guy who will probably never make an all-star team (Joe Johnson). The argument that they needed to overpay now to convince future free-agents to come later, seems very weak now in light of their terrible record most likely scaring away any potential free-agents. But how did it get to this? How could an expansion team (the Charlotte Bobcats) have a better record and a brighter future in their second year of existence?

I think Atlanta made two mistakes, at two different times. It is hard to remember, but in the recent past Atlanta was good. The Nique years were quickly followed by the above-averageness of the Mookie - Steve Smith - Mutombo- years. And they tried to ease out of this gracefully. Instead of just accepting terribleness they made some decent trades: an aging Mookie for Jason Terry and a leaving Mutombo for the young shot blocking Theo Ratliff. Only the Smith for Isiah "Aluminum Can" Rider was a bad one. But this wasn't enough, and here was they made their first mistake, trading high draft picks for not-quite all stars. First they swapped a pick that became Pau Gasol and Lorenzen Wright for Shareef "Solid but never great" Rahim, then, a bigger mistake, a future pick (which ended up being TJ Ford) for the Big Dog.

After they realized this team would not never make the playoffs, they started a two-year campaign to rid themselves of all of these contracts and just make as much salary cap room as possible. Salary cap flexibility is a good thing, but if that's the only thing you have, no one is going to come (see post-Jordan Bulls). Also, I can't think of one team that has rebuilt successfuly this way. Looking over every team that made the playoffs last year, I can only find 2 free-agent coups (Steve Nash, Gilbert Arenas). In general, the great majority gets better by getting super-stars in the draft, making trades that make sense, and filling holes with free-agents.

The future does not look any better. As well as wasting 1/2 their cap money on an above-average player, they traded away two future picks. I realize these are lottery protected, but there must be some statutes of limitation on that clause. Even if they don't lose these in the lottery, it is telling that whereas they should have been stockpiling picks, they're giving them away with the attitude of "We've had enough high draft picks." Not a great strategy. Think of how fun this team could be with TJ Ford running the break with a solid Gasol, Wright, Ratliff front court. Oh Atlanta Hawks, I wish you luck. You will certainly need it.