Carmelo on Hawks: 'Ain't nobody [who] would want to go there'
The Atlanta Hawks are trying to move forward with their organization after taking a couple of major steps in the opposite direction the past week. An investigation into the inner workings of the organization revealed an offensive email from co-owner Bruce Levenson and a recording of an offensive comment about Luol Deng from general manager Danny Ferry. Now Hawks CEO Steve Koonin has issued a letter of apology to the fans, team, and city while Ferry has taken a leave of absence.
We may not know the gravity of these two incidents until this team starts trying to sign free agents or re-sign their own players next summer. The roster is basically set at this point and the offseason following the 2014-15 season will be telling for how much work they still have to do to repair their image. New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony says they have a long way to go and "ain't nobody would want to go there." From ESPN New York:
Knicks star forward Carmelo Anthony believes future NBA free agents will be hesitant to sign with the Atlanta Hawks in light of statements made by general manager Danny Ferry.
"[There] ain't nobody [who] would want to go there," Anthony said Saturday at the Citi Carmelo Anthony Basketball camp in Manhattan. "At the end of the day, Atlanta, I think it puts Atlanta back even further now, from that standpoint.
"Atlanta is a great city, a great market, great people, great atmosphere. But as far as the comments [that] were made, I think it was uncalled for. From an owner, from a GM, those are not things you play with."
The next two offseasons for the Hawks will be huge for the shaping of their roster. They're trying to move from being a playoff team to being a title contender, and they're in the position to make major moves. Paul Millsap will be a free agent in 2015 and Al Horford becomes a free agent in the summer of 2016. Keeping those two players will be huge for anchoring their roster, but they could also have the cap room to add a major free agent in either of those summers if they decide to go a different way.
It's hard to imagine how that happens with Ferry still around, considering his reputation is pretty much rock bottom. If he's replaced and the new owner has started a new culture with the help of Steve Koonin, the flexible roster situation Ferry created could be maximized. But the organization has to prove to players it makes sense to sign there and it's a front office that can be trusted.
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